By the end of the 2012 meet at Saratoga Race Course, Todd Pletcher had won an astounding 23 events for 2-year-olds. The Eclipse Award-winning trainer looks to continue that success June 30 at Belmont Park when sending Overanalyze and Drum Roll in the $200,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II).
But favored at 5-2 on the morning line of the Futurity, which will be run as race nine of 10 with an approximate post of 5:06 p.m. EDT, is Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Carried Interest. Although the Rick Violette-trained runner has not started since earning a 90 Beyer speed figure in his July 5 maiden victory at Belmont, his rivals in this race did not hold their form while he was off.
Carried Interest skipped the Saratoga juvenile stakes with sore shins but returned to training in September at Aqueduct Racetrack, most recently breezing five furlongs in 1:00.84 Sept. 23.
Overanalyze sparkled with a five-furlong maiden score, but then ran fourth in the seven-furlong Three Chimneys Hopeful (gr. II). Drum Roll, meanwhile, was most recently third in the Sapling Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park.
Owned by Repole Stable, Overanalyze was never challenged in his front-running debut, but fell back after mounting a challenge between horses on the turn in the Hopeful.
"We were hoping to make a bit of a more gradual progression towards stakes," Pletcher said of the 3-1 second choice on the morning line. "The allowance race didn't fill, so we took a shot and ran back in the Hopeful. For only the second start of his career, going from a five-furlong maiden to a seven-furlong stakes, it was a big step and I thought he performed admirably. He's a horse who will eventually stretch out in distance, but for now six furlongs is a good distance for him."
Drum Roll, tabbed at 8-1 on the morning line, overcame an eventful start to break his maiden at Monmouth on July 8 for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. He next finished fourth in the Aug. 12 Saratoga Special (gr. II).
"I thought Drum Roll ran well in the Sapling," said Pletcher. "He got outsprinted the first part; broke a beat slow, but he continued on and showed interest."
$200,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II, Race 9, approximate post 5:06 p.m. EDT), 2YOs, six furlongs (dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
1. Carried Interest (KY), A. Garcia, 118, R A Violette, Jr., 5-2
2. Special Jo (KY), J.R. Leparoux, 118, S M Asmussen, 6-1
3. Gulfport (KY), J. Castellano, 116, D L Romans, 12-1
4. Overanalyze (KY), J.R. Velazquez, 118, T A Pletcher, 3-1
5. Handsome Jack (FL), J. Rosario, 118, W A Ward, 7-2
6. Drum Roll (PA), R.A. Dominguez, 118, T A Pletcher, 8-1
7. Weekend Hideaway (NY), J. Lezcano, 122, P M Serpe, 5-1
