Aptly named Overanalyze gave trainer Todd Pletcher a sweep of the 2-year-old stakes at Belmont Park when he cruised to a 5-1 upset in the $200,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II) Sept. 30 (VIDEO).
Considering that Pletcher is coming off a Saratoga summer meet in which he won an amazing 23 events for 2-year-olds, it would seem there wasn't much that needed analyzing. Two races earlier, the filly Kauai Katie won the Matron Stakes (gr. II) for Pletcher's loaded stable of juveniles as the odds-on favorite.
Owned by Repole Stable, Overanalyze finished a tiring fourth in the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) in his most recent start Sept. 3 following an impressive debut win at Saratoga Race Course a month earlier.
Pletcher felt the son of Dixie Union wasn't quite ready for grade I company after only a maiden victory but the colt was on top of his game in the six-furlong Futurity. With John Velazquez aboard, Overanalyze chased a solid pace and burst home from the outside in deep stretch.
Overanalyze, overcoming a difficult start that left him at the rear of the pack after a quarter mile, won by 3 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:11.46 over a track listed as fast. The time was a fifth of a second slower than Kauai Katie ran in demolishing the Matron field by 7 1/2 lengths.
"We were hoping to maybe be in a stalking-type position, but he didn't break great, then he got clobbered at the start and ended up way back, Pletcher said. "He recovered well and was running into the dirt, kept coming, showed a new dimension, finished really well, and galloped out strongly. It was a pretty encouraging race."
Carried Interest, who had taken a slight lead a furlong out, finished second by three-quarters of a length over 9-5 favorite Weekend Hideaway.
Bred in Kentucky by Diamond A Racing, Overanalyze was a $380,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase last year. Out of the unraced Unaccounted For mare Unacloud, he's a half brother to 2006 Belmont Matron (gr. I) winner Meadow Breeze (by Meadowlake).
Handsome Jack, with room along the rail, outfought Carried Interest to get the early lead and led that one while under pressure, posting quarter mile splits of :22.80 and :46.53. Gulfport and Weekend Hideaway stalked the leaders early as Overanalyze advanced to sixth in the field of seven.
The leaders were four across the track leaving the quarter pole and continued to duel in upper stretch when Carried Interest forged a slight lead. Overanalyze, ranging into contention while rallying on the outside, was moving best of all, however, at midstretch. He took the lead at the sixteenth pole and drew off quickly to win going away under Velazquez's strong hand urging.
"He didn't break," Velazquez said. "I'm thinking he'll come out of there running, and he's on the bit and then the gate opened and the horse next to me went 'vroom.' He closed up really good. You have to be happy with the way he did it. He took a little dirt and came running."
With his second win in three starts, Overanalyze extended his earnings to $183,000.
Pletcher said he was undecided on where he would go next with Overanalyze.
The winner carried 118 pounds and paid $13.60, $6.80, $4.90 as the fourth choice. Carried Interest returned $5.10 and $3.30 to complete a $67.50 exacta. New York-bred Weekend Hideaway, favored off a 6 1/2-length romp in a state-bred stakes at Saratoga Aug. 29 for trainer Phil Serpe, paid $2.80 to show.
Handsome Jack finished fourth, followed by Gulfport, Drum Roll, and Special Jo.
