The Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 6 drew a full field of 16 runners, two of whom will wait on the also eligible list for the $400,000 Polytrack test at 1 1/16 miles.
There is no doubt that the synthetic surface at Keeneland draws a certain type of field, as six of the 16 runners exit the same race, the With Anticipation Stakes over the Saratoga turf Aug. 30. Just three of the runners come into the Futurity off a dirt race, the most notable of those being Tizracer, a strapping son of Tiznow who beat a field of maidens by 10 ½ lengths going a mile at Belmont Park Sept. 8. Tizracer runs for Alto Racing, which will also have Archwarrior in the same day’s Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont. Todd Pletcher trains both.
Balance the Books won the With Anticipation going 1 1/16 miles. The son ofLemon Drop Kid races for Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence and is conditioned by Chad Brown. The runner-up in that race, Joha, came within a head of Balance the Books at the wire and will seek to turn the tables at Keeneland. The son of Johar annexed the Colin Stakes over Woodbine’s Polytrack July 14 for owner Wade Wacker and trainer Mike Maker. He has won two of five starts.
Charming Kitten, a homebred for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and by their stallionKitten's Joy , ran third in the With Anticipation a month after breaking his maiden over the Saratoga grass at the Futurity distance. He is trained by Pletcher.
Pataky Kid will be one of the Futurity favorites off his victory in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) over Arlington Park’s Polytrack. The son of Rockport Harbor has two victories to his credit over that surface. He races for Swifty Farms under the care of Tom Proctor.
Three additional recent stakes winners are shipping in from out of town for the Futurity. Java's Warwon the Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs on turf Sept. 8 going a mile. The son of War Pass has won two of three starts for owner Chuck Fipke and trainer Kenny McPeek. West Point Thoroughbreds’ Tree of Lifeis coming off a successful run in the Barretts Juvenile Stakes at Fairplex Park Sept. 16, upping his record to two wins from two starts. The son of Lion Heart, trained by Craig Dollase, broke his maiden over the Del Mar Polytrack Aug. 18. Joining the fray is John Oxley’s Dynamic Sky, winner of the Simcoe Stakes at Woodbine Sept. 3. TheSky Mesa son is trained by Mark Casse.
Positively is coming off a lengthy layoff in the Futurity, having put in a runner-up effort in the Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs June 30 in his most recent start. The son of Distorted Humor broke his maiden at Churchill for Chuck and Meribeth Sanford and trainer Pat Byrne. The connections of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I) winner I’ll Have Another will be represented byHe's Had Enough. The son ofTapit won over Del Mar’s Polytrack in August before running sixth in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes at Del Mar over a mile. Reddam Racing owns He’s Had Enough, who is conditioned by Doug O’Neill.
Are You Kidding Mehas a victory over Woodbine’s Polytrack to his credit and ran second in the Summer Stakes (gr. IIT) at Woodbine in his most recent out Sept. 15. Newly minted Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield conditions for a partnership.He's So Fine, second in the Saratoga Special (gr. II) and fifth in the With Anticipation, tries the Futurity for Magdalena Racing and trainer McPeek. Dipsy Drewwon a one mile turf event at Kentucky Downs Sept. 12 for Robert and Loval Yagos and trainer William Fires. Craving Caratsbroke his maiden over the Saratoga turf in August, defeating Balance the Books before running eighth in the With Anticipation.
$400,000 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (gr. I), Race 8, approximate post 4:49 p.m. EDT), 2 YOs, 1 1/16 miles (all eather track)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Joha, Rajiv Maragh, Mike Maker
2. Are You Kidding Me, Alex Solis, Roger Attfield
3. He’s So Fine, David Cohen, Kenny McPeek
4. Java’s War, Richard Eramia, Kenny McPeek
5. Tizracer, Jose Lezcano, Todd Pletcher
6. Pataky Kid, Paco Lopez, Tom Proctor
7. Craving Carats, Kent Desormeaux, Dale Romans
8. Dipsy Drew, Jon Court, William Fires
9. Charming Kitten, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher
10. Positively, Calvin Borel, Pat Byrne
11. Balance the Books, Julien Leparoux, Chad Brown
12. Dynamic Sky, Luis Contreras, Mark Casse
13. He’s Had Enough, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neill
14. Tree of Life, Victor Espinoza, Craig Dollase
Also Eligible
Hightail, Joe Rocco Jr., D. Wayne Lukas
Zoloto (Junior Alvarado, Darrin Miller
All runners carry 121 pounds
