The Futurity and Matron (both gr. II), previously held during the fall, both make their reappearance July 3 at Belmont Park after a one-year hiatus. The Futurity, for 2-year-old colts and geldings, drew a field of six, while the Matron drew seven juvenile fillies.
Both are $150,000 events run at six furlongs on the main track. They were previously run at seven furlongs. Post time for the Futurity, which goes as race 4, is scheduled for 2:36 p.m. EDT, while the Matron has a probable post time of 4:44 p.m. as race 8.
Five of the six entrants in the Futurity have one win in their young careers, with John Salzman Jr.’s Threeanddonedan the only one with stakes experience. The Pennsylvania-bred Threeanddonedan finished fourth in the June 18 Victoria Stakes on the Woodbine Polytrack, one start after breaking his maiden by 6 1/4 lengths in April at Pimlico Race Course.
Salzman also trains the son of Dance With Ravens, who is based at Laurel Park. He will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez.
Maiden winners in their debuts were Tarpy's Goal, Team Six, and Large Kaufy. Trained by Dale Romans, Karpy’s Goal scored by 2 3/4 lengths May 19 when going five furlongs at Churchill Downs. Owned by Mike Karp, he is a Florida-bred son of High Cotton , out of the Exbourne mare Terre de Hommes.
“He ran a big race, and I thought he’d be a talented colt,” Romans said of the 2-1 morning-line favorite. “You don’t know what you’ll catch in these races, but I thought he could win first time out. He certainly seemed like the type that could.”
Premier Stables Unlimited’s Team Six, based at Fair Hill Training Center for trainer Mark Shuman, romped by five lengths in his first try June 18 at Monmouth Park. The son of Lion Heart was purchased at the OBS 2011 April sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Large Kaufy is trained by Wesley Ward, who is known for getting 2-year-olds to fire early. The gelded son of Omega Code did just that May 14 in his debut at Calder Casino & Race Course, rolling to a 4 3/4-length victory in front-running fashion. He will break from the rail under Jeffrey Sanchez and likely try to make the lead again.
Completing the field are Getupwiththesun, an 8 1/4-length maiden special weight winner at Pimlico May 12 for trainer Robert Leaf Jr., and Jack’s in the Deck, runner-up in his May 25 debut at Delaware Park.
The Matron includes fillies coming out of races at Belmont, Colonial Downs, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Delaware Park, Monmouth, and Pimlico. The standout appears to be Long Lake Stable’s Born Bullish, who romped by nine lengths in her June 24 debut at Belmont going 5 1/2 furlongs and was made the 3-1 second choice.
The daughter of Flashy Bull —Dakota Rae, by Stephen Got Even, was a $185,000 buy at the OBS 2011 selected sale of 2-year-olds in training. Eddie Castro will be back aboard Born Bullish for John Terranova II. She was bred in Kentucky by Crowning Point Farm.
"Her debut was perfect, and she’s obviously doing very well for us to enter her,” Terranova said. “She’s dictating this, not us. Everything has been perfect since that race, and we think she is a nice filly.”
Another impressive debut winner is Sagamore Farm’s Millionreasonswhy. The Grand Slam filly won by four lengths June 11 at Colonial Downs as the 8-5 favorite, taking over the in the stretch while going 5 1/2 furlongs in the slop. John Velazquez will have the mount for trainer Ignacio Correas IV.
R N R Stable’s Defy Gravity, a six-length maiden winner in her second start May 8 at Pimlico, was entered but scratched out of the June 25 Debutante Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill. She is the 2-1 morning-line favorite here. Mid-Atlantic raiders Say a Novena and Dancing Anna both come off of three-length maiden scores at Monmouth and Delaware, respectively.
Charles Town shipper Good Looking Girl and first-out Belmont winner Hook It Up complete the field.
$150,000 Futurity (gr. II, Race 4, 2:36 p.m.), 2YO, 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Large Kaufy (FL), 2/G L J Sanchez, 118, W A Ward
2. Team Six (KY), 2/C L J R Velazquez, 118, M Shuman
3. Threeanddonedan (PA), 2/C L R A Dominguez, 118, J E Salzman Jr.
4. Jack's in the Deck (MD), 2/C L A Garcia, 116, R L Graham
5. Tarpy's Goal (FL), 2/C L J Castellano, 118, D L Romans
6. Getupwiththesun (MD), 2/G L R Maragh, 118, R Leaf Jr.
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Large Kaufy (FL), 2/G L J Sanchez, 118, W A Ward
2. Team Six (KY), 2/C L J R Velazquez, 118, M Shuman
3. Threeanddonedan (PA), 2/C L R A Dominguez, 118, J E Salzman Jr.
4. Jack's in the Deck (MD), 2/C L A Garcia, 116, R L Graham
5. Tarpy's Goal (FL), 2/C L J Castellano, 118, D L Romans
6. Getupwiththesun (MD), 2/G L R Maragh, 118, R Leaf Jr.
$150,000 Matron (gr. II, Race 8, 4:44 p.m.), 2YO Fillies, 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Good Looking Girl (MD), M G Pino, 118, J J Robb
2. Born Bullish (KY), E Castro, 118, J P Terranova, II
3. Say a Novena (KY), M J Luzzi, 118, E Plesa Jr.
4. Dancing Anna (PA), J R Betancourt, 118, J J Robb
5. Millionreasonswhy (KY), J R Velazquez, 118, I Correas, IV
6. Defy Gravity (KY), W Ho, 118, V A Testerman
7. Hook It Up (NY), R Maragh, 118, G C Contessa
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Good Looking Girl (MD), M G Pino, 118, J J Robb
2. Born Bullish (KY), E Castro, 118, J P Terranova, II
3. Say a Novena (KY), M J Luzzi, 118, E Plesa Jr.
4. Dancing Anna (PA), J R Betancourt, 118, J J Robb
5. Millionreasonswhy (KY), J R Velazquez, 118, I Correas, IV
6. Defy Gravity (KY), W Ho, 118, V A Testerman
7. Hook It Up (NY), R Maragh, 118, G C Contessa