Phantom Income and Preachin Man won divisions of the National Association of Two-Year-Old Consignors Futurity at Meadowlands the night of Sept. 29.
The NATC includes two divisions, each worth $200,000: one for fillies and a second for either sex. The races are open to juveniles who were cataloged in 2007 and whose owners have paid the advertising fund fees.
Phantom Income, who had lost her previous two starts by a combined 50 lengths, appreciated the easier company in the NATC filly division. Sent off at odds of 8-1, she saved every inch of ground under Eibar Coa, slipping through along the inside in upper stretch and rolling to a convincing 4 1/4-length win in a time of 1:09 for six furlongs. New York City Girl, who set a quick pace of :22 2/5 and :44 4/5, finished second with John Velazquez aboard. La Wildcat, a 26-1 outsider, got up for third with Eddie Castro. Favored Freakstein bobbled at the break and was not a factor.
Richard Violette Jr. trains Phantom Income for Klaravich Stables and W. Lawrence. A gray daughter of Montbrook--Catch the Ghost (Silver Ghost), she was bred in Florida by Centaur Farms and sold for $200,000 at Ocala in March. After breaking her maiden by 10 1/4 lengths in her debut at Belmont Park July 6, she was declared a non-starter when finishing last, beaten by 22 lengths, in the Adirondack (gr. II) at Saratoga Aug. 15. Two weeks later, she was seventh in the the Spa's Spinaway (gr. I). She paid $18 for the win.
(Chart, Equibase)
In the open division, Preachin Man (11-1) took control at the head of the stretch and finished gamely for a one-length victory over Cobra Strike with Cornelio Velasquez in the irons. The winning time for Preachin Man was 1:09 4/5 for six furlongs.
Ronny Werner trains Preachin Man, a dark bay colt by Songandaprayer --Sweet Cameron (Devil's Bag), for owners McKathan Brothers and Fred Hertrich. Preachin Man was coming off a second-place finish in the Sapling (gr. III) at Monmouth Park Sept. 2. Devil Eleven Stable bred the winner in Florida. He sold for $37,000 as a Keeneland yearling one year ago. Preachin Man has three wins and two seconds in six lifetime starts.
Fed Watcher grabbed the lead soon after the start and set fractions of :22 and :44 3/5. Gamblin Man, tracking the leader closely in second, drew even coming off the turn and opened up in the lane, holding the closer Cobra Strike and Jose Velez Jr. safe late. Indy Joe, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, finished third. The winner, clocked in 1:09 4/5, paid $25.80.
(Chart, Equibase)