Bellamy Road Has an Inside Lane at Keeneland

Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road, winner of the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (gr. III) at River Downs last month, drew post 3 for Saturday's Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland. The Lane's End Breeders' Futurity will be shown live on ESPN2 "Road to the World Thoroughbred Championships Powered by Dodge" telecast from 4-5 p.m. EDT.

Bellamy Road, a Florida-bred son of Concerto--Hurry Home Hillary, by Deputed Testimony, ships down from the North East, Md. base of his trainer, Michael Dickinson. Dickinson has had grade I success at Keeneland before, saddling Fleet Renee to win the 2001 Ashland Stakes. Kinsman Stable is run by George Steinbrenner, who is also majority owner of the New York Yankees.

Bellamy Road broke his maiden Aug. 3 at Delaware Park, zipping six furlongs in 1:10.97 in a 7 1/2-length victory. He shipped to River Downs near Cincinnati, Ohio to win the two-turn, 1 1/16 miles Cradle in a wire-to-wire effort over Diamond Isle and even-money favorite Scipion. Both Cradle money-finishers return in the Breeders' Futurity. The final time of the Cradle was 1:45.00.

Others lie in wait as well, including graded stakes winners Three Hour Nap and Evil Minister.

Diamond Isle, by Gilded Time out of of Polish Legacy, by Polish Navy, was a game second in the Cradle. After catching a sloppy track in his June 12 unveiling at Churchill Downs, he came back to break his maiden in his start prior to the Cradle on July 5, getting six furlongs in 1:10.12 in an off-the-pace effort.

Scipion was the "talking horse" in the Cradle off a star-studded pedigree and dazzling debut at Saratoga on Aug. 14. By A.P. Indy out of Strawberry Reason, by Strawberry Road, Scipion is a half-brother to 2002 champion 2-year-old Vindication. His maiden voyage was an impressive last-to-first effort against seven rivals going seven furlongs.

Bred and owned by Virginia Kraft-Payson, Scipion will draw plenty of support at the windows and plenty of eyes in the paddock.

Three Hour Nap won a three-horse photo in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) on Sept. 19 at Arlington. The son of Afternoon Deelites was bred in Kentucky by Frank Penn Jr. and D. Flannigan and is owned by Homewrecker Racing and trainer Hugh Robertson. Three Hour Nap is unbeaten in three starts, but like many of the rest in the field, tackles two turns for the first time.

Straight Line, who just lost the Arlington-Washington by a neck, will also give the Breeders' Futurity a try.

Namcock Stables' Evil Minister rallied to win the six-furlong Sapling Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park in August, then ran steadily throughout the one-mile Futurity (gr. II) at Belmont in a third-place effort. The son of the late Deputy Minster is trained by Erik Juvonen.

Other Breeders' Futurity runners of note are:

Father Weist, a recent maiden winner from trainer Nick Zito. The Kentuck-bred son of Pulpit is owned by Double C Stable.

Magna Graduate, runner up to Greater Good in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile (gr. III) after setting the early pace. By Honor Grades, the Garry Simms-trained colt is out of the Fast Play mare Peacock Alley.

Consolidator, from trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddled five Breeders' Futurity winners including Honour And Glory, Boston Harbor, and Cat Thief  . By Storm Cat, Consolidator was fourth in the six-furlong Sanford (gr. II), then ran fourth behind Afleet Alex in the seven-furlong Hopeful (gr. I). Both races were at Saratoga.

Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I), $500,000, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, 121 pounds, Keeneland, Saturday, Oct. 9, approx. post 4:21 p.m. EDT
PP -- Horse -- Jockey
1 --Father Weist --Willie Martinez
2 -- Magna Graduate -- Jose Santos
3 -- Bellamy Road -- Ramon Dominguez
4 -- Diamond Isle -- Pat Day
5 -- Pop the Question -- Craig Perret
6 -- Evil Minister -- Gary L. Stevens
7 -- Consolidator -- Rafael Bejarano
8 -- Straight Line --Brice Blanc
9 -- Three Hour Nap --Mark Guidry
10 -- Patriot Act -- Robby Albarado
11 -- Scipion -- Edgar S. Prado
12 --Copy My Notes -- John McKee