Whywhywhy will be asked the question Sunday in the $200,000 Futurity (gr. I) at Belmont Park. The one-mile contest could be a big stepping stone for Whywhywhy, who won the Sanford Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga July 25 and also took the Flash Stakes (gr. III) wire to wire over the Belmont layout.
Atfirst Blush enters the Futurity off a sharp maiden victory, and the full brother to Rubiyat can't be dismissed here. Valid Video is undefeated in two starts, including the Sapling (gr. III) at Monmouth, and has won both on the lead and coming from off the pace.
Silver Squire has never been outrun to the wire in two starts, although he was disqualified in his second effort for lugging in. Pretty Wild ran second behind Sky Mesa in the Hopeful (gr. I) at Saratoga. Bob Baffert ships Truckle Feature cross country to compete.
All starters carry 120 pounds. The Futurity field, in post position order with trainers and jockeys:
1) Blakelock (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez)
2) Atfirst Blush (Sal Russo, Robbie Davis)
3) Valid Video (Dennis Manning, Jorge Chavez)
4) Whywhywhy (Patrick Biancone, Edgar Prado)
5) Pretty Wild (Stanley Hough, Shaun Bridgmohan)
6) Truckle Feature (Bob Baffert, Jerry Bailey)
7) Silver Squire (John Kimmel, Richard Migliore)
