Championship up for grabs in Futurity

Declan’s Moon will go for his fourth straight win on Saturday (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Saturday’s $449,500 Hollywood Futurity (G1) is a battle for the title of two-year-old
champion. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) hero
WILKO (Awesome
Again), undefeated Del
Mar Futurity (G2) winner DECLAN’S MOON (Malibu Moon) and Champagne S. (G1)
victor PROUD ACCOLADE (Yes It’s True) will all own a legitimate claim for the
Eclipse Award with a victory in the 1 1/16-mile event. The championship should
be settled in Inglewood, California, barring an upset of all three top
contenders.

Declan’s Moon is likely to go off favored in the field of eight. Trained by
Ron Ellis, the dark bay gelding followed a sharp debut maiden win with a gutsy
victory over the heavily favored Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus) in the Del Mar
Futurity. After a brief freshening, Declan’s Moon returned to the races with a
sharp two-length score in the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) last out. Victor Espinoza
has the mount.

Wilko was Group 2-placed over the grass in Europe but had won only two of 10
starts prior to the Breeders’ Cup. He was justifiably sent off at 28-1 and
proved that all he needed was dirt to show his ability, closing determinedly to
win by three parts of a length. The chestnut colt has a new trainer in Craig
Dollase and a new rider in Corey Nakatani for the Futurity. Wilko breaks from
the rail.

Proud Accolade reeled off three straight before suffering his first career
setback in Texas. His connections want to draw a line through that performance
and are hopeful that he’ll display the stellar turn of foot from two starts back in the
Champagne. Trainer Todd Pletcher sent the dark bay to California three weeks
early to prepare and jockey John Velazquez has made the trip west to ride the
promising colt.