Breeders’ Futurity

Saturday’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland is a highly competitive
two-turn test. A case can be made for many of the 14 entrants, and how it will
all play out should be fascinating to see. The 3-1 morning-line favorite, LAITY
(Pulpit), must work out a trip from post 12, trainer Tim Ritchey has
cross-entered MENACING (Lemon Drop Kid) and KID LEMONADE (Lemon Drop Kid) in the
Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park, GREATER FOOL (Exploit) is also cross-entered
in the Champagne, and COOL CREEK (Ire) (Desert Style) will make his dirt and
U.S. debut. That said, we like Cool Creek for all the marbles.

Trained by Richard Hannon, Cool Creek has been competitive against top
company in England. The bay colt finished second by a neck in the Vintage S.
(Eng-G2), second to eventual Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1) runner-up Wake Up Maggie
(Xaar) at The Curragh, a close and troubled fourth in the Champagne S. (Eng-G2),
and then won Mill Reef S. (Eng-G2) in his last start. He owns a strong late turn
of foot, adds first-time Lasix, and should offer attractive odds.

Laity outdueled the highly regarded Lewis Michael (Rahy) going a flat mile at
Arlington Park, then romped to a front-running, 11 3/4-length victory going the
1 1/16-mile
distance in the Cradle S. at River Downs. The Frank Brothers-trained colt has
excellent tactical speed and a strong finish. Our only concern is that he may
lose valuable ground on the first turn. Laity is the one to beat and should be
ignored at your own peril.

Menacing stalked the early pace from the outside, took the lead on his own
volition turning for home, then drew off through the stretch under mild
encouragement to break his maiden by 5 1/4 lengths going two turns in his debut
three weeks ago at Delaware Park. The colt has the same connections — Ritchey
and jockey Jeremy Rose — as dual classic winner Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet).
If he runs, Menacing rates our longshot special.

Greater Fool raced near the lead while along the inside in hand, split horses
when given the signal in upper stretch, then drew off by a widening 7 3/4
lengths in his six-furlong debut in 1:11 at Belmont Park in mid-September. He
was a good-looking winner and should enjoy the added distance under Shaun
Bridgmohan, who was easily the leading rider at the recently concluded Arlington
Park meet.

The Patrick Biancone-trained STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe) won a 1 1/16-mile
grass stakes at Saratoga, then closed from last to win the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky
Cup Juvenile S. (G3) by 1 3/4 lengths at Turfway Park. The dark bay colt is proven on
turf and Polytrack and returns to the main track here. He could factor, but may
be overbet with Kieren Fallon astride. RUNGIUS (Cat Thief) dueled from the
outside nearly every step of the way before holding on gamely for runner-up
honors in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile. The Bernie Flint trainee appears to be
improving with each start and could light the board at large odds.

HIGH COTTON (Dixie Union) defeated a $2.9 million juvenile purchase while
under a near all-out drive in his last start at Belmont Park. The Todd Pletcher
trainee makes his two-turn debut on the rise but has the look of an underlay in
our book. CATCOMINATCHA (Tale of the Cat) advanced along the inside, then ran
into traffic and was steadied in upper stretch before finishing well for fourth
in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile. He retains Rafael Bejarano in the saddle and could
be an attractive price play. REAFFIRMED (Quaker Ridge) closed nicely from off
the pace to win the Continental Mile S. at Monmouth Park in his last start. He
must work out a trip from the far outside post to factor. Kid Lemonade rallied
three wide on the second turn before being turned back by Superfly (Fusaichi
Pegasus) in the one-mile Whirling Ash S. at Delaware Park in his latest. Rose
abandons this one in favor of Menacing.

DAWN OF WAR (Catienus) rallied up the fence around the second turn, lugged in
turning for home, then finished a distant second to Laity as the favorite in the
Cradle. He would have to improve significantly to threaten these. CHARLEY TANGO
(Maria’s Mon) won his first two and then finished second to the unbeaten
Sorcerer’s Stone (Gulch) in the Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity
(G3). He will likely get tested for class here. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained SHARP
ATTACK (Storm Cat) comes off back-to-back victories over the Polytrack, but
looks ambitiously placed with these. SPECIAL INTEREST (Stravinsky), a full
brother to multiple stakes winner Chinese Dragon, may prefer turf and would be a
surprise.