AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| CASHCALL FUTURITY
(G1), 9TH-HOL, $750,000, 2YO, 1 1/16M, 4:35 P.M. PST, 12-19 |
|
| 1 |
LOOKIN AT LUCKY, 2, c, by Smart StrikePrivate Feeling, by Belong to Me O-Pegram or Watson or Weitman; B-Gulf Coast Farms LLC (Ky) |
| 2 |
BRADY BLUE EYES, 2, c, by Sky MesaMettle, by Silver Deputy O-Cory Wagner; B-Monticule (Ky) |
| 3 |
THE PROGRAM, 2, c, by Harlan’s HolidayShadow On the Moon, by Deputy Minister O-Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable; B-Double Eagle Thoroughbreds (Ky) |
| 4 |
MARCELLO, 2, c, by JohannesburgMiramar Miracle, by Affirmed O-Peachtree Stable; B-Kirk & Deby Wycoff (Ky) |
| 5 |
MAKE MUSIC FOR ME, 2, c, by BernsteinMiss Cheers, by Carson City O-Ellen & Peter O Johnson Sr.; B-Richard Shultz (Ky) |
| 6 |
NOBLE’S PROMISE, 2, c, by CuveeThe Devil’s Trick, by Clever Trick O-Chasing Dreams Racing 2008 LLC; B-C. Kidder, Cole & B. Kidder (Ky) |
| 7 |
SEATTLE RULER, 2, c, by Roman RulerDecades of Style (Ire), by A.P. Indy O-Carey O’Connor & Mike Harrington Trustee; B-Sheehan Todd M (Ky) |
| 8 |
WILDLEE SPECIAL, 2, c, by Offlee WildSpecial Tapestry, by Theatrical (Ire) O-Robbins III & Laue; B-Robbins Lansdon B. (Ky) |
Grade 1 winners LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) and NOBLE’S PROMISE (Cuvee)
will do battle in Saturday’s $750,000 CashCall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood, and
the winner could earn championship honors with a tally. The Bob Baffert-trained
Lookin at Lucky is a short head from being unbeaten at this stage of his career
after a tough-trip second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). The impressive
colt has all the tools, including the best BRIS Speed ratings, and we don’t see
him getting beat here. Garrett Gomez will ride the likely champion two-year-old.
THE PROGRAM (Harlan’s Holiday), also trained by Baffert, has shown vast
improvement since stretching out in distance and is a logical top-three
candidate. While we love this colt as a future prospect into his sophomore
season, especially when he runs on dirt, he looks a cut below the top one. The
bay still rates as our pick to complete the exacta on talent alone. Victor
Espinoza getting aboard enhances the appeal.
Noble’s Promise recorded a big third-place finish in the Juvenile for Ken
McPeek and rates as the main threat to our top pick. The bargain weanling
purchase ($10,000) has been consistently good throughout the year, winning three
of his last four after a decent second in his debut, and we like the fact that
the Kentucky-bred stayed in California to ready for this test. He also owns
excellent tactical speed, recording century-topping BRIS E2 numbers, and we
expect a fine showing from him. The addition of Robby Albarado can be viewed as
a positive rider switch.
BRADY BLUE EYES (Sky Mesa) has shown talent in all four career starts for
Mark Glatt and finally broke through with a maiden conquer in his first route
attempt. With an 81 BRIS Speed rating last time, the chestnut colt doesn’t look
capable of matching the top contenders, but his consistency and further
improvement could yield him a placing at a big number.
WILDLEE SPECIAL (Offlee Wild) earned a solid 91 BRIS Speed figure for his
handy maiden win at Meadowlands last out and is the wildcard in here for the
ever-dangerous Richard Dutrow. The Kentucky-bred dark bay should be coming from
off the pace in a race that potentially has a lot of early zip, so we must
consider him for the bottom of the gimmicks under Alex Solis. MARCELLO
(Johannesburg), the third of the Baffert brigade, closed well to be second in
the grassy Generous S. (G3) last out but lacked prior synthetic form necessary
to challenge late in this one. We’ll take a stand against.
Maiden MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein) ran two big ones at Del Mar but has yet
to hit the board anywhere else, so we’ve lost confidence in the colt. SEATTLE
RULER (Roman Ruler) was ninth, at nearly 80-1, the last time he faced Lookin at
Lucky. We have no indication that the California-bred has improved much since
that showing.