Hollywood Futurity J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

The $250,000 Hollywood Futurity (G1) on Saturday will provide a significant
barometer for next year’s classic crop. In addition to producing the leading
challenger to presumptive champion Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even), the race
will also identify other later developers with solid Kentucky Derby (G1)
aspirations. With this larger canvas in the back of one’s mind, handicapping the
1 1/16-mile Futurity boils down to selecting the most talented individual likely
to excel at two turns and ready to score at the Grade 1 level.

A. P. WARRIOR (A.P. Indy) fits this description and is on the verge of
becoming the complete package. The Eoin Harty pupil strolled home by four
lengths in a one-mile Santa Anita allowance in his last start, dispatching
Futurity rival BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold). It’s instructive to note that
the third-place finisher, Da Stoops (Distorted Humor), later placed in the
Hollywood Prevue S. (G3), beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Futurity contender YOUR TENT
OR MINE (Forest Camp). A. P. Warrior certainly has the talent, as he’s recorded
BRIS E2 figures above the century mark in three of his four career starts, but he hasn’t put
his best foot forward in his two prior stakes efforts.

In both cases, he had
been his own worst enemy, getting worked up before his races and not relaxing in
their running. Despite pulling early and making things harder on himself in the
1 1/16-mile Norfolk S. (G2), A. P. Warrior still managed to close resolutely in
the final yards, going under by just three parts of a length to BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark). Harty, a consummate horseman, has been patiently teaching the colt to settle,
and A. P. Warrior has been working brilliantly as well, turning in three straight bullets. We
expect the dark bay to show vast psychological improvement on Saturday and look
for him to vault into the Triple Crown spotlight with an exceptional
performance. Garrett Gomez reunites with him for the first time since his maiden
victory.

Brother Derek followed up his Norfolk score with a terrific race in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile S. (G1). The Dan Hendricks trainee tracked the rapid
early pace and tired to finish fourth behind divisional leaders Stevie Wonderboy,
Henny Hughes (Hennessy) and First Samurai (Giant’s Causeway), beaten 8 1/2
lengths. He has the most solid form of anyone in this race, is proven at the
distance and he shares the best last-race BRIS Speed rating of 101 with Your
Tent or Mine. Alex Solis stays aboard.

Bob and John was not completely ready for that allowance race in which he was
decisively beaten by A. P. Warrior, as the Bob Baffert juvenile had just
recovered from a virus. In his next start, he romped home by six lengths in the Real
Quiet S., racking up a 103 BRIS Late Pace figure, only to be disqualified and placed
third in a controversial ruling. While he convincingly handled that group, it’s
unclear just how good they were, with Genre (GB) (Orpen), a fresh English
import, finishing second and Kissin Knight (Kissin Kris), a last-out turf maiden
winner, in third. Since then, Bob and John has posted two bullet works, most
recently a six-furlong drill in 1:11 3/5. He’s clearly improving, but it’s
questionable whether he’s advanced enough at this stage to make up the deficit
on A. P. Warrior. Victor Espinoza returns to the saddle.

Your Tent or Mine was an impressive winner of the Hollywood Prevue in his
last start, posting a 101 Speed figure. The Neil Drysdale charge effortlessly
made the transition from maiden to graded company, even overcoming a slow start,
to keep his record a perfect two-for-two. He deserves great respect as an
exciting prospect, but he may be vulnerable as he attempts two turns for the
first time against battle-hardened foes. His pedigree does not give much
reassurance on this point, as his sire, Forest Camp, was a brilliant juvenile
who did not win beyond seven furlongs, and his dam scored most of her wins at
six furlongs and only one at a mile. Pat Valenzuela once more takes the reins.

OLD THUNDER (Fusaichi Pegasus) was the even-money favorite in the Hollywood Prevue but
could not make an impression, beaten more than six lengths in fourth. Trainer
Ron McAnally has said that the owner made the decision to run in the Futurity,
not a sign to inspire confidence, especially as he was reportedly ill at ease on
the Hollywood surface. However, this colt is eligible to show a lot more at two
turns, and he’s very much worth including in the exotics. Old Thunder bolted
home by eight lengths in a Santa Anita maiden, defeating subsequent maiden
winner Only in Louisiana (Louis Quatorze), and had finished fifth in the Del Mar
Futurity S. (G2) while still a maiden, beaten six lengths by Stevie Wonderboy.
Since the Prevue, he’s turned in two straight bullet moves, all at Santa
Anita. His pedigree strongly suggests that he’ll be significantly better as he
matures, so he bears watching beyond Saturday. Tyler Baze picks up the mount.

JEALOUS PROFIT (Trippi) finished third in the Del Mar Futurity and the
Norfolk, also as a maiden. After a thorough drubbing in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile, he lowered his sights to a Hollywood maiden and failed by a nose.
Although trainer Doug O’Neill is putting the blinkers on, and that may help him
somewhat, he hasn’t given the impression that he’s moving forward. Corey
Nakatani, his rider in the Breeders’ Cup, is in the irons.

Trainer Beau Greely is sending out a pair of maidens. KOBAYASHI (Ecton Park)
was last seen finishing a distant second to Only in Louisiana in the maiden
mentioned above. Martin Pedroza takes the call. ECRU EGRET (Silver Hawk) was
fourth in that same race and is likely wishing this were on the turf. Jon Court
will ride him for the first time.