A grade one prep for the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile. Essential Quality won the Keeneland Breeder’s Futurity in 2020 on his way to the 2021 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes.
Top 2021 Keeneland Breeder’s Futurity Contenders:
Rattle n Roll took three starts to put it all together, but a dominating score at Churchill Downs in September has the distance pedigree and conditioning and that ability to come off the pace could be key if the pace gets hot upfront. Brisnet speed figure of 82.
Classic Causeway dominated a Saratoga maiden race and earned a 93 Brisnet in his first-lifetime start. Expect improvement in start number two. Drawing the 13th post was not ideal and we may see him sit just off the pace. Three workouts since the debut score and Jose Ortiz remains the jockey.
Costa Terra was highly regarded after the debut win and has been favored in both starts. The first crop of Gun Runner with a win early pedigree. The break allowed him time to freshen up and Steve Asmussen does well with horses in their 3rd lifetime start with a freshening.
Stellar Tap drew off by 5 lengths in debut race at 5/1 odds. Beat some highly regarded horses in that race and followed that up with a mid-race move in the Iroquois. Major General who beat him that day is training up to the Breeder’s Cup. The last race was a solid race, middle move, and was going eyeball to eyeball with the winner down the stretch. Capable of improving to a lifetime best speed figure in third career start.
Double Thunder is three for four and came back to win after losing the Saratoga Special. Came from off the pace at Monmouth and won a weaker edition of the Sapling Stakes. Inside Draw helps him as he should save ground early. Has a pedigree to like the slop on both the sire and mare side.
Great Escape coasted clear in his second lifetime start with a speed figure improvement from an 84 to a 93. Pedigree is one that should win early and the best distance is 7-8.5 furlongs. Has a bullet workout at Keeneland on September 8th.
Breeder’s Futurity Selections:
Win: Classic Causeway
Place: Great Escape
Show: Terra Costa