Second of July Rallies to Upset Futurity

Bryan Hilliard's homebred Second of July rallied from next to last to upset favorite After Five in the $100,000 Futurity Stakes (G3T) Oct. 11 at Belmont Park, earning himself a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

The six-furlong Futurity was the second win in as many starts for Second of July. The 2-year-old Jack Milton  gelding won first out Sept. 20 sprinting the same distance on Belmont's inner turf at 68-1 odds.

"I knew he was very fit and sharp and doing good, so I knew he would run his race, but I just wasn't sure if it was going to be good enough, but it turned out to be," trainer Phil Gleaves said.

Though only 15-1 in the Futurity, Second of July was the longest shot in the seven-horse field. He broke sixth under jockey Dylan Davis and brushed with After Five at the start. After Five settled in fifth and Second of July raced in sixth. Momos set fractions of :22.10 and :45.45 through a half-mile. 

Second of July was up into fifth and three lengths behind Momos at the quarter pole, while After Five was fanned six wide and dropped back to seventh. Angled out by Davis, Second of July found running room in the four path and ran down Momos to take the lead in deep stretch. After Five also made a late run but had to settle for second-best as Second of July held him off by half a length. 

"It's very exciting. Thanks to Phil Gleaves and Bryan Hilliard for keeping me on him," Davis said. "He ran a great race. He was pretty keen first time out. I wanted to break well since I knew there was some speed in here. He put me in a good position, next to last, but it was OK. Once we got into the turn, he wanted to get more. I just got him in a good position and got him into the clear, and he knew what to do. He was very professional today, and I'm very happy with that."

The final time on the firm turf was 1:09.33.

"He broke well for me, but I just could not get any early foot on him," Davis added. "Once we got to the turn, he wanted to get a little aggressive, and I allowed him to move up a little bit. From then on, I was just trying to find a clear spot to get going on him, and once I did, he excelled."

After Five finished a half-length ahead of third-place Momos. County Final was fourth. 

"The horse ran a great race," trainer Wesley Ward said of After Five. "It's just unfortunate he had traffic trouble, and that's what happens in racing. He lost but he's a very nice horse."

Gleaves said as long as Second of July remains in good order, they will head to the Breeders' Cup.

"I was happy to see (Davis) had so much horse coming around the turn, and at that point I knew we were going to run well. He just wore them down," Gleaves said. "Dylan does such a great job. There would be no reason to change things at the Breeders' Cup."

"This will be my first Breeders' Cup mount," Davis said. "I'm super excited and I know I'm ready for this. I've been waiting for a long time."

Kentucky-bred Second of July is the first winner out of the Curlin  mare Wichita, who foaled a Temple City  colt in February and was reported bred back to Jack Milton. The $89,650 earner was named for Hilliard's son, Reed, whose birthday is July 2.

The Futurity was the final race of the 2020 Breeders' Cup Challenge series heading into the Nov. 6-7 World Championships.

Video: Futurity S. (G3T)

Royal Approval Steps Back Up to Take Matron

Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Royal Approval came through as the 1-2 favorite for Ward in the $100,000 Matron Stakes (G3T) Sunday at Belmont Park. The daughter of Tiznow  has won both starts since returning from her Royal Ascot trip in June. 

Royal Approval was second on debut in May at Gulfstream Park and made her second start in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Ascot Racecourse, where she finished 17th. She returned Sept. 9 with blinkers removed and broke her maiden at Kentucky Downs before stepping back up to the graded level in the Matron. 

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Royal Approval broke on top and settled in second on the outside of Union Gables, who set fractions of :22.53 and :46.28 through a half-mile. She was still half a length behind down the stretch but persevered over her stubborn rival to reach the wire three-quarters of a length in front. 

"When I took the blinkers off her last time, she ran very well, and if you analyze the race at Kentucky Downs, it almost looked like you had to get worried and then (jockey Gerardo Corrales) went to the stick and she opened up five or six lengths," Ward said. "Irad said that he was just riding and she was just kind of right there, but when he hit her, she took off. I think this filly may stretch out."

Royal Approval completed the six furlongs on the firm inner turf in 1:09.10.

"I rode her like the best horse in the race," Ortiz said. "With this one I got the perfect trip. Wesley loved the filly. She broke well, she put me right there, and when I asked her to go, she was there.

"(Union Gables) was game. She was fighting and she tried to come back. My filly responded really well. She has a nice turn of foot."

Union Gables held for second by three-quarters of a length ahead of Magisterium, who rallied from last for third. Amalfi Princess was fourth.

Niente, who was third in the stretch, was pulled up by jockey Jose Lezaco after suffering an apparent injury to her right front. She was examined by trackside veterinarians, then vanned off. 

Royal Approval was bred in Kentucky out of the Malibu Moon  mare Touch the Moon, who has a yearling Connect  colt, a February-born Will Take Charge  colt, and was reported bred this year to Palace Malice . The juvenile filly was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was bought back after a final bid of $95,000. She has earned $117,400.

Ward said Royal Approval would definitely go to the Breeders' Cup. He planned to speak with Three Chimneys vice chairman Doug Cauthen and chairman Gonçalo Borges Torrealba to decide between the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at a mile or the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) at 5 1/2 furlongs.

"Just after talking to Irad, the mile might be the better option for her," Ward said, "but again, we'll sit down and see how she is. As we get a little closer, we'll have to really watch the weather, as this filly doesn't handle the soft turf. At Keeneland in the fall, sometimes you'll get that."