Annual Report Rallies to Futurity Score

Annual Report was in tight at the break and trailed the field early on, but the 2-year-old colt rallied with a big late run to win the $200,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II) Oct 17 at Belmont Park.

With Joe Bravo in the irons for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Godolphin Racing, the Harlan's Holiday runner covered six furlongs in 1:09.82 to build a 2-for-2 record. He came into the Futurity off an easy Sept. 20 debut score at Parx Racing.

"He got squeezed and dropped back, but once he got going he was very impressive," McLaughlin said. "That was a nice win. It ended up an excellent race, because he went to the lead at Parx (but today) he took the dirt well and finished strong. We'll probably stretch him out before too long. I loved the way he moved through the turn."

It was Manhattan Dan, coming off a third on turf in the Summer Stakes (Can-IIT) at Woodbine, who set off for the early lead in a field of six. The Gary Contessa trainee ran fractions of :22.24 and :45.22 with about a two-length advantage that was soon lost heading into the turn.

Bravo shook up Annual Report after tracking from the back most of the way, and his mount responded through five-eighths in :57.32, with a strong late finish in tandem with King Kranz, then left that one in the final strides to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Manhattan Dan held for third.

"I was very confident today," Bravo said. "He won his last race by five lengths so easily. He had his ears up and it was just a morning gallop. There were some nice horses in the Futurity, but when he switched leads he leveled off so nicely. I think he's going to step up every race with maturity.

"I tried to send him away there in the first couple jumps. It was not my intention to be that far back but it just got a little tight down the backside. He was really comfortable and going good, and by the three-eighths pole, he started getting to them and getting to them. He really hit his stride."

Off at odds of 7-1, Annual Report paid $16.80, $7, and $4.20. King Kranz brought $3.40 and $2.80 at 8-5, while Manhattan Dan paid $3.80 to show at odds of 9-2. Ready Dancer, who had to steady as the top two finishers swept by him, completed the order of finish, along with Full Salute and Legend Keeper.

Annual Report was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds out of the Seeking the Gold mare Pension, and was a $600,000 purchase by Darley from Eddie Woods' consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training. His earnings now stand at $170,400.

"We sent him down to Parx for the experience and he didn't do anything wrong down there," said Godolphin racing manager Jimmy Bell. "A little bit of the unknown when you go out of town then come back here for the race, which probably was reflected in the odds, but he's a runner. He was very professional when he went about his business. We're very excited and (have) a lot to look forward to. That was a genuinely good effort and finish, looked like he had a little more hitting the wire, and (we are) very excited to see what's in store for him."