Recount Wires Arlington-Washington Futurity
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Recount led from the gate but had to fight out the finish of the $125,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) with familiar rival Private Prospect for a head-bobbing victory Sept. 6 at Arlington International Racecourse .
The 9-5 favorite in a field of seven juveniles, Recount jumped immediately to the lead with Emmanuel Esquivel and laid down fractions of :23.13 and :46.67 through a half-mile as Private Prospect pressed from second with Jesse Campbell.
That rival moved to challenge in upper stretch, getting to the throat latch of Recount as six furlongs went in 1:11.23. But the winner would not yield and held for the narrow win by a head over Private Prospect with One Go All Go just a head farther back in third.
The final time for seven furlongs on the Polytrack surface was 1:24.25.
Recount, a Limehouse gelding out of stakes-placed Bold Badgett mare Lucky in Love, has a 2-0-1 record from three career starts and $112,069 in earnings. He is campaigned by Doubledown Stables and trainer James DeVito, who bought him for $40,000 from breeder Gallagher Farms at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale.
Recount won his debut at Arlington July 20 in a 4 1/2-length romp. He was subsequently third to Private Prospect in the Aug. 9 Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile in his previous start. The runner-up in that race was Lucky Player, winner of the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III), also on Saturday, at Churchill Downs.
Recount's win was worth $5.80, $3.20, and $2.80 while Private Prospect, under 122 pounds, brought $4 and $4. One Go All Go, who loomed just behind the front-runners early and through the stretch, paid $3.40 to show.
"He's a natural speed horse," DiVito said of the winner. "(In his last race at Prairie Meadows), he broke a little funny because of the lights and he was a little bit hesitant."
Private Prospect suffered his first loss from four career starts.
"He ran a great race but I'm a little bit disappointed," said Campbell. "He broke good and I put the race in his hands. He had the winner collared at the top of the lane, on his outside. I was pretty disappointed he didn't show me a little more turn of foot down the lane because it wouldn't have taken much to get by that horse. At one point, I think I (fell back to) third, but he fought back to get second but it's still a little disappointing."
One race earlier, Quality Rocks took the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes for 2-year-old fillies by 3 1/2 lengths, keeping her record perfect in two career starts .
Ridden by Rosemary Homeister Jr. for trainer William R. Helmbrecht, the daughter of Rock Hard Ten settled just off the flank of pacesetter and runner-up Sarah Sis, the even-money favorite. She challenged her late on the turn and shook clear entering the stretch.
Happy to Go finished 3 1/4 lengths back in third.
The final time was 1:24.88 for seven furlongs.
Quality Rock won her debut by 4 1/2 lengths at Presque Isle Downs Aug. 13. She failed to meet her reserve price on a final bid of $37,000 when offered by Woodford Thoroughbreds at the 2013 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. August yearling sale.
Owner Destiny Oaks of Ocala bred her in Florida out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Elusive Virgin.