Cinco Charlie Standout in Five-Horse Futurity

There was a time when the thought of running New York’s two big grade I stakes for 2-year-olds, the Champagne and Futurity Stakes, one day apart was inconceivable.

Even when the Futurity, run at Belmont Park. was cut in distance and lowered to grade II status, it still had its place on the NYRA calendar, even for the brief time when it was used as prep for the now defunct Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint.

By running the day after the Champagne, the six-furlong Futurity had such little appeal to horsemen this year it had to be relegated to the day's fourth race to keep it out of the Pick-Six.

Of the five entered, the only horse with stakes credentials is Cinco Charlie, winner of the Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs in his second start. The son of Indian Charlie also has finished a game third in the Sanford Stakes (gr. III) at Saratoga Race Course and fifth in the Spa's Saratoga Sepcial (gr. II). In his most recent race, the bay colt easily captured a restricted stakes over a sloppy track at Delaware Park.

With those credentials, there is no doubt the Steve Asmussen-trained colt will be an overwhelming favorite in the Futurity. Although he drew the rail, his early speed should help him overcome that. He gets a new rider in Ricardo Santana Jr.

Now, the big question is, can anyone beat Cinco Charlie, considering the remainder of the field consists of two last-out maiden special weight winners, a maiden claiming winner, and an allowance winner at Parx Racing?

Hebbronville, breaking from the outside post, is interesting in that he is undefeated and untested in his two career starts at Parx, winning by 5 1/2 and 6 1/4 lengths, the latter in a sprightly 1:03 3/5 for the 5 1/2 furlongs. Jose Lezcano picks up the mount from trainer Lynn Whiting.

Of course you have your usual Todd Pletcher maiden winner in Blofeld, a son of Quality Road who scored by a length at Saratoga in his only start, covering the five furlongs in a sharp :57 4/5. Finishing third in that race was El Kabeir, who came back to break his maiden by 10 3/4 lengths and will be one of the favorites in the Champagne Stakes the day before. Blofeld will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post 2.

Completing the field are Far Right, a five-length maiden winner at Churchill Downs for trainer Ron Moquett, and Mr. Amos, who broke his maiden for a $40,000 claiming tag at Monmouth Park in his third start and was supplemented to this race. Far Right, a son of Notional  , sold at last year’s Keeneland January sale for a mere $2,500.