Rail Rally Lifts Blofeld in Futurity Stakes
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Eased just off the pace in the turn by red-hot jockey John Velazquez, favored Blofeld then rallied along the rail to win the $200,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II) by three-quarters of a length Oct. 5 at Belmont Park.
Glencrest Farm and JSM Equine's Blofeld broke well and briefly contested the early lead with Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) winner Cinco Charlie, who led through a quarter-mile in :23.10. But after that opening quarter mile, Velazquez backed off and settled the 6-5 favorite in third along the rail.
Cinco Charlie was shadowed through the turn of the six-furlong race by Hebbronville to his outside, and that one launched a serious challenge turning for home. When Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. allowed Cinco Charlie to drift out slightly to take on the challenge to his outside in early stretch, Blofeld launched his winning move along the rail.
The victory continued the splendid weekend of juvenile race wins for trainer Todd Pletcher, who a day earlier won the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland with Carpe Diem and the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont with Daredevil.
Pletcher picked up his third Futurity win, following scores in 2012 with Overanalyze and 2006 with King of the Roxy.
Velazquez won the Futurity one day after sweeping the three grade I races at Keeneland: the Breeders' Futurity on Carpe Diem, the First Lady Stakes aboard Dayatthespa, and the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes with Wise Dan. His 2014 Futurity victory gives the Racing Hall of Fame rider five victories in the race: the three Pletcher winners plus Lemon Drop Kid in 1998 and Traitor in 1996.
Blofeld, who entered off a one-length victory in his debut in a five-furlong race Aug. 14 at Saratoga Race Course, completed the six furlongs in 1:09.49. Bloefeld is the first graded stakes winner for his freshman sire Quality Road , who also boasts group I-placed stakes winner Hootenanny.
Perry Sutherland, Frank Arnold Jr., and Scott Galloway's Hebbronville, who entered off a debut maiden win and allowance score at Parx Racing, edged past William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Cinco Charlie late to finish second. Hebbronville is the first graded stakes-placed runner for freshman sire Majesticperfection .
Blofeld paid $4.40 to win, $2.30 to place, and $2.10 to show. Hebbronville returned $2.50 and $2.10, while Cinco Charlie returned $2.10 to show.
Bred in Kentucky by Keats Grove Farm, Blofeld is one of four winners and the first stakes winner out of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Storm Minstrel. JSM Equine and Greathouse Properties purchased Blofeld for $225,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale of 2-year-olds in March.