Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Quick Picks
Saturday’s $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland attracted a full field of thirteen 2-year-old colts. The 1 1/16 mile race is a challenge for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). The top four finishers in the Breeders’ Futurity also earn points on a scale of 10-4-2-1 points towards next year’s Kentucky Derby.
The Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity is billed as race nine of eleven with a 5:15 PM ET post time. The track should be fast.
Let’s take a quick look at the horses most likely to hit the board.
Favorites at Claiborne Breeders
#1 Double Thunder (4-1)
Double Thunder is the only graded stakes winner in the field. In June, he was a runaway 4 3/4 length winner of the Bashford Manor (G3) and, most recently, put in a powerful stretch drive to capture the one-mile Sapling Stakes at Monmouth by a half-length over American Sanctuary. This Todd Pletcher trainee is the class of the field and must be respected. Win contender.
#5 Don’t Wait Up (5-2)
Don’t Wait Up showed the ability to rate in his debut at Saratoga, missing by a nose. He returned to score a two-length victory in his next start. The Tony Dutrow trainee drilled back-to-back bullet works in preparation for the Breeders’ Futurity, and this is one of the colts to beat. Win contender.
#9 Great Escape (8-1)
Great Escape made a four-wide bid to handily beat Breeders’ Futurity rival Seal Beach by three lengths in his second start. The Rudy Brisset trainee has posted swift works at Keeneland and should take a step forward. Win contender.
#6 Rattle N Roll (6-1)
Rattle N Roll rocked it in his third start when stretching to 1 1 /16 miles. He was stuck in traffic for most of the race, but once he saw daylight, the Ken McPeek trainee rolled to a three-length victory. Rattle N Roll returns in only 16 days, but his professional demeanor will help in this large field. Win contender.
#11 Costa Terra (20-1)
Costa Terra had all sorts of trouble in the Ellis Park Juvenile, yet still managed to finish third, beaten only a half-length. The Steve Asmussen trainee has a long stride, and an outside post should be to his benefit. Live longshot.
#13 Classic Causeway (5-1)
Classic Causeway isn’t bred to be precocious, yet he captured his Saratoga debut by 6 1/2 lengths under a hand ride at 13-1 odds. Three of his rivals returned to hit the board in their next start, making the maiden event a key race. The only drawback for this Brian Lynch trainee is the far outside post. Jockey Jose Ortiz will have to quickly decide whether to let Classic Causeway run early or take him back in hopes of working out a ground-saving trip. Exotics.
Analysis of Claiborne Breeders
Several in the Breeders’ Futurity could vie for the lead, so a pace presser or closing running style could prevail.
Anything can happen with a full field of young horses, so picking the favorite on top is boring. Surprisingly, the only graded winner in the field is ignored at 4-1 odds, so he’s worth a play on top.
#1 Double Thunder (4-1)
#5 Don’t Wait Up (5-2)
#6 Rattle N Roll (6-1)
#11 Costa Terra (20-1)
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