Bessie's Boy invades for Gold Rush Futurity

Trainer Wesley Ward has a proven record when it comes to shipping a 2-year-old to a distant locale and winning – think Royal Ascot. The latest frontier for Ward is Colorado. He has sent Bessie’s Boy from Kentucky for the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity, the signature race for Arapahoe Park and one that closes out the meet Sunday.

Bessie’s Boy won the $95,000 Tremont in a romp at Belmont Park in June, and on the strength of that performance, he could go favored in a 10-horse field that also includes two undefeated stakes winners, Sky T and the filly Stratagem, as well as the Southern California shipper Social Request.

Ward, who over the past few years has won races with 2-year-olds he shipped to England, trains Bessie’s Boy for Ice Wine Stable. The horse won his debut at Pimlico in April, then rolled home by six lengths in the Tremont. In his most recent outing, Bessie’s Boy dueled between horses in the fast-paced, Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga, contesting to the top of the stretch and ending up seventh under Frankie Dettori. Since that start, Bessie’s Boy has breezed at Churchill Downs.

Key contenders

Bessie’s Boy (Last 3 Beyers: 12-73-51)

* He owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure, a 73 earned for his Tremont win.

* Bessie’s Boy, a son of Smoke Glacken, has shown versatility in winning from on and off the pace.

* Abel Lezcano has the mount from post 3.

Sky T (Last 2 Beyers: 52-54)

* He’s been flattered since his win in last month’s $42,000 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Futurity, with three horses he defeated returning to win their next starts, among them Red Carpet Runner, who took a division of the $42,000 Silver Cup Futurity at Arapahoe.

* He’s a son of Mr. Trieste, a nine-time stakes winner who earned more than $600,000. Mr. Trieste spent part of his career racing for Richard Lueck and trainer Gary Cross, the same team behind Sky T.

Social Request (Last 3 Beyers: 55-44-0)

* He’s a ridgling by Lookin At Lucky and won his maiden at this six-furlong distance last out at Del Mar.

* His trainer, Adam Kitchingman, sent out Chips All In to win the Gold Rush Futurity in 2011.

Red Carpet Runner (Last 3 Beyers: 62-26-0)

* He won his maiden in a division of the Silver Cup Futurity, cruising home on top by 9 1/4 lengths.

* He’s a half-brother to Falling Sky, a multiple Grade 3 winner of $420,118.

Ms. Battlefield (Last 3 Beyers: 59-25-24)

* One of two fillies in the field, she won her debut over male rivals in a maiden special weight at Arapahoe. The other filly to start is Stratagem, the winner of the Wyoming Futurity.

* Ms. Battlefield enters the Gold Rush off a romping win in a division of the Silver Cup Futurity at Arapahoe.