Bling On the Music faces males in Gold Rush Futurity

Bling On the Music will be taking on male rivals and moving into open company Sunday in the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park, but she could be favored in a deep field of nine that includes the undefeated Crosscheck Carlos, multiple stakes winner Way Out West, and Gulfstream shipper Lifelong Dreamer.

The Gold Rush, for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, is the richest Thoroughbred offering of the meet and shares a closing-day program with the $160,000 Mile High Futurity for Quarter Horses.

Bling On the Music has soared to clear wins in both of her races, including an 8 1/2-length romp in the $100,000 fillies’ division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity on July 9 at Lone Star Park. She debuted at the same track in May, rolling home by 4 3/4 lengths in a maiden special weight for fillies bred in Texas.

“She has a lot of class,” said J.R. Caldwell, who trains Bling On the Music for Keene Thoroughbreds.

Gold Rush Futurity (Race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Bling On the Music, by Too Much Bling

Beyers: 88-78

◗ She owns the field’s best Beyer Speed Figure, an 88 for her wire-to-wire win in the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity. She broke from the rail in that five-furlong race and drew the fence again for Sunday.

“Being in the 1 hole was probably best for her,” Caldwell said. “There’s room to the rail, and there wasn’t a horse on the inside for her to deal with. She broke sharp and went to the lead, and they eyeballed her, and she handled all the pressure real well.”

◗ Luis Quinonez was aboard and has the mount again for Keene Thoroughbreds, which won last year’s Gold Rush Futurity with Texas Chrome.

◗ Caldwell said the tactics Sunday will be simple with Bling On the Music.

“She’s a real relaxed type of filly,” he said. “Nothing bothers her, so to speak. You just let her run her race.”

Crosscheck Carlos, by Custom for Carlos

Beyers: 66-68

◗ He’s 2 for 2 in his young career, winning his debut at Santa Anita in June, then shipping to his native Louisiana for the $100,000 males’ division of the D.S. “Shine” Young Memorial Futurity at Evangeline Downs.

◗ Crosscheck Carlos races for a partnership that includes Erik Johnson, a defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. Karlo Lopez has the mount from post 7 for trainer Shawn Davis.

Way Out West, by Fusaichi Pegasus

Last 3 Beyers: 44-34-17

◗ He’s won both of his stakes at the meet: the $46,000 CTBA Futurity on July 10 and the $54,000 Silver Cup Futurity on July 30.

◗ Tracy Hebert has the mount for Tyrone Gleason.