Blue Gator rolls in New York Breeders' Futurity

Blue Gator capitalized on a slow start by favored Thin White Duke and rolled to a 4 ½-length victory in the $218,075 New York Breeders' Futurity for New York-bred 2-year-olds on Monday at Finger Lakes.

Thin White Duke won the Funny Cide Stakes on Sept. 4 at Saratoga and the Aspirant Stakes, the local prep for the New York Breeders' Futurity, on Oct. 6 at Finger Lakes. However, breaking from the rail in the field of six on Monday, he hesitated at the start, winding up last in the field of six.

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Thin White Duke typically rallies from off the pace, but this time found himself with too much ground to make up on a sloppy, sealed track. He was about 12 lengths behind as Blame It On Mary took the field through an opening quarter in 22.73 seconds in the six-furlong race. Blue Gator and jockey Reylu Gutierrez raced in second, 2 1/2 lengths behind Blame It On Mary. They made a four-wide move around the far turn, and drew up on Blame It On Mary's hip nearing the quarter pole through a half in 46.39. Blue Gator easily took command in the lane and was kept to task by Gutierrez.

Our Man Mike, who was third at the quarter pole, ran on well to be second by 2 1/4 lengths over the rallying Thin White Duke. They were followed by Blame It On Mary, Sproles, and Citizen K.

The final time for the six furlongs was 1:12.62.

Blue Gator, who is trained by Mike Maker for Three Diamonds Farm, remained unbeaten in two career starts with his victory. The Liam's Map colt, bred in New York by Morera Breeding and Racing, won his debut by 1 1/2 lengths against statebreds on Sept. 25 at Belmont Park.

Gutierrez, a local native of Rochester, N.Y., had earned his first career victory in 2017 at Finger Lakes. He has now won a pair of stakes at Finger Lakes this year, and also picked up his first Triple Crown mount this year, riding Jungle Runner to finish 10th in the Belmont Stakes.