Bug Juice dominates New York Breeders' Futurity

As if to prove his easy victory in last month’s Aspirant was no fluke, Bug Juice delivered an even more impressive performance upon his second visit to Finger Lakes for Saturday’s richest race of the season, the $282,925 New York Breeders’ Futurity.

A seven-length winner in the six-furlong Aspirant on Labor Day, Bug Juice ($3.90) romped to a 10-length win in the six-furlong Futurity, covering the distance in 1:10.24, the second fastest running in the 48-year history of the stakes.

Based in New York with trainer Bruce Levine, Bug Juice, a son of Mingun owned by Our Blue Streaks Stable, has now won three straight races by a combined margin of 23 1/4 lengths.

John Davila Jr. was aboard Bug Juice for both of his Finger Lakes victories. It was Davila’s first Futurity victory since he took the 1998 running with Hearts at Risk.

"He’s an awesome horse and he did the same thing as last time", said Davila. "I said go and he said see ya."

Hysterical Cat, the beaten favorite in the Aspirant when he was third, did slightly better this time, finishing second as the 4-1 fourth choice in a field of seven New York-bred 2-year-olds, two lengths in front of Pin Number.