Calibrate, Founder get two-turn test in Breeders' Futurity

Calibrate and Founder, impressive debut winners sprinting at Saratoga, meet in the Grade 1, $400,000 Breeders’ Futurity on Saturday at Keeneland, a crucial distance test for both that could set them on the path to even bigger things.

The 1 1/16-mile Futurity is the local prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, set for Nov. 6 at Keeneland, and awards the winner a berth into that championship-crucial event. The Futurity also awards its top finishers qualifying points toward the 2021 Kentucky Derby on a 10-4-2-1 scale.

Calibrate debuted Aug. 15 at Saratoga for Steve Asmussen, setting a pressured pace in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special before drawing away to win by 4 1/2 lengths. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80, one of the best numbers in this field.

“He ran professionally and didn’t get a break any time,” said David Fiske, racing and bloodstock manager for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds. “All in all, it was the effort we hoped for, but you never know until they go in the gate.”

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Calibrate has a pedigree to aid him in stretching out, as he is by classic sire Distorted Humor and out of an unraced daughter of stamina influence Dynaformer. The colt has fired several bullet works at Saratoga in preparation for the Futurity, suggesting that his natural speed is primed for Ricardo Santana Jr., who rode him on debut.

Drawn in post 7 in the field of nine, Santana has options, as Calibrate could clear others inside of him to make the lead, or could be in an ideal position to closely stalk the pace.

Two weeks after Calibrate’s maiden win, Chad Brown unveiled $600,000 juvenile purchase Founder. The colt was last in the field of nine after the opening quarter of the six-furlong maiden special on a muddy track. He rallied to win by a neck over stablemate Highly Motivated – who flattered him by winning next out – despite ducking out suddenly in midstretch when Jose Ortiz went to a left-handed stick.

“One crack of the left whip and he jumped five lanes,” Brown said. “Which doesn’t surprise me since we don’t use the stick in the morning.”

Founder, who received a 78 Beyer for his debut win, is drawn in post 8 under Joel Rosario. The colt is from the first crop of multiple graded stakes-winning router Upstart, a grandson of A.P. Indy.

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“Six furlongs is as short as he’ll ever want to run,” Brown said.

Distance is not a question mark for King Fury, a son of classic sire Curlin and Grade 1-winning sprinter Taris. The colt won his debut Sept. 3 at Churchill Downs at 1 1/16 miles for Ken McPeek. He is drawn outside under Corey Lanerie, an ideal spot to stalk the developments.

Brad Cox unveiled the Godolphin homebred Essential Quality, by Tapit, for a debut victory on Kentucky Derby Day. Super Stock, winner of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity, finished third in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at a mile on Derby Day after a mild stumble at the start. Notary finished sixth in the Iroquois after a maiden victory at a mile at Ellis Park.

Upstriker, also by Upstart, is coming off a maiden victory sprinting at Ellis in which he earned the field’s top Beyer, an 81. Keepmeinmind is a maiden, as is Dixie’s Two Stents, sixth in the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity.