Championofthenile formidable in New York Breeders’ Futurity
Championofthenile will be a heavy favorite on Saturday in the New York Breeders’ Futurity, the richest race of the Finger Lakes season.
The Breeders’ Futurity is a six-furlong stakes for 2-year-old New York-breds whose owners have made a series of sustaining payments. Including that added money, the Futurity will be worth $206,963.
Championofthenile, trained by Linda Rice, earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for his six-length maiden win at Saratoga. The second-highest figure in the field is the 80 earned by Mind Your Biscuits for finishing second in that race.
Another top contender is Love That Jazz, the sharp winner of the $115,000 Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes on Sept. 18 for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Championofthenile, an $840,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training in May, tired to finish sixth on turf in his debut at Saratoga. He came back 18 days later to score impressively on dirt.
Most recently, Championofthenile finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, as the 6-5 favorite in the Sept. 27 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park. He broke outward at the start and then raced just off the front-running Sudden Surprise for the entire race.
Sudden Surprise is now undefeated in three starts, including two wins at Saratoga, the Funny Cide Stakes and a maiden race.
New York Breeders’ Futurity, Race 5
Key Contenders
Championofthenile (Last 3 Beyers: 79-94-38)
◗ A son of Pioneerof the Nile owned by the Lady Sheila Stable, the Iris Smith Stable, and Rice, Championofthenile will be making his fourth start in 61 days.
◗ Jose Ortiz will be in to ride.
Love That Jazz (Last 3 Beyers: 72-71-44)
◗ Showed excellent early speed in winning his maiden in the Aspirant while making his fourth career start and might be quicker than Championofthenile.
◗ Was timed in 1:11.56 in the Aspirant. The Lady Finger, run two races earlier for fillies, went in 1:12.51.
◗ Jockey John Davila Jr. is second in the Finger Lakes standings with 131 wins. He is 4 for 9 in stakes at the meet.
Mind Your Biscuits (Last 2 Beyers: 80-65)
◗ Although still a maiden, he has raced well in both of his starts for trainer Roderick Rodriguez. He was pinched and shuffled back in his debut and finished well for second. In his runner-up finish to Championofthenile, he made a wide middle move on the far turn and into the stretch, then flattened out late while clearly second-best.
◗ Jesus Castanon will be in to ride.