Finger Lakes: Belmont-based filly Wildcat's Smile upsets New York Breeders' Futurity

Wildcat’s Smile became the first filly to win the New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes since 2003 when she closed strongly in deep stretch to blow past dueling leaders French Wine and Bay Park Boy.

Facing colts and geldings after she settled for second as the 1-5 favorite in the Lady Finger on Labor Day, Wildcat’s Smile ($14.40) came from far off the pace to win the richest race of the season at the western New York track. She completed six furlongs on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:12.65 to earn $156,532 of the $260,888 purse.

Based at Belmont Park with trainer Dominic Galluscio, Wildcat’s Smile was sixth of eight after a half-mile in 46.38 seconds, but responded when jockey John Davila Jr. went to the whip and drew clear by 1 1/4 lengths. She is the ninth filly to win the Futurity in its 49 runnings, but the first since Mother’s Sacrifice eight years ago. It was the second straight Futurity win and the third overall for Davila.

French Wine, a locally based colt who finished third in his career debut in the Aspirant, outfought Aspirant winner Bay Park Boy by a neck to get second at 18-1 odds.

Zow, unbeaten in his first two career starts, stumbled coming out of the gate and unseated jockey Elvis Trujillo as the 7-5 favorite.