Four Wheel Drive cruises in Futurity Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Irad Ortiz Jr. had worked Four Wheel Drive several times in the morning during the summer to know he was capable of sitting behind horses. So when Jack and Noah outsprinted Four Wheel Drive for the early lead in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity Stakes, Ortiz was content to sit second.

After tracking Jack and Noah from second for more than a half-mile, Ortiz sent Four Wheel Drive after him in upper stretch. Four Wheel Drive collared Jack and Noah outside the eighth pole and cruised to a three-length victory in the Futurity to earn a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. The Futurity was a Win and You’re In race for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, run at five furlongs.

Freewheeler rallied to second by a half-length over Embolden, who nosed out Jack and Noah for third. Another Miracle was fifth followed by Tomato Bill.

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The win was the second in as many starts for Four Wheel Drive, a son of American Pharoah trained by Wesley Ward. Four Wheel Drive brought $525,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton auction in Saratoga in 2018. He was purchased by Breeze Easy Stable, which had to scratch Shang Shang Shang from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last year the day of the race.

“Hopefully, this one makes the dream come true,” said Mike Hall, co-owner of Breeze Easy.

Four Wheel Drive won his debut in a stakes at Colonial Downs in Virginia on Aug. 31.

Sunday, Four Wheel Drive broke on top but Jose Lezcano seemed intent on the lead and had Jack and Noah open up three lengths after a quarter in 21.62 seconds and was still two lengths clear after a half-mile in 44.33. Ortiz made his move on Four Wheel Drive turning for home and had plenty of horse to run by Jack and Noah.

Four Wheel Drive covered the six furlongs in 1:08.07 and returned $3.90 as the 4-5 favorite.

“I work him a lot in Saratoga and I always put him behind horses and he acted really good, stayed nice and quiet,” Ortiz said. “I rode him with confidence because I know I’ve been doing that with him.”