Gelner loaded for TTA Sales Futurity divisions

Trainer Jayde Gelner, who in 2023 swept both divisions of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park, has some notable candidates for this year’s renewal of the races. The 5 1/2-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds, which each carry a guaranteed purse of $50,000, will be run July 5.

Mor Force is an early favorite for the colts and geldings division after winning his debut with a Beyer Speed Figure of 84 on May 30 at Lone Star Park. He romped by five lengths to earn what is the third highest Beyer put up by a 2-year-old so far this year in North America.

“I expected him to run big – didn’t think he’d run as big as he did,” Gelner said. “I thought he was a really nice horse, didn’t know the total capacity.

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“He does what you ask of him. He’s not one that’s going to go out there and blaze down the track. He’s going to do everything comfortably, exactly how you want. But if you ask him, he’ll give it to you. He’s kind of push button, I guess you’d say.”

Mor Force is a son of Mor Spirit who races for Norman Stables, the owner of millionaire Coal Battle. Gelner noted Mor Force is a half-brother to Good and Stout, a stakes winner at 2 who overall has won three stakes and earned more than $300,000.

Gelner’s other candidate for the colts and geldings division is Golden Mane, a half-brother to Coal Battle owned by Thompson Racing. He was a debut winner June 7 at Evangeline Downs, rolling by more than four lengths in a maiden special weight restricted to horses bred in Louisiana.

Golden Mane, a son of Goldencents, was a $17,000 yearling purchase last August, a month after Coal Battle won his debut in a race at Evangeline Downs.

“It was before he turned into the Derby trail type of horse, before anybody knew anything, really,” Gelner said of the reasonable purchase price for Golden Mane.

Gelner is still sorting out prospects for the fillies division of the TTA Sales Futurity, but said Liteupthenite is being pointed for the race. She was second to Mor Force in her career debut. She races for Norman Stables.

“The filly race didn’t go,” he said of the reason for the debut against colts. “I think she’s a really nice filly. We’ll probably add some blinkers onto her. She got wiped out at the start. I think the blinkers will help her.

“She’s never done anything wrong in the mornings, per se, but around the barn, she looks around a lot. It’s a little something extra to focus her a bit.”

Liteupthenite is a Louisiana-bred daughter of Aurelius Maximus.

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