Gold for the King hiding in strong Futurity field
Gold for the King owns the fastest Beyer Speed Figure in the field for Saturday’s richest race of the season at Finger Lakes and finished third in his stakes debut at Saratoga to a horse under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. So, why is Gold for the King no better than fifth choice on the track’s morning line among eight New York-bred 2-year-olds for the $219,713 New York Breeders’ Futurity?
Unlike Gold for the King, the top four program choices in the six-furlong Breeders’ Futurity are all exiting the $120,000 Aspirant, a tightly contested stakes in which the first four finishers were bunched within 1 1/4 lengths, including a nose between winner Pat On the Back and runner-up Macho Miah.
But given Gold for the King’s accomplishments in his first two starts, anything close to his 6-1 morning-line price would be generous odds. He defeated two next-out winners during his 3 1/4-length triumph at Saratoga on Aug. 8 and then was a distant third in the Funny Cide Stakes to Syndergaard, who is being pointed to the Oct. 8 Champagne at Belmont Park as a prep for a possible appearance in the BC Juvenile.
Gold for the King will run uncoupled from Freud’s Friend, although both horses are owned by Francis Paolangeli and trained by Charlton Baker. Freud’s Friend (5-1) set the pace in the Aspirant, a race that favored horses coming from off the pace.
Macho Miah rallied from fifth to just miss as the 2-1 favorite in the Aspirant. Pat On the Back came from seventh to win the six-furlong stakes for trainer Ken McPeek.
In addition to Macho Miah, trainer Jeremiah Englehart will saddle Silver Mission, who dominated the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park while trained by Todd Pletcher. Silver Mission was a dull sixth in the Aspirant at 5-2 in his final start before moving into Englehart’s barn.
New York Breeders’ Futurity, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Pat On the Back, by Congrats
Last 3 Beyers: 65-62-66
◗ Based in New York, he hasn’t gone off at odds lower than 5-1 despite winning 2 of 3 starts. Managed to prevail in the Aspirant despite drifting out late.
Macho Miah, Macho Uno
Last 2 Beyers: 65-55
◗ Jaime Rodriguez retains the mount. He won last year’s Breeders’ Futurity with Dr. Shane. Like Pat On the Back, Macho Miah also drifted out during the Aspirant.
Gold for the King, by Posse
Last 2 Beyers: 62-75
◗ Looked good winning his debut against a group that included next-out winners with Beyers of 75 and 62. Trainer Charlton Baker has finished sixth, sixth, and seventh with three previous starters in the Breeders’ Futurity.
Eddie’s Gift, by El Corredor
Last 3 Beyers: 62-64-56
◗ Two starts ago, he lost by a head to Star Empire, who came back to finish third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity.