Gold for the King scores as favorite in New York Breeders' Futurity
Gold for the King, pounded down from 6-1 on the morning line to even-money favoritism, proved the public pegged his ability accurately by winning the premier race of the season at Finger Lakes, the $219,613 New York Breeders’ Futurity.
Ridden for the first time by Eric Cancel, Gold for the King ($4.20) and 2-1 second choice Macho Miah moved together from off the pace, making extremely wide moves approaching the turn for home. Gold for the King put a head in front of pacesetter Freud’s Friend at the quarter pole, following a half-mile in 45.45 seconds. In the stretch, it became a two-horse race between Gold for the King and Macho Miah.
Gold for the King, a son of Posse, forged ahead by a length at the eighth pole and was ridden out to the wire, finishing 2 3/4 lengths in front. He completed six furlongs on a track rated “good” in 1:10.95.
Macho Miah, runner-up in the $120,000 Aspirant three weeks ago, finished second by a neck over Eddie’s Gift. It was another nine lengths back to Dublin Time, the longest shot on the board at 75-1.
Gold for the King, trained by Charlton Baker for owner-breeder Francis Paolangeli, had won his career debut at Saratoga in early August and followed up by finishing a distant third in the Funny Cide Stakes to Syndergaard, who is slated to run in next weekend’s Champagne at Belmont Park as a prelude to a possible start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.