Halfmoon Reef by a neck in D.S. 'Shine' Young Futurity

Halfmoon Reef held off a surging X Clown for a neck win in the $75,000 colts and geldings division of the D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Free Indeed in third.

The race, at 5 1/2 furlongs, was for 2-year-olds bred in Louisiana.

Halfmoon Reef ($2.60) was an odds-on favorite off a maiden special weight win at Churchill Downs for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 76, the top career number in the D.S. “Shine” Young. He was prominent throughout Saturday night, attending an opening quarter in 22.19 seconds and taking over into the stretch. He covered the distance on a fast track in 1:05.50.

Diego Saenz was aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Halfmoon Reef has now won two of his three career starts for earnings of $84,568. In his debut, he was second to Kimari in a maiden special weight April 25 at Keeneland. Kimari went on to run second by a head in the Group 2 Queen Mary on June 19 at Royal Ascot.

Halfmoon Reef is a son of Half Ours who races for Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt, the same couple behind top Louisiana-bred 3-year-old Shang.