Hammes strong in Grade 3 futurity

Trainer John Hammes holds a strong hand in the Grade 3, $84,825 Rocky Mountain Futurity on Saturday at Arapahoe Park with four horses in the finals, including fastest-qualifier Nitschke.

Nitschke rolled to a 2 1/4-length trial win on July 31 for his second victory in four career starts, earning the top qualifying time of 17.368 seconds for 350 yards.

Hammes will also saddle Centers Flyin Cash and You Betcha Can, the one-two finishers, respectively, in the Cherry Creek Futurity. His fourth finalist is China Beach Babe, third-place finisher in her Rocky Mountain Futurity trial behind Nitschke.