He's Not Grey auditions for Gottstein Futurity
Trainer Candi Tollett is hoping a solid performance from He’s Not Grey in an allowance race for 2-year-olds at Emerald Downs on Sunday will set him up for the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity on Sept. 24. The six-furlong dash drew six horses and goes as race 3 on a nine-race program that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.
He’s Not Grey is clearly the one to beat. He made his debut in the $49,000 Emerald Express on July 17, and it was an impressive one. He broke okay with Juan Gutierrez aboard but trailed the field early, and it took him a few moments to gain his stride. He moved into contention while going four wide around the turn before drawing off to win with authority.
Not surprisingly, he was heavily favored to win his second start, which was to come in the $45,000 WTBOA Lads on Aug. 6, but he was scratched after acting up the gate.
“He’s actually pretty smart and not a bad gate horse,” Tollett said. “He just wanted to start the race before the gate opened. It kind of scared him and then he got all tangled up. Luckily he didn’t get hurt.”
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Tollett was pleased with how he is coming up to Sunday’s race.
“He worked a good half-mile and seems to be doing fine,” she said. “He needs a good race if he’s going to run in the Gottstein.”
He’s Not Grey will break from post 4 with Eswan Flores picking up the mount from the injured Gutierrez.
KEY CONTENDERS
He’s Not Grey, by Slew’s Tiznow
Beyer: 54
◗ The talent appears to be there, and the 54 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his debut stands out. He raced pretty greenly during the early part of the Emerald Express and there is an excellent chance he is going to take a big step forward with the experience behind him.
My Heart Awakens, by Alternation
Beyer: 48
◗ He was also an impressive debut winner and appears to be the main threat to He’s Not Grey. Trained by David Martinez, he broke from the 9 hole and seemed to be stalled while running in the middle of the track during the early stages of the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race Aug. 13. When Javier Matias dropped him down to the rail on the stretch turn he started to get into the race, and he finished strongly, winning by a widening two lengths.
◗ He could have a bright future. His only sibling is My Heart Goes On, a multiple stakes winner trained by Martinez who finished second in the Gottstein.
◗ My Heart Awakens will break from the rail with Matias retaining the mount.
