Interesting battle shaping up in N.Y. Breeders' Futurity

Last month, Adios Asher raced in the state of his birth for the first time, and raced on dirt for the first time, edging Daufuskie Island by a nose. The two get a rematch, and face a strong new foe in Senbei on Monday in the $205,179 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes.

Adios Asher, a son of Adios Charlie, is trained by Larry Rivelli, who is enjoying a solid fall with his juveniles and has unbeaten stakes winner One Timer ticketed for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Rivelli unveiled Adios Asher at his Arlington Park base, where the colt finished third in a turf sprint on debut, then won a maiden race sprinting on the synthetic main track.

Adios Asher shipped to Finger Lakes for the six-figure Aspirant Stakes, a local prep for the Breeders’ Futurity, on Sept. 27. He led throughout the six-furlong race while under pressure, and then narrowly held off Daufuskie Island.

Adios Asher is drawn on the rail under regular rider E.T. Baird for the six-furlong Breeders’ Futurity. Daufuskie Island, with Dylan Davis in the irons, will break from post 3, with the maiden Don Bernardo between them. The two are thus set up to keep an close eye on one another throughout the early stages of the Breeders’ Futurity.

Daufuskie Island, a son of Goldencents trained by Jeremiah Englehart, was a Saratoga maiden winner on debut, then was sixth in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes on New York Showcase Day in August, a race won by Senbei. Daufuskie Island kept pressure on Adios Asher throughout the Aspirant before falling short at the wire.

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This is far from a two-horse race with the imposing presence of Senbei in post 4 under Manny Franco. The Christophe Clement-trained Candy Ride colt is another confirmed front-runner and even money on the morning line. Senbei won his first two starts, including the Funny Cide, then was second in the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard Stakes as the favorite last month at Belmont, leading in the stretch but ultimately getting passed late to finish second by two lengths.

Intently watching the pace scenario unfold will be Gimmedamoney, who is still a maiden after three starts in races won by Senbei, Daufuskie Island, and Adios Asher, respectively. The Central Banker colt was third, beaten 9 3/4 lengths in the Aspirant for trainer Mike Maker.

While no match for the top two, Gimmedamoney showed a new dimension, closing from sixth in the field of nine to finish with interest. Drawn in the outside post with Andre Shivnarine Worrie in this short field, he could position himself to stalk and pounce.