Juveniles face first major test in Fasig-Tipton Futurity, Fasig-Tipton Debutante

ARCADIA, Calif. – The predictability of 2-year-old racing this spring at Santa Anita gets tested Sunday in a pair of $100,000 stakes at five furlongs – the Fasig-Tipton Futurity and Fasig-Tipton Debutante for fillies.

Favorites have won eight of 13 juvenile races at the meet through Friday, none more impressive than Big City Lights. He blazed 4 1/2 furlongs in a meet-fastest 51.63 seconds and won by more than 12 lengths in his debut. Sent off at 1-2 first out, Big City Lights will be favored again in the Futurity, race 4.

A pair of juvenile fillies who also scored impressive debut wins will vie for favoritism in the Debutante, race 8. At the Spa won by seven lengths; Royal O’Haigain won by 5 1/2. Both started at odds-on.

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Beyond the win rate of favorites, another recurring 2-year-old theme is the clout from one particular stable. Trainer Luis Mendez started runners in all but one juvenile race this meet, winning three. Not surprisingly, his three winners are principals in the stakes – Big City Lights and Bochombo in the Futurity, Royal O’Haigain in the Debutante.

“Big City Lights is going to be really tough,” Mendez said, giving away no secrets.

A Cal-bred colt sired by Mr. Big and owned by William Peeples, Big City Lights ran off the screen under jockey Juan Hernandez.

“He’s beautiful, full of class,” Mendez said referring to Big City Lights. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. I think he’s going to be on the lead like last time. And the other one, I like him coming from behind.”

The other one is Bochombo, who followed his runner-up debut with a sharp come-from-behind victory second time out. A son of Street Boss owned by Dan Northrop, Bochombo will be ridden by Abel Cedillo.

Even though Big City Lights ran more than one second faster than Bochombo (52.72), Bochombo’s two starts provide an experience advantage over his faster stablemate. The abundance of speed in the Futurity gives Bochombo sufficient pace to flatter his rally.

Mendez said Bochombo has trained exceptionally well since his win.

“He’s showing me wants to do it again,” Mendez said.

He would know. Mendez is both trainer and exercise rider.

Mendez also entered fast-working firster Buehler’s Day Off, whom Big City Lights outworked this week, though they received the same workout times.

Street Art, who defeated Bochombo first out, will break from the rail, while Heaven Shines would be shipping from Golden Gate where he won his debut in front-running fashion.

The five-horse Futurity is the first non-maiden race of the season for Southern California 2-year-olds.

A five-pack also entered the Debutante for fillies, race 8. At the Spa’s debut victory could send her favored over Royal O’Haigan. At the Spa ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.40, and Royal O’Haigan ran the same distance in 53.12.

Jorge Periban trains At the Spa, a Cal-bred by Outwork who started at odds-on first out and ran accordingly. Ridden by Tyler Baze, she sped to the lead and crushed by seven lengths. That race was May 7. Periban was asked about her condition compared to early last month.

“She’s better,” Periban said. “She’s more mature, she’s doing everything right.”

At the Spa’s debut victory was validated when third-place Munny Penny returned to win. Walther Solis trains Munny Penny, who also was entered in the Debutante.

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At the Spa’s main rival is the filly in the outside post, Mendez-trained Royal O’Haigain. She has been fast since early training at Dixie Downs in Utah.

“She was one of my favorite fillies early when we broke them,” Mendez said. “She was really fast.”

She showed it first out. Royal O’Haigain broke from the rail, sped to the lead, and won by 5 1/2 under Alexis Centeno. Royal O’Haigain is by first-crop sire El Deal, a sprinter who won the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap in 2017 at Saratoga with a 112 Beyer. He stands in Louisiana.

Leading rider Flavien Prat rode Munny Penny in both her starts, including her maiden romp, but he will switch to Florida shipper Laurel Canyon as Umberto Rispoli picks up Munny Penny for the Debutante.

Laurel Canyon won her Gulfstream Park debut by one length on May 13, and her win was validated when runner-up Last Leaf returned to win her next start. Laurel Canyon was trained by Mark Casse in Florida; Peter Miller is her trainer in California.