Nucky under consideration for Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. – Nucky, the easy winner of a $100,000 claimer for maidens at Del Mar on Wednesday, will not be idle for long. Trainer Peter Miller said on Thursday that Nucky is a candidate for the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 2, the closing day of the summer meeting.

Nucky won the six-furlong race by 10 1/2 lengths under jockey Flavien Prat, the rider’s fourth win of the day. Nucky disputed the early lead from an outside post and took a commanding lead in early stretch. He was timed in 1:10.89 and earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I don’t know if he was that good or the others were that bad,” Miller said. “He did run pretty fast for this track. He came out of the race well.”

Owned by Rockingham Ranch, Nucky, by Ghostzapper, was fifth, second and fourth in maiden races in Kentucky in June and July for Miller. Wednesday’s race was Nucky’s California debut. Nucky was even-money as the field was being loaded in the gate and was the subject of a sizable late bet, going off at 1-2.

The $300,000 Del Mar Futurity is the championship race of the meeting for 2-year-olds. The list of candidates is led by Eight Rings, an exciting maiden race winner trained by Bob Baffert. Other probable starters are Defense Wins, Fore Left, Ginobili, Schrodinger, Storm the Court, and Wrecking Crew.

Eight Rings, who won his debut by 6 1/4 lengths in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 4, worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 under jockey Drayden Van Dyke on Thursday. Van Dyke was aboard for the maiden win, which got a 94 Beyer Figure.

Schrodinger was scratched from the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 10 because of illness, but trainer Simon Callaghan is hopeful the colt can start in the Del Mar Futurity. Collusion Illusion, the winner of the Best Pal Stakes, is expected to skip the Del Mar Futurity in favor of the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27, trainer Mark Glatt said earlier this week.

Wrecking Crew, trained by Miller, was second in the Best Pal Stakes. Miller said on Thursday that Wrecking Crew could run in the Del Mar Futurity or the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 2.

Storm the Court is not a certain starter. Trainer Peter Eurton said on Thursday that Storm the Court recently missed training time because of a “crusty nose.”

“I didn’t get a chance to work him,” Eurton said. “I’ll see I can get a work in him on Monday. I’m being a little cautious.”

The Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Aug. 31 is expected to be led by Inspiressa, the winner of a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies on Aug. 11. Amalfi Sunrise, the winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 3, has been sidelined with injury, but Powerfulattraction, second in the Sorrento, is an intended runner in the Del Mar Debutante.

Other candidates are Comical, Immediate Impact, Leucothea, and Pure Xena. Leucothea, trained by Miller, must be supplemented for $10,000. Miller said on Thursday Leucothea could start in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga on Sept. 1.