Opportunity for big profit for juvenile owners

The colt and gelding division of the $100,000 John Franks Memorial Sales Stakes, restricted to those who passed through the sales ring at the Evangeline spring sale in March, is going to make the connections of one of the nine 2-year-olds that entered very happy. The auction prices of those involved ranged from a modest $2,700 to a high of $15,500, so the $60,000 winner's share seems like a rather handsome reward.

Buster Hut could rule a slight favorite based on the quality he faced in his last start. After qualifying for the $130,000 D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity with a second-place performance in his trial on June 7, Buster Hut had to settle for seventh in the finals. While he regressed in the Shine, his second career start, to a 40 Beyer Speed Figure, it still rates as one of the highest in this field. C.J. Hernandez will ride for leading trainer Keith Bourgeois.

Recent maiden winner Say the Scoop, who will be coupled with fellow Brandon Marks trainee Brogan's Bull, will attempt to win his second straight race. He was fifth in his debut in early May, but after some freshening and the addition of Lasix, Say the Scoop came back to wire a large maiden field June 27.