Out With a Bang tries to rebound

MUSKEGON, Mich. - With an overflow of 14 entries, Great Lakes Downs was forced into a rare split of Wednesday's stakes race, the 49th running of the Michigan Futurity for statebred colts and geldings. The divisions of the seven-furlong futurity will be offered as the first two races on the card, which begins at 5 p.m.

, the only stakes winner in the group, drew post 2 in the first division. A homebred racing for Judith Worline, Out With a Bang paid $238.80 when he overcame trouble twice to win the Patrick Woods Stakes on Sept. 26. He then found his best stride late in the Michigan Sire Stakes and finished sixth, beaten 18 3/4 lengths. Regular rider Rafael Estrella has the mount.

In addition to Out With a Bang, trainer Robert Gorham will saddle in the Futurity. The others in the field are Yukon Match, Wrench, Grrrifeck, The Synchronizer, and Kyle's Treasury.

Leading trainer Gerald Bennett heads the second division with Zephyr Charlie, who won at first asking, then had trouble rating in the Patrick Wood and the Sire Stakes, in which he disappointed as the favorite. Terry Houghton, the meet's leading rider this year, has the mount.

Magical Powers, trained by Gorham, lit up the board at $85.80 when he won his maiden on Oct. 4. Carlos Montalvo will come in from Chicago to make his Great Lakes debut aboard Magical Powers.

Others in the second division are Gulch It's Hot, Indigo Rock, Stellar League, Cambria Mill, and Lite the Road.