Red Mile: Jujubee blows away his rivals in the Kentucky Futurity

The decision to supplement Jujubee to the Kentucky Futurity for $75,000 paid off in spades, as he romped to a 1:49 3/5 victory in the $561,000 classic for sophomore male trotters on Sunday afternoon at The Red Mile.

With Andrew McCarthy at the lines and leaving from post five in the bulky field of 12, Jujubee showed speed and grabbed early command, but he released Cuatro De Julio (Lucas Wallin) after the 27 1/5 opening quarter. McCarthy wanted no part of the pocket, though, and he re-moved Jujubee to the point.

After re-taking control, Jujubee clicked off a half in 54 2/5, but Really Fast (Dexter Dunn) had come first-over from fifth before that station and was making headway on the lead. Really Fast would go off-stride on the last turn, though, leaving Ahundreddollarbill (Todd McCarthy) uncovered. Ahundreddollarbill stalled out before Jujubee hit three-quarters in 1:22 4/5, and he would begin to fade after that, leaving Cuatro De Julio as the only horse with a shot at Jujubee.

Jujubee had other ideas about letting Cuatro De Julio have a chance, however, as he accelerated with powerful strides through the lane and drew off to win by 5 1/4 lengths, with McCarthy celebrating the win heading to the wire. Cuatro De Julio did hold second ahead of Fly Light (Andy Miller). Johan Palema (Yannick Gingras) and Mon Amour (David Miller) finished fourth and fifth.

"It's kind of been a long weekend. Unfortunately, a few of them didn't perform as well as they can, but that's harness racing. There's good days and bad days, and it ended great today," relayed Andrew McCarthy, who won the Tattersalls with Abuckabett Hanover prior to the Futurity. "It gives me goosebumps - this horse himself and then it's just so special to have my family out here this weekend, and it's just terrific. It really gets them involved in the game, and it's a great game."

McCarthy was listed on both Jujubee and Ahundreddollarbill when the sheet came out, and he detailed how the decision came about to take Jujubee over the Tony Alagna-trained Ahundreddollarbill.

"It kind of started after I won the [Pennsylvania] Sires Stakes [fina] with this horse," McCarthy said. "Neither of them were eligible, but Greg [trainer Greg Wright Jr.] and Jon [Erdner, Jujubee's owner/breeder] asked if I had a drive in the Futurity and I said 'no.' They asked me if I wanted to drive him, I said 'yes.' Both supplements, I wasn't a hundred percent sure at that stage if Ahundreddollarbill was going to supplement, so I kind of committed to this horse.

"It was a tough call, but this horse, he just feels like an absolute next-level great horse to me. That's what I said to Greg when I came back after the [Pennsylvania] Sires Stakes final, I showed him my arm - I had goosebumps all down it - and I said ‘There's only one other horse that's ever done that to me.' He feels like a real champion, this horse."

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A colt by Creatine and out of the Cantab Hall mare La Cantera, Jujubee has 15 wins from 21 career starts, and he has now earned $630,607. He was the favorite and paid $3.80 to win.

"We were real happy where he ended up in the draw. Since then, it's been pretty good," remarked Wright Jr. "The horse seemed good all week, and I was pretty confident going in. It all worked out.

"He's just a good, simple horse. He takes care of himself, and we came right from Hoosier [after he won the Phil Langley Memorial on September 24], so it's been wonderful jogging him on this track and training him. I don't know how much better he can get. He's done everything pretty simple."

Erdner noted that Jujubee has to be supplemented into the Breeders Crown, as well, but he'll be there.

"The horse deserves a chance. He's a great horse, and I'd like to see him go as far as he can go," Edner stated.