Rimrock Lake brings undefeated record into Gottstein Futurity
Sunday’s getaway-day card at Emerald Downs is headlined by a wide-open renewal of the $60,000 Gottstein Futurity, which is the meet’s championship event for 2-year-olds. The chief prospects for success in the 1 1/16-mile fixture are prior stakes winners Whiskey Harbor, trained by Ryland Harwood, and Rimrock Lake, trained by Howard Belvoir.
None of those entered have previously raced around two turns, so each will be covering an unfamiliar distance.
The biggest success story in the division to date is Rimrock Lake, who 2 for 2 over the last seven weeks. He won a maiden race by 4 1/2 lengths on July 30 and then won the Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings Stakes by 7 1/2 lengths on Aug. 27.
A full field is entered in the Futurity, and none were scared away by the presence of Rimrock Lake, as he was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of just 36 for his stakes win three weeks ago.
It is more than a passing curiosity that the runner-up in the Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings was the consistent Knightline, who has been second in all four of his starts. Knightline has earned Beyer Speed Figures of 49, 47, 20, and 46. The outlier Beyer of 20 was earned when runner-up behind Rimrock Lake.
There is a strong chance, however, that Rimrock Lake is much better than his figures indicate.
The only runner in the field yet to race at Emerald Downs is Lonesome Boy, who is trained by Candice Cryderman. The son of Nationhood shipped from the East Coast a couple of weeks ago after starting in two maiden races at Parx Racing. He finished second, beaten 5 1/4 lengths, in his debut run over 4 1/2 furlongs on July 19 and then returned Aug. 22 to finish fourth, beaten seven lengths, at 5 1/2 furlongs.
“His last out he got totally slammed out of the gate but still came with run,” Cryderman said. “His sire has won routing here, and the colt seems to want ground.”
Among others who rate serious consideration in the Gottstein Futurity is Whiskey Harbor, who took the King County Express Stakes on July 9 before stumbling at the start of his latest in the WTBOA Lads Stakes on Aug. 6.
Miner League is a son of Mineshaft out of Subtle Step, by Smart Strike, trained by Tom Wenzel. He has faced only maidens in two starts to date but won his last at five furlongs and clearly seems to want more ground.
Chancellors Boom won a maiden race by 7 1/4 lengths on Aug. 19 before getting clear early and then fading to sixth, well beaten by Rimrock Lake, in the Washington Cup Juvenile.
Maiden winner Lapush, also trained by Wenzel, is another who could be any kind based on his impressive 5 3/4-length romp in his Aug. 12 debut.
Blaine Wright trainee Bourbon Dancer has placed in two open 2-year-old stakes and is handling more ground with each start.
Sharing billing with the Gottstein Futurity will be the restricted Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, a $50,000 race covering 1 1/16 miles, and the restricted Washington Cup Filly and Mare Stakes over the same distance.
Slew’s Tiz Whiz, the Longacres Mile winner of 2022, figures a short-priced favorite in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, while Golden Gate shipper Anthonys Cleopatra is the horse to beat in the Washington Cup Filly and Mare Stakes.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.