Sky Mesa sails home in Futurity

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sky Mesa enhanced his already glowing reputation and most likely sealed the role of favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by cruising to a four-length victory Saturday in the 89th running of the $434,800 at Keeneland.

Owned by John C. Oxley and ridden by Edgar Prado, Sky Mesa was always close to an early pace set by Truckle Feature, then launched his winning bid midway through the final turn en route to stay unbeaten in three career starts. He returned $2.60 as the heavy favorite in a field of six 2-year-olds.

John T. Ward Jr. is the trainer of Sky Mesa, a Pulpit colt who won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in his last start.

"He made about every mistake a young horse can make, and he still won easy," Ward said. "I thought he got too relaxed down the backstretch, and then turning for home, it was like he thought, 'What are all these screaming people doing in the middle of my racetrack?' He showed his immaturity, but his talent really came through."

Lone Star Sky, the 5-1 second choice, was up in the final jump to finish second in the Breeders' Futurity, a

1 1/16-mile, Grade 2 race that perennially serves as a key prep for the BC Juvenile. Trainer Tom Amoss said afterward that he was encouraged by Lone Star Sky's effort and intends to run him in the Oct. 26 Juvenile at Arlington.

Before an ontrack crowd of 19,646, and in ideal autumn weather, Truckle Feature led through fractions of 23.04 seconds, 46.82, and 1:12.11 before Sky Mesa sidled up alongside. Sky Mesa quickly opened a big lead when asked, and he proved easily best, finishing in 1:46.78 over a fast track.

Lone Star Sky nipped Truckle Feature, the 6-1 third choice, by a nose for second. It was just another neck back to Tito's Beau, a 48-1 shot who had 4 1/2 lengths on Super Frolic. Private Gold ran last.

The 2-3 exacta paid $7, and the 2-3-5 trifecta paid $18.40.

Sky Mesa, bred in Kentucky by Harbor View Farm, won his career debut Aug. 3 at Saratoga for Oxley and Ward, who won the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos. Four weeks later, he won the seven-furlong Hopeful by 1 3/4 lengths.