Sticksstatelydude shifts sights to Breeders’ Futurity

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sticksstatelydude, who had to scratch from Monday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga after developing a temperature, will be pointed to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 3 at Keeneland, trainer Greg Burchell said Monday.

Burchell was very much looking forward to running Sticksstatelydude in the Hopeful, but the colt developed a temperature Sunday night. The horse could not run in the Hopeful because he was treated with antibiotics.

“Within an hour after we treated him, the temperature was gone and he ate up in 10 minutes,” Burchell said.

Burchell said he was going to pull some blood work on Sticksstatelydude this week, and if it comes back normal he will ship the horse to Kentucky to prepare for the Breeders’ Futurity. He may have to ship to Churchill Downs before going to Keeneland because the Keeneland backstretch may not open until later in September.