Stuart ships in for richest card in Colorado history
Trainer Shea Stuart will attempt to make some noise with his first Arapahoe Park starters on Sunday, when he sends out Texas Chrome in the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity and Steelman Run in the $100,000 Arapahoe Classic. The horses are leading contenders in the races that share a card with the $203,210 Mile High Futurity for Quarter Horses.
The program closes out the meet, and with nine races worth a total of $500,210, the card will be the richest ever run in Colorado, according to officials with Arapahoe.
“I’ve watched these races every year, and this year we had a couple to bring,” Stuart said.
Texas Chrome, fellow stakes winner R Dub, and the stakes-placed Dubdubwatson should vie for favoritism in the Gold Rush, a six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds that has long been a closing-day staple at Arapahoe. Others making up the 12-horse field include Royally Divine, who was stakes-placed last out at Prairie Meadows.
The Arapahoe Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles was moved to the closing card this meet, and the field of 10 includes the multiple stakes-winning mares Lady Jila and Lady Contender.
Stuart on Friday shipped both Texas Chrome and Steelman Run to Arapahoe from their Remington Park base in Oklahoma City. He has named Deshawn Parker on both horses for leading Texas owner Danny Keene.
“Deshawn rode a bunch for us at Sam Houston, won a lot of races for us,” said Stuart, who is a private trainer for Keene.
KEY CONTENDERS
GOLD RUSH FUTURITY (Race 9)
Texas Chrome (Beyers: 64-49)
◗ Undefeated in two starts, he won a maiden special weight race May 15 at Lone Star Park, then at the same track July 11 captured a division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity.
“He’s a really cool horse,” Stuart said. “He’s exciting. He comes from behind. He’s not intimidated by horses. He loves to run them down when he trains in the morning time. He’s always trying to catch up to something. He’s real smart.”
◗ Texas Chrome’s maiden effort became a key race, Stuart noted, with runner-up Ghost Trail coming back in his next start to win a maiden special weight race at Lone Star and third-place finisher Sapphire Storm coming back to take a maiden special weight race at Indiana Grand.
R Dub (Last 3 Beyers: 56-52-51)
◗ He is seeking his fourth straight win in a streak that started when he won his maiden in a trial for the Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Futurity on June 27 at Arapahoe. R Dub then won the finale July 12 and added a division of the Silver Cup Futurity on Aug. 1.
“I like my chances,” trainer Kenneth Gleason said in a release from Arapahoe. “I’m sure they’ll bring some runners, but we’re here and training here, and we’ll run pretty well. We’re at home.”
ARAPAHOE CLASSIC (RACE 8)
Steelman Run (Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-88)
◗ He is moving back to dirt after placing in three consecutive turf races at Lone Star.
“He ran against some really tough grass horses in Dallas,” Stuart said. “They ran a really fast mile last time, and he was closing. I think going back to the dirt will really help him out. He doesn’t mind the dirt at all. He’s a real versatile horse.”
◗ Steelman Run’s last win came on the main track in a 1 1/8-mile starter allowance May 22.