Theory makes belated stakes debut in Futurity

ELMONT, N.Y. – It’s six weeks later than his connections had hoped, but Theory makes his graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Futurity at Belmont Park.

Theory was regarded as one of the top 2-year-old prospects in trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn this summer at Saratoga. The Gemologist colt certainly lived up to expectations when he debuted July 30 with a 5 1/2-length victory in a fast time of 1:09.80 for six furlongs.

But Theory had a setback that kept him out of the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 3. Initially, it looked as though Theory would be given the remainder of this year off, but when the issue turned out to be just a foot bruise, he was put back in training.

“He’s come back and hasn’t missed a beat,” Pletcher said.

Theory has breezed four times since he returned to Pletcher’s barn, including a solid five-furlong move in 1:00.54 in company Tuesday.

Theory will break from post 2 under Javier Castellano in the six-furlong Futurity.

Three of the horses Theory beat at Saratoga came back to win a maiden race next out, including Reckling and The Walk, who are back in this five-horse field.

Reckling, second to Theory, came back to win a six-furlong race on Travers Day, beating the highly regarded Mo Town. Steve Asmussen, who trains Reckling for William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, had the option of running the colt a mile in last Saturday’s Grade 1 Champagne but opted to keep him at six furlongs for the time being.

“We debated running in the Champagne or here, and we just felt off of his two races, the Futurity was a better spot for him,” Asmussen said. “In the Champagne, you had a short field in numbers but definitely not a short field in quality. I expect Reckling to run a solid race.”

Reckling will break from post 4 under Irad Ortiz Jr.

The Walk, who finished sixth behind Theory on July 30, came back to win a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race here Sept. 17.

Moves Like Ali, a debut winner at Saratoga on Sept. 4, and Star Empire, a debut winner here in May who most recently finished third in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity, complete the field.

The Futurity, which shares billing Saturday with the $200,000 Pebbles, goes as race 3 (2:01 p.m. Eastern) on the nine-race card, which begins at 12:50 p.m. The Futurity is the first leg of a daily-double wager with the $1 million International Trot from Yonkers (3:20 p.m.). It’s a $2 minimum bet with a 20 percent takeout.

KEY CONTENDERS

Theory, by Gemologist

Beyer: 85

◗ He was very professional in his debut, sitting just outside another speed horse before taking over at the top of the stretch and drawing clear.

“We were expecting him to run well first time out,” Pletcher said. “I would say he met our expectations, maybe exceeded them. Horses out of that race have come back to run well.”

Reckling, by Dialed In

Beyers: 79-73

◗ Runner-up Mo Town and fifth-place finisher Capitaine came back to win from his Aug. 27 maiden victory.

◗ He is drawn nicely outside of the other speed horses in the field.