Theory, Reckling square off again in Futurity

ELMONT, N.Y. – Theory beat Reckling by 5 1/2 lengths in an $83,000 maiden race at Saratoga on July 30. Eleven weeks later, those two will meet again in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Futurity at Belmont Park.

Only three other horses were entered in the six-furlong Futurity, including Star Empire, third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity, who was supplemented to the race by trainer Wesley Ward for owner Belinda Bateman.

Moves Like Ali and The Walk were also entered. The Futurity will go as race 3 on Saturday’s nine-race card.

Theory was being pointed to the Grade 1 Hopeful off his dominant debut win, but the horse was not right in subsequent in training and was sent back to the farm, presumably to be given the remainder of the year off. But diagnostic tests showed only a minor foot issue, and he was sent back to trainer Todd Pletcher after missing about 12 days of training.

Theory has had four workouts leading up to his return, including a five-furlong move in 1:00.50 on Monday over the Belmont Park training track. He worked in company with Pax in Terra, finishing about 1 1/2 lengths in front of that horse at the wire while getting his final quarter in 24.71 seconds. The work was his second at five furlongs.

“We wanted to make sure he did enough to feel good about his fitness level,” Pletcher said. “I thought he did that well, and I think he’ll be ready to go, assuming he comes out of it well.”

Following the Futurity, options abound for Theory, including the two-race series at Aqueduct – the Nashua and Remsen – or the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in late November. Pletcher said the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile also could be in play should Theory “run off the screen” in the Futurity.

Javier Castellano replaces John Velazquez aboard Theory on Saturday. Velazquez is at Keeneland to ride Time and Motion in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Reckling came out of that July 30 race to win a six-furlong maiden race on Travers Day at Saratoga by 1 1/4 lengths over Mo Town, who came back to win his maiden impressively here in his next start.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Reckling from post 4.