Thermistor holds off Fortified Effort in Gold Rush Futurity

Thermistor withstood a stretch challenge from Fortified Effort to win the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity by three-quarters of a length Sunday at Arapahoe Park.

Fortified Effort was a clear second, by 1 1/2 lengths over third-place finisher Wild West Ranger.

The Gold Rush was the closing-day feature and richest race run this year in Colorado. Also on the card, Regard the Rose ($13.60) won the $30,000 Arapahoe Park Quarter Horse Futurity.

Thermistor ($7) took quick command of the Gold Rush Futurity, as he was clear of his rivals through an opening quarter in 21.67 seconds. Fortified Effort joined the leader through a half-mile in 44.57 seconds and the two fought on through the stretch, with Thermistor coming back along the rail. The eventual winner went on to cover six furlongs on a track listed as fast in 1:11.31.

Danny Sorenson rode Thermistor for trainer J.R. Caldwell, who won last year’s Gold Rush Futurity with Bling On the Music. Caldwell also is a co-owner of Thermistor with Mojo Racing Partners.

Thermistor came into the Gold Rush off a debut win in a July 15 maiden special weight sprint at Lone Star Park near Dallas. He earned $60,000 for his victory Sunday. Thermistor is a son of Frost Giant and was bred in New York by Golden Goose Enterprises.

Thermistor became the third straight Texas invader to win the Gold Rush, behind Texas Chrome (2015) and Bling On the Music (2016). He followed the same pattern into the Gold Rush as those horses, having last raced at Lone Star then putting in his final Gold Rush work at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.