Vivian Da Bling, W V Jetsetter give Calhoun sweep of TTA Sales Futurity

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The strength of trainer Bret Calhoun’s current crop of 2-year-olds was on display Saturday night when he swept both divisions of the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity. Vivian Da Bling was a 6 1/4-length winner of the fillies side at 1-5, while W V Jetsetter found racing room in the stretch and forged to a 1 1/2-length win in the colts and geldings division at 8-1.

The races were part of a closing-night program of four restricted races worth $300,000. Also on the card:

– Texas Bling ($8) rallied past Texas Air for a three-quarter-length win in the $50,000 Assault, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Texas. Lone Star leading rider David Cabrera was aboard for Hall’s Family Trust and trainer Danele Durham.

– Lasting Bubbles ($3.80) always was prominent to defend her title in the $50,000 Valor Farm for fillies and mares bred in Texas, darting to a three-length win over Molly’s Honour. Chris Rosier was aboard the winner for Judy Peek and her son, trainer Kevin Peek.

– Calhoun’s crop of 2-year-olds includes Promise Me Silver, who won the Debutante at Churchill Downs, and Silverhill, who was second in that track’s Grade 3 Bashford Manor and is headed next to the Sanford at Saratoga. Both horses got their starts this meet at Lone Star, just like Vivian Da Bling and W V Jetsetter.

“I think these two winners can go anywhere in the country and compete with the upper-echelon 2-year-olds,” Calhoun said Saturday night at Lone Star. “We want to be smart about it, placing them in the right spot, but I think they could go anywhere. They look like they’re definitely top-class horses. I’ll get with the owners in a week or so, and we’ll try to map out a plan.”

Vivian Da Bling ($2.40), who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85 in her career debut June 15, backed up the performance in the Sales Futurity. She shot to the lead at the start, rolling through an opening quarter in 21.90 seconds. Vivian Da Bling remained in command to cover five furlongs on a track rated fast in 58.13 seconds.

“That was the whole race, getting away from the gates good,” said winning rider Cliff Berry.

Vivian Da Bling is a daughter of Too Much Bling who races for J.R. and Rita Young.

“Vivian Da Bling is a Louisiana-bred that is a Texas Stallion Stakes-eligible filly,” Calhoun said. “She’s got a lot of options. I’m pretty sure we’ll put her on the big stage, and we’ll point her for some of the bigger races if she comes out of it good and the races come together at the right time for her.”

W V Jetsetter ($18.40) was bottled up behind traffic into the stretch Saturday but found racing room in the lane and went on to cover five furlongs in 58.11.

“He was full of run,” said Jamie Theriot, who was aboard for owner Wes Melcher.

W V Jetsetter was making the third start of his career in the Sales Futurity.

“W V Jetsetter is a big, strong colt,” Calhoun said. “I was distraught when he got beat first time out. But it turned out to be a blessing. He really needed his last race. It was kind of a grueling race, pretty much all out to win, but he needed it for his fitness. He’s a little heavy. I think it set him up pretty well for this race. If you review the video, you’ll see a horse that’s really jumping a long way when you hit the wire. He’s really striding out. It was very impressive.”

W V Jetsetter gave Calhoun his fourth straight win in the colts and geldings division of the Sales Futurity and his sixth victory overall in the race. Vivian Da Bling was Calhoun’s sixth winner of the fillies division of the TTA Sales Futurity.

“We’re very fortunate to have good horses,” Calhoun said. “I think we’ve gotten pretty good young horses year in and year out for a long time. Sometimes you have good enough horses. Sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you have injuries and the good ones don’t get there, but this year, it just all seemed to come together. We liked the group overall when they first came to us. We were pretty optimistic early on, and we’ve just been fortunate they stayed healthy and sound all the way through the process.”

Calhoun has a division of his stable at Churchill Downs, and with the close of Lone Star on Saturday night, he will be sending horses to both Louisiana Downs and Remington Park. He said his winners from Saturday could see action at Saratoga.