Whiting brings Futurity threat
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Lynn Whiting makes a rare visit to Belmont Park on Sunday, when he brings his speedy and undefeated 2-year-old colt Hebbronville for the Grade 2, $200,000 Futurity at six furlongs.
Only five were entered for the Futurity, including the debut winner Blofeld, from the barn of Todd Pletcher, and Grade 3 Bashford Manor winner Cinco Charlie, from the barn of Steve Asmussen. Far Right, a maiden winner at Churchill, and Mr. Amos, a winner of a maiden-claiming race at Monmouth, complete the field.
With a short field, the Futurity was carded as the fourth on the 11-race card and will be out of the pick six.
Whiting, who won the 1992 Kentucky Derby with Lil E. Tee, has run only three horses at Belmont Park, the last one being Officer Alex in the 2013 Gone Fishin Stakes.
Based in Kentucky, Whiting twice sent Hebbronville to race at Parx. On July 21, Hebbronvile won his debut by 5 1/2 lengths, running 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.19 seconds, just 0.44 seconds off the track record. Hebbronville came back to Parx on Sept. 1 to win a first-level allowance race by 6 1/4 lengths. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84 both times.
“I couldn’t ask him for any more,” Whiting said. “The first time he ran, he was [two-fifths] off the track record, and I thought he improved off that in his second start. He’s trained as good as you could want a horse to train.”
Jose Lezcano will ride Hebbronville, a son of Majesticperfection who breaks from the outside post.
“I want him to learn to settle a bit,” Whiting said. “From the outside, it’s an advantage to him. He can break and see where they are and play his hand from there.”
Key contenders
Hebbronville (Beyers: 84-84)
◗ Displayed serious talent in winning his first two races at Parx by a combined 11 3/4 lengths.
◗ Whiting said he didn’t want to bring the horse to race at Saratoga because “up there, it’s run and gun, and I don’t want to teach him that.”
◗ This will be only the fourth starter for Whiting at Belmont Park.
Blofeld (Beyer: 88)
◗ Chased and caught the speedy Signature Cat to win his debut by a length at Saratoga, a race from which third-place finisher El Kabeir came back to win. El Kabeir was among the choices in Saturday’s Grade 1 Champagne.
◗ “I think he’s got tactical speed,” trainer Pletcher said of Blofeld. “He got outfooted by a very fast horse that day, and it was probably good for him.”
◗ Though Blofeld has a pedigree that suggests he’ll stretch out, Pletcher opted to keep him sprinting for now since the owner, Glencrest Farm, did not have any desire to go to California for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Cinco Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 82-66-76)
◗ Won his first two starts, which came at Churchill Downs, including the Bashford Manor.
◗ After two disappointing efforts in graded stakes at Saratoga, Cinco Charlie came back to win the First State Dash at 1-20 in the slop at Delaware.
◗ Likely will have to flash speed under Ricardo Santana after breaking from the rail.