Free Drop Billy, Givemeaminit re-oppose in Breeders’ Futurity

Oct 04, 2017 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Free Drop Billy and Givemeaminit, the respective second- and
third-place finishers from the September 4 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga,
will face off for the second straight time on Saturday as part of a 13-strong juvenile
field entered in the $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

The 1 1/16-mile affair is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series of points races and offers up 10-4-2-1 points toward a starting
berth in next year’s Run for the Roses. It’s also a “Win & You’re In”
Challenge race and offers the winner an all-fees paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar on November 4.

Free Drop Billy
is looking for his first stakes win in this spot after just missing by a neck
in the Hopeful. The Dale Romans pupil was second in the Sanford Stakes (G3)
prior to that seven-furlong affair after taking his maiden debut by three
lengths at Churchill Downs on June 15.

The Union Rags colt earned a 98 BRIS Speed rating for his Hopeful
run and reunites with jockey Robby Albarado in this spot.

Givemeaminit also
garnered a 98 BRIS Speed figure for his third in the Hopeful as the Dallas
Stewart colt was only a head behind Free Drop Billy on the wire. The Star
Guitar colt was trying winners for the first time that day, and is still
looking for a first win of his own having run second in his initial outing on
July 22 at the Spa.

Brian Hernandez Jr. will be aboard maiden Givemeaminit for
the first time Saturday.

Ten City ties
with Free Drop Billy and Givemeaminit in terms of highest BRIS Speed rating
against this field. The Kenny McPeek-trained dark bay is the only entrant with
prior experience at Keenekand, having broken his maiden at first asking on
April 19 by seven lengths to earn that 98 BRIS Speed number. He returned June
30 at Churchill Downs to take the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3), but has run third
in his past two tries – the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes and Iroquois Stakes (G3)
back under the Twin Spires.

Corey Lanerie has the debut call on the Run Away and Hide
colt.

Captivating Moon
will be trying dirt for the first time in the Breeders’ Futurity after breaking
his maiden going a mile over Arlington Park’s turf on July 30 and finishing a
close second in the Arlington-Washington Futurity on the Polytrack. The Chris
Block charge keeps Jose Valdivia Jr. in the irons here.

Ready Prospector
and Crea’s Bklyn Law are the only
other runners in Saturday’s Breeders’ Futurity with prior stakes experience.
The former captured a pair of stakes at Evangeline Downs, breaking his maiden
in one of them for trainer Oscar Modica, and gets Miguel Mena aboard for his
first start outside of that track. Crea’s Bklyn Law broke his maiden in his
fourth try for conditioner Michael Dilger on July 6 at Delaware Park before
finishing fifth in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) last out. Joe Rocco Jr.
will be in the saddle Saturday.

The remainder of the Breeders’ Futurity field are either maidens
or maiden winners, including Lone Sailor,
who romped by 11 lengths at Saratoga in his second try last out on September 3;
Bravazo, a 4 3/4-length maiden scorer
going a mile at Churchill Downs on September 16; and Lone Rock, who wired a one-mile Indiana Grand maiden contest on
September 2 by 10 lengths.

Bourbon Resolution
and Enticed both broke their maidens
at Saratoga in early September, while maiden Lionite finished third behind the former most recently. Ezmosh completes the Breeders’ Futurity
field off a two-length wire job going a mile at Churchill Downs on September
16.