Sunday, September 14, 2008

FUTURITY, MATRON RECAP

Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren’s Charitable Man turned in a solid, professional effort Saturday afternoon in just his second career start and won the 119th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Futurity at Belmont Park for two-year-olds at seven furlongs by a length over Flying Pegasus.

In fact, the victory impressed jockey Alan Garcia so much that he made a bold prediction

“He’s going to the Kentucky Derby,” Garcia said.

He is certainly on the right track. Charitable Man is a son of Lemon Drop Kid, who won the Futurity in 1998, and then went on to win the Belmont Stakes and Travers in 1999 and the 2000 Whitney.


After winning his debut race at Saratoga Race Course by 11 ½ lengths on August 10, Charitable Man showed the ability to rate in the Futurity. Sitting well off front-running High Mesa’s first quarter of a mile of 22.87 and the half in 46.97, Charitable Man was kept wide by Garcia, who never put a whip on him. Instead, Garcia opted for a strong hand ride and Charitable Man responded to win in 1:24.30. Stablemate Girolamo was fourth.

“We’re just very happy that one of them won, and Alan (Garcia) chose the right one,” said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “Girolamo ran well, too. He kind of had trouble. Charitable Man is a very nice horse with very nice owners. Hopefully, he will have a very bright future. He was a little wide the whole way, which didn’t help him.”

McLaughlin plans to run Charitable Man back at Belmont Park in the Grade 1, $400,000 Champagne at a mile on October 4. Girolamo, owned by Darley Stable, will likely be heading to Dubai.

Friesan Fire was third, and Gone Astray, Kensei and High Mesa trailed

In the 102nd running of the Matron, the Futurity’s counterpart for juvenile fillies, Susan Moore and M and M Thoroughbred Partners’ Doremifasollatido got a ground-saving trip and the opening she needed in the stretch to post a two-length victory over Persistently.

A distant second to Mani Bhavan in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Adirondack on August 13 after a bad start, Doremifasollatido got a much better trip in the Matron. Under jockey Eibar Coa, she stayed inside and just behind Miss Ocean City, who set fractions of 22.55, 46.03 and 1:11.81. In the lane, Miss Ocean City came inside and Argyle Pink drifted out to open a hole for Doremifasollatido, which Coa eagerly accepted. She hit the wire in 1:24.74, and returned $8.80 to win.

“In her last race, she got into contending position while she was losing ground and got tired late,” said winning trainer Jimmy Jerkens. “But she hung on game for second. That was a big effort. I told Eibar (Coa, jockey) today, `Hopefully she will break good and we can sit there for awhile.’ She was up close without any effort. Her rhythm got broken a little bit at the top of the stretch, but she showed a lot of grit. Eibar makes them do that.”

A Bernstein filly, Doremifasollatido will point for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on October 24.

“It was supposed to be a fast race, and it’s about your horse showing up,” Coa said. “She showed up today, broke easily and showed ability and heart.”

Argyle Pink was third, followed by Obsequious, favored Heavenly Vision, Miss Ocean City, On the Menu, Saintly Rose and Vegas Wedding.


FUTURITY QUOTES

Winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin of favored Charitable Man (No. 7) and fourth-place finisher Girolamo (No. 6): “We’re just very happy that one of them won, and Alan (Garcia) chose the right one. Girolamo ran well, too. He kind of had trouble. Charitable Man is a very nice horse with very nice owners. Hopefully, he will have a very bright future. He was a little wide the whole way, which didn’t help him. We’re looking ahead to the Champagne [Grade 1, $400,000, two-year-olds, one mile, Belmont Park, October 4].”

Winning jockey Alan Garcia: “Kiaran picked this one (Charitable Man) because the other one is going to Dubai and this one is going to stay here. He wants to go longer. He’s going to the Kentucky Derby.”


MATRON QUOTES

Winning trainer Jimmy Jerkens of Doremifasollatido (No. 1): “In her last race, she got into contending position while she was losing ground and got tired late. But she hung on game for second. That was a big effort. I told Eibar (Coa, jockey) today, `Hopefully she will break good and we can sit there for awhile.’ She was up close without any effort. Her rhythm got broken a little bit at the top of the stretch, but she showed a lot of grit. Eibar makes them do that.”

Winning jockey Eibar Coa: “It was supposed to be a fast race. It’s about your horse showing up. She showed up today, broke easily and showed ability and heart.”

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