October 3, 2024
NEW YORK — By Ed DeRosa
Two-year-olds get a graded stakes opportunity turf sprinting Friday at Aqueduct where the Futurity Stakes serves as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
As one would expect from a graded stakes sprint for two-year-olds (regardless of surface) there is a lot of gas in this race. I.e., this will be a contested pace but the 5-to-2 morning line favorite–#5 Under the Radar–will not live up to his name as he is likely the speed of the speed here at a short price.
His gate-to-wire win in the National Thoroughbred League Juvenile Sprint 4 ½ weeks ago at Kentucky Downs merits respect as he outsprinted 8 others on a challenging grass course. Granted, that course does play to speed, but 6 ½ furlongs at Kentucky Downs is like 7 furlongs anywhere else. Under the Radar comes in fit and is the horse to beat.
Adulations over undulations aside, one has to think at least one of these speedsters will challenge Under the Radar at some point. #4 In the Chase seems most likely. If it’s a two-way duel then that doesn’t augur well for In the Chase, but if he tries to press the pace and sit and kick then he could at least stick around for a piece at 8-to-1 morning line.
#7 Mentee may not be a household name yet but his full brother is. Mentee and Travers Stakes winner Fierceness share parents. Mother Nonna Mia never tried turf, but there are several turf winners in the family and their sire, City of Light, is 12% with his turf runners including Del Mar Derby winner Formidable Man.
Mentee is 9-to-2 on the morning line and worth using at that price. I do not think we’ll get the right price to play Under the Radar to win, but I am keen to key him with #s 4 & 7 in the exotics.
#3 Chasing Liberty chased home Under the Radar when second to that one in the aforementioned NTL Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs, and if the pace complete collapses then he is the likely beneficiary on the win end. Unfortunately, he is tough to connect with the favorite, but he is usable with our longer prices.
The Bet:
$1 exacta part wheel 3, 5 with 4, 7 ($4) and 4, 7 with 3, 4, 5, 7 ($6). So that’s $10 total for each unit.
