Horse Racing Odds: Cashcall Futurity at Hollywood Park
by Patricia Woo | Dec 14 2009
With a purse of $750,000 and a grade 1 title up for grabs, the
Cashcall Futurity is one of the last big races for 2-year-olds of the year. Held at
Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., this 1 1/16-mile test will take place on Saturday, Dec. 19 and has attracted several up-and-comers.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile alumni Lookin at Lucky and Noble's Promise are likely to start, as well as Seattle Ruler.
Despite being unlucky in his last outing - the Breeders' Cup Juvenile - where he managed to overcome a wide trip and a slow pace only to be outfinished by European upsetter Vale of York, Lookin at Lucky remains one of the rising stars of the winter season. A very early favorite for the 2010
Kentucky Derby, this Smart Strike colt is trainer Bob Baffert's best hope to win the Cashcall Futurity for a historic fifth time. Riding an impressive four-race win streak prior to his runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Lookin at Lucky captured the $150,000 Gr. 2 Best Pal Stakes and the $300,000 Gr. 1 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar and the $300,000 Gr. 1 Norfolk Stakes at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park after breaking his maiden at Hollywood Park in July. Jockey Garrett Gomez, who won last year with Baffert's trainee Pioneerof the Nile, will get the call this year. Lookin at Lucky is 5-4-1-0 in 2009 and has earned $843,000 so far.
Kenneth McPeek's Noble's Promise also had a four-race win streak on the line going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile but he, too, fell short, finishing third behind Lookin at Lucky. The Cuvee colt broke his maiden at Ellis Park in September and followed up that win with another in the $100,000 Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. He then captured his first grade 1 score, the $500,000 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 10, proving he was more than capable of competing at a higher level. Noble's Promise will be ridden on Saturday by Robby Albarado, and is 6-3-1-1 on the year with $583,500 in earnings.
Despite his only win of the year coming on conventional dirt, Seattle Ruler will get another try on synthetics on Saturday, according to trainer Mike Harrington. A son of Roman Ruler, Seattle Ruler was an upset winner at Fairplex Park in the $115,000 Barretts Juvenile on Sept. 21 before coming in third in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes on Nov. 21. He has been training at Hollywood Park, with a recent 6-furlong work clocking in at 1:12 2/5. Jockey Martin Garcia has been Seattle Ruler's exclusive rider in all of his eight starts and will again get the call.
Others expected to line up for the Cashcall Futurity include two additional Baffert charges, Generous Stakes runner-up Marcello and either Conveyance or The Program. Get My Fix, who is trained by Brian Koriner and last finished second in the Hollywood Prevue, is also expected.
Who do you like to win the Cashcall Futurity?
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