Creatine colt crushes in $561,000 Kentucky Futurity
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Conditioner Greg Wright Jr. gave the public a taste of his trotting star Jujubee on Hambletonian Day following a strong campaign in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. A 1:49.4 winner on harness racing’s biggest stage, Jujubee took a $75,000 shot at the $561,000 Kentucky Futurity and fired a 1:49.3 victory to win on Sunday (Oct. 10) at The Red Mile.
Leaving from post 5, Jujubee jetted off the car to lead the field heading to a :27.1 first quarter before yielding control to Cuatro De Julio moving for the backside. However, driver Andrew McCarthy spent little time in the pocket and circled Jujubee back to the point through a :54.2 half as Really Fast crept forward uncovered into the final turn.
Jujubee continued to roll as Really Fast broke stride midway around the final turn, leaving Ahundreddollarbill – the other supplement into the race – first over to three-quarters in 1:22.4. He gained little ground coming into the stretch, where Jujubee blew away from the field. By the eighth pole, he accelerated to an open-length advantage over Cuatro De Julio giving pursuit from second and flew by the beam 5-1/4 lengths in front. Fly Light closed for third and Johan Palema finished fourth.
“It’s kind of been a long weekend – unfortunately a few of them didn’t perform as well as they can, but that’s harness racing. There’s good days and bad days and it ended great today,” Andrew McCarthy said after the race. “It gives me goosebumps – this horse, himself, and then it’s just so special to have the family out here this weekend. It’s just terrific.”
Published by Harness Link