'TDN Rising Star' Theory (Gemologist), one of the more impressive Saratoga debut maiden winners this summer July 30, leveled off nicely in deep stretch after chasing the early leader to win his comebacker going away by 3 1/2 lengths as the 1-5 chalk in Belmont's GIII Futurity S. Trainer Todd Pletcher wasn't ruling out a trip to California for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile after getting his picture taken. “Today, with the way he ran, the way he galloped out and came back, I think we at least have to sit down and have that discussion,” he said. “He's a very good-minded horse. He's got a great disposition and he's not headstrong in any way. I anticipated he would rate fine and I wasn't surprised that he did. The way he ran today, the way he finished, I think gives us a lot of options.”
Theory, forced to sit out the GI Hopeful S. with a foot ailment, raced in second as Moves Like Ali led by a length through an opening quarter in :22.62. Theory drew up alongside the pacesetter and briefly looked like he might have his work cut out for him while under a ride at the top of the stretch, but began to figure it out late and drew off nicely to win going away. Perhaps even more impressive than the victory was Theory's gallop out. Jockey Javier Castellano continued to encourage the colt well past the wire and he galloped out by daylight ahead of his four overmatched rivals.
“Anytime you're a prohibitive favorite like that, you always want things to go well,” Pletcher said. “He broke alertly, put himself in a good spot and Javier gave him a little chance to get his feet underneath him and looked like when he called him, he finished up strongly.”
Castellano added, “He's a classy horse, you can put him wherever you want. He broke well out of the gate and just took it from there. I loved the way he did, he does everything with such class. He was composed in the post parade. I think you can stretch him out, he'll appreciate going long. I rode his father, Gemologist, so I enjoyed riding him.”
Pedigree Notes:
Theory's stakes-placed dam Gem Sleuth, purchased by agent Chad Schumer for $45,000 while in foal to Paynter at last year's KEENOV sale, produced a filly by the WinStar Farm stallion earlier this year and was bred back to GI Travers S. dead-heat winner Alpha.
The budding partnership of WinStar Farm and China Horse Club are also represented by fellow unbeaten GII Summer S. hero Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday), who will line up as one of the major players in the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. China Horse Club also campaigns last weekend's unbeaten GI Frizette S. heroine Yellow Agate (Gemologist), who became the first stakes winner for Theory's freshman sire.
Saturday, Belmont Park
FUTURITY S.-GIII, $196,000, BEL, 10-15, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.91, ft.
1–#@THEORY, 118, c, 2, by Gemologist
1st Dam: Gem Sleuth (SP), by Officer
2nd Dam: Gem Treck, by Java Gold
3rd Dam: Tallahto, by Nantallah
'TDN Rising Star' ($120,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $335,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-China Horse Club & WinStar Farm LLC; B-Fred W Hertrich III & Ronald K Kirk (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Javier Castellano. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $169,800. *1/2 to Roman Officer (Roman Ruler), SW, $213,652. **Second SW for freshman sire (by Tiznow). Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”schumer-dam-purchased”][bullet ad=”darbydan-hip40-ftknov2016″][bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Star Empire (GB), 120, c, 2, Foxwedge (Aus)–Celestial Empire, by Empire Maker. (40,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA). O-Belinda C Bateman; B-James Worrall (GB); T-Wesley A Ward. $40,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Moves Like Ali, 118, c, 2, Maclean's Music–Jensens Score, by Even the Score. ($20,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '15 FTKJUL; $175,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-Loooch Racing Stables Inc & Imaginary Stables; B-Steve M DeMaiolo (OH); T-Jeremiah C Englehart. $20,000.[bullet ad=”paramount-congratulations”][bullet ad=”sequelbloodstock-grad”][bullet ad=”rockbridge-2yo-purchase”][bullet ad=”thorostride-obsapr2016-hip978″]Margins: 3HF, 1, 5 3/4. Odds: 0.35, 8.60, 6.30.
Also Ran: The Walk, Reckling.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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