GREAT HUNTER GETS HIS PREY
An East vs. West showdown came to fruition when
the field for the $500,000 Breeders' Futurity hit the top of the
stretch Saturday at Keeneland.
The 2-5 favorite, Circular Quay, had circled tiring rivals and was
in full flight under Garrett Gomez, while the California invader
Great Hunter (APTITUDE) had been conserved by
Victor Espinoza and was primed to do his best running.
In the end, and on this day, Great Hunter proved clearly best,
drawing off to win the Grade 1 race by 1 3/4 lengths, while
Circular Quay was all-out to nip Street Sense for second by a
nose. A more important meeting awaits.
"I think we might go to the Breeders' Cup now," Paul Reddam, the
owner of Great Hunter, said with tongue in cheek seconds after his
latest stable star crossed the wire. Indeed, what could be a
riveting rematch is set for the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at
Churchill Downs.
Great Hunter, ridden by Victor Espinoza and trained by Doug
O'Neill, returned $13.60 as second choice after finishing 1 1/16
miles in 1:44.09 over Polytrack. After Street Sense, who had made a
bold move to take a short-lived lead entering the stretch, the
order of finish was Birdbirdistheword, Passport, Bold Start,
Teuflesberg, and French Transition.
Great Hunter had finished second in three straight stakes on the
Southern California circuit before his breakthrough victory
Saturday. Circular Quay had won his previous races, all in highly
impressive fashion.
Before a sun-splashed crowd of 28,880, Teuflesberg and French
Transition set the early pace while Great Hunter and Circular Quay
waited to pounce. Into and out of the far turn, the field bunched
together, with both favorites having relatively clean trips while
making their moves.
"I got lucky because he got through on the outside," said Espinoza,
who was aboard Great Hunter for the first time. "As soon as I shook
free, he just settled so nice. It even shocked myself, the way he
ran."
Great Hunter, by Aptitude, earned $310,000 and now has a career
bankroll of $430,000. Reddam purchased him privately after the colt
ran twice in Texas.
Date:
10 October 2006