September 13, 2008
The top juveniles of the east competed at Belmont Park on Saturday looking for a ticket to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup. The $250,000 Futurity Stakes (G2) is a 7 furlong main track sprint for 2-year-old males. 7-5 favorite Charitable Man won his debut last time out by an impressive 11 1/2 lengths. In to challenge him included 5-2 second choice Gone Astray, a maiden winner at Saratoga, and another debut winner, 9-2 Girolamo. Just 5,657 were on hand on a warm cloudy afternoon in New York, with the track rated "good" after some overnight rain.
High Mesa battled on the pace with Kensei and Flying Pegasus down the backstretch through brisk early fractions of 22.87 and 46.97 over the good surface, while favorite Charitable Man was unhurried near the back of the field. Turning for home, High Mesa tired and dropped back, eventually finishing last, while Charitable Man was hitting his best stride. The favorite came five wide on the turn, closed with a rush on the outside, and took over the lead in mid stretch, getting 6f in 1:11.59. Charitable Man easily held off Flying Pegasus late in the stretch to win by a length in a time of 1:24.30. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to late-running Friesan Fire third.
Results chart
