J P’s Gusto, with three straight stakes victories to his credit, will go to the starting gate Wednesday as the 5-2 lukewarm favorite in the 64th running of the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1).
In his second start, J P’s Gusto broke his maiden by winning the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park on May 31. Since then, J P’s Gusto has won the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (G3) and the Best Pal Stakes (G2).
Like Three Chimneys Hopeful winner Boys At Tosconova, J P’s Gusto is a descendent of the Man O' War sire line and since 1990 there have been three horses from that sire line to win the Del Mar Futurity: Officer (2001), Future Quest (1995) and Bertrando (1991).
J P’s Gusto is the only graded stakes winner of his sire Successful Appeal and his 2-year-old runners have eight wins in 16 starts for 50 percent. A sharp work out at Del Mar on September 4 and it appears that J P’s Gusto may be ready to run another good race.
A long shot I like is Riveting Reason (12-1) who, after two starts, is still a maiden. But, with a third place finish in his debut and a second in his last race, he has room to improve off of those efforts.
His Brisnet Speed Figures have improved with each race. A sharp bullet work out on September 4, a few ticks faster than J P’s Gusto’s, and Riveting Reason should be ready to run a good race.
Riveting Reason is a descendent of the Mr. Prospector sire line and since 1990 there have been five horses from that line to win the Futurity: Lookin at Lucky (2009), Midshipman (2008), Horse Greeley (2006), Souvenir Copy (1997) and On Target (1994).
His sire, Fusaichi Pegasus, won the 2000 Kentucky Derby and his juvenile runners have 5 wins in 24 starts for 21 percent.
Indian Winter comes into the Futurity with half-length win in his maiden debut at Del Mar on August 21 and has been selected as the 5-1 morning line third-choice for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Indian Winter received an 87 speed figure for that effort and if he moves forward he should be competitive.
Indian Winter is a descendent of the Nasrullah sire line and three horses from that sire line have won the Futurity since 1990: Icecoldbeeratreds (2002), Worldly Manner (1998) and River Special (1992).
Indian Winter’s sire is Indian Charlie and his grandsire In Excess sired Futurity winner Icecoldbeeratreds. Indian Charlie’s juvenile runners have six wins in 12 starts for 50 percent.
On paper, it would appear that Western Mood (7-2) is going backward instead of moving forward. But in his three previous starts, Western has never been off the board and he has the breeding to be competitive in the Futurity.
Western Mood is a descendent of the Mr. Prospector sire line and his grandsire Forty Niner sired the Futurity winner On Target. Western Mood’s damsire, Deputy Minister, sired the 1999 Futurity winner Forest Camp.
West Acre is the sire of Western Mood and his juvenile runners have 6 wins in 9 starts for 67 percent.
A sharp work out on September 2 indicates that Western Mood may be ready to run a good race.
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