Dixiana Breeders' Futurity Roundup

Trainer Thomas Amoss will be trying for his first win in the $400,000 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) when he sends Shared Property to the post today as the lukewarm 4-1 favorite. With two also eligible colts entered in the race, a full field of 14 will go to the post in what appears to be a wide-open edition of the Breeders’ Futurity.

Undefeated in two starts, Shared Property comes into the race with a one-length win in the Arlington-Washington Futurity Stakes (G3) and should be competitive if he repeats the form of his previous races.

However, three horses I like better are Optimizer (8-1), Lucky Chappy (8-1) and Take Charge Indy (5-1).

In his last race, the With Anticipation Stakes (G2), Optimizer only lost by a half-length to State Of Play who was my favorite pick in that race. Jockey Robby Albarado lost the whip at the sixteenths pole but Optimizer continued to make up ground on the winner.

In his maiden debut win, Optimizer trailed at the back of the 10-horse field for most of the race, went six wide on the far turn, and showed an impressive burst of speed in the final furlong to win by a neck.

Optimizer covered the 8½-furlongs in a time of 1:42.67 which is the fastest of all the other horses entered in today’s race. If Optimizer repeats the form of his last two races he will be competitive.

Optimizer also has a good pedigree.

English Channel, the sire of Optimizer, was the 2007 Eclipse Champion Turf Male and a multiple Graded Stakes winner who was competitive from 10 to 12-furlongs. Belmont Stakes winner and Sire of Sires A. P. Indy is the damsire of Optimizer.

Indy Pick, the dam of Optimizer, was not stakes placed but had had 2-1-1 record in 6 starts. Fantastic Find, the second dam of Optimizer, won the Grade 1 Hempstead Handicap and placed in several other Graded Stakes races.

Blitey, the third dam of Optimizer, and fourth dam Lady Pitt are Reines-de-Course Mares (Queens of the turf).

Team Valor International ships Lucky Chappy in from Italy where he had two wins and a second-place finish in three starts on the turf. (Lucky Chappy is also cross entered in the Bourbon Stakes (G3) which be run on Sunday.)

Lucky Chappy has a stamina-oriented pedigree and should be able to handle the Futurity with no problem. High Chaparral, the sire of Lucky Chappy, won the Epsom and Irish Derbies and was the 2002 and 2003 Eclipse Champion Male Turf Horse.

Distant Relative, the sire of Lucky Chappy, was a multiple Group winner in England, Ireland and France and was a Champion 3-year-old colt in Ireland. Germane, the dam of Lucky Chappy, was a Group 3 winner of the 7-furlong Rockfel Stakes in England and placed in several other Group races.

Take Charge Indy was an impressive 6½-length winner in his maiden debut and finished second to Shared Property in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3). Take Charge Indy shifted in on the final furlong of his last race but adds blinkers to today’s race.

Take Charge Indy should do better as the races get longer and the stretch out to 8½-furlongs suite him well. His sire, A. P. Indy, was a Classic Champion Thoroughbred and his grandsire, Seattle Slew, was a Triple Crown winner.

Take Charge Lady, the dam of Take Charge Indy, was a multiple graded-stakes winner at the age of two and three. Take Charge Lady won the Alcibiades Stakes (G2), Spinster Stakes (G1), Ashland Stakes (G1), Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Silverbulletday Stakes (G3) and Dogwood Stakes (G3). At the age of four, Take Charge Lady won the Spinster Stakes (G1) and Arlington Matron Handicap (G3).

Good luck with your picks!