By Joe Bianca
Three impressive California 2-year-olds, each designated 'TDN Rising Stars', will face off in the six-horse GI Del Mar Futurity Monday, with each looking to stamp themselves the early favorite for Santa Anita's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Chasing Aces (Flatter), owner of the lone triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure by a 2-year-old so far this year, will attempt to stretch out two furlongs off a strong 5 1/4-length Rising Star– garnering victory going five panels here July 17. Owned by Rockingham Ranch for his first two starts, the $225,000 BARMAR buy was bought into by Earle I. Mack and Wachtel Stable after throwing up a 101 Beyer in that maiden-breaker. The chestnut's trainer, Peter Miller, has given him a series of stamina-building breezes, including a spin at the Futurity's distance of seven furlongs in 1:25 2/5 at San Luis Rey Aug. 25.
Second to Chasing Aces in his blowout win was Straight Fire (Dominus), who came back with an equally impressive victory of his own, dusting a field of maidens by 10 1/2 lengths going 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 6 on this oval. Purchased for over 70 times his sire's stud fee when going under the hammer for $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July sale, the bay registered a 98 Beyer for his performance and earned a Rising Star nod.
“He has the bones of a buffalo and he's not afraid of anything,” Joasin Dias, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux, told the Del Mar notes team. “He can be better than Texas Red and Exaggerator.”
Kaleem Shah's Klimt (Quality Road) made a strong enough impression in his open-lengths maiden score July 10 at Santa Anita to be dubbed a Rising Star and backed up that distinction with a powerful triumph in the 6 1/2-furlong GII Best Pal S. here Aug. 13. The rangy $435,000 OBSMAR buy looks to be suited to any added distance, but will have to make up a figure disadvantage, boasting a Beyer top of just 82.
The Ruis family will try to sweep the juvenile Grade I's at this meet with longshot Midnight Pleasure (Midnight Lute), an upset winner on debut here July 24. Owner Mick Ruis and trainer Shelbe Ruis captured the GI Del Mar Debutante S. Saturday with Union Strike (Union Rags).
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