BY BROCK SHERIDAN
While John Grossis Racing Corp.’s homebred Joey Muscles has not had much success in two starts against stakes horses—he’s had far less luck during the two contests. Trainer Jena Antonucci is hoping the son of Journeyman Stud’s leading Florida sire Khozan gets a fair shake and a chance to show his real talent when he makes his turf debut in the Grade 3 Futurity Friday during the Belmont a Big A meet. The $175,000 Futurity has attracted a field of eight juveniles who will race six furlongs on the Aqueduct grass.
The Futurity is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race, offering the winner a fees paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Spring at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
A promising length-and-a-half winner in his second career start against Florida-bred special weight maidens going five furlongs at Gulfstream Park in July, Joey Muscles made his next start in the $95,000 Proud Man at Gulfstream on Aug. 10.
Jockey Jose Morelos had Joey Muscles well positioned early in the six-furlong Proud Man, racing in fourth on the rail. However, as they began to make up ground with apparent ease approaching the half-mile pole, they found themselves trapped in a box the entire trip around the far turn. By the time Joey Muscles finally had an opening at the top of the stretch, he passed several rivals to get third, but could not catch up with the clear-running Naughty Rascal and Classic of Course, who eventually finished first and second respectively.
He then went to Monmouth Park for the $201,000 Sapling on Aug. 31, but he bobbled at the start then was bumped around in the first turn of the one-mile contest, eventually finishing seventh behind winner Crazy Frazy.
Friday, he gets the outside post eight, jockey Lane Luzzi and hopes of better racing luck.
Out of Smokin Red Hot, by Stormy Atlantic, Joey Muscles looks to improve on his record of one win and two thirds in four starts with earnings of $43,630.
The competition does not get easier in the Futurity with the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Mentee and Gate to Wire heading the list of entries.
Mentee broke his maiden going five furlongs in June during the Belmont at Big A meeting then finished sixth after being bumped at the start of the Grade 1 Hopeful won by Chancer McPatrick at Saratoga on Sept. 2.
A Repole Stable homebred, Mentee is by City of Light out of Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty and has earned $51,750 in his two starts.
Mentee got a feel for grass when breezing a half-mile in :49.68 over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training turf on Sept. 20.
“He’s very versatile from what we’ve seen. He trained well leading into his debut and ran great on the dirt. We just thought some of the City of Lights seem to take to the turf so we gave him a little breeze on it and he seemed to take to it,” Pletcher said. “The timing and the distance should suit him well.”
In making his first start on turf, Mentee will break from post seven with John Velazquez named to ride.
Gate to Wire graduates into the stakes competition after breaking his maiden on the turf at Saratoga on Aug. 30 in his only start.
“We circled this race on the calendar after that maiden win and things have gone according to plan,” Pletcher said. “Knock on wood he can make another move forward.”
The son of Munnings out of Sansibar Jewel, by Street Cry (Ire) breaks from post one with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.
Owned by Donegal Racing, Gate to Wire earned $55,000 in his lone start.
Rounding out the field are Epitaph and jockey Junior Alvarado, Chasing Liberty with Ricardo Santana Jr. named to ride, Joel Rosario takes the call on In the Chase, Under Who’s Radar will be ridden by Kendrick Carmouche and I’m Otter Here has jockey Jaime Torres.
