ARCADIA, Calif. –A scintillating first-out maiden winner, Paul Reddam’s homebred filly Absolutely Zero looms the horse to beat as she takes on eight males going five furlongs in Saturday’s $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity at Santa Anita.
Trained by Doug O’Neill, California-bred Absolutely Zero, a daughter of Reddam’s 2016 Kentucky Derby winning Nyquist, was most impressive in breaking her maiden here going 4 ½ furlongs versus five fillies by 1 ¾ lengths on May 21 as the 3-5 favorite, earning a lofty 67 Beyer Speed Figure.
Out of the multiple stakes winning Square Eddie mare How About Zero, has one work since her maiden win, a half mile in 48.40 here on June 11. By a red-hot sire and fresh off a dazzling first-out maiden score, Absolutely Zero figures to be a short price with Mario Gutierrez riding back.
Trainer Steve Knapp’s California-bred Midnight Lightning, an impressive 1 ¼ length maiden winner going five furlongs in his second start on June 4, wheels back quickly with regular rider Ramon Vazquez. Third, beaten 6 ¾ lengths in his 4 ½ furlong debut May 14, Midnight Lightning earned a 59 Beyer in his maiden score, up two points from his first start.
O’Neill will also be well represented by another impressive first-out maiden winner, Tahoma, who although his 44 Beyer is well below Absolutely Zero’s 67, he nonetheless aired by two lengths in a field of eight at odds of 4-5 and retains the services of leading rider Juan Hernandez.
The first North American foal to race by undefeated 2018 Triple Crown Champion Justify, Tahoma, is out of the Rahy mare Madera Dancer, sold for $160,000 as a Keeneland September Yearling and is owned by West Coast Stables, LLC.
As is the case in Saturday’s Fasig-Tipton Debutante, John Sadler has a high priced first time starter in the Futurity as well in the New York-bred Pure Fire. A $315,000 Florida 2-year-old in training sale purchase, Pure Fire will be ridden by the ascendant Tyler Baze, who ranks third in the Santa Anita jockey standings with 50 wins entering closing weekend.
By the Into Mischief stallion Practical Joke out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Juliette Ava, Pure Fire is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Talla Racing, LLC.
THE FIELD FOR THE $100,000 FASIG-TIPTON FUTURITY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST ORDER
Race 11 of 12 Approximate post time 6 p.m. PT
- Castleknock–Edwin Maldonado–119
- Pure Fire–Tyler Baze–119
- Absolutely Zero–Mario Gutierrez–120
- Good N Thirsty–Kyle Frey–123
- Pop d’Oro–Umberto Rispoli–123
- Midnight Lightning–Ramon Vazquez–123
- Smokem Howard–Edgar Payeras–119
- Salta–Ryan Curatolo–119
- Tahoma–Juan Hernandez–123
First post time for a 12-race card on Saturday, the penultimate day of Santa Anita’s Winter/Spring Meet, is at 1 p.m.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: Absolutely Zero (Benoit Photo)
