Howgreatisnate draws clear in the $75K Future Stars (Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO)
By Amber Joyce
BENSALEM, Pa.— Imaginary Stables’ juvenile gelding Howgreatisnate lived up to his name and also maintained his perfect record when capturing the $75K Future Stars Dec. 5 at Parx.
Bumping with 6-5 choice Daydreaming Boy who stumbled leaving the gate, Howgreatisnate recovered from post position six and raced in fourth four lengths off the pace as the field of six headed up the backstretch. Belt Parkway set the tempo, clocking the opening quarter in 22.16 as V Mart pressured him from the outside. Meanwhile, both Howgreatisnate and Daydreaming Boy began mustering up rallies entering the turn, the former angling out three-wide to make his bid. V Mart felt the effects of his early pursuit and dropped back to fourth.
It was three across the track entering the far turn, Daydreaming Boy assuming command by a narrow margin, the half going in 45.17. With a furlong left to run, Howgreatisnate scooped up the lead and drew clear to win by three and a half lengths under regular pilot J. D. Acosta. The final time for the six-furlong distance over the main track rated fast was 1:12.07.
Daydreaming Boy had to settle for second. Eight and a quarter lengths behind him was Belt Parkway followed by V Mart. 40-1 shot Silver Slugger was eased in the stretch and did not finish the race. Evey’s Candy was vanned off after being injured and losing jockey Luis Ocasio at the five-sixteenths marker. No official word on his condition has been revealed at the time of this article being published.
Off at odds of 3-2, Howgreatisnate rewarded backers $5.00, $2.40, and $2.10 for his triumph. Daydreaming Boy returned $2.40 and $2.10, while Belt Parkway returned $3.20.
Howgreatisnate shipped in from Delaware Park for the Future Stars, the Wilmington track being where he began his career and won his first three races. On debut in August, the Andrew Simoff-trainee rolled home to break his maiden by three and a half lengths. He followed that maiden claiming score with a game win in the $100K First State Dash and then a tenacious victory in an allowance optional claiming Nov. 5. With his perfect four-for-four record, he has earned a total of $162,900 for his connections.
A bay son of Speightster, Howgreatisnate was bred in Kentucky by B. D. Gibbs Farm, LLC. He is out of Bee Dees Bid, a Tapit mare who was also bred by B. D. Gibbs Farm, LLC. This makes him half to Just a Kiss Away, an undefeated filly by Twirling Candy.
Howgreatisnate was purchased by Imaginary Stables’ John Guarnere for $67,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
