Proton. (Jim McCue/TMC)
Edward Deicke won Laurel Park’s Autumn Handicapping Challenge
By Vinnie Perrone
LAUREL, Md. – Proton showed reluctance to start Saturday’s $125,000 Laurel Futurity, and eagerness to finish it.
As his 2-year-old rivals stood in the starting gate, Proton dawdled atop the grass as if to stoke the prerace drama. Then he loaded without a fuss, tracked the leaders to the Laurel Park stretch and surged ahead for a one-length victory over Jutland. Popular longshot Parkes rallied for third on his home turf course.
Proton improved to 2-for-2 with the $75,000 score and, for his stable, substantiated the promise of horse racing. Debbie Easter assembled an ownership group with other Virginians, Clyde “Linny” Miles and son Randy among them, partnered with Kentucky-based Stone Farm and bought the yearling Proton for $20,000 in 2024.
The son of Australian sire Astern and the Elusive Quality mare Charged debuted five weeks ago with a hard-closing sprint victory at Colonial Downs and today managed, relished even, the Futurity’s additional turn and distance.
Ian Wilson, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, said the stable bypassed another Colonial start for the Futurity to give Proton a longer rest between races. On a firm course in the lightest drizzle, the bay substantiated the decision in a time of 1:44.43.
His prerace antics surprised none of his connections. Proton’s exuberance prompted his early gelding, which lessened but didn’t thwart his frisk. “We’ve had issues with him in the past,” Wilson said. “Nothing bad, but he has been a bit of a tricky horse in the mornings at the gate.”
Wilson left the tactics to jockey Jorge Ruiz, who contented to keep Proton behind and outside front-runners Blue Suede Shoes and Blue Forty Two. The 7-10 favorite advanced in earnest on the far turn, maintained the rally three-wide and held the victory as Jutland closed in late.
Even as Proton pushed his earnings to $127,500 in a career barely started, his connections seemed unwilling to dream too big. “I think we have a lot of options for him,” Wilson said. “We can go anywhere with this horse.”
From its 1921 inception as a dirt race, the Laurel Futurity has endowed the national racing scene. Morvich, the first Futurity winner, took the Kentucky Derby the following spring. The Futurity also launched Triple Crown heroes Count Fleet, Citation, Secretariat and Affirmed and thoroughbred titans Spectacular Bid, Challedon, Captain Bodgit, Barbaro, Riva Ridge and Jet Pilot.
Deicke Wins Handicapping Challenge With Late Heroics
Edward Deicke won Laurel Park’s Autumn Handicapping Challenge Saturday in dramatic fashion.
Far behind the leaders entering the 10th-race finale for $12,500 maiden claimers, Deicke bet $200 on an 8-1 exacta and struck gold. No. 8 Artist Mark, the 9-10 favorite, won the 6-furlong dirt race by 1 3/4 lengths over No. 1 Furious George (6-1), who had a half-length on No. 4 Railroad Inn (9-2) in third.
Deicke, a financial adviser who wagered through Xpressbet, finished the contest with $3,580.50 to seize the $4,650 first prize and his choice of seat in the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge or, if eligible, the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas. Deicke said he has appeared in the BCBC the past ten years.
Robin Buser ($2,239.50), Gregory Lewis ($2,057.80), Stephen McNatton ($2,051) and Jared Henry ($1,978) completed the top five. Henry had a $507 lead into the finale before Deicke stole the show.
