Chelsea Durand Photo

Uncle Benny Breeders' Cup bound after last to first Futurity victory

by Anthony Affrunti

Ara Aprahamian's Uncle Benny launched from last to first to win the 127th running of the $150,000 Futurity on Sunday at Belmont Park by a half-length in 1:11.26 for the six furlongs on the Widener turf listed as good.

As part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge, the Futurity victory will send Uncle Benny to the gate for the all-new $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Division at Churchill Downs on November 2, known as "Future Stars Friday," as one of five races for 2-year-olds.

Now perfect through two starts for trainer Jason Servis, the Declaration of War colt has a victory on both dirt and turf.

"Around Monmouth time, I told people he was one of my best 2-year-olds, so we’re high on him," Servis said. "We think he’s a nice horse, and he looks the part too. He’s a big, good-looking horse. He’s massive. He’s got Storm Cat on the dam’s side and his stallion won a couple of Grade 1s I think in Europe on the grass, so I wasn’t worried about the turf."

From the gate, the early pacesetter was Joyful Heart, who found himself on the lead for the fourth straight time in his career, continuing his streak through a first quarter in 22.46 seconds down the backside while Veterans Beach and Bizzee Channel kept him company early. Soon, Real Money stalked from a length behind as the field situated itself behind as Fayette Warrior held third with Dragic, the lone filly in the field, to his outside. Uncle Benny was last among the strung-out field of 10 ahead of him after nearly clipping heels at the break after Swamp Rat, to his inside, veered outward at the start.

Rounding the turn, Real Money made a move for the lead outside the tiring Joyful Heart to his inside, as Dragic began to find her best stride after a half-mile run in 46.30. Dragic and Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez took command after five-eighths was clocked in 58.71, but to her outside was a challenge from longshot Backtohisroots, who was charging late alongside Uncle Benny, who made a strong move from last in the middle of the track.

Down the stretch, Dragic was in an all-out drive, but Uncle Benny continued his progress under Irad Ortiz, Jr. who held off Backtohisroots by a half-length at the wire. Dragic held third 1 ½ lengths behind the top two and four lengths over Fayette Warrior, who finished fourth.

"Irad said the 10 horse broke out so bad that if he hadn’t taken a hold of him, he would’ve clipped heels and fell, said Servis. "He said he had to snatch him up into a standstill. Irad said, ‘Man, after all that and he still wins,’ so Irad really liked him a lot.”

The quick action of Ortiz, Jr. and his patience through the early run down the backstretch certainly helped Uncle Benny in the late stages of the race.

"It’s always exciting with a "Win and You’re In" [for the Breeders’ Cup]," Ortiz, Jr. said. "I’m just so happy for [trainer] Jason Servis, it’s been such a good year for him. He’s a nice horse. It was the first time I rode him. We had the outside post and he broke a step slow. I didn’t want to rush him out of there, he’s a baby. They ran away from and I just dropped in. I didn’t panic. I waited and when I made the run on the outside, he took off.

"It’s different. It was his first time on the grass. I was confident on him and didn’t panic. I just let him be happy and ride him from there."

With the next destination set at Churchill Downs for the colt's third career start Servis and his connections have a decision to make as to which race he will start during the first weekend in November.

"I don’t know if we’ll do the long race or the sprint," Servis said. "I don’t know if he’ll get in the long one, but I think he’ll run further. I don’t know if he’ll get up five eighths, but I know he’ll get a mile. He’ll go in one of those races."

Sent off at odds of 5-1, Uncle Benny returned $12.40 to win.