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Horse Greeley sails in Del Mar Futurity Ray and Martha Parfet's homebred HORSE GREELEY (Mr. Greeley) broke a step slow while throwing his head in the air, but the two-year-old colt quickly recovered and went on to post a 1 3/4-length victory in Wednesday's $250,000 Del Mar Futurity (G2). With the meet's leading rider, Victor Espinoza, holding the reins, the Richard Mandella-trained chestnut tracked Stormello (Stormy Atlantic) in second through opening splits of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5 before moving to the lead midway on the far turn. Horse Greeley faced a potential challenge from Great Hunter (Aptitude) at the top of the stretch, but the winner had plenty in reserve and was never seriously threatened while finishing strongly, earning his first stakes win when finishing the seven-furlong test in 1:22 4/5. A four-length maiden winner in his previous outing, Horse Greeley improved his record to 3-2-1-0, with $192,400 in earnings. Sent off the 3-1 third choice in Wednesday's seven-horse field, he paid $8.40, $3.60 and $2.80 while keying the $25.40 exacta with 2-1 favorite Great Hunter, who was good for $3 and $2.60. It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Stormello, who returned $3.80 at 7-1 and capped the $147.80 trifecta (5-7-4). Caped for Flight (Cape Town), Lucky Thirteen (Swiss Yodeler), Divide and Conquer (Mr. Greeley) and 2-1 second choice Prime Ruler (Orientate) rounded out the order of finish. The Kentucky-bred Horse Greeley is out of the multiple Grade 1-placed Chile Chatte (Storm Cat), who is a daughter of multiple stakes heroine and Grade 1-placed Carita Tostada (Chi) (Gallantsky), dam of multiple Grade 3 victress Shaconage (El Prado [Ire]) and Grade 3 winner Jadada (Jade Hunter). Horse Greeley has a yearling half-brother named Deacon's Cat (Pulpit). The Del Mar Futurity is the closing day feature at the seaside oval, and last year's event was captured by eventual champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even). Horse Greeley's connections probably have similar aspirations following Wednesday's smashing performance.
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