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Great Hunter powers home in Breeders' Futurity J. Paul Reddam's GREAT HUNTER (Aptitude) overtook Street Sense (Street Cry [Ire]) in midstretch and finished stoutly under strong handling to annex the $500,000 Breeders' Futurity S. (G1) over the Polytrack at Keeneland on Saturday. Breaking alertly under Victor Espinoza, the Doug O'Neill trainee tracked on the inside early before dipping five wide turning for home and gamely earning a much deserved graded win. The 5-1 second choice completed the 1 1/6 miles in 1:44 and rewarded his backers with $13.60, $4 and $3.40. Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch) was wide turning for home and never could catch the top one, doing well to nab Street Sense on the wire to gain second while 1 3/4 lengths shy of the winner. The runner-up paid $2.40 and $2.20 as the 2-5 choice, and completed the $26 exacta. Street Sense was a clear third at nearly 12-1 and finished off the $113.80 trifecta, while paying $4.40 for the show. Birdbirdistheword (Pure Prize) completed the $638 superfecta at 17-1, and was trailed by Passport (Pulpit), Bold Start (Jump Start), Teuflesberg (Johannesburg) and early pacesetter French Transition (Giant's Causeway). Great Hunter finally broke through with his initial graded stakes tally after settling for second in three straight. The dark bay upped his career earnings to $430,000, with a lifetime mark of 6-2-4-0. The freshman colt placed in the Del Mar Futurity S. (G2), Best Pal S. (G2) and Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G3). The winner was bred in the Keystone State by Ivy Dell Stud and purchased for $30,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, prior to being acquired by his current owner. He is out of the stakes winning Roy mare Zenith, and has an unnamed yearling half-sister by Honour and Glory, as well as an unnamed 2006 half-brother by Golden Missile.
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