How to bet the Laurel Futurity

A full field of two-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles on the sod in Saturday’s $150,000 Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park. The last of a trio of black-type races on the slate appears to be a very good betting opportunity with numerous viable contenders in the contest. 

Laurel Futurity Wagers

• $10 win and place #1 Stormy Flight ($20)
• 50-cent trifecta 1,3 with 1,3,8,10,12,14 with 1,3,8,10,12,14 ($20)

Drawing inside can be a tricky thing in a big field, but I still expect #1 Stormy Flight to have a big impact on the result of the race for conditioner Hamilton Smith. By Get Stormy, the chestnut was a useful fourth behind a swift top pair in a dirt debut on June 23, and he returned on Sept. 15 on the lawn with huge improvement with the surface switch. The gelding made a big move into and through the stretch to win by four lengths, and he gives the impression of a youngster who will handle the stretch out in distance with relative ease. 

Stormy Flight is bred to love the lawn and handle the voyage, and he will also be closer to the pace in this spot, too. Regular rider Victor Carrasco will be in the silks atop the Virginia-bred and have him saving ground throughout. 

Of the two Graham Motion trainees in the field, I prefer #3 Academy. The chestnut son of Oscar Performance ran evenly on debut against a solid cast at Saratoga on July 20, and the $310,000 yearling purchase showed improvement at Colonial Downs second time out when crossing the wire first before being disqualified and placed second. I envision the Kentucky-bred to be the type who continues to ascend with more experience going forward. The March foal will be forwardly placed early while retaining the services of Mychel Sanchez. 

In addition to the top pair, I’ll also include four runners for the vertical exotics. Tremont S. winner #8 Studlydoright has displayed a big turn of foot on the main oval going short, and the $110,000 son of Nyquist will be a major contender if he takes to the green. 

Mike Maker’s second-timer #10 Hard Circle, who was a bargain $30,000 purchase in the spring, ran a clear third following a slow break at the competitive Kentucky Downs meeting and will be a player with even slight improvement in this event. 

Smart dirt debut winner #12 Just a Fair Shake and the Jonathan Thomas-trained #14 Lazlo will also be included.