Cowboyland Aalborg's Wishing Stone was a straight heat winner in the $501,000 Kentucky Futurity on
Saturday (Oct. 16) at The Red Mile. The winner was bred by Brittany Farms and Daisy Acres and closed in on the million dollar mark in career earnings with his share of the purse.
With George Brennan in the bike for trainer/owner Dewayne Minor, the Conway Hall-Meadowbranch Magic colt brushed to the lead at the half-mile marker in the $200,400 first heat and was in total command the rest of the way in a 1:52.3 clocking. Hambletonian champion Muscle Massive (Ron Pierce) was second and Breeders Crown champion Break The Bank K (Brian Sears) finished third. Hes A Demon was fourth and Lucky Chucky fifth.
Muscle Massive protected the rail and led though an opening quarter in :27.1. Brennan got away fourth with Wishing Stone from Post 2, then came first over on the backstretch and was first on the rim at the :56.1 half-mile marker.
Wishing Stone got a soft third quarter of :29 as they reached the pole in 1:25.1 and was never seriously threatened the rest of the way. A :27.2 final panel put him in the winner's circle.
Trainer Dewayne Minor said that, "I never expected it that way [to win from the front] but it paid off. He loves this track and it's home for him."
In the $200,500 second heat, Wishing Stone lowered his mark to 1:51.2 as he held off Lucky Chucky and Break The Bank K to secure the straight heat victory.
Temple Of Doom and David Miller were on top at the :27.2 opening quarter, with Muscle Massive second and Wishing Stone third. Pierce moved Muscle Massive to the lead at the :54.3 half-mile marker, with Wishing Stone following his move on the rim.
Wishing Stone trotted past Muscle Massive and cleared to the lead, hit the three-quarter pole in 1:23, and was definitely the best as he came home in :28.2 to reach the wire in 1:51.2. Lucky Chucky and Break The Bank K tried valiantly to chase down the winner but to no avail. Muscle Massive flattened out in the stretch and finished fourth.
(USTA)