Keeneland's Breeders' Futurity 2021 Results: Brian Hernandez Rattle N Rolls to Victory

Circled on Opening Weekend at Keeneland is this race ... the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity. With both Kentucky Derby Points (10-4-2-1), and a ticket to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on the table, it is a major stop for both these celebrated races. With a field of 13 ... a capacity crowd in the starting gate ... everyone knew that when the bell sounded, it was going to be a 2-yr-old slugfest.

From the outset, Brian Lynch's Classic Causeway #13 served as the favorite when post time rolled around on Saturday afternoon amid a windswept sunny day at Keeneland. Going off at odds of 9/5, and with Jose Ortiz aboard, it looked as though with the outside draw, that the experienced rider would have to hustle him to the front. After they broke ... and it was a clean one ... Ortiz did just what he needed to ... get to the lead. Setting the pace, the colt got to turn-1, and became the controlling speed. Followed closely by Dale Romans' long shot, Mr. Bouma #2 at odds of 77/1, he was quickly joined by Ricardo Santana who was aboard Stellar Tap #3 at odds of 6/1. Those 3 rolled through the backstretch, and steadily, Santana edged his Winchell maroon-clad warrior towards the leader. 

As the final turn approached, it was Tyler Gaffalione on Great Escape #9 at odds of 6/1, who moved quickly to challenge Classic Causeway #13. Despite some traffic towards the middle of the field, 3 others quickly emerged that would play a major part in the stretch drive. Kenny McPeek's Rattle N Roll #6 going off at 8/1 with Brian Hernandez at the controls began to assert his mount's authority, as Lynch's charge wavered ... It was Todd Pletcher's Double Thunder #1 at odds of 7/1, and Chris Davis' American Sanctuary #7 at the longer price of 26/1 who also gave chase. Classic Causeway #13, who looked so strong at the outset, faded to 3rd, and it was McPeek's son of Connect, guided by Hernandez, who pulled away in the end by an impressive 5+ lengths. Pletcher's Double Thunder #1 garnered the "place."

The impressive Rattle N Roll #6 completed the journey of 1 1/16th in 1:43.78. Hernandez, who has always hovered around major riding titles, notched a major win, that will put him into the Breeders' Cup, if this colt comes out of the race in good order. Once again, the Breeders' Futurity lived up to its billing ... producing another impressive winner. Ho Keeneland! Onward to BC ...