Donegal Racing’s Ready to Purrform, in just his second career start and first in a stakes, lived up to his name and will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup following a powerful 3 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Laurel Futurity atLaurel Park.
The 94th running of the Futurity for 2-year-olds was the first of five turf stakes worth $600,000 in purses on the Fall Festival of Racing program, co-headlined by the 91st renewal of the $150,000 Selima for 2-year-old fillies, both at 1 1/16 miles.
Donegal racing manager Jerry Crawford, one of several members of the partnership that celebrated in the Laurel winner’s circle, said Brad Cox-trained Ready to Purrform would make his next start in a Breeders’ Cup event at Del Mar. Among that day’s races for 2-year-olds are the Juvenile (G1) at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, the one-mile Juvenile Turf (G1) and five-furlong Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2).
“We thought he was sitting on a big effort. Brad Cox has done a great job with him. I can’t say that we’re surprised, but we are certainly pleased,” Crawford said. “Spirits are high. Donegal travels well. I’m guessing that every Donegal partner that’s here today will be at the Breeders’ Cup, because that’s where Ready will perform next. We’ve already sold 80 tickets to the Breeders’ Cup, so I expect this will shove us past 100.”
Ready to Purrform came into the Futurity off a nose maiden special weight victory going the distance Sept. 3 on the Ellis Park turf. Using a similar stalking trip under Jevian Toledo, Ready to Purrform ($8.80) was unhurried in the early going as previously undefeated stakes winner Epic Luck led through fractions of 22.71 and 46.70 seconds.
-edited from www.pastthewire.com
