The Grade 1 $750,000 CashCall Futurity

In 2009, a little ol' horse named Lookin At Lucky rebounded from a disappointing loss in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to come back and win the CashCall Futurity to wrap up a Champion Two-Year-Old season. Lucky should be named the Champion Three-Year-Old of 2010 following his wins in the Preakness and Haskell and a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Saturday is the 2010 edition of the CashCall Futurity and the question is will one of the ten in this field stand out quite like Lookin At Lucky did this year. Of course, that question is for the future, the question for Saturday is who do you like? Here is the analysis of the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity:

My top pick will be #2 J.P.'s Gusto, who enters this race off of a sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. That was this one's first-ever race over a non-synthetic surface, which he returns to here. His five-furlong workout on December 14 was promising. Joe Talamo gets the ride on Saturday. For second, I will use #10 Comma To The Top. He was a winner on the turf last time out in the Grade 3 Generous at Hollywood and I am always fond of the turf-to-dirt switch. The gelding's win streak has now reached four, including the Real Quiet at this distance. Corey Nakatani was up for the last two wins and is aboard again in the Futurity. The upset winner of the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot was #7 Gourmet Dinner, who scored a win at Delta Downs at 20-1. He is already in the field for the Kentucky Derby with those graded earnings, but I find it admirable of the connections that they are continuing to campaign him for improvement. He has never been worse than second in five lifetime starts, but this might be the toughest spot of his career thus far. He could be the most interesting horse in the gate on Saturday. For fourth, I will throw a 20-1 morning-line horse in with #8 Riveting Reason. The offspring of 2000 Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus, broke the maiden at Hollywood last time out at this distance on November 25. However, he also ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, finishing a well-beaten eighth. He also could be sitting pretty if there is any kind of speed duel ahead of him in here. Here is the play for the CashCall Futurity:

$5 WP #2
$5 EX BOX #2+ #10
$1 TRI 2-10 with 2-10 with 5-6-7-8
TOTAL- $28

Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these picks. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!