WEDNESDAY'S GRADE 1 DEL MAR FUTURITY

JP's Gusto Takes Aim at 4th Straight

With three stakes victories already tucked away, J P's Gusto is taking dead aim at a fourth in Wednesday's Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Futurity on the track's final day of its 37-day season.

All except one of the 2-year-olds will be running 7 furlongs for the first time and J P's Gusto will pack 122 pounds and will spot his 10 foes from two to six pounds.

The one not new to 7 furlongs is Major Art, who has run the distance in each of his four career starts on turf in England and France. He is a recent purchase by Tom Arndt's Class Racing Stable and will be saddled by his new trainer, J. Eric Kruljac. He is one of three $10,000 supplemental entries in the Futurity.

Trainer David Hofmans believes J P's Gusto, who is named for owner Dr. John Waken's grandson, will see a hotter pace than what developed in his gate-to-wire victory in the Best Pal Stakes August 8. "He found himself on the lead by default because of a lack of speed in the race," Hofmans said. "He'll be able to lay off the lead this time and track the leaders, and then make his run."

Exercise rider Iggy Puglisi seconded Hofmans' assessment, saying, "He shows in his works that he'll be able to stay off the pace and be comfortable. I think he can sit maybe fourth and still make the same winning move he has made before."

The speed is likely to come from among McKenzies Way, who was supplemented to the race for $10,000, Jaycito and Riveting Reason, both of whom are maidens. Riveting Reason also is the other supplementary entry.

McKenzies Way, who won in gate-to-wire fashion in his most recent start at the seashore, the maiden Just Imagine, and Road Ready were purchased at the Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in training, with Road Ready bringing $300,000 from the partnership of Jim Vreeland, Murray Smith and trainer Jeff Bonde.

The super-confident Bonde said Monday morning, "He was the best-looking and had the best preview of any of the horses in the sale. It wasn't just about speed. It was about the way he moved.

"In his first race, he overcame trouble and won against older [2-year-olds] in a stakes [at Golden Gate Fields], and he's been training well here. He's 100 percent good right now and ready to go. I wouldn't trade places with anybody. [David] Hofmans hung it on me [runner-up Sway Away] in the Best Pal, but I'm sending this guy [Road Ready] after him."

Also coming after J P's Gusto -- and with two horses -- is Jerry Hollendorfer, whose Western Mood has lost twice in stakes to the Hofmans trainee since breaking his maiden at Hollywood Park. Hollendorfer is hoping a third time could be a charm. Hollendorfer also will saddle Indian Winter, who broke his maiden at first asking here on August 21.

Since 2005, three Futurity winners, including the last two, have gone on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Stevie Wonderboy started it in 2005 and Midshipman and Lookin At Lucky have won the past two years.