In a race full of All-Stars, it was three lesser known horses in the field

who made up the trifecta in the Grade I CC Futurity run Saturday at

Hollywood Park. The end of the race was so close that a neck was all

that stood between the first five finishers in the $750.000 race.

In the end, it was Byaneck trained by Pan Farms, who got up in time

winning by a head, to get his first graded stakes win. Ironically, one of

the horses he defeated was his stablemate, and the post time favorite,

Skeleton Key, who had to settle for 5th place.

Byaneck trained by Pan Farms, is a two-year-old AG colt by stallion

HRP-Princequillo, and he finished the 1 1/16 Grade I CC Futurity over

the fast Hollywood dirt in a time of 1:41.98. His win here earned him

$450.000, giving him career earnings of $593.510, and a race record

of 8-3-0-3.

Not Much There finished 2nd, taking home $150.000 for his trainer,

Kopites, while the lone maiden in the race, Embalmer, sent out by

Larkhill Stables just held on for 3rd, earning $120.000. Condottieri,

trained by Jerry Garcia Racing was thundering home at the end, and

finished 4th, just a whisker behind 3rd place.

Official Order Of Finish:

How the race was run:

11   Byaneck: Won by a head. After the break, dropped back

       to run in 10th, where he stayed until just after the 1/2 mile

       pole. Moved into 8th place three lengths off the lead, then

       made an absolutely huge closing move to get out front by a

       head for the win.

      -Defeated stablemate, Skeleton Key, the morning line and post

       time favorite, and defeated multiple graded stakes winners here

       to win his first graded stakes race, and a Grade I no less. Be

       sure to watch for Byaneck in 2012!

8     Not Much There:  Finished 2nd, just a head behind winner.

       After the break, was sent to the lead, where he led briefly

       before settling back in 4th, just 1/2 a length from the leader.

       Just before the 3/4 mile pole, he regained the lead and was

       a nose in front at the mile mark, and was just caught at the

       wire, and had to settle for 2nd today.

      -Ran a great race, and Not Much There has shown that there

       is much there, when it comes to him. Has proven he can win

       on dirt and turf, watch for him in his three-year-old campaign.   

9     Embalmer: Finished 3rd, just a head behind the winner, and

       a nose behind 2nd. Broke sharply and was sent out front, to

       run in 2nd early, just a neck from the lead. At the 3/4 mile he

       was still in 2nd, battling the 8 horse and briefly took the lead

       before being passed by the fast closing winner, and the 8.

      -This one blew me out of the water. A maiden up against a

       field like this, and he ran fantastic. Still a maiden, but now a

       graded stakes placed maiden. Put Embalmer on your watch

       list for next year.

10   Condottieri: Finished 4th, just a neck from the winner, and a

       nostril flare behind 3rd. Broke sharply, and was hustled up to

       to get a great position early, running 5th, just a length off the

       lead. Just after the quarter pole, he made a move, taking the

       lead and pulling 1/4 of a length in front, before he suddenly

       dropped back to 4th and looked like he was done. Then just

       before the wire absolutely came back to life, closing very fast

       at the end, finishing just a neck back.

      -Ran a bit of a strange race here, for Condottieri, going to the

       lead, then dropping back, only to come flying towards the front

       again before the wire. Thought he was absolutely done when he

       dropped back, but he came on so strong at the end, with little

       effort, looking like he had enough left to go another lap around

       the track! Impressive race, love this talented colt, and can't wait

       to see him run at age three.

2     Skeleton Key: Finished 5th, just a neck behind the winner,

       and a whisker behind Condottieri. After breaking, was taken

       back to run 7th early, two lengths from the front. Passed the

       4 horse to take 6th place and three lengths off the lead at the

       quarter poll, and at the 3/4 mile was still sixth, and had gained

       a length. Began to pour on the speed near the mile pole, and

       was able to get up just to finish a neck back in 5th.

      -Just looked a bit flat compared to his last two races, which were

       graded stakes wins. Was taken back further early in the race than

       where he usually runs, leaving him more ground to make up as he

       made his closing move. Ran well at the end to get up so close to

       the winner at the wire. Another one to watch closely in 2012!

1     Righteous: Finished 6th, one length behind the winner. Ran third

       early, just 1/4 a length off the lead. Stayed on the rail, where he

       continued on in 3rd. At the 3/4 mile pole had moved up to be just

       a neck from the leader, then at the mile mark, looked leg weary,

       dropping back to finish in 6th.

      -Not sure what happened to Righteous here, but he may have just

       had a bad day as all horses do at one point, or may have been a 

       bit tired after such a huge year, with so many big wins. Think we

       will see him back to his winning ways in no time in 2012.

4     Guilty As Sin: Finished 7th, three lengths back from the winner.

       After the break, dropped back to run 6th, two lengths from the

       lead. At the 1/2 mile pole, he was passed by the 2 horse to run

       in 7th, three lengths back. Made a big move at the 3/4 mile and

       was able to move up to 5th place, but then shortly after, he tired

       and fell back to finish three lengths back in 7th.

      -It looked like the distance here was just longer than Guilty As

       Sin wants to run. Will have to see if he cuts back in distance

       next year to the sprint races, where he won two graded stakes

       this year, or if he can go longer as he gets older. Had a great

       two-year-old campaign.

7     Bombay Dancer: Finished 8th, three lengths from the winner.

       Taken back and over to the rail after the break to trail the field

       in 11th, six lengths from the front. At the 3/4 mile pole he had

       passed two horses to be 9th, then was passed and ran 10th,

       five lengths off the lead. Began to make a move near the mile

       pole, and was able to get up within three lengths of the winner

       to finish 8th.

     -Bombay Dancer was taken back much further in the beginning

      of the race than where he usually runs, and although he was

      starting to close well at the end, he just had too much ground

      to make up and ran out of time. Early fractions here were quite

      a bit faster than what he is used to, and may have been too fast 

      for him.

3    D Here:  Finished four lengths back in a dead heat with the 5

      horse in 9th place. Ran 8th early, three lengths off the leader,

      and continued on in 8th until the 3/4 mark, when he was able  

      to move into 7th. At the one mile mark, he began to tire, and

      was passed as he faded back to finish in a dead heat for 9th.

     -Just looked like the graded stakes company may be a little

      too tough for D Here at this point in his career. Has a stakes

      win in the $100.000 Real Quiet, so watch for him to come back

      next year, and he should mature nicely.

5    Burnsuwhenitshot: Finished four lengths behind the winner in

      a dead heat for 9th with the 3 horse. After the break he dropped

      back four lengths to run in 9th place. By the 1/2 mile pole, he

      had lost two spots and was trailing the field in 11th, six lengths

      from the lead, where he ran until just around the mile mark. He

      then passed a tiring 6 horse and finished in a dead heat for 9th.

     -Having just a maiden win, it looked like the Grade I, especially

      against this field was just over his head at this point. The pace

      here in the CC Futurity was quite a bit faster than he faced in the

      Grade III DED Jackpot, where he finished 2nd, just missing the

      win. Looks like he may get better with age.

6    Indian General: Finished 11th, seven lengths from the winner.

      Broke sharply to run in 4th early, just a length off of the leader.

      At the quarter pole, he was passed and ran 5th, just 3/4 of a

      length from the lead, but at the 1/2 mile mark he was finished,

      tiring and fading badly to 9th, before eventually finishing seven

      lengths back in 11th place.

     -The distance here was just too far for Indian General. Struggled

      here as he has in his previous stakes races, so think we will see

      him drop back down to the allowance races for a while, and may

      see him try stakes again in the future.

***This is my last race to cover for the SRF in 2011, so wishing all of

     you, your families, and your horses, the Happiest of Holidays and

     here's to a wonderful, win filled 2012. See you next year! 

                                            Cyn