Aveenu Malcainu invades for N.Y. Breeders’ Futurity

Mr. Pete and Indy’s Lady each captured a Finger Lakes stakes for juveniles earlier this month, scoring an impressive win in the Aspirant and Lady Finger stakes, respectively. Now those two brace for Aveenu Malcainu, who comes off an unbeaten summer at Saratoga, in Saturday’s $216,875 New York Breeders’ Futurity for New York-bred 2-year-olds at Finger Lakes.

Aveenu Malcainu, trained by Jeremiah Englehart, rallied from well back in his career debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, gritting out a three-quarter-length win. He then showed a different dimension in the Funny Cide Stakes there Aug. 25, sitting just off the pace, pouncing, and pulling clear for a 2 1/2-length win. Aveenu Malcainu, who had been considered for the Champagne at Belmont, has earned Beyer Speed Figures of 76 and 82, respectively, in his two outings, easily the best in the New York Breeders’ Futurity field. The 82 is the second-highest figure earned by a New York-bred juvenile this year, behind only the 88 Pure Silver posted winning the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes.

Josh Navarro picks up the mount on Aveenu Malcainu, who is cutting back slightly from the 6 1/2 furlongs of the Funny Cide to six furlongs for the Futurity. He drew post 4 in the field of seven.

If Aveenu Malcainu is to work out another stalking trip, he could be sitting off Engleharttrained stablemate Indy’s Lady, who is breaking from the rail under John Davila Jr. The filly made her debut in the Lady Finger on Sept. 9 and wired the field to win by eight at this sixfurlong distance.

Mr. Pete, trained by Jim Ryerson, finished second on debut at Belmont to subsequent stakes winner What a Catch, then won his next outing. After finishing fifth in the Funny Cide, he won the Aspirant going six furlongs Sept. 9. His Beyer of 60 is the top figure posted by a 2-year-old at Finger Lakes this season. Mr. Pete is drawn in post 5 under Harry Hernandez.

Mr. Pete is one of several runners emerging from the Aspirant. Lover’s Leap came into that stakes off a 7 1/4-length maiden win at Finger Lakes and finished second. Collective Effort, still a maiden after four starts, was third. Tender Boy is back for more after finishing fifth.

Todd Pletcher ships in Analyze the Odds, who has lost three consecutive stakes after a promising debut win in April at Aqueduct. Analyze the Odds finished fifth in the Tremont Stakes against open company, third in the Rockville Centre Stakes behind What a Catch, and fourth in the Funny Cide.