Caldwell eyes big closing day

Trainer J. R. Caldwell will attempt to win the Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park for the third year in a row Sunday when he starts Raison d’Heat. Caldwell won the 2016 running with the filly Bling On the Music and last year’s with Thermistor.

The Gold Rush, which is for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, is worth $50,000 this year after several years at $100,000. It is part of a closing-day card of four stakes. The races include the $30,000 Arapahoe Park Classic at 1 1/8 miles and the $100,000 Mile High Futurity for Quarter Horses.

Raison d’Heat could start as second choice in the sevenhorse Gold Rush behind Blue Twisted Steel, an undefeated

runner who won the $38,000 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Futurity by 6 1/4 lengths July 8 at Arapahoe. Raison d’Heat has finished fourth in maiden special weight races both of his starts, which came going 4 1/2 and five furlongs at Lone Star. Caldwell said the chance at six furlongs was one of the reasons Raison d’Heat made the ship from Remington Park, following the same pattern as Bling On the Music and Thermistor.

“He’s just one of those colts that needs further distance,” Caldwell said. “He’s gotten better and better every trip, and actually worked pretty decent with The Gray Dehere before The Gray Dehere went to Iowa.”

The Gray Dehere last month was a 14 3/4-length winner of the Prairie Meadows Gold Juvenile for Caldwell, earning a strong Beyer Speed Figure of 80. Caldwell said the horse has since been sold privately and was shipped to Saratoga.

In his most recent out, June 10, Raison d’Heat faced Dance to My Song, who put up the best Beyer of the Lone Star meet with his win in the race, with The Gray Dehere second. Raison d’Heat had been entered back in a maiden special weight at Lone Star, but the program was canceled due to extreme heat in North Texas.

Blue Twisted Steel, a son of Caleb’s Posse, started his career with a blowout win over open-company maidens June 10 at Arapahoe.

Caldwell also has brought Social Misfit to town for the Arapahoe Classic, which has drawn eight including the filly Galactic Princess. She was a 12 3/4-length winner of the $30,000 Columbine for fillies and mares in her last start July 22 at Arapahoe.

Social Misfit won the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Classic three starts ago at Evangeline Downs, and one start later Caldwell claimed the 9-year-old for $20,000 at Lone Star.

“Numbers-wise he’s been a solid horse, and for $20,000 we thought he was worth the gamble,” Caldwell said. “He’s an old class horse, made about $500,000.”