Rising Stars Square off at Keeneland

A pair of “TDN Rising Stars” by Giant’s Causeway are among a number of contenders for today’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, which offers an automatic berth into the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stable’sCarpe Diem earned the publication’s seal of approval by justifying 7-10 odds for Todd Pletcher first out of the box at Saratoga Sept. 1. The chestnut co-topped the OBS March sale at $1.6 million after a :10 1/5 breeze, and has a particularly good pedigree for this event–his half brother J.B.’s Thunder (Thunder Gulch) took the 2010 renewal, albeit when it was still on Polytrack. Gary and Mary West’s Tough Customer makes a swift return, having earned the ‘Rising Star’ moniker after finishing very well en route to a 5 1/2-length score at Churchill Sept. 26. The $550,000 KEESEP yearling will be saddled by Wayne Catalano, who is well-known with his affinity with 2-year-old fillies. Four runners exit the Sept. 6 GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill: Bold Conquest (Curlin) (second), Hashtag Bourbon (Super Saver) (third), Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) (fifth) and Dekabrist (Street Boss) (eighth). The Steve Asmussen-trained Bold Conquest was second in his Spa unveiling July 19 before going one better–two spots ahead of Sharm (Majestic Warrior)–back in New York Aug. 16. He came up just a neck short of stablemate Lucky Player (Lookin At Lucky) in the Iroquois. Bourbon Lane Stable’sHashtag Bourbon (Super Saver) ran on well late to be third behind Mr. Z going six furlongs at Churchill June 28, and broke his maiden with authority in the Mountaineer Juvenile S. Aug. 2. The Kellyn Gorder pupil saved all the ground in the Iroquois, but it eventually cost him, as he was stymied badly in the stretch when the real running began. Dale Romans and Donegal Racing upended the 2011 GI Breeders’ Futurity with then-maiden Dullahan (Even the Score), and there’s no reason they can’t blow up the tote again here with Keen Ice (Curlin). A late-running fourth going short at Ellis Aug. 23, the stoutly bred bay ran to heavy backing to just get up in a mile race at Churchill Sept. 6 in which he look destined for no better than a distant third.