Each summer, at racetracks all over the nation, trainers and owners watch, wait and hope as their newest stars take the track: the 2-year-olds. Filled with the unraced, untried and untested, the “baby races” are many times amongst the most interesting to watch and the most difficult to handicap.  Monday’s Sunrise Futurity for North Dakota-bred Thoroughbred “babies” is no different.

Heading the “freshman” class is Ralph Buchholz’s Princess Kyle.  The bay filly by Kyle’s Our Man has had two good outs this year with a third against open company the second weekend of racing at the Horse Park.  Fillies, who often mature faster than colts as two-year-olds (as evidenced by the fact that only 2 of the 7 in this race are boys!), are often seen in the winner’s circle of “baby stakes” around the country. Although she has not yet won, Princess Kyle comes into Monday’s race well rested and should perform well at the 5 furlong distance. 

Two-year-old races at short distances often go to the horse with speed to burn and a horse to watch out in that scenario is Kadie’s Little Dream from the barn of Jennifer Malaterre.  Another early-maturing filly, Kadie’s Little Dream showed plenty of speed in her two outs this year.  In her last race, an open allowance against a very tough field, she dueled the leader before fading mid-stretch.  Left alone on the front end and she may sneak away with the prize. 

An interesting horse that has been sitting just out of the money in her last two starts is Leecha Mae.  The chestnut filly bred by Chippewa Downs General Manager Doug DeMontigny comes into the race with two 4th place finishes where she rallied well in the stretch, but just missed the bigger paychecks.  She gets the services of hot rider, Chet Delorme, who won last week’s North Dakota Derby.  If Chet can give her the kind of ride the Derby winner received, there are some pretty good odds she’ll finally light up the board! 

Rounding out the field are Bold Pen, Tahnee Sweep, Hemietta and Sargent OJ.  Hemietta ships in from Canada where she has shown early speed but has not been able to carry it through. Sargent OJ steps in with two evenly run races against many of the horses also in this field.  First time starters Bold Pen and Tahnee Sweep throw the curve ball in, unknown and untried, they may well be sleepers waiting to show the world what they’ve got in the big race of the year!  Post time for the Sunrise Futurity is 4:30!

Don't forget there is FREE ADMISSION for EVERYONE on Labor Day Monday!  Gates open at noon, first race is 1pm!  See you there!