Unbeaten in Two Starts, 2-Year-Old Colt Headed to Breeders’ Cup Next
First of Five Stakes Worth $600,000 in Purses in Fall Festival of Racing

BALTIMORE – Donegal Racing’s Ready to Purrform, in just his second career start and first in a stakes, lived up to his name and will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup following a powerful 3 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park.

The 94th running of the Futurity for 2-year-olds was the first of five turf stakes worth $600,000 in purses on the Fall Festival of Racing program, co-headlined by the 91st renewal of the $150,000 Selima for 2-year-old fillies, both at 1 1/16 miles.

Also on the card were the $100,000 Japan Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up going 1 ½ miles, $100,000 All Along at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares 3 and older, and $100,000 Laurel Dash for 3-year-olds and up sprinting 5 ½ furlongs.

Donegal racing manager Jerry Crawford, one of several members of the partnership that celebrated in the Laurel winner’s circle, said Brad Cox-trained Ready to Purrform would make his next start Nov. 5 at Del Mar. Among that day’s races for 2-year-olds are the Juvenile (G1) at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, the one-mile Juvenile Turf (G1) and five-furlong Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2).

“We thought he was sitting on a big effort. Brad Cox has done a great job with him. I can’t say that we’re surprised, but we are certainly pleased,” Crawford said. “Spirits are high. Donegal travels well. I’m guessing that every Donegal partner that’s here today will be at the Breeders’ Cup, because that’s where Ready will perform next. We’ve already sold 80 tickets to the Breeders’ Cup, so I expect this will shove us past 100.”

Ready to Purrform came into the Futurity off a nose maiden special weight victory going the distance Sept. 3 on the Ellis Park turf. Using a similar stalking trip under Jevian Toledo, Ready to Purrform ($8.80) was unhurried in the early going as previously undefeated stakes winner Epic Luck led through fractions of 22.71 and 46.70 seconds.

Determined Kingdom, winner of the 5 ½-furlong Jamestown in his previous start, took over the top spot turning for home and went six furlongs in 1:11.84 as Toledo took Ready to Purrform outside to launch their bid.

“He seemed to settle in nicely and wasn’t in any hurry. I didn’t think that he would be,” Crawford said. “There was a lot of speed in this race today, and when Mr. Toledo asked him to move, he moved.”

Given his cue, Ready to Purrform opened up and rolled through the stretch to hit the wire in 1:43.03 over a firm All Along turf course. Stride held on for second by a neck over late-running 25-1 long shot Wish Me Home. It was 1 ½ lengths back to Wow Whata Summer in fourth followed by High Stock, 7-5 favorite City At Night, Determined Kingdom, King of Hollywood and Epic Luck.

“They were going pretty quick in front so I just sat right off them and saved ground. When I took him to the outside I just tapped him on the shoulder and he started running right away,” Toledo said. “He was waiting for horses really. He opened up and I could feel I had a ton of horse under me and he was just like waiting for other horses, so that was good.”

Crawford dedicated the win to Bob Manfuso, who passed away March 19, 2020 at the age of 82. A former owner of both Laurel and historic Pimlico Race Course and longtime partner of trainer Katy Voss, Manfuso was instrumental in revitalizing Thoroughbred racing in Maryland. An owner and breeder who established Chanceland Farm with Voss in 1987, Manfuso bred 2016 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Cathryn Sophia and was named Maryland’s Breeder of the Year with his filly earning Maryland-bred Horse of the Year honors.

“All I can think about today was Bob Manfuso. He was my dear, dear friend who was so involved with Maryland racing and who we lost last year,” Crawford said. “This one is for Katy.”

The Futurity has a rich history dating back to 1921 inaugural winner Morvich, who would go on to win the 1922 Kentucky Derby. The Futurity has also been won by Triple Crown champions Affirmed, Citation and Secretariat along with Barbaro, Spectacular Bid, Tapit, In Reality, Honest Pleasure and Quadrangle. It lost its spot on the 2020 stakes calendar amid the coronavirus pandemic.