Theory makes belated stakes debut in Futurity

Theory was one of the better-looking debut winners at Saratoga over the summer, but a bruised foot prevented him from competing in the Hopeful (G1) and other major juvenile stakes. After a recuperative period at WinStar Farm, the Todd Pletcher trainee will make his belated stakes debut Saturday at Belmont Park in the $200,000 Futurity (G3) over six furlongs.

Co-owned by WinStar and the China Horse Club, Theory, from the first crop of Gemologist, cruised to a 5 1/2-length win in a July 30 maiden going six furlongs. Theory has worked five times since returning to the Pletcher barn, including a bullet five-furlong move 1:00 2/5 over the Belmont training track on Monday.

"I thought he worked great," Pletcher said. "As soon as I watched him work, I entered him. I feel good [about the race]."

Theory figures to race on or near the lead with Javier Castellano aboard. Another with early foot is Moves Like Ali, a Jeremiah Englehart-trained son of Maclean's Music that won on debut near the end of the Saratoga meet.

Reckling, second to Theory in their mutual debut, came back to break his maiden second out at the Spa ove r next-out winner Mo Town. The field is rounded out by Star Empire, a winner of his first two starts for Wesley Ward prior to a recent third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3), and recent Belmont graduate The Walk.

Saturday's program also features the $200,000 Pebbles for three-year-old fillies at one mile on the Widener turf. Lake George (G2) winner Ancient Secret looks to rebound from a poor effort in the Ontario Colleen (G3) at Woodbine, her first loss in the five lifetime starts.

Others to watch in the contentious field are She Doesn't Mind, runner-up in the $100,000 Riskaverse at Saratoga; $100,000 Christiecat winner Ultra Brat; multiple stakes-placed Thundering Sky and Believe in Bertie; and allowance winners Insta Erma and Stella Rose.

(Adam Coglianese Photography)