Fortune Farm’s homebred Central Banker gelding Bold Fortune cruises to victory in Monday’s New York Breeders’ Futurity. SV Photography.
Fortune Farm’s homebred Bold Fortune ran back to his monster maiden victory with another eye-popping performance in Monday’s $165,368 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes.
The 2-year-old gelding by multiple leading New York sire Central Banker crushed his six opponents in the 6-furlong Futurity, winning by 7 3/4 lengths under Dylan Davis. Bold Fortune, the 7-5 second choice shipping in from trainer George Weaver’s string at Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma Training Track, added the Futurity to his 10 1/2-length victory in the maiden ranks last month during the Belmont at the Big A meeting.
Davis put Bold Fortune on the lead from the break, outrunning Idyll Gossip, Buttah and 4-5 favorite Under Who’s Radar through the opening quarter-mile in :22.52.
Bold Fortune continued on the lead as In the Chase reached contention around the far turn. Bold Fortune clicked off a half in :44.99 and drew off from there, widening his lead in midstretch to 6 ½ lengths through 5 furlongs in :57.34. Share the Ludt, sixth after the opening quarter, rallied to finish second and was 1 ¾ lengths clear of Under Who’s Radar in third. Buttah, In the Chase, Idyll Gossip and Don Luis completed the field. Bold Fortune won in 1:10.72.
Richard Nicolai leads Bold Fortune and Dylan Davis to the winner’s circle. SV Photography.
Bold Fortune collected $99,220 for the victory, boosting his earnings to $151,270. He finished third in his August 21 debut at Saratoga behind eventual Bertram F. Bongard Stakes winner Sacrosanct.
Bold Fortune also became the latest stakes winner for Central Banker, a 14-year-old son of Speightstown who stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. Central Banker came into the day ranked second on the New York general sire list behind fellow McMahon stallion Bucchero.
Bred by Fortune Farm’s Richard Nicolai and foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, Bold Fortune is the second foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Posse mare Might Be. Runner-up in the 2017 Empire Distaff Handicap at Belmont Park and 2019 Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes at Finger Lakes, Might Be won three of 17 starts and earned $228,605.
Might Be’s first foal, the Central Banker filly Walk With Me, sold for $100,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale. She won her debut last November at Aqueduct before a second to My Shea D Lady in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct. Walk With Me is 1-2-0 in five starts with $162,100 in earnings.
Might Be is also the dam of a yearling New York-bred colt by Uncle Lino who sold for $32,000 to Adelphi Racing Club at this year’s Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale, and a New York-bred weanling filly by Nashville born May 2. Those last two foals were bred by Fortune Farm and Emcee Stable LLC.
