One of many largest tales in horse racing over the previous 12 months has been the emergence of social media content material creator Griffin Johnson as one of many sport’s most lively and passionate ambassadors. Johnson first burst on the scene round a 12 months in the past after he turned a part-owner of Sandman, a proficient 2-year-old colt who flashed potential within the fall and winter of 2024. Johnson signed up with America’s Greatest Racing’s “A Stake in Stardom” program providing possession pursuits in racehorses to influencers, and he turned hooked rapidly after assembly the attractive grey and watching his expertise develop.
Sandman ended up fulfilling expectations this 12 months at age 3, profitable the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby, operating within the Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve, and ending third within the Preakness Stakes.
Johnson’s journey with Sandman captivated hundreds of thousands and launched many Gen Z-ers to horse racing. Nevertheless it was just the start. Now, by way of his affiliation with West Level Thoroughbreds, Johnson has an possession stake in two extra proficient 2-year-olds – and wouldn’t it, each of them are racing this Saturday!
Ewing is anticipated to begin within the $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky, whereas Curtain Name is about for a begin within the $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct (referred to as Belmont on the Large A this fall) in New York.
These are very prestigious and necessary races for 2 causes. First, they’re “Win and You’re In” Problem Collection preps for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which can be held on Oct. 31 at Del Mar in California. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile normally determines which 2-year-old male racehorse is voted champion for his racing 12 months … so if both Ewing or Curtain Name earn a berth within the Juvenile this Saturday after which win that race, they’ll most likely develop into a champion!
Equally necessary, each the Breeders’ Futurity and the Champagne are early prep races for subsequent 12 months’s Kentucky Derby Could 2 at Churchill Downs. The winner of every of those races will earn 10 qualifying factors for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, and horses ending second by way of fifth will earn much less factors. Banking some Kentucky Derby factors this early within the prep race season can be very useful for both colt as their homeowners (together with Johnson) plot out their coaching and prep race schedule within the months forward.
Let’s study somewhat bit about each of those proficient prospects:
Named after the Corridor of Fame NBA middle who patrolled the paint for the New York Knicks within the Eighties and Nineties, Ewing is 2-for-2 to this point. Each of his wins got here at Saratoga in upstate New York over the summer time in dash races held at 5 ½ furlongs and 6 ½ furlongs (there are eight furlongs – every 220 yards – in a mile). His race previous to Saturday’s begin within the Breeders’ Futurity got here within the Saratoga Particular Stakes, which he gained by a size.
This precocious colt is already a stakes winner, however the Breeders’ Futurity is a Grade 1 stakes – the best degree. It’s additionally held at 1 1/16 miles (8 ½ furlongs) and can be round two turns, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see how Ewing handles stretching out in distance. His pedigree (genetic bloodline) suggests he’ll be capable to run effectively in longer races, as his sire Knicks Go gained the 1 ¼-mile Breeders’ Cup Traditional in 2021 together with a number of different big-time races. Ewing’s largest impediment Saturday figures to be the presence of Ted Noffey, who additionally involves Keeneland from Saratoga, the place he dominated the Grade 1 Spendthrift Hopeful Stakes.
Publish time for the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity is scheduled for five:16 p.m. ET, and the race can be televised on CNBC and FanDuel TV and streamed on Peacock.
This Florida-bred colt began his racing profession at Churchill Downs again in June, the place he completed a promising second behind a subsequent stakes winner named Obliteration, who later completed second behind Ewing within the Saratoga Particular. Curtain Name then he shipped to Saratoga for his second begin, a six-furlong race that he gained impressively by 8 ½ lengths.
Subsequent up, Curtain Name ran within the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes talked about above, and he together with each different contender in that race was no match for Ted Noffey. Nonetheless, he didn’t give up and completed third within the seven-furlong race. This contender might want to enhance Saturday within the Champagne Stakes, a Grade 1 race, however he’s definitely eligible to take action. He’ll try to win racing one mile within the Champagne, which is able to nonetheless be held round one flip as a result of configuration of the racetrack at Aqueduct.
As with Ewing, Curtain Name’s bloodlines ought to assist him reach longer races, maybe as early as Saturday, but additionally sooner or later. He’s a son of Belmont Stakes winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Regulation and he’s associated to a champion filly named Banshee Breeze on his dam’s (mom’s) aspect of the household.
Publish time for the Champagne is 3:20 p.m. ET and that race can be televised on FS1.
Thrilling instances are quick approaching, and by Saturday night, we’ll know much more about Griffin Johnson’s horses and the way they form up amongst their fellow 2-year-olds upfront of the Breeders’ Cup much less 4 weeks from now and the Kentucky Derby down the highway.
