Kentucky shipper Tranche led a field of four rival juveniles on a merry chase as he went on to romp by 7 1/4 lengths over in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity Stakes June 17 at Santa Anita Park. Left in his wake was the highly regarded and heavily favored Miramadhi, a 7-figure yearling by Into Mischief from the Bob Baffert barn.
Trained by Luis Mendez and ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Tranche, who was making his third career start, got five furlongs in :57.68. Fractions on the race were :22.15 and :45.36. The colt by Collected – Theory of Change was foaled and raised at Hidden Brook Farm before graduating from the Hidden Brook consignment at last year’s Keeneland September sale.
“He ran a big race in Kentucky at Churchill Downs and I really liked the horse today,” Maldonado said of a third-place finish in stakes company. “In Kentucky, that winner was a monster. I think he won by 10 (9 3/4 lengths) and I knew we had a shot in here, but I didn’t think he was going to run this big today. I was feeling great turning for home.”
Owned by William Peeples, Tranche debuted in a 4 1/2 furlong maiden special at Keeneland April 7 after a slow start followed by his 3rd in Kentucky Juvenile Stakes during Derby Week at Churchill Downs.
