The winners of Michigan’s first two stakes races for Juvenile males will meet for a rubber match in Saturday’s $50,000 Michigan Futurity at Pinnacle Race Course.
Eight Michigan-bred two-year-olds nominated earlier this year will contest the one mile race. Last year’s rendition was won in a bank-breaking fashion by Sahmmy Falls.
Michigan Sire Stakes winner Noequal will try to solidify his two-year-old male of the year credentials with a strong showing in Saturday’s race. The Equality gelding picked a big race to graduate from the maiden ranks, with a 3 1/4 length score in the Oct. 16 Sire Stakes. He also finished third in the Sept. 19 Patrick Wood Stakes. Regular rider Federico Mata will have the mount for owner Daniel McCarthy and trainer Ronald Allen, Sr..
Noequal was beaten in the Patrick Wood by Duty Calls, who will get the chance to do it again in the Michigan Futurity. The Service Stripe gelding took the Patrick Wood in a front-running fashion to prevail by 4 3/4 lengths in his most recent start. Duty Calls is owned by Mast Thoroughbreds LLC and trained by Robert Gorham. Jeffrey Skerrett will have the riding assignment.
Also entered is undefeated Valient Tenobob. The Service Stripe colt is a perfect two-for-two following a Sept. 4 maiden score at Pinnacle and a 2 3/4 length victory in an Oct. 2 allowance race at Mountaineer Racetrack and Casino in West Virginia. James Jackson will give Tommy Molina the leg up aboard Valient Tenobob for owners Laura Jackson and Red Riding Hood Stable LLC.
#. Horse / Jockey / Trainer / Odds
1. Noequal / F Mata / R D Allen, Sr. / 5-1
2. Native Niko / R D Allen, Jr. / J R Jackson / 7-2
3. Buy The Law / J E Collazo, Jr. / R J Rettele / 12-1
4. Valient Tenobob / T Molina / J R Jackson / 8-5
5. Equal To / R Barrios / D Foggiano / 20-1
6. Equal By Design / O Bernal / L Penner / 20-1
7. Duty Calls / J Skerrett / R M Gorham / 3-1
8. Duncan / A O Stanley / J R Jackson / 10-1
The Michigan-Bred Claimer 
TRIVIA QUESTION:
Anybody know the significance of the name of Duty Call’s 4th dam, Spirited Away?
Hmmm?
Duty Call’s pedigree:
http://www.pedigreequery.com/duty+calls3
Hint:
The dam of Spirited Away, Carnauba, had something significant in common with European champion, Shergar, and Canadian stakes winner, Fanfreluche.
I’ve got nothing.
My gosh, you’ve never heard of the European superhorse, Shergar, who was kidnapped from the Aga Khan’s stud farm in Ireland by the IRA back in 1983? Having not been born until after that is not an excuse for not knowing your horse racing history, Joe (said with tongue planted firmly in cheek)!
While Shergar was never recovered, the mares Fanreluche and Carnauba did eventually turn up.
Can’t say that I have, but I’m definitely checking her out now. That’s intense.
Shergar was a movie, also, very intense. You would enjoy it.