Track: Bally’s Arapahoe Park
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Scheduled post time: 2:30 PM MT
Distance: 5 ½ furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Class: Colorado-bred 2-year-olds, stakes
Purse: $45,000 (with added money from Bally’s Arapahoe Park and CTBA)
This is a compact five-horse field of lightly raced Colorado-bred juveniles, with two barns—Russell Vicchrilli and Kerry Kemper—holding four of the five slots, and O. A. Martinez, Jr. sending the lone filly. The race should be a clean, tactical sprint where gate speed and handling the heat are paramount.
Venue and track profile
Arapahoe Park (Bally’s Arapahoe Park)
City: Aurora, Colorado (Arapahoe County, just east of Denver)
Configuration: One-mile dirt oval, with a relatively fair sprint layout but speed can be dangerous when the surface is dry and firm.
Altitude: Denver-area elevation—thin air and summer heat can test young horses’ stamina late in sprints.
The 5 ½-furlong trip starts on the backstretch chute and quickly runs into the far turn, favoring horses who break sharply and can secure position before the bend. Inside posts can be advantageous if the rail is not deep, but in small fields, tactical versatility matters more than pure draw.
Expected weather and track conditions
Forecast for Aurora, CO – July 25, 2026 points to a hot, sunny day:
Daytime high: Around 98–99°F
Conditions: Sunny, low chance of precipitation (roughly 10–15%)
Heat advisory: In effect during the afternoon, indicating potentially oppressive heat.
Aurora, Colorado
Given this forecast, the CTBA Futurity is very likely to be run on a fast dirt surface—baked, firm, and speed-friendly. The main handicapping implications:
Early speed: Horses that can clear or sit close should be advantaged; closers will need a strong pace to make an impact.
Heat tolerance: 2-year-olds can be more vulnerable to the heat; barns with strong conditioning programs and horses that have already raced in similar conditions may hold a subtle edge.
Kickback: On a dry, fast track, kickback can be sharp; inexperienced juveniles who dislike dirt in their face may struggle if they don’t secure forward position.
Field snapshot
Below is a concise snapshot of the five entrants. Morning line odds are projected based on typical stakes hierarchy and connections, not official posted lines.
| PP | Horse | Sex/Age | Jockey | Trainer | Projected ML odds | Running style (projected) |
| 1 | Capraro | 2YO C | Luis Ramon Rodriguez | Russell Vicchrilli | 2–1 | Tactical speed / stalker |
| 2 | Stop the Bills | 2YO G | Adrian B. Ramos | Kerry Kemper | 3–1 | Pace-pressing / speed |
| 3 | Prospect | 2YO G | Pedro Gonzalez | Russell Vicchrilli | 4–1 | Mid-pack / stalker |
| 4 | Sixth Man | 2YO G | Larren Delorme | Kerry Kemper | 5–1 | Versatile / off-pace |
| 5 | Krakowianka | 2YO F | Nathan Haar | O. A. Martinez, Jr. | 7–2 | Speed / pace-pressing |
Because these are 2-year-olds early in the season, most have limited race histories—often one or two starts. Public past performances at this stage typically show maiden or allowance efforts over short sprints on dirt; exact last-three finish lines may evolve as more races are run, so the analysis below focuses on likely form patterns and profiles rather than claiming precise historical lines.
Horse-by-horse analysis
1. Capraro (PP 1)
Pedigree: Highly Motivated – Kit Kat Jo, by Johannesburg
Connections:
Owner/Breeder: Front Range Racing LLC
Trainer: Russell Vicchrilli
Jockey: Luis Ramon Rodriguez
Profile:
Running style: Tactical speed; likely to break well and sit just off the leaders.
Form pattern (inferred): As a Highly Motivated colt, Capraro is bred for middle-distance dirt with some class and finish. A typical early campaign for this profile would include a sharp debut or second-out improvement, showing the ability to stay on strongly through the lane.
Track preference: Dirt sprinting should suit him; pedigree suggests he can handle a firm, fast surface and may even improve as distances stretch slightly.
Post position and trip:
The rail in a five-horse field is not a trap; it can be an asset if he breaks cleanly. Rodriguez will want to hold the inside, avoid getting shuffled, and either:
Lead if no one goes, or
Sit pocketed behind Stop the Bills/Krakowianka, waiting for a seam turning for home.
Strengths:
Professional connections: Vicchrilli is a key player in Colorado-bred stakes, and Front Range Racing LLC has bred and campaigned horses specifically for these spots.
Pedigree for stamina: In a hot, demanding 5 ½ furlongs, a colt with some stamina influence can finish better than pure speed types.
Risks:
Rail pressure: If he breaks a step slow, he could be stuck behind horses and eating kickback, which is not ideal for a young colt.
Heat and inexperience: If this is only his second or third start, the combination of heat and stakes pressure could test his composure.
Projected role: Primary win contender and likely favorite or co-favorite.
2. Stop the Bills (PP 2)
Pedigree: Save Big Money – Gattaia, by Kitten’s Joy
Connections:
Owner: Mason A. King and Robin Smith
Breeders: Robin Smith & Mason King
Trainer: Kerry Kemper
Jockey: Adrian B. Ramos
Profile:
Running style: Pace-pressing gelding with enough early foot to be prominent from the break.
Form pattern (inferred): Save Big Money progeny often show honest, grinding speed. A typical juvenile pattern might be a debut where he shows speed but tires late, followed by a second start where he carries that speed further and either wins or holds on for a placing.
Track preference: Dirt sprinting is fine; Kitten’s Joy on the dam side adds some turf/route lean, but at 2, that often translates to good late energy even in sprints.
Post position and trip:
From PP 2, Ramos can apply immediate pressure to Capraro and Krakowianka. In a small field, he can choose to:
Send hard and try to control the pace, or
Sit just off Krakowianka if the filly shows more natural speed.
Strengths:
Gelding maturity: As a gelding, he may be more focused and less distracted than some colts.
Trainer/jockey combo: Kemper and Ramos are familiar with Arapahoe’s sprint dynamics and have experience in regional stakes.
Risks:
Heat and pace: If he gets embroiled in a duel, the hot conditions could sap his finish.
Limited experience: With only a couple of starts, he may still be learning how to ration his speed.
Projected role: Major pace player and top-3 win candidate, especially if the track is strongly speed-favoring.
3. Prospect (PP 3)
Pedigree: West Express – Excessive Crystal, by Crystal Class
Connections:
Owner/Breeder: John O’Connor
Trainer: Russell Vicchrilli
Jockey: Pedro Gonzalez
Profile:
Running style: Mid-pack stalker; likely to sit behind the first flight and look for a lane late.
Form pattern (inferred): West Express progeny can show solid sprint ability. Prospect’s profile suggests a horse who might have needed his debut, then improved second out with a more sustained run.
Track preference: Dirt sprinting is appropriate; he may be more comfortable sitting off the pace and making one run.
Post position and trip:
PP 3 is ideal for a stalking trip in a five-horse field. Gonzalez can:
Let the inside trio (Capraro, Stop the Bills, Sixth Man) sort themselves out,
Keep Prospect in the clear, avoiding heavy kickback, and
Angle out turning for home to launch a sustained run.
Strengths:
Trainer synergy: Being in the same barn as Capraro, he benefits from Vicchrilli’s stakes program and conditioning.
Trip potential: In a small field, a clean outside stalking trip can be very dangerous if the leaders soften each other.
Risks:
Pace dependency: If the early fractions are moderate, he may not have enough pace collapse to run them down.
Juvenile consistency: Young horses can be inconsistent; a good effort can be followed by a flat one.
Projected role: Live upset candidate, especially if the early pace gets hotter than expected.
4. Sixth Man (PP 4)
Pedigree: Save Big Money – R S Joy, by Kitten’s Joy
Connections:
Owner/Breeder: Mason A. King
Trainer: Kerry Kemper
Jockey: Larren Delorme
Profile:
Running style: Versatile gelding; likely to be off the pace early but capable of moving into contention on the turn.
Form pattern (inferred): Similar to Stop the Bills, but perhaps with a bit more late energy and less pure early speed. He may have shown a closing effort in a maiden or allowance sprint, hinting at a horse who wants a strong pace in front of him.
Track preference: Dirt is fine; the Kitten’s Joy influence again suggests stamina and the ability to stretch out later in the season.
Post position and trip:
From PP 4, Delorme can stay in the clear, avoid traffic, and watch the pace unfold. If the inside trio and Krakowianka go hard, Sixth Man can:
Sit 3–4 lengths off,
Begin a sustained move midway on the turn, and
Try to grind past tiring speed late.
Strengths:
Stamina profile: In a hot race, a horse with a bit more stamina can pick up pieces late.
Trainer’s second bullet: Kemper has two in here; Sixth Man could be the one who benefits if Stop the Bills is used up early.
Risks:
Small field dynamics: In a five-horse field, closers sometimes get left with too much to do if the pace is moderate.
Experience: As with the others, limited starts mean he’s still learning race craft.
Projected role: Exotics key—a strong candidate to hit the board if the pace is honest, with outside win chance if the leaders overdo it.
5. Krakowianka (PP 5)
Pedigree: Zip Quik – Our Rite of Spring, by Stravinsky
Connections:
Owners: Eli Diamant and O. A. Martinez, Jr.
Breeder: Menoken Farms
Trainer: O. A. Martinez, Jr.
Jockey: Nathan Haar
Profile:
Running style: Speedy filly, likely to show sharp early foot from the outside.
Form pattern (inferred): Zip Quik and Stravinsky influences point to quick, agile sprinters. Krakowianka may have already shown gate speed in her early starts, possibly wiring or nearly wiring a maiden field.
Track preference: Fast dirt sprinting is right in her wheelhouse; she should relish a firm surface.
Post position and trip:
From PP 5, she has the outside advantage:
Haar can see the field,
Decide whether to clear and cross to the rail, or
Sit just off Stop the Bills/Capraro if they go hard inside.
In a small field, the outside speed filly can dictate terms if she breaks sharply.
Strengths:
Pure speed pedigree: She may be the quickest horse early, which is a huge asset at 5 ½ furlongs.
Outside draw: Gives her options and keeps her out of tight inside pockets.
Risks:
Heat and pace pressure: If she is forced to duel with Stop the Bills and Capraro, the hot conditions could cause her to weaken late.
Stamina question: As a filly with a strong sprint pedigree, stretching her speed over 5 ½ furlongs in stakes company is a test.
Projected role: Key pace horse and serious win threat, especially if she can control the tempo without heavy pressure.
Pace and race-shape projection
Early pace:
Krakowianka (PP 5) and Stop the Bills (PP 2) are the most likely to show immediate speed.
Capraro (PP 1) can be right behind them or even on the lead if he breaks sharply.
Mid-race:
Prospect (PP 3) and Sixth Man (PP 4) should be stalking or off the pace, waiting for the leaders to sort themselves out.
If the first quarter-mile is hot (e.g., sub-22 seconds), the race could tilt toward the stalkers.
Late stretch:
If the pace is moderate, Capraro and Krakowianka are most likely to still be fighting it out.
If the pace is strong, Prospect and Sixth Man become more dangerous, picking up tired speed late.
