Colt two-thirds to Crown

Glidemaster shook off a determined bid by EL Mikko in a stretch-long battle to win the $526,000 Kentucky Futurity in straight heats Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile, crossing the wire in 1:51.3. John Campbell moved Glidemaster to the lead from fourth after a :55.3 half, and then fought off EL Mikko and driver Tim Tetrick as the two elimination winners drew side by side in the stretch. This was Campbell's sixth Kentucky Futurity victory.

Glidemaster proved to be too much for his rival and he is now two-thirds of the way toward winning the Triple Crown. With the Hambletonian and now the Futurity under his belt, only the Yonkers Trot stands in his way of becoming the eighth Triple Crown champion, although trainer Blair Burgess said afterward he was undecided about sending the 3-year-old son of Yankee Glide to Yonkers for the race scheduled for late November.

Glidemaster is owned by Bob Burgess, Karin Olsson-Burgess, Marsha Cohen and Brittany Farms.

Glidemaster rallied off a second-over trip to win the first Futurity elimination in 1:53.1. Driver Campbell followed the live cover of Blue Mac Lad before swinging wide in mid stretch and going on to the victory. Chocolatier, who had led for much of the mile after clearing to the lead at the quarter, made a break coming down the stretch and failed to make the second heat.

Finishing third was Berto Primo, with Johnny Muscles and Algiers Hall also returning for the second heat.

EL Mikko sprung a 5-1 mild upset in the second elim, as Tetrick directed him to a 1:53.4 win over Make You Mine and Global Glide. Wildwood Days and Man About Town, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, also earned a spot in the second heat.

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