Value The Man Wins Million Futurity

Value The Man, a 10-1 shot, out-finished Higher Fire to win the $1.5-million Los Alamitos Million Futurity on Friday night at Los Alamitos.

It was a record third victory in the Grade 1 for John Bassett, who trains the 2-year-old Heza Fast Man gelding for owner-breeders J. Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley. Bassett won the inaugural Million with Evening Snow in 1990 and again with First Place Queen in 2002.

Value The Man’s victory denied Higher Fire a sweep of the Los Alamitos Bonanza and a $1-million bonus. The Walk Thru Fire filly was alive for the big payday after winning the Ed Burke Futurity and Golden State Million earlier in the year.

Ridden by G.R. Carter, Value The Man, who earned $577,600 for his win Friday, completed the 400 yards in 19.56 seconds. He has now won three of seven.

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Ocean Runaway, making the final start of his career, is the 8-5 favorite on Ed Burgart’s morning line for tonight’s $500,000 Champion Of Champions.

If the 3-year-old gray son of First Down Dash is to win for the 10th time in 19 starts, he’ll have to beat Catchmeinyourdreams, Whosleavingwho, Lds Dash For Dylan, Apollitcal Time and five others.