Mike McCarty's Private Vow, under cautious handling by jockey Jerry Bailey, proved the easiest of winners Saturday in the $294,000 Futurity Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.

Caution was the word as soon as the field of six two-year-old colts broke from the gate when Disco's Son stumbled, unseating jockey Javier Castellano. Although the riderless Disco's Son was last after losing Castellano, he quickly moved up to the lead, leaving the riders behind him uncertain how to deal with the loose horse in front of them.

"I hate to see Javier come off, but it created a perfect scenario for me," Bailey said. "Everyone was trying to figure out what [Disco's Son] was doing, and it put me in the catbird seat. Even though I was losing ground, I was in a great spot."

Master of Disaster set the early pace, with Changing Weather and Private Vow in pursuit. Turning for home Master of Disaster dropped out of the running, leaving Private Vow and Changing Weather to fight it out down the stretch. Bailey and Private Vow easily drove past Changing Weather and pulled away for a nine length win as they passed the riderless Disco's Son, crossing the finish line in 1:24.05. Changing Weather held for second, 4 1/2-lengths clear of Dixiewink (GB). Time for the seven-furlong contest over a fast track was 1:24.05.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the Broken Vow colt debuted in a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs on July 3, finishing second to Sorceror's Stone, then moved to Saratoga Race Course to team up with Bailey. The pair won a maiden race on July 30 and followed that with a 5 1/2-length tally in an allowance event on August 29 at the seven-furlong Futurity distance.

"We were very pleased with his maiden win," Asmussen said. "I can't say how pleased I am to win a race like the Futurity. He was asked for speed in Saratoga. Today, he was asked to rate."

Asmussen said he would point Private Vow toward the Champagne Stakes (G1) on October 8 at Belmont, en route to a potential start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on October 29.

"You know why we're here: we brought him to Belmont because if he belonged in the Breeders' Cup, I didn't want him to go anywhere else first," Asmussen said.

Private Vow has earned $244,620 and has won three of four starts. He is out of the Deputy Minister mare Smooth as Silk. He was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Witt and Mr. and Mrs. Louis Scattaglia.

See chart, courtesy of Equibase at http://www.equibase.com