The Del Mar Futurity has traditionally been one of the more influential 2-year-old races for the west coast to predict future success, which serves as a springboard for Star 3-year-olds such as Silver Charm, 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and Nyqist among others.
The grade 1 race attracted six contenders on Sunday’s final day card for the Del Mar Summer Meet with four participants trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and the other two from the barn of trainer Doug O’Neill. Let’s look at the field for this year’s del Mar Futurity, which Baffert has won a record 18 times, including the last four editions.
1. Brigand: He ended a distant third in the grade 3 Best Pal Stakes, 9 ¾ lengths behind the desert gate of Baffert on August 9. The bet must help this well-bred 2-year-old, but that is a considerable amount of terrain to come up with while looking for his first victory in his third start.
JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill
2. Brant: A dominant 5 ¼-length runs away on July 26 in Del Mar, which produces both the fastest Equibase speed figure and Beyer speed figure in the field. Showed maturity by collecting from the pace in his debut and looks like a logical favorite for a Baffert-Flavien Prat Tandem that has been powerful at this meeting. Gun Runner Colt was an auction purchase of $ 3 million in March and looks the role.
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
3. Balboa: Finished 8 ¾ lengths behind Brant when the third in his career debut then returned and dominated with 7 ¾ lengths when from start to finish 10 August in his second race. Be eligible to improve that victory and figures to have a very good chance of a top three finish in a degree 1 race.
JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
4. Civil freedom: Overrun some early problems to take the lead in his career debut, but faded to finish second to Brant while he was defeated with 5 ¼ lengths. He has trained very well since then and should improve that experience. Expect him to dismiss his chances.
JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill
5. Desert gate: Followed a debut profit of 2 ¼ length in June in Santa Anita with a brute romp of 8 ¾ length in the grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on this song on 9 August. Speed figures say that Stablemate Brant is faster, but do not underestimate the importance of deployment experience. Figures that are challenged here for the first time, but are bred to walk longer and can take the opportunity.
JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
6. Lacquer: Last of Baffert-Train del Mar Futurity Quartet debuted with a three-quarters-length victory on August 16 on this song and has since worked well. As the son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, he is another who has to enjoy an added distance and looks like another serious prospect.
JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
The choice: Brant
Live Longshot: Civil freedom
Superfecta: 2-6-5-4
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