Friday, December 19, 2014

GRADE 1 LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY SATURDAY IS THE FEATURE RACE





Grade 1 black type, $500,000, and Kentucky Derby points are on the line Saturday at Los Alamitos in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

Expected to enter the 1 1/16-mile test for two-year-olds is the current winter book favorite for next year's Kentucky Derby, Dortmund, the Bob Baffert-trainee who is undefeated in two starts, including an entry-level allowance win on November 29 at Churchill Downs.

Some big names are looking to take down Dortmund, however, with El Kabeir and Ocho Ocho Ocho shipping in off stakes victories, the former taking the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill and the latter the Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs. A win by either would make him the leader in the Kentucky Derby points...........(El Kabier could also take the lead with a second-place finish).



Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who won the Hollywood/CashCall Futurity a record six times at Hollywood Park, has an excellent chance to add to that total with the undefeated Dortmund in the $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I) Dec. 20.

The 1 1/16-mile event for 2-year-olds will be run for the first time at Los Alamitos after 33 renewals (1981-2013) at Hollywood Park. There are only five entrants, headed by Dortmund, an early favorite for next year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Mr. Z, looking for a breakthrough for trainer D. Wayne Lukas after four runner-up finishes in graded stakes, is the main threat. The Futurity is the eighth of nine races with a scheduled post time of 4 p.m. PST.

Won previously by stars such as Snow Chief, A.P. Indy, Best Pal, Real Quiet, Point Given  Lookin At Lucky  , and Shared Belief, the Futurity is part of the "Road to the Kentucky Derby'' series. The winner receives 10 points toward a possible spot in the starting gate next May 2 atChurchill Downs.

Owned by Kaleem Shah, Dortmund is already a winner in Louisville.

The son of 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (gr. I) winner Big Brown   won a one-mile allowance/optional claimer by 7 3/4 lengths at Churchill, a Nov. 29 victory that came four weeks after a 4 3/4-length debut win at Santa Anita Park.

Since returning to California, Dortmund, who is out of the Tale of the Cat   mare Our Josephina, has worked five furlongs twice at Santa Anita. The $140,000 May purchase was most recently clocked in 1:00 Dec. 15, the fastest of 33 drills on the morning.

The leading trainer at Los Alamitos' winter Thoroughbred meet entering the final four days, Baffert's most recent Futurity victory came with Liaison   in 2011. His other winners were Real Quiet (1997), Captain Steve (1999), Point Given (2000), Pioneerof the Nile   (2008) and Lookin At Lucky (2009).

A week after winning the Starlet (gr. I) at Los Alamitos for a record eighth time with Take Charge Brandi, fellow Hall of Fame trainer Lukas will seek to add a fifth Futurity score with Mr. Z.

Owned by Zayat Stables, Mr. Z missed by a nose to the undefeated Ocho Ocho Ocho in the $1 million Delta Jackpot (gr. I) Nov. 22 at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

A son of Malibu Moon   and the Storm Cat mare Stormy Bear, Mr. Z has banked $439,726 in seven starts. He was fifth of 11 in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) won by Texas Red Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. In his only other grade I attempt, the $135,000 yearling purchase was second behind runaway winner Carpe Diem in the Breeders' Futurity Oct. 4 at Keeneland.

If Mr. Z is successful Saturday, Lukas, whose earlier Futurity victories include Stalwart (1981), Tejano (1987), Grand Canyon (1989), and Tactical Cat (1998), would become the first trainer to win the Starlet and Futurity in the same year.

In his final serious prep for the Futurity, Mr. Z, whose only win came in his June 28 debut against maidens at Churchill Downs, worked five furlongs Dec. 14 in 1:00 flat at Los Alamitos.

No Problem stretches out for P and G Stables and trainer Michael McCarthy after consecutive sprint wins, including a 17-1 upset in the Bob Hope Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 15 at Del Mar.

The son of Munnings   finished eighth in his Santa Anita debut Sept. 27, then won easily against $75,000 maidens a month later in Arcadia. He surprised Alright Alright in the seven-furlong Hope, which was formerly run as the Hollywood Prevue at Hollywood Park.

No Problem and Dortmund were supplemented to the Futurity for $10,000 with an additional $10,000 required to start.

Firing Line, owned by Arnold Zetcherwho campaigned Liaisonand trained by Simon Callaghan,  will stretch out for the first time after an impressive maiden victory at 6 1/2 furlongs Nov. 30 at Del Mar.

Bench Warrant also tries two turns after winning once in two sprint races for Doubledown Stables and trainer John Sadler, runner-up in the 2013 Futurity with Candy Boy. The Street Boss   colt has yet to compete on dirt, his starts coming four months apart on the Polytrack at Del Mar. Bench Warrant won July 19, then was third behind Tizcano and Mischief Clem in an optional claimer Nov. 21.

Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I)

LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, Saturday, December 20, 2014, Race 8
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $500,000
  • 2 yo
  • 3:46 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWeightTrainer
1Bench Warrant (KY)Tyler Baze121John W. Sadler
2No Problem (KY)Victor Espinoza121Michael W. McCarthy
3Dortmund (KY)Martin Garcia121Bob Baffert
4Mr. Z (KY)Mike E. Smith121D. Wayne Lukas
5Firing Line (KY)Rafael Bejarano121Simon Callaghan


Read more on BloodHorse.com: 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Get This 4 Column Template Here
Get More Templates Here