Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity (G1)

Since the race moved over from Hollywood Park in 2014, the Hall of Fame trainer has won every single edition of the grade 1 race for 2-year-olds, and he continued that streak Dec. 8 with Improbable's five-length score.





When Improbable hit the wire in 1:41.18, it gave Baffert his 11th win in the Futurity, including six times when it was called the Hollywood Futurity.

"At the top of the stretch, (Improbable) looked a little lost," Baffert said. "(Van Dyke) had to hit him a couple of times. Once he straightened out, he got into that long, beautiful stride of his. The good horses always find a way to win. He trained like he was going to run like this."

Like Improbable, Mucho Gusto came into the race undefeated in two starts, and he set a pace of :23.25, :47.25, and 1:10.82 through six furlongs. But Mucho Gusto was no match for his stablemate in the stretch. Michael Lund Petersen's Mucho Macho Man  colt was still able to finish a clear second, three lengths ahead of Extra Hope.

"I was really excited about (Mucho Gusto)," Baffert said. "He tried very hard and just got a little tired. His race was very encouraging. We’ll just let these horses come along at their own pace and hope they stay healthy."

The race's complexion changed as the field entered the first turn when Savagery appeared to cut off Extra Hope. The move caused Extra Hope to get out, which sent Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) participant Dueling out into the middle of the hairpin clubhouse bend. The commotion allowed Improbable, who broke from the rail, a clearer path into his stalking position. Savagery was eventually disqualified from fourth to fifth, which elevated Dueling to fourth. King of Speed came in last of six to complete the order of finish.

Midnight Storm
"We were just behind the trouble on the first turn, and, to be honest, we benefited because we ended up where wanted to be—three wide behind the leaders," Van Dyke said. "This is just such a cool horse. He hit another gear when we got to the stretch.''

After the race, the winning connections couldn't help but compare Improbable to another chestnut with similar ownership and the same white-haired conditioner.

"Improbable has a long stride like Justify . He's just a smaller version," Baffert said. "I'm not saying he's at Justify's level yet, but he's a really good horse."

"Bob has liked this horse all along," added WinStar's Elliott Walden. "When Justify went to the farm from Del Mar this summer, Bob put Improbable in his stall. I loved his race today. The best thing about it was his last eighth of a mile and the way he galloped out. That gives you the hope for the future, and that's what we're all looking for going toward the spring classics.''

Bred in Kentucky by St. George Farm and G. Watts Humphrey Jr. out of the A.P. Indy mare Rare Event, Improbable now has $269,520 in earnings from his three starts. He was a $200,000 purchase by WinStar's Maverick Racing and China Horse Club from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.