Future Stars?
The $250,000 7-furlong Del Mar Futurity brings down the curtain on the meeting Wednesday and there very well could be some future stars in the line.
The meet has been a successful one and saw a record handle in the Pick Six on Saturday.
This race could be called the Baffert Stakes as he has saddled the winner 9 times including the last 2 seasons. He won 7 in a row from 1996 to 2002.
Some very nice runners have succeeded in this stakes. Distaffer June Darling took the fray in 1970 and I watched when Bold and Gold wiped out the field at the start but still stayed intact via the stewards 10 years later.
Flying Paster, who has all those epic battles with Spectacular Bid went 1:34 and change the year he scored while Silver Charm, Officer and Lookin at Lucky all heard the beach cheers after the Futurity.
Last year Lookin at Lucky parlayed a win in the Best Pal to come from 7th and cashed going away with a 82 Beyer.
The 10 foes that are facing J P’s Gusto will have their work cut out Wednesday. The son of Successful Appeal is trying to use the Lookin at Lucky avenue as he comes off a clear win in the Best Pal when he posted a 91 Beyer. Cut out to run out of a dam that banked almost $200,000, this guy gets Pat Valenzuela and tries to win his 4th in a row.
The others from the rail out include Jaycito, who ran well in defeat first out, is out of a dam that banked nearly $300, 000 and his lone sibling won her only start.
Riveting Reason improved in his second out but is still looking for that first score while McKenzies Way came away like a prove with his winning 72 Beyer over the surface.
Just Imagine has been the beaten chalk now twice and will have to step it up but has the blood to star as his top kin won 2 stakes at 2 and earned over $250,000.
Major Art is trying to excel on a new surface as he comes in from Deauville and will be a hint of a price.
Western Mood gave Gusto fits in his Hollypark finale and was hung wide in the Best Pal while Indian Winter was game winning his debut and has a right to have a bright future as kin to double stakes winner and over $300,000 earner Sindy With an S.
Comma to the Top has been handled by a couple of today’s foes as Road Ready comes into the race off a layoff and after winning his 5-furlong debut in a stakes at Golden Gate.
In the good hands of Jeff Bonde, Road Ready is related to debut winner and over $130K earner Be Smart and also to Eishen Large Hill, who won almost $700,000 in Japan.
The outside horse in the field is the 0 for 2 longshot Gahnzo Bob, who could be compromised by the post position even though the blinkers are added.
There is no value in J P’s Gusto and he has been getting late so let’s take a swing with the invading Road Ready. This guy cost $300,000, has been stabled here since opening day and had plenty of opportunity to be comfortable with the surface.
Bonde has had a decent meeting winning with 4 of his first 28 this meet and 8 others ran in the money. Look for rider Victor Espinoza to get this colt to settle, hope for a duel up front, and then make the one run to nail them all late.
Good luck.
