There will be no shortage of hope surrounding the 68th running of the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) on the seaside racetrack’s closing day, Sept. 7.
A year ago, eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah broke his maiden in the seven-furlong grade I event for 2-year-olds, the first of eight straight graded victories for the Pioneerof the Nile colt.
The odds of another Triple Crown winner emerging from the first top level race for 2-year-olds on the West Coast are rightfully long, but Reddam Racing’s Nyquist has already provided a flash of brilliance.
After breaking his maiden at first asking for trainer Doug O’Neill June 5 at Santa Anita Park, the son of Uncle Mo blew away the field to win by 5 1/4 lengths in the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 8 at Del Mar. The place and show horses from the Best Pal—Swipe and Annie's Candy—return to try Nyquist again in the Futurity.
BALAN: Nyquist Draws Off in Best Pal Stakes
Trainer Bob Baffert, who has a record 12 Futurity victories since 1996 when he first won the race with Silver Charm, will enter two in Monday’s edition. Hal Earnhardt’s Nightly News is entering as a maiden, after a second-place finish in his debut Aug. 26 at Del Mar, while Mt Veeder (owned by Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton) impressed in his bow Aug. 15 in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight event the Ghostzapper colt took by 2 1/4 lengths.
"He’s quick and he’s improving, but this is a tough race," Baffert said of Mt Veeder. "This is a good test for him."
Another impressive debut winner entered is Doubledown Stables’ Blameitonthelaw, who scored by 4 1/4 lengths Aug. 2 at Del Mar. The John Sadler trainee is a son of Blame .
Archaeo adds blinkers for his second start. In his first, the O’Neill trainee struggled, finishing fifth, 22 1/2 lengths back Aug. 8 at Del Mar.
Debut winner Rockin Bayou, a neck winner in the slop at Del Mar July 18, completes the field.
Del Mar, Monday, September 07, 2015, Race 8Entries: Del Mar Futurity (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Nightly News (KY) Rafael Bejarano 116 Bob Baffert - 2 2Annie's Candy (KY) Victor Espinoza 118 Peter Miller - 3 3Swipe (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux 120 J. Keith Desormeaux - 4 4Mt Veeder (KY) Martin Garcia 118 Bob Baffert - 5 5Nyquist (KY) Mario Gutierrez 122 Doug F. O'Neill - 6 6Archaeo (KY) James Graham 116 Doug F. O'Neill - 7 7Blameitonthelaw (KY) Tyler Baze 118 John W. Sadler - 8 8Rockin Bayou (LA) Mike E. Smith 118 Jeff Mullins -
