Reddam Racing’s Know More is the sole graded stakes winner in the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita Park Sept. 29. And along with that graded triumph is a close runner-up effort in the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) last time out.
The 1 1/16-mile FrontRunner, which underwent a name change from the Norfolk Stakes for this year’s running, is the seventh race on the Saturday card and is scheduled for 4:07 p.m. (PDT). The race is now named for the Santa Anita clubhouse restaurant. Each runner will carry 122 pounds.
The race is a Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" event with the victor earning automatic entry into the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
Know More, a son of Lion Heart trained by Doug O'Neill, started his career with a half-length score in the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar in August. In the Del Mar Futurity, he was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Rolling Fog. Know More gets the return services of jockey Garrett Gomez.
The FrontRunner boasts additional stakes winners Carving and Dry Summer, both of whom are by Any Given Saturday. Trained by Bob Baffert, who conditioned a record five Norfolk winners, Carving has won both of his starts, including the C.B. Afflerbaugh Stakes at Fairplex Park. Carving, who began his career at Del Mar against claiming company, is owned by Baffert’s wife, Jill, and Olympic gold medalist skier Bode Miller
Dry Summer, after winning one of his first two starts, captured the Oak Tree Juvenile Stakes on turf at Del Mar. Owned by Sam Britt and Michael House, he is trained by Jeff Mullins.
Power Broker, who has run three times without winning, heads into the FrontRunner off a runner-up finish in the Oak Tree Juvenile. The son of Pulpit is trained by Baffert for Gary and Mary West.
Two others in FrontRunner field, Capo Bastone (by Street Boss ) and Gabriel Charles, (by Street Hero) also contested the Del Mar Futurity following maiden scores at Del Mar. Capo Bastone, trained by John Sadler for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, finished fourth in the Del Mar Futurity, and Gabriel Charles ended up sixth. The latter races for Britt and House and is trained by Mullins.
The remainder of the field consists of last-start maiden winners Dirty Swagg, Den's Legacy , and Imperative, plus non-winners The Whole Deal and Wild Student.
$250,000 FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I, Race 7, 4:07 p.m.) 2YOs, 1 1/16 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Carving, M Garcia, B Baffert
2. Gabriel Charles, J Talamo, J Mullins
3. Dirty Swagg, D R Flores, M K Cho
4. The Whole Deal, F A Maldonado, S Knapp
5. Dry Summer, R Napravnik, J Mullins
6. Imperative, A T Gryder, E G Harty
7. Know More, G K Gomez, D F O'Neill
8. Capo Bastone, V Espinoza, J W Sadler
9. Den's Legacy, A Quinonez, B Baffert
10. Power Broker, R Bejarano, B Baffert
11. Wild Student, I Puglisi, P G Aguirre
Weights: 122 pounds