Baffert Saddles Two in CashCall Futurity

Bob Baffert will aim for a record-tying fourth CashCall Futurity (gr. I) victory when he saddles Pioneerof the Nile  and Ventana in the 28th running of the $750,000 event Dec. 20 at Hollywood Park.

 

Baffert’s most recent winner — Point Given  in 2000 — was more accomplished entering the event, but his first — Real Quiet in 1997 — was less heralded. Both went on to win two legs of the Triple Crown, Point Given the Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont (gr. I) and Real Quiet the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness. Real Quiet came within a nose of sweeping the Triple Crown.

 

Pioneerof the Nile, a son of Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker , made his first of four starts for eastern-based trainer Bill Mott. Zayat Stables left him on the West Coast with Baffert following a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park in October. He has trained sharply for Baffert and seeks his second win in six starts in the 1 1/16-mile Futurity.

 

Ventana, a son of 2002 Futurity winner Toccet, broke his maiden in his first start at Belmont Park in September, but has failed to win in three starts since then. In his most recent start, he finished in a dead heat for third in the seven-furlong Hollywood Prevue.

 

Baffert, whose other Futurity win came with Captain Steve in 1999, will equal the record held by D. Wayne Lukas if successful. Chocolate Candy, a son of Candy Ride owned by the Craig Family Trust, is just one of several formidable foes.

 

Chocolate Candy has improved steadily since making his career bow for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer with a sixth-place finish here in May and enters the Futurity with successive wins. The latest came when he rallied under Gomez in the 1 1/16-mile Real Quiet Stakes here in November.

 

Azul Leon, one of two starters trained by Doug O’Neill, won the Hollywood Juvenile Championship here in July and rallied to finish second most recently in the Hollywood Prevue. He also crossed the finish line a nose behind Kelly Leak in the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II), but got the victory when the former was disqualified. He tops the field with $202,400 in earnings.

 

O’Neill will also saddled maiden Mark S the Cooler, a son of Joharwho is owned by race sponsor J. Paul Reddam. A third starter, European import Axel Foley, named for the character portrayed by Eddie Murphy in “Beverly Hills Cop,” is also bedded down in the O’Neill barn.

 

Judi Partridge’s J P Jammer set the pace before settling for second in the Real Quiet; Bittel Road and Hype finished second and third, respectively, for trainer Todd Pletcher on turf in the Generous Stakes (gr. IIIt) behind upset front-running victor Mr. Rod, and Frumious has won three straight races at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Jeff Bonde.

 

The Futurity will run as the eighth race on the ten-race program at Hollywood, which will also include the Cat’s Cradle Handicap. First post time is at 12:30 p.m. PDT.

 

$750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I, Race 8, 4:05 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (Cushion Track)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Azul Leon (KY), 121, Joel Rosario
2. J P Jammer (CA), 121, Aaron T. Gryder
3. Hype (KY), 121, Alex O. Solis
4. Axel Foley (KY), 121, Michael C. Baze
5. Pioneerof the Nile (KY), 121, Garrett K. Gomez
6. Chocolate Candy (KY), 121, Rafael Bejarano
7. I Want Revenge (KY), 121, Joseph Talamo
8. Ventana (KY), 121, Corey S. Nakatani
9. Frumious (CA), 121, Victor Espinoza
10. Bittel Road (KY), 121, Mike E. Smith
11. Mr. Rod (KY), 121, Chantal Sutherland
12. Mark S the Cooler (KY), 121, Martin Garcia