With Cooperation, Baffert Can Win 8th Futurity

(from Del Mar report)
Cooperation will carry trainer Bob Baffert's hopes for an eighth straight Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) victory Wednesday.

Five juveniles vie for Wednesday's $250,000 Futurity at seven furlongs on the main track.

Baffert engaged the nation's leading rider, Jerry Bailey, to get that eighth win for him.

This Futurity field, which includes two runners from the barn of Richard Mandella, could mark the toughest test for a Baffert runner in that long string of winners.

Heading the field is dual stakes winner Perfect Moon, who was purchased late in the week by Royce Jaime and sent to the barn of Doug O'Neill.

The gelded son of Malibu Moon was bought from Annabelle Stute and The Hat Ranch for a price in the "mid-six-figure range." Mel Stute had trained the 2-year-old winner of the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III) and Del Mar's Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) previously. Because of the two stakes wins, Perfect Moon is high-weighted at 122 pounds and spots his four foes six pounds each.

Joining Cooperation as maiden winners in the race are the other three entrants – Siphonizer and Minister Eric, trained by Mandella, and Gulf of Mexico, trained by Eoin Harty.

Siphonizer won at first asking on Aug. 2 at the seashore and returned Aug. 17 to finish fifth in the Best Pal. Stablemate Minister Eric broke his maiden Aug. 24 after finishing third in his debut against Siphonizer.

Gulf of Mexico posted an impressive maiden victory in his first start over the strip. He has continued to train sharply at the beach.

$250,000 Del Mar Futurity (gr. II), 2-year-olds, 7 furlongs
PP., Wgt., Rider
1. Siphonizer, 116, Julie Krone
2. Minister Eric, 116, Alex Solis
3. Cooperation, 116, Jerry Bailey
4. Gulf of Mexico, 116, David Flores
5. Perfect Moon, 122, Patrick Valenzuela