Bob Baffert has more than half of Wednesday's Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) field in his barn. Perhaps he's simply stacking the deck--if one of Baffert's horses wins the race, it will be his seventh straight victory in the event. Last year The Thoroughbred Corporation's Officer won the race. All five of the Baffert entries are owned by different individuals or partnerships.
Trainers William Currin, Richard Mandella, and Mike Mitchell each have one entry to round out the field.
The first three finishers from the Aug. 21 Best Pal Stakes are all slated to contest the Futurity. Baffert's Kafwain won the race, followed by another Baffert horse, Chief Planner. Currin's Outta Here was third. Another stakes horse from Baffert bound for Wednesday's contest is Icecoldbeeratreds, winner of the Graduation Stakes.
Of the eight entries, Chief Planner and Kafwain have the most experience, if not the most wins--both have started four times. In the morning line, Chief Planner is listed at 7/2 and Kafwain at 5/2.
The Futurity is the last stakes of the season at Del Mar. Racing resumes Sept. 13 at Fairplex, then travels to Santa Anita where the Oak Tree meet opens Oct. 2.
The field for the seven-furlong $250,000 Del Mar Futurity (gr. II), to be run Sept. 11, from the rail out:
Program, horse, jockey, weight, odds, trainer
1--Icecoldbeeratreds, (David Flores, 119, 5/1) Baffert
2--Friendly Mike, (Pat Valenzuela, 115, 12/1) Baffert
3--Bull Market, (Mike Smith, 115, 3/1) Baffert
4--Kafwain, (Victor Espinoza, 119, 5/2) Baffert
5--Total Advantage, (Laffit Pincay Jr., 115, 15/1) Mitchell
6--Chief Planner, (Corey Nakatani, 115, 7/2) Baffert
7--Outta Here, (Kent Desormeaux, 113, 8/1) Currin
8--Gentlemen's Club, (Alex Solis, 115, 8/1) Mandella
