Champagne Stakes (gr. I) winner Officer suffered his first loss in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), then wheeled back a week later to finish second in the restricted California Cup Juvenile Stakes. Popular (Saint Ballado--Western Lady, by Gone West), meanwhile, has only a maiden win to his credit, but was a game second to Fonz's in the seven-furlong Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) in his lone stakes appearance. The Thoroughbred Corp. owns both Popular and Officer. The Thoroughbred Corp. and Baffert teamed to win last year's Futurity with Point Given.Prevue winner Fonz's is also being pointed toward the Futurity, but trainer and co-owner David LaCroix also has a decision to make regarding his juvenile. LaCroix said a substantial offer has been made for the son of Out of Place. Aside from the Prevue win -- which came following a layoff of nearly six-months -- Fonz's also finished second to Expected Program in the five-furlong Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes in May.
The 1 1/16-mile Futurity will be run Dec. 15 at Hollywood Park.