Wynstock makes all to post Los Alamitos Futurity upset

Dec 17, 2023 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Wynstock improved his two-turn record to 2-for-2 with a game victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) as a 13-1 chance in the field of five.

Exiting a 7 1/2-length maiden win at Santa Anita going a mile, Wynstock led virtually throughout in the Futurity, scoring by a half-length under Kyle Frey after staving off a stretch challenge from Stronghold. Bumps were exchanged between the two rivals through the stretch run, but the stewards ruled it was mutual and that there would be no change to the order of finish.

Wynstock completed 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:43.53 and paid $29.40. Stronghold held second by a half-length over 4-5 favorite Coach Prime, with Wine Me Up and Ace of Clubs completing the order of finish.

A New York-bred son of Solomini, who was disqualified from first in the 2017 edition of the Los Alamitos Futurity, Wynstock races for the partnership of Dr. Ed Allred, the owner of Los Alamitos, and Jack Liebau, a former executive at Hollywood Park, where the Futurity originated in the early 1980s.

They took Solomini down from his win in the Los Alamitos Futurity but the #NYsire's son keeps his following an inquiry! Wynstock caps a HUGE day for @McMahonSaratoga's young sire. Empire Equines bred the newest #NYbred graded stakes winner. @FreytheF for Allred, Liebau, Baffert. pic.twitter.com/wWdqDkrxbb

— NYTB (@nytbreeders) December 17, 2023

Wynstock has now won two of four starts. A $700,000 juvenile-in-training purchase at OBS in April, the chestnut went unplaced in his first two starts, both in sprints.

This was the 14th win in the Hollywood/Los Alamitos Futurity for trainer Bob Baffert. However, due to his current suspension from racing at Churchill Downs, none of his three Futurity entries were eligible to earn any Derby qualifying points on Saturday. Points were awarded, though, to runner-up Stronghold (five points) and fifth-placed Ace of Clubs (one point).

Bred in New York by Empire Equines, Wynstock was last sold in April for $700,000 at OBS. He was produced by Timberlea, a Flatter half-sister to Grade 3 winner Untrapped.