Gaming tops five in Los Alamitos Futurity

Dec 12, 2024 James Scully

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Gaming will look to bolster his Kentucky Derby (G1) credentials when lining up for Saturday’s $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). By freshman sire Game Winner, the dark bay colt heads a trio of Bob Baffert runners in the five-horse field, and Flavien Prat rides.

The 1 1/16-mile race awards points on 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series.

A six-time Kentucky Derby winner, Baffert can add to his record 14 wins in the Los Alamitos Futurity, winning his first edition with eventual Kentucky Derby victor Real Quiet in 1997 (race formerly known as Hollywood Futurity).

Gaming will make his fourth start for the Hall of Fame trainer. After opening his career with romping maiden win at Del Mar, the two-year-old rallied from just off the pace to record a 1 3/4-length decision in the Del Mar Futurity (G1). Gaming tracked stablemate Citizen Bull in second throughout the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and the probable odds-on favorite can provide Prat with the record for single season graded stakes wins. Prat is currently tied with Jerry Bailey (55 graded stakes wins).

Our Del Mar on-site correspondent @TheBrownAndrew caught up with Bob Baffert to chat about a few of his standout 2-year-old colts.

🏇 Getaway Car
🏇 Kalea Bay
🏇 Citizen Bull pic.twitter.com/gn5PrN97tN

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 17, 2024

Baffert also has Grade 3 winner Getaway Car and maiden Mellencamp entered. Getaway Car, a son of Curlin, won his first two outings, including the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar, but he will try to rebound after finishing second in the American Pharoah (G1) and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Regular rider Juan Hernandez has the call. Mellencamp, $775,000 yearling purchase by Constitution, is winless from two starts, recording runner-up and fourth-place finishes.

Journalism merits respect for Michael McCarthy following a convincing maiden win the second time out, stretching to a two-turn mile at Del Mar to score by 2 1/2 lengths. Rank, who finished second to Journalism and is winless from five starts, completes the field.