Study Guide: 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity
Dec 12, 2024
Gaming on track in preparation for Breeders Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on Saturday with the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos, a 1 1/16-mile contest worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers.
The Los Alamitos Futurity has produced half a dozen Kentucky Derby (G1) winners since its inaugural running in 1981. This year’s edition has drawn a small but strong field that could have a significant impact on the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
Let’s take a horse-by-horse tour through the entries:
Gaming
Gaming winning the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photo)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Breeder: Mt Brilliant Farm & Ranch
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (105) when finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $565,000
Sire: Game Winner
Dam: So Stylish
Color: Dark bay/brown
Gaming is easily the most accomplished horse in the Los Alamitos Futurity field. He won his debut by 5 1/2 lengths over Rank, beat Citizen Bull when taking the Del Mar Futurity (G1) by 1 3/4 lengths, and then finished second by 1 1/2 lengths to Citizen Bull in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Sharp workouts since the Breeders’ Cup suggest Gaming can give Hall of Fame trainer a record-extending 15th win in this race.
🐂 Citizen Bull wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 2, 2024
Mellencamp
Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Breeze Easy
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $14,040
Sire: Constitution
Dam: American Model
Color: Dark bay/brown
The second of three Baffert trainees in the entries, Mellencamp has finished second and fourth in his first two starts against maiden special weight competition. His best effort came in a sprint, and he’ll need improvement to challenge against tougher competition over 1 1/16 miles.
Getaway Car
Getaway Car winning the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photo)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Blue Heaven Farm and Curlin Syndicate
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $313,000
Sire: Curlin
Dam: Surrender Now
Color: Dark bay/brown
Getaway Car couldn’t keep pace with Gaming when finishing fourth in the Del Mar Futurity and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but in between those efforts he finished second by two lengths against Citizen Bull in the American Pharoah (G1). It’s possible Getaway Car is better running shorter than 1 1/16 miles, but his speed and talent should be sufficient to secure a top-three finish against Saturday’s field.
Rank
Start(s): 5
Wins: 0
Place: 3
Show: 0
Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Scott Pierce
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in a Del Mar maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $41,600
Sire: Honor A. P.
Dam: Fabulous Babe
Color: Dark bay/brown
Rank might be 0-for-5, but his form has improved since stretching out from sprints to routes. He exits a runner-up finish against Journalism in a one-mile maiden special weight at Del Mar and can snatch a top-three finish in the Los Alamitos Futurity if one of the favorites falters.
Journalism
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert V. LaPenta
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning a Del Mar maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $38,880
Sire: Curlin
Dam: Mopotism
Color: Bay
After closing some ground to finish third in his debut sprinting at Santa Anita, Journalism impressed in a one-mile maiden special weight at Del Mar, surging from midfield to beat Rank by 2 1/2 lengths. The 95 Brisnet Speed rating he posted ranks below the career-best numbers of Gaming (105) and Getaway Car (101), but Journalism is progressing in the right direction and shouldn’t be underestimated in his stakes debut.
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