Baffert Triplet Leads Runhappy Del Mar Futurity

[Wandering Eyes]

Del Mar will play host to a couple of competitive juvenile fields when the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf and GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity go toward the end of the card, Sunday. A seven panel dash on the main track, the latter looks to be Bob Baffert's race to lose as the conditioner sends out three well-regarded runners including fellow 'TDN Rising Stars' Newgate (Into Mischief) and Cave Rock (Arrogate) as well as GSW Havnameltdown (Uncaptured).

His late sire's color bearer in this contest, Cave Rock produced the field's best Beyer figure with a 101 last out Aug. 13 on debut when blitzing a maiden field by six. The $550,000 KEESEP buy will be adding a half-furlong here in his first try against winners, and the question now becomes whether or not Havnameltdown–also owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, & Paul Weltman–becomes his stumbling block; both horses have shown a strong affinity for the lead. That aforementioned Graded-winner will face a stamina test here in the hopes that he'll be able to carry his speed a furlong farther with another speedster breathing down his neck. Juan Hernandez, who rode both in their last races, opted for Cave Rock while Mike Smith will ride Havnameltdown for the first time.

Not to be forgotten, Newgate rolls into the race with a string of strong works, including three bullets; one of which Sep. 4 was a six furlong move over this track in 1:11.80, making it the best of five. Unlike his stablemates to his outside, the colt has shown the ability to sit off the pace, which will go in his favor if the speed hooks up on the front. John Velazquez will keep the mount. Agency (Bolt d'Oro) was second best to Havnameltdown in the GIII Best Pal last out Aug. 14, is a mid-pack runner who stands to benefit most from a pace meltdown, and will pick up the services of Flavien Prat for trainer Mark Glatt.

A race prior in the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf, a group of European invaders will take on the locals as 5 1/4-length debut winner Don'tthinkjustdoit (Smiling Tiger) and Ah Jeez (Mendelssohn), who ran a field best 69 Beyer last out Aug. 26 breaking his maiden, look to fend off Dandy Man Shines (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire})–who missed picking up Group black-type last out July 26 at Goodwood in the G2 Japan Racing Association Vintage S. by one spot–and Qatar Racing's Ti Sento (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Ladies Marathon at Kentucky Downs

The long-distance fillies and mares will take to the well-manicured Kentucky Downs lawn Sunday as a field of nine looks to contest for their share of the purse, led by MGISP Family Way (Uncle Mo) for Brendan Walsh. The grey comes into this effort after a third place showing in Churchill's GI Beverly D S. last out Aug. 13 over a turf course that most of the field arguably struggled to get over. She was a game second June 10 behind Bleecker Street (Quality Road) two back in the GI New York S.

On the rail, Godolphin's Adventuring (Pioneerof the Nile) has shown the ability to win on any surface and already has a victory over this course in the 2021 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Oaks over familiar foes. She comes in off a season-opening victory last out Aug. 6 in the West Virginia Senate President's Cup S. at Mountaineer. She's worked lights out since then; Sept. 3 when firing a bullet :48.20 four furlongs (1/35) over the Horseshoe Indianapolis main track, and one before that Aug. 27 at five panels, her :59.80 the fastest of 18. Brad Cox will send her to post.

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