Baffert Rising Stars Headline Del Mar Futurity

[Wandering Eyes]

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert already has an astounding 13 wins in the GI Del Mar Futurity and looks pretty likely to take home his 14th renewal of the juvenile event Monday with a pair of talented ‘TDN Rising Stars’ signed on in Roadster (Quality Road) and Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). Speedway Stable’s Roadster, a $525,000 KEESEP buy, is the more fancied of the two off a good-looking 4 1/4-length graduation in his six-panel debut at this oval July 29. Gary and Mary West’s Game Winner powered clear to don cap and gown by 5 3/4 lengths in his unveiling over the same track-and-trip as his stablemate Aug. 18. Getting the blinkers off, the $110,000 KEESEP buy fires a best-of-33 five-furlong bullet in :59 3/5 last time over this strip Aug. 29.

While many were hoping to see a showdown between Roadster and undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Instagrand (Into Mischief), they will have to wait as the GII Best Pal S. winner will skip this test in favor of the GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita Sept. 29. His connections, OXO Equine and Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, will instead send out another son of Into Mischief, $320,000 FTSAUG purchase Rowayton. The bay ran to the money in his July 21 debut at Del Mar, scoring a 1 3/4-length victory.

Also entering off debut wins here at the seaside oval are $420,000 OBSMAR buy Sigalert (Street Sense), who graduated Aug. 4, and Spin Lightning (Hard Spun), a late-running victor Aug. 12.

 

View the full article