Some say summer ended on Labor Day, but in Southern California, some will say summer is over today. Today is closing day of the summer meet at Del Mar, and the closing day feature is the Del Mar Futurity. Seven two-year-olds will go seven furlongs in this Grade 1 race.
Del Mar Race 10 – Del Mar Futurity (Grade 1)
Favored in the Del Mar Futurity is the 1 Getaway Car (6/5 morning line). He’s two for two in his career after winning the Best Pal easily last month. He is one of three Bob Baffert trained horses entered in this race today.
The second Baffert entrant is the 2 Gaming (7/2 ML) who comes into this race winning last month at Del Mar. He actually run faster fractions than the favorite later on the card than Getaway Car did. But you could argue that the favorite did coast home.
Citizen Bull (#7, 9/2 ML) is the third and final Bob Baffert entry and draws the outside here. He took over at the top of the stretch to win his debut race. He could be stalking just like he did three weeks ago at Del Mar.
The 6 Mckinzie Street (4/1 ML) could add to the speed duel up front as he went gate to wire to win his debut at the end of July. Could we be looking at a meltdown pace or one of Baffert’s horses drawing off in the stretch which seems to happen many times in Southern California?
R Heisman (#3, 20/1) already raced four times, having won the Graduation Stakes here at Del Mar and just pissed previously in a stakes race at Pleasanton. He is in much deeper waters here instead of the race on Friday which he was scratched. But this is the time you swing for the fences with your young horses, right?
The 4 Brother Tony (10/1 ML) is a maiden but did have troubles at the start of his debut race last month. A cleaner start will improve his chances today.
Also a maiden is the 5 Rank who is 0 for 2 but lost to the two Baffert-trained favorites here. He will need an improved performance, which is very possible to win this race today.
Joe’s pick for the Del Mar Futurity
Bob Baffert won the Del Mar Futurity a mind-boggling 17 times. After the race goes off around 9:02 pm Eastern time, it will be an even more mind-boggling 18 times.
I think Getaway Car and Gaming will both go for the lead and will be further enhanced by McKinzie Street. Citizens Bull will be stalking like he did in his debut and take over in the stretch. It will be a Bob Baffert trifecta, as I will call this 7-2-1-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 7. Best of luck everyone! Summer is now closed in Southern California.
Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9 pm Eastern on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up; and catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.