Baffert Looks to Continue Roll in Del Mar Futurity

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will look to continue his roll in the $250,000 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept. 7 at Del Mar, but a tough opponent awaits the recent winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Baffert has won the Del Mar Futurity a record 14 times with such runners as Game Winner in 2018, American Pharoah  in 2014, Lookin At Lucky  in 2009, Midshipman  in 2008, and Silver Charm in 1996, all eventual Eclipse Award winners. But his $1 million yearling purchase Spielberg was turned back last time in an Aug. 8 maiden race by Dr. Schivel, who impressed and is likely to receive plenty of support.

Those two are set to face Best Pal Stakes (G2) winner Weston and three others in the seven-furlong Futurity on Del Mar's closing day. Spielberg drew the rail, with Dr. Schivel on the outside in post 6 and Weston in post 3.

A son of Violence , Dr. Schivel in his third start handed Spielberg a 5 3/4-length defeat in the Aug. 8 maiden race at six furlongs. The Cohen family's Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal recently purchased a majority interest in the colt from breeders William Branch and Arnold Hill. Branch, who has retained a small interest, brought his friend William Dean Reeves into the partnership.

Luis Mendez will continue to train the colt through the Futurity. Dr. Schivel is then scheduled to transfer to Mark Glatt, who also conditions multiple graded winner Sharp Samurai for the Cohens.

"Mark Glatt had advised us to take a look at this horse in the race before," said Tim Cohen, who is looking forward to the Futurity. "You couldn't ask for a better draw, and we're hopeful for a good effort."

Spielberg, a son of Union Rags  bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr., races for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson. Starlight and Madaket are partners in Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, along with Spendthrift Farm and MyRaceHorse Stable.

"I thought he ran great in his debut," Baffert said of Spielberg. "At the quarter pole I thought he was going to win, and the other horse went right by us. It was an impressive performance (by Dr. Schivel)."

Baffert will try for a hat trick of grade 1s Labor Day weekend after winning the Kentucky Derby on Saturday and the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) Sunday with Princess Noor.

Weston brings the most accomplished résumé to the Futurity, having won a June 21 maiden race at Santa Anita Park and then scoring in the Aug. 8 Best Pal. Ryan Hanson, who until the past few years trained Quarter Horses, including distance champion Honoroso, conditions Weston and co-owns him with Chris Drakos.

Drakos and Hanson bought Weston for $7,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Kentucky by the EVADI Farm Team, Weston is by Hit It a Bomb .

Three maidens round out the field: Reddam Racing's Dixie's Two Stents (by Quality Road ), KMN Racing's Scooby (by Fast Anna ), and Brad Allshouse's Dyn O Mite (by Goldencents ).

The Futurity goes as race 10 Monday, with an approximate post time of 5:30 p.m. PT.

Entries: Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1)

Del Mar, Monday, September 07, 2020, Race 10

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 2 yo
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Spielberg (KY)	Abel Cedillo	119	Bob Baffert	2/1
2	2Dyn O Mite (KY)	Victor Espinoza	119	J. Keith Desormeaux	12/1
3	3Weston (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	124	Ryan Hanson	6/1
4	4Scooby (CA)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	119	Jerry Hollendorfer	12/1
5	5Dixie's Two Stents (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	119	Doug F. O'Neill	3/1
6	6Dr. Schivel (KY)	Flavien Prat	121	Luis Mendez	8/5