Best Pal Hero Pappacap Returns in Del Mar Futurity

The Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) poses the question: Can newly inducted Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse stop the Bob Baffert juggernaut?

Baffert, also a Hall of Famer, has won this race a record 14 times, while Casse has yet to visit the capture the track's signature 2-year-old stakes, admittedly with limited participation. But Pappacap  could be the horse to get him there.

Pappacap, a homebred for George and Karen Russell's Rustlewood Farm in Florida, represents an infrequent Del Mar Futurity starter for Casse, owing to the trainer sending a division out west this year from his usual bases in the Eastern U.S. and Canada. The Sept. 6 race consists of Pappacap and Finneus , the one-two finishers in the Aug. 7 Best Pal Stakes (G2), and four horses who have broken their maidens and are eligible for a non-winners of two, half-trained by Baffert. 

Bear in mind that Baffert won the race in 2014 with a maiden named American Pharoah  . Casse finished fourth that day with Skyway , the 2-1 favorite.

"I think Skyway was the only horse ever to be favored over American Pharoah," said Casse.

In the Best Pal, Pappacap became the first stakes winner for his sire, Gun Runner  , a particular favorite of Karen Russell's as a racehorse.

"After he retired, she said, 'We're breeding to Gun Runner,' so that's what we did," said George Russell.

Pappacap, who is out of the Russells' Scat Daddy  mare Pappascat , won in his first outing, at Gulfstream Park May 14, and Casse thought he might do well at Del Mar. In the six-furlong Best Pal, the colt won by 4 3/4 lengths in a manner that seemed to indicate that he would relish the seven furlongs of the Futurity.

"Pappacap has been a horse, from the time we started breezing at our training center in Ocala, that always seemed a little extra special," said Casse.

Joe Bravo, who rode Pappacap in the Best Pal, will return on the colt, who drew the rail, perhaps a disadvantage for juvenile in a sprint race.

Finneus is another who should prefer a longer distance. Terry Lovingier, who bred Finneus in California and owns him with Naseer Mohammed Fasihuddin and Amanda Navarro, has said that Finneus will prefer a distance of ground.

Finneus, to be ridden by Tiago Pereira from post 3, is by Stay Thirsty  , a stallion Lovingier brought to California to stand at his Lovacres Ranch, and he is out of California-bred champion My Fiona . A stakes winner at Del Mar, Santa Anita Park, and Los Alamitos Race Course, My Fiona has also produced Fi Fi Pharoah , a 3-year-old stakes-winning daughter of American Pharoah set to run Sept. 4 in a Del Mar allowance optional claiming race.

Baffert has entered Pinehurst  and Murray  for the Futurity. Mike Smith will ride Pinehurst from post 4, while Flavien Prat, Del Mar's leading jockey, has the mount on Murray from post 5.

Both Baffert runners are owned by a large partnership headed by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, and both came out of the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale. A son of Twirling Candy  , Pinehurst cost $385,000 and won in his debut Aug. 1 by a half-length after being bumped at the start. Murray, a $300,000 son of Street Sense  , had a much flashier debut, scoring by 10 3/4 lengths July 25.

"They both broke their maidens here, and they've both trained well since," Baffert said.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has the one ship-in, American Xperiment , a 5 1/4-length maiden winner on a muddy track at Saratoga and a son of Nyquist  . Umberto Rispoli is set to ride from post 6. Kirk and Judy Robison campaign American Xperiment, who is out of Tiznow grade 2 winner Lovely Lil , in the name of their Downstream Racing. One of Lovely Lil's foals, Lovely Ride  (Candy Ride  ) won the Cathryn Sophia Stakes last month at Parx Racing.

Downstream also campaigns Cal-bred multiple stakes winner None Above the Law , scheduled to run in the Sept. 4 Del Mar Derby Presented by Caesars Sportsbook (G2T) for trainer Peter Miller.

Olympic Legend , a winner in one of two starts, rounds out the field under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. from post 2. Luis Mendez trains the colt for owners Lawrence Opas and Frank R. Sinatra.

Entries: Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1)

Del Mar, Monday, September 06, 2021, Race 9

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 2 yo
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Pappacap (FL)	Joe Bravo	123	Mark E. Casse	-
2	Olympic Legend (KY)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	118	Luis Mendez	-
3	Finneus (CA)	Tiago Josue Pereira	120	Walther Solis	-
4	Pinehurst (KY)	Mike E. Smith	120	Bob Baffert	-
5	Murray (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Bob Baffert	-
6	American Xperiment (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	123	Steven M. Asmussen	-