Pinehurst Draws Clear in Del Mar Futurity
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Pinehurst captures the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar
When Silver Charm won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) for trainer Bob Baffert in 1996, it started a trend that shows no sign of abating. Twenty-six horses have won the race—now the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity—from Silver Charm to Pinehurst this year, and Baffert has trained 15 of them.
Pinehurst became the latest Baffert Futurity hero as one of two good maiden winners in the field that Baffert trains for a large partnership headed by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables. Murray turned in the more impressive initial win, 10 3/4 lengths vs. Pinehurst's "mere" half-length triumph, though that came after Pinehurst stumbled at the start. Bettors rewarded Murray with 3-5 favoritism, making Pinehurst the second choice at 4-1.
Baffert's reputation in the Futurity kept Pappacap from the favorite's role, despite the fact that the Mark Casse trainee had twice the experience and a graded stakes win in the Best Pal Stakes (G2) over the Del Mar dirt. Pappacap drew the rail, however, and he never could get out for a clear path.
When the gate opened, American Xperiment , a shipper from the red-hot Steve Asmussen stable, broke on top, with Pinehurst quickly surging to the front to overtake him. Jockey Mike Smith had Pinehurst traveling easier than his fractions of :22.09 for the first quarter-mile and :44.77 for a half-mile would indicate.
Murray also broke well and soon raced in second, the Baffert runners ahead of American Xperiment and the other three rivals. American Xperiment made a bid outside of Pinehurst on the turn, while longshot Finneus , who was bumped at the start, raced even wider as he closed ground from last early.
Not one horse could get within spitting distance of Pinehurst, though. The colt floated along on the lead, widening his advantage and scoring by an easy 4 1/2 lengths in 1:23.55 for the seven furlongs on a fast track. Finneus ran on well for second, with American Xperiment third, followed by Pappacap, Murray, and Olympic Legend .
"When we ran last time, he stumbled pretty badly coming out of there, but he still made the lead," said Smith. "So I knew he was plenty quick. When you ride for Bob, you ride with confidence. He puts so much foundation under them, and they all come running."
Pinehurst takes the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar
Increasing his earnings to $222,000 after this tally, Pinehurst paid $10 to win.
Baffert not only has 15 Futurity wins, he has run second three other times, including last year, when Spielberg finished second to Dr. Schivel . SF, Starlight, and Madaket also owned Spielberg, along with Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson. All of those owners are part of Pinehurst, along with Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
"I've been blessed over the years with so many good owners and so many good young horses," said Baffert.
Donato Lanni bought Pinehurst and Murray at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for SF, Starlight, and Madaket, paying $385,000 for Pinehurst and $300,000 for Murray. Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding bred Pinehurst in Kentucky, and Woods Edge Farm consigned the son of Twirling Candy —Giant Win, by Giant's Causeway, to the sale. The colt was originally a $180,000 weanling buy for P & B Stables from Taylor Made Sales Agency at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Pinehurst is the first stakes winner produced from Giant Win, who has a yearling colt by Cairo Prince and foaled a Liam's Map colt this past term. The 10-year-old mare, bred back to Twirling Candy for 2022, hails from the family of grade 1 winner Harmony Lodge and graded stakes winners Graeme Hall, First Passage, Berned, and Win McCool.
Video: Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1)
Mackinnon Scores in Juvenile Turf
Mackinnon wins the Del Mar Juvenile Stakes at Del Mar
Juveniles also had a turn on the turf Monday, with ERJ Racing and Dave Kenney's Mackinnon driving clear in the $102,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes.
The American Pharoah colt, with Juan Hernandez up, stalked the pace in fourth through the first half of the mile race and burst to the front down the stretch. He won by 1 3/4 lengths, with a final time of 1:36.24 on firm going.
Pacesetter Thirty Four Coupe held on by a nose for second over Silver Surfer .
The winner, trained by Doug O'Neill, paid $5.20 as the favorite.
Mackinnon was bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holdings out of the grade 3-placed Scat Daddy mare Scat Means Go . The mare has a Liam's Map weanling filly and was bred to City of Light for 2022.
ERJ Racing bought Mackinnon for $285,000 from consignor Gene Recio at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected 2-year-olds in training sale in Florida. Recio, as agent, had previously purchased the colt for $200,000 from Gainesway's consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale.
With a 2-1-0 record in four starts, Mackinnon has earned $117,860.