Practical Move Upsets Baffert Trio in Los Al Futurity
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Practical Move wins the Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course
Trainer Tim Yakteen thwarted a trio of 2-year-olds trained by his former boss, Bob Baffert, when Practical Move defeated Baffert-trained Carmel Road in the Dec. 17 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). The biggest surprise came when 2-5 favorite Arabian Lion failed to fire, finishing fifth and last.
Baffert's threesome received the bulk of the wagering dollars, with Carmel Road and Fort Bragg each sent off at 4-1. Practical Move was the 10-1 fourth choice in the five-horse field.
Carmel Road, who had led at every call in his maiden victory Aug. 26 at Del Mar, went to the lead again in the 1 1/16-mile Futurity. Arabian Lion sat in second on the outside of his stablemate, but the field was closely bunched heading into the first turn.
Practical Move early on raced between Carmel Road and Arabian Lion. Then Ramon Vazquez, who was riding Practical Move for the first time, dropped his mount into third on the rail for an ideal stalking trip.
"He relaxed perfectly," Vazquez said. "I had to make a decision turning for home whether to go inside or outside."
As the field headed to the second turn, Practical Move inched into second behind Carmel Road and Fort Bragg, last early, started to close ground on the outside.
"When the leader drifted out a bit, there was an opening," Vazquez said. "He came right through and gave me a very nice finish."
Practical Move collared Carmel Road with a quarter-mile to go, drawing off to score by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:41.65. Carmel Road had 4 1/4 lengths on third-place Fort Bragg, with Tall Boy fourth and Arabian Lion fifth.
"The horse got himself in a great position and Ramon did a great job," Yakteen said. "It was just a matter of whether we were going to be able to get the distance today or not. I think he validated himself as a route horse today."
Practical Move's connections enjoy the trophy presentation for the Los Alamitos Futurity
Practical Move and Tall Boy were the only two horses eligible for points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Practical Move earned 10 qualifying points, and Tall Boy earned two points.
Yakteen, a former assistant trainer to Baffert, conditions Practical Move, a son of Practical Joke for Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy, and Roger Beasley. The owners purchased the colt for $230,000 from the Eisaman Equine consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training earlier this year. Chad Brown and Head of Plains Partners bred Practical Move in Kentucky.
The colt is out of the stakes-placed Afleet Alex mare Ack Naughty. He is the only horse from her three foals to hit the track. The dam also has a 2022 Complexity colt and was bred back to Upstart for next year.
Prior to the Futurity, Practical Move had not finished first in any of his four starts, but he had also never finished worse than third. He broke his maiden over a mile Oct. 10 at Santa Anita when he finished second to Fort Bragg, who was disqualified for interference. Subsequently, Practical Move ran third in the seven-furlong Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar.