Promising Youth on Display in Futurity

There will be no shortage of hope surrounding the 68th running of the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) on the seaside racetrack’s closing day, Sept. 7.



A year ago, eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah broke his maiden in the seven-furlong grade I event for 2-year-olds, the first of eight straight graded victories for the Pioneerof the Nile   colt.



The odds of another Triple Crown winner emerging from the first top level race for 2-year-olds on the West Coast are rightfully long, but Reddam Racing’s Nyquist has already provided a flash of brilliance.



After breaking his maiden at first asking for trainer Doug O’Neill June 5 at Santa Anita Park, the son of Uncle Mo   blew away the field to win by 5 1/4 lengths in the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 8 at Del Mar. The place and show horses from the Best Pal—Swipe and Annie's Candy—return to try Nyquist again in the Futurity.



BALAN: Nyquist Draws Off in Best Pal Stakes 



Trainer Bob Baffert, who has a record 12 Futurity victories since 1996 when he first won the race with Silver Charm, will enter two in Monday’s edition. Hal Earnhardt’s Nightly News is entering as a maiden, after a second-place finish in his debut Aug. 26 at Del Mar, while Mt Veeder (owned by Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton) impressed in his bow Aug. 15 in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight event the Ghostzapper   colt took by 2 1/4 lengths.



"He’s quick and he’s improving, but this is a tough race," Baffert said of Mt Veeder. "This is a good test for him."



Another impressive debut winner entered is Doubledown Stables’ Blameitonthelaw, who scored by 4 1/4 lengths Aug. 2 at Del Mar. The John Sadler trainee is a son of Blame  .



Archaeo adds blinkers for his second start. In his first, the O’Neill trainee struggled, finishing fifth, 22 1/2 lengths back Aug. 8 at Del Mar. 

Debut winner Rockin Bayou, a neck winner in the slop at Del Mar July 18, completes the field.