Futurity Brings Down Curtain at Del Mar

The 77th summer season of Thoroughbred racing at Del Mar comes to an end Sept. 5 with a vintage renewal of the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I), the seven-furlong contest for 2-year-olds which has been pivotal in the development of future stars, including the last three winners of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I)—Eclipse Award champions California Chrome  , American Pharoah  , and Nyquist.

 

California Chrome was a troubled sixth in the 2013 Futurity, but went on to Horse of the Year honors the next season en route to becoming North America's richest money-winner of all-time, with earnings of more than $13 million.

 

American Pharoah ended a 37-year drought when he swept the 2015 Triple Crown, the first since Affirmed in 1978, and also was acclaimed Horse of the Year after a memorable triumph in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

 

Nyquist followed up his Futurity victory with success in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), and earned recognition as 2015's best 2-year-old, setting the stage for his Kentucky Derby win last spring.

 

Three potential stars head the field in Monday's 69th Futurity.

Chasing Aces bettered Soldier Girl's 52-year-old Del Mar record for five furlongs when he blistered the distance in 56.21 seconds in breaking his maiden July 17.

 

Straight Fire, runner-up to Chasing Aces, returned brilliantly Aug. 6 when he won by 10 1/2 lengths in 1:14.94 for 6 1/2 furlongs.

 

Klimt won the Futurity steppingstone Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 13 in game fashion and is trainer Bob Baffert's hopeful for an incredible 13th Futurity triumph; he carries high weight of 123 pounds.

 

Tyler Baze returns aboard Chasing Aces, who is trained by Peter Miller; Kent Desormeaux again has the call from brother Keith Desormeaux on Straight Fire, and Rafael Bejarano will pilot Klimt.

 

Completing the line-up are stylish debut winner Midnight Pleasure, and maidens Vegas Itch and Dynamic Ruler.