Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is looking to secure his ninth victory in 12 years at Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity with three contenders: Litmus Test, Provenance, and Blacksmith. This 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds is the eighth of nine events held the day after the conclusion of the winter thoroughbred season at Los Alamitos. The top five finishers will earn points towards the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
Litmus Test, owned by a consortium including SF Racing LLC and Starlight Racing, last raced on October 31, finishing fourth behind undefeated Ted Nophy in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. A son of Nyquist and Malibu Moon’s mare Study Hard, Litmus Test lost by less than two lengths and has one win from four starts, earning $230,168 to date.
Provenance, unbeaten since his September 27 maiden win over six furlongs as a heavy favorite, will be returning to racing after a short break. The Into Mischief colt out of Monomoy Girl, owned and bred by Spendthrift Farm LLC, finished third in his mile debut in August, a race won by Intrepid who later triumphed in the G1 American Pharoah Stakes.
Blacksmith, owned by Wasnan Racing and trained by Doug O’Neill and Mark Davis, enters the race as a two-time maiden with experience over six furlongs. The son of Liam’s Map and Sweet Achiever placed second at Bowie on October 25 and was the favorite in a competitive field at Del Mar but finished disappointingly, having earned $13,200 so far.
Acknowledge Mepruts, trained by Doug O’Neill and Mark Davis for Purple Rain Racing, comes off a front-running victory and is expected to progress further. Buccello, out of Starship Fantasy, showed promise with a second-place finish in her Santa Anita debut, while Captivator, owned by Fronis Racing LLC and trained by John Sadler, aims to stretch out for the first time following a strong sprint maiden win.
Dashing Debbie, a Charlatan colt out of Medaglia d’Oro, dominated by over 10 lengths after finishing second previously and has secured $32,200 in earnings. The race also features American King, a maiden son of American Pharoah and Neravetrina, trained by Ruben Gomez for Gary Folgner, who has finished sixth and fourth in his two starts and earned $4,100.
The future field at Los Alamitos, starting from the inside post to the outside, includes horses ridden by Armando Ayuso, Kyle Frey, Juan Hernandez, Kazushi Kimura, Giovanni Franco, and Hector Berrios, each carrying 120 pounds.
Fan Take: This highly competitive Los Alamitos Futurity not only showcases promising young talent but also acts as a crucial stepping stone toward the Kentucky Derby, making it a pivotal event for horse racing enthusiasts. With Bob Baffert’s ongoing dominance and emerging stars like Litmus Test and Provenance, this race could significantly influence the sport’s next generation of champions.
