At Los Alamitos, California, favorite Litmus Test claimed victory in the $200,500 Los Alamitos Futurity on Saturday by 1 1/4 lengths, securing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his ninth win in this 2-year-old event. Litmus Test led a Baffert sweep of the top three spots, with Blacksmith finishing second and Provenance third after setting the pace for much of the race.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Litmus Test completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1 minute and 42.38 seconds, paying out $3.20 and $2.20 as the 3-5 favorite. Due to the small number of competitors, there were no show bets available. The stallion now boasts two wins in five career starts and has earned $350,168 in prize money.
Trainer Baffert praised the horse’s ongoing development, saying, “He’s improving and will only get better as he matures. He is a horse we’ve always held in high regard.” Litmus Test recently placed fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and earned 10 qualifying points toward next year’s Kentucky Derby, currently sitting second on the Derby leaderboard with 19 points.
Blacksmith paid $3.60 as the 4-1 second favorite, while Provenance finished third, 3 1/3 lengths behind. American King and Captivator rounded out the field.
Fan Take: This win not only extends Bob Baffert’s legacy but also highlights Litmus Test as a rising star to watch in the upcoming Kentucky Derby. For horse racing enthusiasts, it showcases the thrilling potential of young talent shaping the future of the sport.
