Closing day at the Del Mar summer meet worked out well for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez.
Baffert clinched the trainer’s title on Sunday, and his third-string 2-year-old Gaming won the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1). It’s the 18th time the trainer has won the 7-furlong sprint.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Gaming ($9.80 to win on a $2 bet), Gaming drew alongside stablemate and pacesetter Getaway Car at the five-sixteenths pole, kicked clear in the stretch and won by 1 ¾ lengths over McKinzie Street.
Hernandez, meanwhile, had a three-win day and won his third straight rider’s title at the meet with 47 victories from 157 starts for a 30% win rate.
Gaming, a son of 2018 Del Mar Futurity winner Game Winner, won his career debut by 5 ½ lengths on Aug. 11.
Winning time was 1:23.02. Baffert’s two favorites, Citizen Bull and Getaway Car finished third and fourth, respectively, in field of seven.
“Very straightforward and leveled out nice,’’ Prat said. “Bob just told me not to rush him and I thought I was in a good spot on my way around the corner. When he went off to his left lead I jumped on the bridle right away. After that I felt pretty much in control the whole way.”
The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen, which awards the owners $30,000 toward an entry in a Breeders’ Cup race.
Earlier, 2-year-old Artislas ($17.20), ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, won the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3) by a half-length over Sabertooth. Jeff Mullins trains Artislas.
The Bing Crosby season at Del Mar begins on Oct. 31, with the Breeders’ Cup set for Nov. 1-2.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
