The Los Alamitos Futurity on Saturday traces its roots to 1981, when it debuted as the Hollywood Futurity at Hollywood Park.
Contested over 1 1/16 miles on dirt for 2-year-old colts and geldings, it quickly established itself as a premier West Coast test for juveniles, offering one of the richest purses for the division at the time, over $1 million in 1983, making it the first million-dollar race for 2-year-olds.
The event earned Grade 1 status that same year and remained at Hollywood Park for over three decades, producing a roster of elite talents under names like the Hollywood Futurity and, later, the CashCall Futurity in 2007.
Hollywood Park’s shuttering in December 2013 forced the race’s relocation to Los Alamitos racecourse, where it has been contested annually since 2014 under its current name. The inaugural running at the new venue was won by Dortmund, who set a track record. Downgraded to Grade 2 status in 2019, it still carries a $200,000 purse and serves as a key prep on the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1), awarding 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top five finishers.
Among its most prominent winners, Stalwart claimed the inaugural edition in 1981 under the tutelage of the late legend D. Wayne Lukas, setting a benchmark with a massive purse share that foreshadowed the race’s prestige. Roving Boy dominated the 1982 renewal, launching a campaign that earned him the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male.
Snow Chief’s 1985 victory propelled him to Preakness Stakes (G1) glory and 3-year-old honors the following year, solidifying his legacy as a California racing icon. Cal-bred Best Pal’s gritty one-length score in 1990 marked the start of an extraordinary career boasting 13 graded stakes wins, over $5.6 million in earnings, and a rightful place in the Hall of Fame.
The legendary A.P. Indy’s commanding 1991 performance paved his path to Belmont Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) victory and Eclipse accolades before becoming one of the industry’s most prolific sires, represented by countless champions as a leading stallion.
Real Quiet’s 1997 upset win preceded his unforgettable near-miss Triple Crown bid, capturing the Derby and Preakness before a heartbreaking Belmont defeat. Point Given roared to the 2000 title en route to sweeping the Preakness and Belmont.
The ill-fated Shared Belief’s domination in 2013 secured his Eclipse Award and sparked a brilliant career capped by Santa Anita Handicap (G1) triumphs.
Last year’s winner Journalism made his way to a Preakness Stakes win and second-place finishes in the Derby and Belmont.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has dominated the race, saddling an impressive 14 winners between 1997 and 2023. His first triumph came with Real Quiet, who later captured the Derby and Preakness the following year. Baffert followed with eventual Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Captain Steve in 1999, then unleashed the future Horse of the Year Point Given in 2000, a powerhouse who dominated the Preakness and Belmont. Baffert’s impressive win streak continued with Pioneerof the Nile in 2008 and Lookin’ At Lucky in 2009, the latter securing the Preakness in a banner sophomore campaign.
He then claimed the prize with Liason in 2011, and then seven straight conquests from 2014 through 2020 with the likes of Dortmund, Mastery, McKinzie and Improbable.
Baffert broke a two-year drought in 2023 with the longshot Wynstock, a gritty closer who outdueled stablemate Coach Prime to secure his 14th victory and reaffirm his stranglehold on the race.
This year marks the 44th edition of the event and it’s been carded as the day’s eighth race. It offers Derby qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers.
A compact field of six, headlined by three from Baffert (Litmus Test, Blacksmith and Provenance) and challengers from the barns of Doug O’Neill and John Sadler, was entered.
The deserving odds-on favorite and clear class of the field, this Nyquist colt enters off a debut win at Del Mar, followed by a troubled fourth in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), beaten a neck for second, a closing third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, and an even fourth, beaten less than a length by division leader Ted Noffey, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) despite a wide trip. His consistent late kick and top-three speed figures in all starts plays perfectly into a pace-favoring setup, and jockey Juan Hernandez’s rail-skimming tactics from the inside post minimize ground loss. Baffert’s success here makes him tough to beat so expect him to collar the leaders turning for home and draw off.
Wathnan Racing’s Blacksmith is a maiden with a promising debut second-place finish at Santa Anita, where he pressed a quick pace before tiring late to finish behind Acknowledgemeplz, who is also in this race. The effort earned a strong speed figure number, and this Liam’s Map colt hails from a deep operation with global ambitions. Kazushi Kimura, who was aboard for Baffert’s recent Starlet Stakes winner Consequent, retains the mount and could send him forward to press the pace from mid-pack. Second-out improvement is likely, but he’ll need to reverse the last out form where he was a flat fifth to be a factor -- value as a Baffert exacta/trifecta play.
Purple Rein Racing and Mark Davis’s Florida-bred ridgeling Acknowledgemeplz announced himself with an impressive maiden-breaking win at Santa Anita in late November, rallying from off the pace to score by a half-length against a tough field. His tactical speed and quick turn of foot suit the expected moderate tempo here, where he can get to the front from the rail without traffic concerns. As the field’s lone O’Neill runner, he’s a live upsetter with room to improve stretching out. He’s a dangerous at a square price under Armando Ayuso if the Baffert heat melts down early.
There’s been a tremendous buzz surrounding Spendthrift Farm’s Provenance, for good reason. After a second on his debut in August at Del Mar, the first foal out of dual Eclipse Award winner and champion Monomoy Girl was the heavy favorite for his return at Santa Anita in September and he delivered with a professional 1 3/4-length maiden score at 6 furlongs. Baffert has freshened him since and owns a series of sharp works recently signaling readiness for his stakes bow and two-turn debut. His pedigree screams classic potential (sire Into Mischief won this race in 2007), and his class edge could shine if the pace collapses. He is absolutely one of Baffert’s most exciting Derby prospects long-term.
Gary Folgner’s maiden American King is a deep closer by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. This Kentucky-bred has shown glimpses in maiden company but enters overmatched after a pair of off-the-board finishes. His pedigree hints at stamina for the distance, but lack of speed figures and trainer Ruben Gomez’s modest win rate with juveniles suggest he’ll need a career-best to contend. Best used underneath at long odds for superfecta bombs.
Hronis Racing’s Captivator, from Sadler’s shedrow is a talented son of Charlatan who lost narrowly first out at Santa Anita before exploding to a maiden win second time out by 10 ¼ lengths, controlling almost from the get-go and galloping to win with authority. The effort mirrors last year’s winner Journalism’s profile at this stage, and Sadler’s 22% stakes clip adds appeal. Hector Berrios stays aboard, and he is an upside play, so don’t overlook if the Baffert runners get leg-weary late.
The picks: 1 Litmus Test 2 Blacksmith 3 Acknowledgemeplz
Quick Tip: Before you check the upcoming information, boost your bankroll with the top new-player bonus.
1 Acknowledgemeplz (Armando Ayuso, Doug O’Neill), 7-2
2 Provenance (Kyle Frey, Bob Baffert), 5-1
3 Litmus Test (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 4-5
4 Blacksmith (Kazushi Kimura, Bob Baffert), 5-1
5 American King (Giovanni Franco, Ruben Gomez), 30-1
6 Capitvator (Hector Barrios, John Sadler), 6-1
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.
