Roadster puts Bob Baffert in pole position for 14th Del Mar Futurity victory

2.00 Del Mar
Del Mar Futurity (Grade 1) | 7f | 2yo | dirt | ATR

The Del Mar Futurity has long been a source of some of racing's brightest stars, none more brilliant than the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, whose first victory came in this race in 2014, as well as colts like Lookin At Lucky and Nyquist.

Jerry Hollendorfer's Instagrand, who would have been the market leader, does not run, but the same connections are still represented by Rowayton.

Instagrand's defection leaves Bob Baffert – who has won the race 13 times since 1996 – with another hot favourite in Roadster.

A half-brother to Grade 1 winner Ascend, Roadster was deeply impressive on debut, winning over six furlongs by just over four lengths. Baffert, who also runs Game Winner, picked out Roadster as one to watch when asked for his next big horse by TMZ.

Talking to BloodHorse, he said: "The TMZ thing, when they asked me that, they kept asking me about the next one, and he just popped into my head, because he came around pretty quick."

It is a public holiday – Labor Day – in the US on Monday and there is also a Grade 1 at Saratoga, the Hopeful Stakes (10.38).

This is often a guide to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Mucho looks likely to be sent off favourite for trainer Bill Mott, who won the contest with Majestic Warrior in 2007.

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