Litmus Test aces Los Alamitos Futurity, tops Baffert trifecta

Dec 13, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Litmus Test gave trainer Bob Baffert his 15th Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) victory (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Litmus Test, a son of 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Nyquist, boosted his own credentials on the Triple Crown trail with a breakthrough victory in Saturday’s $200,500 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).

Trainer Bob Baffert was padding his record to 15 wins in this race, going back to its original heyday at old Hollywood Park. Moreover, the Hall of Famer sent out the trifecta, with stablemates Blacksmith and Provenance rounding out the top three.

Litmus Test had been knocking on the door in elite company. After finishing fourth in his stakes debut in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), the bay stepped up in distance on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and placed third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. Litmus Test improved again in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, where he rallied for a close fourth.

That profile made Litmus Test the one to beat at Los Alamitos, and he accordingly went off as the 3-5 favorite in a six-horse field. Blacksmith and Provenance ranked as the second and third choices, respectively, at 4-1 and 6-1, and the market proved to be correct.

Provenance, the son of Into Mischief and two-time champion Monomoy Girl, sped forward to set the pace on the inside. Acknowledgemeplz was initially in a tracking spot, but when he veered out entering the clubhouse turn, a massive gap opened up.

Litmus Test’s rider, Juan Hernandez, was quick to take advantage of the opportunity, and he maneuvered into a perfect stalking position. Perched just a length off Provenance through fractions of :23.26 and :46.67, Litmus Test drew nearer passing six furlongs in 1:10.43.

Provenance gamely tried to dig in as they straightened up for home, but Litmus Test always appeared to have his measure. The longtime leader succumbed by midstretch, and Litmus Test began to edge clear.

Then Blacksmith suddenly found his best stride late. Clearly relishing his first chance over a route of ground, he closed well to reduce the winner’s margin to 1 1/4 lengths.

Litmus Test aces the test in the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity. Winning trainer is Bob Baffert and winning jockey is Juan Hernandez. “I should have brought my Cowboy hat to stay for the Champion of Champions tonight.” pic.twitter.com/1hH7QhdfIt

— Los Alamitos Race Course (@losalracing) December 14, 2025

Litmus Test remained comfortably in control while clocking 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.83. He added 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby, for a total of 19, that propelled him to second on the leaderboard behind undefeated Ted Noffey (40 points).

“He broke a step slow,” Hernandez said, “but he relaxed nicely, and we were able to save ground into the first turn. I felt confident tracking (Provenance) because he was going so easy. He was looking around a little bit in the stretch, but once he switched leads, he finished strongly.’’

Blacksmith opened his Derby account with five points. Although still a maiden, it won’t be long before he earns his first win.

“Blacksmith is figuring it out. He ran a big race,’’ Baffert noted.

Provenance tired to third (three points), another 3 1/2 lengths adrift, but 11 1/2 lengths clear of Acknowledgemeplz in fourth (two points). American King received one point for crossing the wire in fifth. Captivator, who never really recovered from a troubled beginning, was eased but walked off the track.

Litmus Test has compiled a record of 5-2-0-1, $350,188, for his ownership group comprising SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine R. Donovan.

An $875,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, Litmus Test was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall. His mother, the Malibu Moon mare Study Hard, is herself a full sister to Grade 2-winning sprinter Sweet August Moon.

Baffert believes that Litmus Test has much more to offer as the Derby trail progresses.

“Juan (Hernandez) said the farther the better for him,” Baffert said. “He loves his stride. A lot of horses just get over this track really well. I’m happy. I cut his blinkers back just a tad because he was looking around a little bit.

“You’re trying to figure these horses out – what their style is, or the way they want to run, but there’s nothing like a race. He’s getting better, and the way he’s bred, he’s going to get better with age. He’s a horse we’ve always been very high on.”