Study Guide: 2023 Los Alamitos Futurity

Dec 15, 2023 By J. Keeler Johnson

Through the years, many talented horses have won the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), a 1 1/16-mile race contested at Los Alamitos ever since the closing of Hollywood Park. The roster of winners includes champions Improbable, Shared Belief, Lookin At Lucky, Point Given, Real Quiet, and A.P. Indy, to name a few.

It’s no wonder why the Los Alamitos Futurity is a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers. Only time will tell if one of the six horses entered in Saturday’s renewal of the race will develop into a champion, but the field looks promising, so let’s meet the contenders:

Note: Since trainer Bob Baffert is currently suspended by Churchill Downs Inc., horses trained by Baffert are ineligible to earn Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points.

Moonlit Sonata

Start(s): 1

Wins: 1

Place: 0

Show: 0

 

Owner: Soma Racing Stables

Breeder: Eduardo Vargas

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Jockey: Geovanni Franco

 

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning his debut at Del Mar.

Total Earnings: $36,600

 

Sire: Malibu Moon

Dam: Distorted Champ

Color: Bay

A slow start didn’t stop Moonlit Sonata from rallying boldly to win his debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. The bay colt strolled home on top by 2 1/2 lengths and has the pedigree to improve while stretching out in distance, so it’s possible Moonlit Sonata will deliver an even stronger performance in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

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Wynstock

Start(s): 3

Wins: 1

Place: 0

Show: 0

 

Owner: Edward C. Allred and Jack Liebau

Breeder: Empire Equines

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Kyle Frey

 

Top Speed Rating: (88) when breaking his maiden at Santa Anita.

Total Earnings: $42,740

 

Sire: Solomini

Dam: Timberlea

Color: Chestnut

Wynstock never factored in his first two starts sprinting, but he improved sharply when stretching out for a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita last time out, leading all the way to dominate by 7 1/2 lengths. He’s progressing in the right direction for trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the Los Alamitos Futurity a record 13 times, so don’t count Wynstock out of the mix.

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Stronghold

Start(s): 3

Wins: 1

Place: 2

Show: 0

 

Owner: Eric M. Waller and Sharon Waller

Breeder: Eric Waller and Sharon Waller

Trainer: Philip D’Amato

Jockey: Antonio Fresu

 

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in the Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar.

Total Earnings: $104,400

 

Sire: Ghostzapper

Dam: Spectator

Color: Bay

Stronghold scored his first victory in a one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, and then dropped down to seven furlongs for the Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar and finished second behind budding star Nysos. Stronghold was part of a strong pace in the Bob Hope and should benefit from stretching back out in distance for the Los Alamitos Futurity, which figures to unfold at a more relaxed pace. A top-three finish is well within reach.

AWESOME ROAD 🇺🇸 hijo de QUALITY ROAD, aceleró por dentro en su debut triunfal de 6F en Ellis Park.

Su madre es hermana completa de PULPIT, padre a su vez del líder semental TAPIT.

Montó Gerardo Corrales para Brad Cox.

2° STRONGHOLD
🎥 @TwinSpires pic.twitter.com/8b4n5Gswaq

— Luis E. Caraballo G. (@luis_ernestocg) August 27, 2023

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Ace of Clubs

Start(s): 5

Wins: 2

Place: 0

Show: 1

 

Owner: ERJ Racing, Fritz Brothers Racing, Pappas Horse Racing, and Pablo A. Suarez

Breeder: Mullikin Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Jockey: Edwin Maldonado

 

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a $50,000 starter optional claimer at Del Mar.

Total Earnings<: $79,680

 

Sire: Mor Spirit

Dam: Rustic Chic

Color: Bay

Former claimer Ace of Clubs is 0-for-2 against stakes competition, but both of those tries came on turf. He’s 2-for-3 on dirt, most notably dominating a $50,000 starter optional claimer by 4 1/4 lengths, so there’s at least an outside chance Ace of Clubs will factor at big odds while returning to dirt at Los Alamitos.

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Coach Prime

Start(s): 2

Wins: 1

Place: 0

Show: 1

 

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Breeder: Kim Nardelli, Rodney Nardelli, William Werner, and W. S. Farish

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Flavien Prat

 

Top Speed Rating: (92) when breaking his maiden at Del Mar.

Total Earnings: $43,920

 

Sire: Quality Road

Dam: Act Now

Color: Bay

Coach Prime didn’t get the best trip in a one-mile maiden special weight at Del Mar last month, waiting in traffic as the pace slowed down around the final turn. But once Coach Prime found racing room, he finished fast (final furlong in :12.28) to draw off and dominate by 7 1/4 lengths. Even with the trouble, Coach Prime posted a strong 92 Brisnet Speed rating, so with a clear run in the Los Alamitos Futurity, this $1.7 million auction acquisition should have every chance to win.

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Wine Me Up

Start(s): 3

Wins: 1

Place: 1

Show: 0

 

Owner: Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman

Breeder: Kenneth L. Ramsey and Sarah K. Ramsey

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

 

Top Speed Rating: (95) when finishing second in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita.

Total Earnings: $129,200

 

Sire: Vino Rosso

Dam: Deanaallen’skitten

Color: Chestnut

Wine Me Up has already shown promise against strong competition, finishing second in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Wine Me Up subsequently misfired when finishing eighth against an elite field in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but the speedy colt was beaten to the lead that day and figures to rebound while facing a smaller, easier field in the Los Alamitos Futurity. Under hot jockey Juan Hernandez (a 42% winner teaming up with Baffert over the last two months), Wine Me Up is a win threat.