Study Guide: 2025 Los Alamitos Futurity

Dec 11, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Litmus Test breaks maiden at Del Mar. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Saturday’s $200,000 Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity boasts a long and rich history. The 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier at Los Alamitos has been won in recent years by a bevy of talented horses, including Journalism, runner-up in the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1).

This year’s edition has drawn half a dozen entries. Let’s meet the field:

Acknowledgemeplz

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Purple Rein Racing and Mark D. Davis
Breeder: Helen Barbazon and Joseph Barbazon
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Armando Ayuso

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $48,000

Sire: Bucchero
Dam: Starship Fantasy
Color: Chestnut

Acknowledgemeplz has shown impressive early speed in both of his starts, most recently wiring a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita. But he was tiring at the finish of that race, and his pedigree suggests he’ll be best as a sprinter, so stretching out over 1 1/16 miles is a question mark.

Provenance

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Kyle Frey

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $45,600

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Monomoy Girl
Color: Bay

Provenance debuted in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita, finishing third behind Intrepido and Plutarch, two talented runners who returned to finish first and third in the American Pharoah (G1). Provenance subsequently dropped down to six furlongs and led all the way to win a Santa Anita maiden special weight in fine fashion. As a son of perennial leading stallion Into Mischief and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Monomoy Girl, Provenance has the pedigree to improve with age and experience, so don’t underestimate this up-and-coming colt.

Litmus Test

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Machmer Hall
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $230,188

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Study Hard
Color: Bay

The horse to beat in the Los Alamitos Futurity is Litmus Test. He’s performed well against elite competition in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), finishing fourth, third, and fourth. His Breeders’ Cup performance earned a strong 102 Brisnet Speed rating, easily the highest number belonging to any horse entered in the Los Alamitos Futurity. Facing an easier field at Los Alamitos will likely send Litmus Test to the winner’s circle.

Ted Noffey stays perfect in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile! 🏆 @spendthriftfarm @ljlmvel

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— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 1, 2025

Blacksmith

Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and St. Elias Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $13,200

Sire: Liam’s Map
Dam: Sweet Achiever
Color: Bay

Blacksmith ran well in his debut, closing ground to finish a close second against Acknowledgemeplz. But he misfired in his second start over the same conditions, finishing fifth. He’s posted two sharp workouts since then and has the pedigree to relish 1 1/16 miles, so a rebound is a distinct possibility.

American King

Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Gary Folgner
Breeder: Betz/DJ Stables/Lamantia/Coco Equine/Ramsby
Trainer: Ruben Gomez
Jockey: Geovanni Franco

Top Speed Rating: (78) when finishing fourth in a Del Mar maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $4,100

Sire: American Pharoah
Dam: Nella Vetrina
Color: Dark bay/brown

American King was beaten only 2 1/4 lengths when fourth in a one-mile maiden special weight on grass at Del Mar last time out. But in his debut on dirt, he failed to factor and finished more than a dozen lengths behind Provenance. He’ll need improvement to turn the tables in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

Captivator

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Hronis Racing
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Hector Berrios

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning a $62,500 maiden optional claimer at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $32,200

Sire: Charlatan
Dam: Dashing Debby
Color: Bay

Captivator has serious early speed, which he used to dominate a six-furlong $62,500 maiden optional claimer at Del Mar last month by 10 1/4 lengths, earning a 91 Brisnet Speed rating. But to successfully stretch out over 1 1/16 miles, he may have to avoid engaging Acknowledgemeplz in a battle for the early lead.