‘Fog Rolls in Del Mar Futurity

Another summer at Del Mar has ended, and Rolling Fog stormed home under Rafael Bejarano to take the closing-day feature Del Mar Futurity by 1 1/4 lengths.  Rolling Fog had an ideal trip stalking the pace set by Caballo de Cielo for much of the race and kicking clear mid-stretch.  Know More, the 8-5 favorite in a field of 11 two-year-olds, was stuck behind horses before shaking loose near mid-stretch, closing with a furious rally but unable to catch the winner.  Scherer Magic edged Capo Bastone for third.  With the win, Rolling Fog secured a place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where he will most likely be pointed.

The victory in the Grade I race gave trainer Bob Baffert a record 11th Futurity win and jockey Bejarano a record 13 stakes wins for the meet.  Baffert, whose father Bill Sr. passed away on Monday at the age of 88, stated via Twitter shortly after the race that he thought his father, affectionately known as the Chief, "gave Rolling Fog a little push turning for home."

A three-win day, including one in the C.E.R.F. Stakes with Reneesgotzip, for trainer Pete Miller secured the 2012 Del Mar training title, with Miller tallying 21 victories to Baffert's 20.  Rafael Bejarano captured the jockey title ahead of Joe Talamo.

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Other graded stakes action on closing weekend included a thrilling edition of the GI Del Mar Debutante on Saturday, in which Baffert-trained Executiveprivilege nipped Beholder at the wire to remain undefeated.  On Sunday, My Best Brother held off easterner Howe Great to take the GII Del Mar Derby for trainer Julio Canani, and on Labor Day Jerry Hollendorfer's Halo Dolly made her case for a Breeders' Cup bid in taking the GII Yellow Ribbon over City to City.