Klimt paints a masterpiece in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity
Giving trainer Bob Baffert a remarkable 13th Del Mar Futurity victory, Klimt put away the favorite Straight Fire in the stretch and rolled to a 4 1/4-length victory in a race marred by a tragic injury.
With the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile just around the corner, and the 2017 Kentucky Derby coming before we know it, today’s feature figured to be an important race. We all know what has happened in 2014 and 2015. In the last two editions, both American Pharoah and Nyquist parlayed success in the premier race for two-year-olds at Del Mar into championships and then to victories on the first Saturday in May. Only time will tell if Kaleem Shah’s Klimt, will be able to follow in those big hoofprints, but one thing is for certain, after today’s big performance, we now have our early favorite for the BC Juvenile.
Sent off as the 5-2 second choice in the field of six, Klimt, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, broke well and moved into a good stalking position on the outside. Meanwhile, Straight Fire sent the early pace through solid fractions of :22.33 and :44.38. Chasing Aces, who appeared to take an awkward step in the first sixteenth of a mile moved up to apply pressure and to keep the favorite honest.
Klimt remained close in fourth as Straight Fire began to put away his early competition. Just when it looked like the 4-5 favorite might scoot away from the field, Klimt and Bejarano made their move. The bay son of Quality Road quickly moved up to the leader, and by the time the field struck the Del Mar stretch, it was clear that Straight Fire was in for a serious challenge.
Right with Straight Fire at the three-sixteenth’s pole Klimt methodically pushed past the favorite, and went on to a convincing victory. Straight Fire easily held second over Midnight Pleasure, who was well clear of the rest in third. Final time for the seven furlongs over the fast Del Mar main track was an excellent 1:21.80.
Chasing Aces, a track record holder at Del Mar in his maiden victory at five furlongs, was pulled up on the turn and vanned off the track. Sadly, the talented son of Flatter had to be euthanized due to the severity of an injury to his left front knee.
Klimt returned $7.00, $2.80, and $2.20 across the board. The exacta over the favorite was good for $13.20, while the 6-2-3 trifecta, including Midnight Pleasure in third, returned $52.00.
With the victory, Klimt (Quality Road–Inventive, by Dixie Union) raised his career record to 4-3-0-0. A $435,000 two-year-old in training purchase in March at Ocala, this was his second straight graded stakes score since breaking his maiden by daylight at Santa Anita in his second start. He had previously accounted for the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes, also at Del Mar, on August 13. His Triple Crown winning trainer is looking forward to the future.
“We’ve always thought that going two turns is where he’s really going to excel," said Baffert. "He’s got a great mind, will sit off of horses and (Rafael) Bejarano rode a great race. He didn’t chase anything, he just sat (off the pace), rode his own horse and showed a lot of patience. Coming to the top of the stretch, I knew he was loaded and I said ‘I just hope that other horse (Straight Fire) doesn’t have another gear.’ It was very exciting to watch. When you’re fortunate to have great clients who will buy these great horses, good things happen. Kaleem (Shah) has always wanted to have his silks in the paddock (on the jockey statue) and now he does."