Mastery led Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity: Odds and Analysis
Known by many different names over the years, Saturday’s Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity once again offers juveniles a last chance to become a Grade 1 winner before the calendar announces them as three. In previous runnings, the 1 1/16-mile affair has been won by such standouts as; Snow Chief, Best Pal, A.P. Indy, Real Quiet, Point Given, Lookin At Lucky, and Shared Belief. While it remains to be seen whether any in this field can climb to the heights of those stars, hope springs eternal, and at least one horse in the race would seem to have unlimited potential. Let’s take a look at the compact field, who will be hoping to jump on the 2017 Kentucky Derby trail, including my projected odds and analysis …
3) Mastery (2-5) – The most highly regarded juvenile in the Baffert barn, and all of the West Coast for that matter, looks like a standout in this field of five. The son of Candy Ride has impressed in the mornings, and in his only two races, he has won in stylish fashion, while not appearing to empty the tank. This race does offer a few firsts for him -- his first race at Los Alamitos, and his first try navigating two-turns. Still, it looks like the $425,000 yearling buy simply has too much talent to let either of those things bother him too much. He’s continued to work well since his score in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes three weeks ago, and with Mike Smith in the saddle, he looks primed to be California’s leading juvenile heading into the new year. The Big Horse
4) Show Me Da Lute (5-1) – Also trained by Bob Baffert, the full brother to graded stakes winner, Tiz Midnight, was a first out winner in late October at Santa Anita. Sent off at 6-1, he dueled on the lead for much of the way, while never running particularly fast. The homebred son of Midnight Lute has had five workouts since that debut, so Baffert should have him primed and ready to show real improvement in his second start. Is that enough to threaten his stablemate? Probably not, but he still rates the best chance to do so. The Other Baffert
1) Dangerfield (6-1) – The good news for the most experienced colt in the group is that he was able to finish third in the million-dollar Delta Downs Jackpot in his most recent appearance. The bad news is that Gunnevera finished about ten lengths clear of him. Still, he has two good runs at the distance, and that is something no other Futurity entrant can claim. A $450,000 Zayat Stable yearling purchase, the son of Into Mischief has shown steady improvement while winning once in five lifetime starts, but will only win this if none of the others prove to be ready and able for the trip. Likely to Cash a Check
2) Bobby Abu Dhabi (6-1) – A $335,000 two-year-old in training purchase by Rockingham Ranch, the son of Macho Uno was a game winner of his career debut, going 6 ½-furlongs at Del Mar on November 19. The colt with the flashy name showed good speed that day, and has worked well since for trainer Peter Miller in both his stakes, and his two-turn, debut. There is a good chance for improvement after a promising debut, but expecting him to put away the top one, while stretching out, is a lot to ask. Solid Debut
5) Irap (12-1) – One of two from the Doug O’Neill barn, the son of Tiznow was purchased for $300,000 as a two-year-old in training, and is a half-bother to the Champion Sprinter, Speightstown. He’s bred to be a good one, but has yet to win in two starts. Both of those starts were on turf, though, and he ran decently enough. He may well move up on dirt, but he will need plenty of improvement to threaten the favorite in this one. Well Bred for Dirt