101 early nominations for Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity

Hall of Famers Bob Baffert, Jerry Hollendorfer and Richard Mandella are among the trainers with multiple early nominations for the $300,000 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity and the $300,000 Starlet.

The two Grade I events for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles will highlight the Winter meet at Los Alamitos, which will begin Thursday, Nov. 30 and continue through Sunday, Dec. 17.

Both the Futurity, which was captured a year ago by the undefeated Mastery, and the Starlet, won by Abel Tasman in 2016, will be offered Saturday, Dec. 9. This will be the 37th renewal of the Futurity and Starlet, which were originally run at Hollywood Park (1981-2013).

Besides Mastery, other local winners of the Futurity include Dortmund (2014) and Mor Spirit (2015), giving Baffert a sweep since the race was transferred to Los Alamitos. He won it six times in Inglewood between 1997-2011.

Trained at the time by Simon Callaghan for owner-breeder Clearsky Farms, Abel Tasman rallied to defeat favored American Gal by one length last Dec. 10.

Since joining the Baffert stable in March, Abel Tasman, a daughter of Quality Road and the Deputy Minister mare Vargas Girl, has won Grade I races at three different tracks, taking the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, the Acorn at Belmont Park and the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

The previous Starlet winners at Los Alamitos include Take Charge Brandi, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2014, and the Phil D’Amato-trained Street Fancy (2015).

Winners of the Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity and Starlet receive 10 points on the Road to the 2018 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

Among the $500 original nominations for the CashCall Futurity are Del

Mar Juvenile Turf winner Encumbered, the well-regarded Nero, Run Away, a multiple stakes winner and third as the favorite in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity Sept. 4, and St Patrick’s Day, a recent maiden winner and full brother to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Early nominees to the Starlet include Moonshine Memories, winner of the Grade I Del Mar Debutante Sept. 2, Debutante runner-up Pied Bianchi and Sorrento Stakes winner Spectator.

There were a total of 63 early nominations for the Starlet and 101 for the CashCall Futurity.

Horses not nominated can be supplemented for $10,000. That fee is due Wednesday, Dec. 6, which is the day entries will be taken for the CashCall Futurity and Starlet.

The complete list of nominees for the two races are available here.