At 13-1, Wynstock delivers for Baffert in Los Alamitos Futurity

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won his eighth Los Alamitos Futurity in 10 years, but it was not with the 2-year-old most were expecting.

Wynstock, the longest-priced entrant of the trio Baffert saddled in the Grade 2, $200,000 race, went virtually gate to wire at 13-1 and then survived a stewards’ inquiry to earn his second consecutive win since he was stretched out.

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The win was especially sweet for Baffert, because Wynstock, a New York-bred son of Solomini and the Flatter mare Timberlea, is owned by Dr. Edward Allred, the owner of Los Alamitos, and Jack Liebau, the vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association.

“To have this moment is special,’’ Baffert said. “I’m so excited. I’m just so happy (for Allred). He and I go way back. He bought this horse and trusted me.”

After beginning his career by disappointing twice as the favorite in races at 6 1/2 furlongs, Wynstock dominated maidens by 7 1/2 lengths going a mile Oct. 15 in his first collaboration with jockey Kyle Frey.

The chestnut was also 13-1 that day, and that surprising result allowed Frey to retain the mount in the Futurity, and Wynstock responded with a half-length victory over 4-1 second choice Stronghold. Baffert-trained Coach Prime, the 4-5 favorite, was another half-length back in third.

Stewards Luis Jauregui, David Nuesch and Kim Sawyer conducted an inquiry into some bumping between Wynstock and Stronghold inside the final eighth of a mile but ruled both horses contributed to the incident, and there was no change to the order of finish.

Wine Me Up, the third Baffert entrant and 9-5 second choice, and Ace of Clubs completed the order of finish. Moonlit Sonata was scratched.

The race was assigned 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the five finishers. However, since Baffert is still under an indefinite suspension from Churchill Downs Inc., the points earned by Wynstock, Coach Prime and Wine Me Up were vacated. Stronghold picked up five points and Ace of Clubs one.

Wynstock, who was bought for $700,000 at the OBS sale in April, pushed his earnings to $162,740. He covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.53 and returned $29.40, $7.80 and $3.80, making him the highest-priced winner of the Futurity since the race was moved to Los Alamitos in 2014 after the closing of Hollywood Park.

Stronghold, racing around two turns for the first time, paid $4.60 and $2.60. The show price for Coach Prime was $2.10.

“I thought (Wynstock) would be on the lead today,” Baffert said, “because when I sent him long the first time, that’s how he won. I couldn’t believe he got beat twice going short before that, because he had shown so much in the morning.

“When he went long we put (Frey) on him, and he got him away from there, so I told Kyle I’d leave him on this horse, because they get along great together.”

The Los Alamitos Futurity was Frey’s first graded-stakes success in Southern California and his second stakes win at Los Alamitos. He won the Dark Mirage Stakes in 2021 with Samurai Charm.

“Relaxing isn’t an issue for this horse,’’ Frey said. “Just getting out of the gate is, and he did that perfectly today. He has the heart of a lion. He swelled up when (Stronghold) came up on our inside.’’

About the inquiry, Frey simply said, “(Stronghold) got us first.’’

Heading into Sunday’s closing-day card, Frey and Tiago Pereira are tied for the top spot in the jockey standings with five wins apiece. Diego Herrera, Juan Hernández, Edwin Maldonado and Umberto Rispoli are next with four each.

Mark Glatt leads the trainers with five wins, one more than Baffert.