Undefeated Dortmund vs. Mr. Z in Los Al Futurity

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who won the Hollywood/CashCall Futurity a record six times at Hollywood Park, has a chance to add to the total with the undefeated Dortmund in the $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity Saturday.

The Grade I for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles will be run for the first time at Los Alamitos after 33 renewals (1981-2013) at Hollywood Park, which ceased live racing last Dec. 22. Post time Saturday is 12:30 p.m.

Won previously by stars like Snow Chief, A.P. Indy, Best Pal, Real Quiet, Point Given, Lookin At Lucky and Shared Belief, the Futurity is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby’’ series. Saturday’s winner receives 10 points towards securing a spot in the starting gate next May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Kaleem Shah, Inc., Dortmund is already a winner in Louisville.

The son of 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown won a one-mile optional claimer by 7 ¾ lengths at Churchill Downs. The Nov. 29 victory came four weeks after a 4 ¾ length debut win at Santa Anita. Those scores were worth $59,400.

Since returning to California, Dortmund, who is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Our Josephina, has worked five furlongs twice at Santa Anita. Purchased for $140,000 in May, Dortmund, was clocked in 1:00.80 Dec. 9, six days before he went the distance in 1:00, the fastest of 33 drills that morning.

The leading trainer at the Winter thoroughbred meet entering the final four days, Baffert’s most recent Futurity victory came with Liaison in 2011. His other wins: Real Quiet (1997), Captain Steve (1999), Point Given (2000), Pioneerof the Nile (2008) and Lookin At Lucky (2009).

A week after winning the Grade I Starlet for a record eighth time with Take Charge Brandi, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will seek a fifth Futurity score with Mr. Z.

Owned by Zayat Stables LLC, Mr. Z will make his second appearance in California after missing by a nose to the undefeated Ocho Ocho Ocho in the Grade III, $1 million Delta Jackpot Nov. 22 at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

A son of Malibu Moon and the Storm Cat mare Stormy Bear, Mr. Z, who has banked $439,726 in seven starts, was fifth of 11 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile won by Texas Red Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

In his only other Grade I attempt, the $135,000 yearling purchase was second behind runaway winner Carpe Diem in the Breeders’ Futurity Oct. 4 at Keeneland.

If Mr. Z is successful Saturday, Lukas, whose earlier Futurity victories include Stalwart (1981), Tejano (1987), Grand Canyon (1989) and Tactical Cat (1998), would become the first trainer to win the Starlet and Futurity in the same year.

In his final serious prep for the Futurity, Mr. Z, whose only win came in his June 28 debut at Churchill Downs, worked five furlongs in 1:00 Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos.

No Problem stretches out for P and G Stables LLC and trainer Michael McCarthy after consecutive sprint wins, including a 17-1 upset in the Grade III Bob Hope Stakes Nov. 15 at Del Mar.

The son of Munnings and the Orientate mare Brief Tear finished eighth in his Santa Anita debut Sept. 27, then won easily vs. $75,000 maidens a month later in Arcadia before surprising Alright Alright in the seven-furlong Hope, which was formerly run as the Hollywood Prevue at Hollywood Park. The ridgling has earned $81,250.

No Problem and Dortmund were supplemented to the Futurity for $10,000 with an additional $10,000 required to start.

Owned by Arnold Zetcher LLC, who campaigned Liaison, and trained by Simon Callaghan, Firing Line will stretch out for the first time after an impressive maiden victory at 6 ½ furlongs Nov. 30 at Del Mar.

Bench Warrant stretches out after winning once in two sprint races for Doubledown Stables, Inc. and trainer John Sadler, runner-up in the 2013 Futurity with Candy Boy.

Bred in Kentucky by Lee and Susan Searing, the Street Boss colt out of the Meadowlake mare Ola Docura has yet to compete on dirt. His starts were four months apart on the Polytrack at Del Mar. The $110,000 purchase at the Barretts March sale won July 19, then was third behind Tizcano and Mischief Clem in an optional claimer Nov. 21. Bench Warrant has banked $51,960.

The Los Alamitos Futurity is the eighth of nine races. Approximate post time is 4 p.m.

From inside out, the Futurity field: Bench Warrant, Tyler Baze rides, 121 pounds; No Problem, Victor Espinoza, 121; Dortmund, Martin Garcia, 121; Mr. Z, Mike Smith, 121 and Firing Line, Rafael Bejarano, 121.

Source: Los Alamitos Race Course