Los Alamitos Futurity Preview: Mastery Stretches Out

Mastery, who is undefeated in two starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, will stretch out and step up in the $300,000-guaranteed Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The race for 2-year-olds is part of a Grade I doubleheader on the third day of the Winter meet. The Futurity will be preceded by the $300,000-guaranteed Starlet for 2-year-old fillies. Both will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

Post time Saturday is 12:30 p.m. The Futurity is the sixth of nine races and has an approximate post time of 3 p.m. while the Starlet goes about one hour later as race eight.

Won previously by stars such as Snow Chief, A.P. Indy, Best Pal, Real Quiet, Point Given, Lookin At Lucky, Shared Belief and Dortmund, the CashCall Futurity is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby’’ series. Saturday’s winner will receive 10 points towards securing a spot in the starting gate May 6, 2017 at Churchill Downs.

Top Choice

#3 Mastery – Simply toyed with the field last time in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar as he was not asked for his best and still won easily.  This time he’ll stretch out to two turns for the first time, but his breeding suggests he’ll do that just fine.  Not to mention the ease of which he’s winning going short also is sign he’s ready to go longer.  He’s said to be the most talented two year old in the Bob Baffert barn which is really saying something in a major way.  I’ll ride him until he proves that theory otherwise.

Horses to Use in Multi Race Wagers

#4 Show Me Da Lute – A Bob Baffert debut winner at Santa Anita is always going to catch the attention of handicappers and racing fans.  That’s exactly what Show Me Da Lute did on October 29th as he took the field wire to wire in a maiden special weight going two turns at the same distance they’ll be running at today.  The win at the distance is a promising sign, but will this horse just be a target for what is said to be the more talented horse in Mastery?  Possibly…but if Mastery doesn’t fire Show Me Da Lute will have every chance to win.

Exotic Plays

#1 Dangerfield – Ran a solid race last time out in the Delta Downs Jackpot to finish third against a field that had more depth to it than this race does today.  His speed figure came back fairly strong in that race, but he was beaten over nine lengths so I’m a little skeptical on him still.  Should have a big shot to run underneath one or both of the Baffert horses here, but skeptical he can beat the both.

Party Crashers

#2 Bobby Adu Dhabi – Debuted on November 19th at Del Mar going six and one half furlongs in a maiden special weight and won by a head while holding off a big threat from the second place finisher.  The speed number came back strong for that race so there is hope that he can compete with this group.  The stretch out to two turns will be the big question mark.  If his price floats up like I think he might be worth a small play based on his talent shown on debut.

Throw Outs

#5 Irap – Has never won a race, and never ran on dirt…looks like he’s just entered here because it’s a short field and the connections wanted to take a chance.