Baffert, Baffert, Baffert, and Baffert in Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. - Icecoldbeeratreds led a sweep of the first four positions for Bob Baffert trainees in Wednesday's $250,000 , highlight of the closing-day card at Del Mar. The victory gave Baffert his seventh consecutive victory in the Grade 2 race.

Icecoldbeeratreds ($13.40) benefited from a rough start for stablemate Bull Market, who figured to be closest to Icecoldbeeratreds early. Instead, Icecoldbeeratreds was able to cover the opening quarter-mile in 22.41 seconds, and though Bull Market did rush up to take the lead briefly on the far turn, Icecoldbeeratreds had the jump on everyone else.

Once Bull Market began to fade, Icecoldbeeratreds pulled clear. He and jockey David Flores finished two lengths in front of Kafwain, who extricated himself from traffic at the top of the stretch and ran on for second. Chief Planner and Friendly Mike, both trained by Baffert, were third and fourth.

Bull Market, the 5-2 favorite, tired to finish sixth in the field of eight. He broke a step slowly, then was forced to take up sharply soon thereafter.

Icecoldbeeratreds was timed in 1:22.94 for seven furlongs on the fast main track. He has now won 3 of 4 starts. His lone loss came when he was the odds-on favorite in the Best Pal Stakes on July 31. This time, Icecoldbeeratreds went off at the highest price of his career.

Baffert did not attend the race, because he is at the Keeneland yearling sales. Assistants Jim Barnes and Tim Yakteen saddled the quintet.

"There was heavy pressure. When you lead five over, you're expected to win," Barnes said. "Turning for home, seeing that group, and knowing you are going to win it, it makes you proud seeing all your babies out there. We couldn't be happier."

Icecoldbeeratreds, a 2-year-old colt by In Excess, was bred and is owned by Mike Pegram. He is named in honor of Red Tracton's restaurant, a popular steakhouse located just across the street from the racetrack. Pegram said the inspiration for the name came when someone passed him a beer while watching last year's Holiday Bowl at the restaurant, which is located walking distance from Pegram's Del Mar home.

All five Baffert trainees came out of the race in good condition, Barnes said Thursday morning at Del Mar, but their immediate plans were uncertain. Barnes said Baffert will not decide where his 2-year-olds run next until after this weekend, when Vindication runs in Saturday's Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park, and Truckle Feature runs in Sunday's Futurity at Belmont Park.

Icecoldbeeratreds should get a chance now to show he can go two turns, Barnes said.

"I think he'd be able to go on. He sure showed he could yesterday," Barnes said.

Runner-up Kafwain "got in a little bit of traffic," Barnes said. "And he had run pretty hard the time before." Kafwain was coming off a victory in the Best Pal at the expense of stablemates Icecoldbeeratreds and Chief Planner.

Chief Planner will appreciate extra distance, Barnes said.

"He desperately wants two turns," Barnes said. "When they're not going 22 and change early, it makes a big difference."

Barnes said Bull Market emerged without any scratches after getting bumped from both sides soon after the start of the race. "He got mad and rushed up," Barnes said.

All the Baffert horses were scheduled to be sent by van from Del Mar to Santa Anita on Friday morning.