Baffert, O'Neill expected to have two runners each in Los Alamitos Futurity

The Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Saturday will largely by a scrimmage between runners trained by Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill.

The $300,000 Futurity, run at 1 1/16 miles, will have a small field. As of Wednesday morning, when entries were being compiled, there were five probable starters – Barossa and Messier trained by Baffert; Durante and Slow Down Andy trained by O’Neill; and Olympic Legend trained by Luis Mendez.

Olympic Legend was third in the Capote Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos in September in his most recent start.

Messier, winner of the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs by 3 1/2 lengths on Nov. 14 at Del Mar in his stakes debut, will be favored. Messier worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Monday at Santa Anita, the fastest time at the distance.

Forbidden Kingdom, second to Messier in the Bob Hope, will not start in the Los Alamitos Futurity because of a foot issue, and will be pointed to the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting that begins Dec. 26, trainer Richard Mandella said.

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