Baffert, Prat team up for Saturday wins

CYPRESS, Calif. – Until the final furlong of Saturday’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, top California jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Bob Baffert appeared on their way to a four-win afternoon.

Prat was aboard the Baffert-trained 1-2 favorite Messier, who led briefly in the stretch of the $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles. Slow Down Andy led in early stretch, and lost his advantage to Messier only to retake the lead en route to a one-length win.

Earlier on the program, Baffert and Prat teamed to win maiden special weight races with the 2-year-olds Doppelganger and Under the Stars, and a first-condition allowance race with Essential Wager.

Doppelganger won his debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight race by 3 1/2 lengths at 1-2, closing from seventh in a field of nine after breaking from the rail. By Into Mischief, Doppelganger left Prat impressed considering the colt sustained a bump at the start.

“He had the one hole and that’s never easy,” Prat said. “He got bumped around a bit. He took some kickback. When it was time to make a run, he reacted well.”

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Under the Stars, by Pioneerof The Nile, closed from fifth of 12 to win her third start by three lengths, finishing six furlongs in 1:09.16. Under the Stars started from an outside post.

“She had a good draw and she broke well,” Prat said.

The 3-year-old colt Essential Wager won his second consecutive start, and first against winners, displaying the sort of performance that could translate into a stakes appearance in the near future.

Essential Wager stalked the early pace, took the lead on the turn and won by two lengths, finishing six furlongs in 1:07.86. Essential Wager earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99. Doppelganger and Under the Stars earned Beyer Speed Figures of 80.

Prat is booked on two leading mounts in Grade 1 races on the opening day of the Santa Anita meeting on Dec. 26 – Flightline in the Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, and Going Global in the American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles.