Brad Free's Del Mar Horses to Watch for week of Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2025

PLUTARCH
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Oct. 31, 2nd
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 75
Juvenile compromised by slow pace in turf stakes. Positioned next to last, in traffic, bulled between foes, okay late. Would benefit by confidence-builder against maidens.

CAN’T HELP MYSELF
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: Oct. 31, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 1 1/4
Beyer: 75
Curious trip cost 2-year-old in Cal-bred sprint stakes. Lacked speed, passively ridden, four wide far turn, six wide into lane, finished well in much better-than-looked effort.

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MEANING
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Oct. 31, 7th
Finish: 4th by 3 3/4
Beyer: 77
Debut sprint winner made second start in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, ran well. Two- and three-wide in fourth, battled, tired. Super second start by Gun Runner filly.

LITMUS TEST
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Oct. 31, 9th
Finish: 4th by 1 3/4
Beyer: 95
Improving colt ran well in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Three wide in fourth, loomed quarter pole, evenly. Nyquist colt has foundation and potential to be top 3-year-old next year.

RED FLAG
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: Nov. 1, 2nd
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 86
Veteran gelding lacked speed, rallied wide, finishing willingly. Claimed for $50,000 by Mullins from Bob Hess Jr., this 7-year-old stakes winner still has some life left.

SPLENDORA
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Nov. 1, 4th
Finish: 1st by 4 3/4
Beyer: 97
This 4-year-old Quality Road filly dazzled in Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Saved ground, angled out, crushed. She’ll be a major player in 2026, short or long.

SEISMIC BEAUTY
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Nov. 1, 7th
Finish: 11th by 39
Beyer: 46
Favored to win Breeders’ Cup Distaff, she lost it early. Bobbled twice after the start, grabbed herself, parked three wide early, pressed, chucked it. This race was a toss.

BALLYHOOLIGAN
Trainer: George Papaprodromou
Last race: Nov. 2, 4th
Finish: 1st by 12 3/4
Beyer: 82
Maiden-claiming gelding pressed pace and ran away from the field in fast time while making just the fourth start of his career. He would fit perfectly in a N2L starter.

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