Cave Rock's Futurity win tops big weekend for Baffert and familiar owners

DEL MAR, Calif. – Turning into the stretch, Cave Rock and Havnameltdown had Sunday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity to themselves, the two colts well clear of seven rivals. The only suspense involving their duel was whether Havnameltdown could challenge Cave Rock. Either way, owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman and trainer Bob Baffert would win.

Havnameltdown tried to keep pace, but was no match for the brilliant Cave Rock, who drew away under leading rider Juan Hernandez to win by 5 1/4 lengths in stakes-record time of 1:20.99 for seven furlongs.

“That felt pretty good,” Weitman said, reflecting on the stretch run.

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With the win, Cave Rock confirmed his status as the West Coast’s leading juvenile male as the major stakes of autumn approach.

Cave Rock, undefeated in two starts, and Havnameltdown, who won the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes in August, represent the latest success in the Del Mar Futurity for their high-profile owners and Baffert, who won the race for a record 16th time.

Pegram won the race in 2002 as the sole owner of Icecoldbeeratreds, and won in partnership with Watson and Weitman with Lookin At Lucky in 2009 and Drill in 2011. Golden Eagle Farm, a former stalwart in California racing, won the race five times, from 1990 to 1998, twice with Baffert-trained runners.

Cave Rock and Havnameltdown scrimmaged through the Del Mar Futurity , with Cave Rock leading narrowly through an opening quarter-mile in 21.56 seconds and by a length after a half-mile in 43.65.

“When I saw the 43 and change and both of them up there, I was hoping they didn’t burn each other out,” Watson said.

Baffert watched the Del Mar Futurity from Kentucky where he was scouting prospects at the Keeneland September yearling sale. He saw Cave Rock overcome a bump at the start before taking command.

“He got away a step slow, but recovered quickly,” Baffert said. “That Cave Rock, he keeps on running.”

Havnameltdown, ridden by Mike Smith, finished 4 1/4 lengths clear of the promising maiden Skinner.

“I told Mike Smith that was the best second I’ve ever seen,” Pegram said.

Baffert said race plans for Cave Rock and Havnameltdown will be made later this month, with two Grade 1 races at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 8 under consideration – the $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland and the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita. Both are key preps for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

“We’ll split them up,” Baffert said.

The Futurity one-two finish comes two months after Baffert returned from a well-publicized 90-day suspension for a medication violation found in a post-race test taken from Medina Spirit after the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

Del Mar’s summer season ended Sunday, and Baffert was at the fore of the 2-year-old races through the weekend.

On Saturday, Home Cooking, owned by Pegram, Watson, and Weitman, was caught at the finish by And Tell Me Nolies in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, losing by a head as the 7-10 favorite. And Tell Me Nolies is trained by Peter Miller.

Earlier on Saturday, Baffert swept the top three positions in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs with Speed Boat Beach, Hejazi, and Fort Bragg.

Speed Boat Beach set a track record of 1:01.86 on Saturday in his debut. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 104, the highest for a 2-year-old this year. Cave Rock was given a 101 for his maiden win on Aug. 13 and a 98 in the Del Mar Futurity.

By Bayern, Speed Boat Beach races for Pegram, Watson, and Weitman. Hejazi, bought for $3.55 million in May, chased Speed Boat Beach throughout and was beaten 1 1/2 lengths. Hejazi races for Amr Zedan, who owned Medina Spirit.

“Hejazi ran well,” Baffert said. “I almost ran him in the Futurity.”

The wins by Cave Rock and Speed Boat Beach and narrow loss by Home Cooking gave Pegram a measure of perspective after the Del Mar Futurity.

“You think about the one that Bobby unleashed yesterday,” Pegram said of Speed Boat Beach. “This business goes in streaks. We’re the beneficiaries right now.”