Gaming gives Baffert record 18th Del Mar Futurity triumph

DEL MAR, Calif. - There are familiar names associated with Gaming, the colt who won Sunday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on the closing day of the track’s summer meeting.

Gaming is trained by Bob Baffert, who won the race for a record 18th time. The colt was ridden by Flavien Prat, his third win in the race in the last five years. The owners are Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman and Karl Watson, who have teamed to win the Del Mar Futurity four times with Baffert. Pegram won the race with Baffert as a sole owner in 2002.

Of all of them, the only person missing from the winner’s circle was Baffert, who is attending the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Kentucky.

Gaming ($9.80) closed from fifth to win the $301,000 Del Mar Futurity by 1 3/4 lengths over 6-1 McKinzie Street. Gaming ran seven furlongs in 1:23.02 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

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Prat, riding Gaming for the first time, said the colt was eager in the post parade, but performed well from off the pace in pursuit of the Baffert-trained Getaway Car, who set early fractions of 21.85 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.35 for a half-mile.

“He relaxed well,” Prat said. “He was a bit on his toes before the race.

“He was very straightforward in the race. Bob said don’t rush him.

“I thought I was in a good spot all the way around. We got to the turn and he jumped on the bridle the right way. After that, I felt pretty much in control the whole way.”

McKinzie Street, trained by former Baffert assistant Tim Yakteen, closed from fourth on the turn to finish second.

“He ran really big,” Yakteen said. “The winner ran a super race.”

The Baffert-trained Citizen Bull finished third as the 13-10 favorite, closing from sixth to finish four lengths behind McKinzie Street.

Getaway Car (9-5) faded to finish fourth, beaten six lengths, under jockey Juan Hernandez. Getaway Car was challenged on the backstretch by the longshot Brother Tony.

“I got too much pressure,” Hernandez said. “As soon as he felt the other horse, he took off and went too quick the first part.”

Getaway Car was followed by R Heisman, Rank and Brother Tony.

Gaming is by Game Winner, who won the 2018 Del Mar Futurity for Baffert. Gaming was purchased for $250,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in March.

Gaming won his debut in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 11 by 5 1/2 lengths. The margin was closer in the Del Mar Futurity, but the result leaves Gaming at the fore of California’s 2-year-old male division going into the autumn.

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