Getaway Car, Gaming give Baffert strong hand for Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert’s grip on the Best Pal Stakes and Del Mar Futurity shows no signs of relenting.

The Hall of Fame trainer won the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes for a record 11th time Sunday with the exciting colt Getaway Car. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Getaway Car, by Curlin, led throughout the $147,000 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs to win by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:10.37. There was no suspense in the final quarter-mile when Getaway Car pulled away.

“This guy has been a lot of fun,” Baffert said. “He’s fast. He’s got a beautiful way of moving.”

Baffert has won the last three runnings of the Best Pal. He won the race in 2022 with Havnameltdown and last year with Prince of Monaco. Both went on to win the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity, which will be run at seven furlongs on Sept. 8. Baffert has won the Futurity a record 17 times.

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Getaway Car is co-owned by a large partnership, including Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stable. Curlin, who was the 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year, was raced by Stonestreet Stable. Curlin, who was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2014, has been among the nation’s leading sires in recent years.

“He’s family to me,” Banke said.

Two hours after Getaway Car’s win, the Baffert-trained first-time starter Gaming won a maiden race by 5 1/2 lengths, leading throughout. Sent off favored, Gaming ($6.60) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.42. The win left Gaming as another candidate for the Del Mar Futurity.

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