Lord Nelson targeting FrontRunner

DEL MAR, Calif. - Lord Nelson, a debut winner July 19, was expected to be one of the leading contenders in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Wednesday. But trainer Bob Baffert kept him out of the race, saying he was not satisfied with the way Lord Nelson had trained in recent weeks on Polytrack.

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“He was struggling with his works, and every horse of mine who has struggled in the morning has struggled in the afternoon, so I thought it was best to wait,” Baffert said.

Baffert said Lord Nelson would be pointed to the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes on dirt at Santa Anita on Sept. 27.

Two of the horses Lord Nelson beat on July 19 – Calculator and Iron Fist – are in the Futurity.