Pair of debut winners headed to Del Mar Futurity
Bench Warrant and Lord Nelson are bound for the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3 after winning the first starts of their careers in maiden races over five furlongs on Saturday.
Bench Warrant was timed in 57.97 seconds, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Remo. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Bench Warrant closed with a rush on the inside in the final furlong.
“It was our first 2-year-old runner and that’s a good sign,” Sadler said.
Bench Warrant, a colt by Street Boss, races for Doubledown Stables, and was acquired for $110,000 at the Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in-training earlier this year.
Lord Nelson was timed in 58.01 seconds, winning by a half-length over the well-regarded Kantune. Ridden by Martin Garcia, Lord Nelson was fourth of 10 early in the race.
“He hit a gear at the end,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said.
Owned by Peachtree Stable, Lord Nelson, by Pulpit, was purchased for $340,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.
“Leaving Santa Anita, he was one of my better colts,” Baffert said.
The Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity is run over seven furlongs and is the main race on the closing day of the meeting.
The Baffert-trained 2-year-old filly Enchanting Lady is out of training following a win in the Landaluce Stakes at Santa Anita in June. Baffert said on Sunday that Enchanting Lady will resume racing in the autumn at the earliest.
“I didn’t bring her down here,” he said. “She came up with a tender shin.”