Stevie Wonderboy wins Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. - Stevie Wonderboy moved to the head of the West Coast 2-year-old division on Wednesday with a powerful, five-length victory in the Grade 2, $250,000 on Del Mar's closing day.

Stevie Wonderboy ($7) was ninth in the 11-horse field as the field moved down the backstretch, but he unleashed a devastating kick while wide to roar past his rivals and win going away. The Pharaoh was second, a half-length in front of Jealous Profit. Both the second- and third-place finishers were recent imports from Calder.

Well-fancied runners A.P. Warrior (sixth) and Bashert (seventh) were disappointments. Both faded after racing close to a hot early pace of 21.95 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 44.23 seconds for a half-mile. Bashert was particularly unsettled in the post parade, wheeling and acting obstinate after he first came on the track.

Garrett Gomez rode Stevie Wonderboy, who covered seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:22.43. Doug O'Neill trains the 2-year-old son of Stephen Got Even for owner Merv Griffin.

"He's a 2-year-old who acts like a 5-year-old," O'Neill said. "He's got the disposition of a mile and a quarter horse."

Stevie Wonderboy has run well in all four of his starts. He was second in his debut against maidens, and then third in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship, both times against the ill-fated What a Song. Stevie Wonderboy defeated maidens at Del Mar on Aug. 6 in his prep for the Del Mar Futurity.