2025 Kentucky Derby Points On The Line In Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity

Gaming, Getaway Car and Mellencamp are the trio of horses enetered by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert as he seeks his ninth win in 11 years in the Grade 2, $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity on Saturday, December 14.

The race at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-olds is the eighth of nine races on the next-to-last day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos Race Course. Post time Saturday is 12:30 p.m. Approximate post time for the Futurity is 4 p.m.

The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the five finishers with qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Gaming, a son of 2019 Los Alamitos Derby winner Game Winner, was runner-up behind stablemate Citizen Bull in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

More than three lengths clear in his first try at the Futurity distance, the dark bay, who was purchased for $250,000 at the OBS March sale, is 2-for-3 in is career with earnings of $565,000. Out of the Johannesburg mare So Stylish, Gaming is already a Grade 1 winner, capturting the Del Mar Futurity Sept. 8.

Fourth in the BC Juvenile, Getaway Car will be aiming for his second graded success for a partnership that includes Starlight Racing, SF Racing LLC, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.

A Curlin colt out of the Morning Line mare Surrender Now, Getaway Car followed up an easy maiden score in his July 20 debut with a dominant victory in the Grade 3 Best Pal 22 days later.

A winner twice in five starts, the Kentucky bred, who was a $700,000 buy at the September Keeneland sale last year, has banked $313,000. After his two wins, he was fourth in the Del Mar Futurity and second behind Citizen Bull in the Grade I American Pharoah prior to his effort in the BC Juvenile.

Mellencamp, who is owned by the same partnership as Getaway Car, is a twice-raced maiden. The son of Constitution and the Bayern mare American Model was second in his sprint debut Oct. 27 before finishing fourth three weeks later going a mile defeated by Futurity entrants Journalism and Rank. He's earned $14,040.

Journalism stretched out successfully in his second career outing for Bridlewood Farm and breeder Don Alberto Stable and trainer Michael McCarthy, graduating by 2 ½ lengths Nov. 17 at Del Mar.

A son of Curlin and the Uncle Mo mare Mopotism, Journalism is 1-for-2 and has banked $38,880.

Rank, runner-up to Journalism as the 17-10 favorite, will try for the sixth time to earn his diploma.

Trained by Doug O'Neill for Calumet Farm, the son of Honor A.P. and the Touch Gold mare Fabulous Babe has earned $41,600. He has been second on three occasions and was sixth when 50-1 in the Del Mar Futurity in his only previous race versus winners.

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