Del Mar Futurity

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight juvenile colts and a filly will vie in Monday’s $300,000 Del Mar
Futurity (G1), and Bob Baffert will aim to pick up his ninth win in this race
with LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), who drew the rail. The unbeaten colt has
been on our radar prior to making his first start and he’s yet to disappoint, so
we see no reason to go against the likely heavy choice. The $475,000
two-year-old in training purchase has not blown away his foes from a pair of
three-quarters-of-a-length tallies, but anyone who has viewed those events must
acknowledge that he was never in danger in either start to date. While we do
believe this one will be much better at two turns, his talent should be enough
to score here with Garrett Gomez in the irons. The Kentucky-bred might be
special.

STERLING OUTLOOK (Eurosilver) is an interesting player in this heat for
trainer Peter Miller. The recent maiden romper ran into our top pick two prior,
finishing well clear of the third-place finisher, and he rebounded with a facile
score in advance of this test. The speedy bay should have no trouble negotiating
seven furlongs against these and could be the leader turning for home.

MARCELLO (Johannesburg) was hammered down to 1-2 odds in his narrow maiden
victory most recently, but will need significant improvement to challenge for
the win on this occasion. The Kentucky-bred is an interesting exotics player,
however, as his late running style could be of use in a group expected to set a
fast tempo. Joel Rosario will guide the other Baffert contender.

CHAMPAGNE D’ORO (Medaglia d’Oro) is the lone filly in here who will hope to
give conditioner Eric Guillot a sweep of the two-year-old Grade 1 races over the
weekend. The fleet bay made short work of a maiden group last out and has run
her best two races without blinkers, so a case could be made for her to fill out
some of the gimmicks and grab a Grade 1-placing. The lass will need to be at her
best under Michael Baze.

We like that trainer Kathy Walsh will put forth maiden runner-up WHO’S UP
(Graeme Hall) after recording a 99 BRIS Speed rating in his debut, and the
chestnut is another who could get a minor award with a perfect trip. It’s hard
to back the colt for the win, but the Florida-bred has worked well and ran into
a track-record setter last out, so we’ll use him underneath.

Speedball SMILING TIGER (Hold That Tiger) was third in the Best Pal S. (G2)
after holding a big early edge, and the Jeff Bonde pupil will hope to endure
another half-furlong against his foes in this contest. The Kentucky-bred
chestnut smoked a bullet six furlong in preparation of this in a wicked 1:10
4/5, and if he’s clear turning for home, he might get brave and forget to stop.
Martin Garcia has the assignment.

MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein) is still a maiden but rallied well for second
in the Best Pal for trainer Alexis Barba. The bay colt improved a good deal from
his first to second start and could conceivably move up even more in here, but
we’re still not sure that it will be enough. The colt could hit the board again
with a well-timed ride.

Three-time stakes-placed ZIP QUIK (City Zip) shipped east to finish a good
second in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) for Patrick Biancone, but we don’t like
the steady two-year-old in this spot. The bay colt has never run worse than
third from four outings, but to ship across country twice over the course of a
few weeks for can’t be easy on a juvenile, and the lack of quality BRIS Speed
numbers doesn’t flatter the Kentucky-bred, either.

HURRICANE IKE (Graeme Hall) won at first asking prior to a fourth-place
result in the Best Pal, and we envision the Florida-bred being somewhat outrun
in here from the widest post.