As the one horse with grade stakes expertise within the Grade 2 $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity, Litmus Check carried out precisely as anticipated. Litmus Check, Blacksmith and Provenance gave Baffert a 1-2-3 end on this yr’s 1 1/16-mile occasion at Los Alamitos Racetrack, so his 1 1/4-length win was no shock contemplating coach Bob Baffert had already received the race 14 instances.
Bettors favored three Bafferts over the opposite three within the discipline, sending Litmus Check as the favourite with 3 wins and 5 losses among the many six-horse discipline. Blacksmith, a maiden horse in his first race in two races, began in second place with a report of 4 wins and 1 loss, however Provenance, who had crushed his first race within the second race final time, received with a report of 6 wins and 1 loss.
Provenance took an early lead with instances of 23.26 seconds, 46.67 seconds and 1 minute 10.43 seconds. Acknowledgemeplz bore out each Blacksmith and longshot American King on the primary flip with vast outs.
Jockey Juan Hernandez positioned Litmus Check in second place behind Provenance. The favourite was able to assault Hernandez at any time when he requested.
“He was gradual to get off the bottom, however he relaxed effectively and we have been in a position to pull again heading into the primary flip,” Hernandez stated.
Hernandez requested the litmus check in flip two, and the stallion fortunately answered. He moved up the sector alongside Provenance and raced previous the stableman for a couple of paces. Litmus Check was in a position to keep in entrance of Blacksmith, who completed second, and Provenance returned to 3rd with a 3 1/2 size distinction. He accomplished the litmus check in 1:42.38.
Hernandez stated of the winner, “He was somewhat decelerate the stretch, however as soon as the lead modified palms he completed robust.”
Litmus Check completed fourth behind Ted Nophy within the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile offered by TAA. Earlier than that, Litmus Check broke his maiden report in his debut after which completed fourth within the G1 Del Mar Futurity. He additionally completed third within the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Not one of the litmus check’s 5 rivals had ever challenged the stakes firm earlier than.
Baffert favored what he noticed within the litmus check, saying, “He was in a great place. He appeared relaxed. Even from behind, I might see he was in charge of the race. He is nonetheless somewhat inexperienced, however Juan advised me that the farther out was higher for him. He loves this course. He received via it rather well and simply stored going.”
The Futurity is a part of the Street to the Kentucky Derby supplied by the Woodford Reserve Factors Collection. Victory within the litmus check earned him 10 qualifying factors, giving him a complete of 19 factors thus far. He presently sits in second place on the leaderboard behind Ted Nophy.
Horses second via fifth in Futurity earned factors on a 5-3-2-1 scale heading into the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Following Blacksmith and Provenance, Acknowledgemeplz, American King and Captivator accomplished the order.
