Bob Baffert

Closing day at Del Mar Sunday and that means there’s a Del Mar Futurity on tap. And just as sure as that’s true, so is it that the trainer with the best chance of winning the seven-furlong, Grade I, $300,000 shore championship event is none other than Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

The white-haired wonder has captured the Del Mar Futurity no fewer than – wait for it – 17 times already and guess what: he’s got not one, not two, but three chances to do it again this time around.

Seven 2-year-old colts in all will be saddled and sent postward for the 77th edition of the Del Mar swan song and wouldn’t you know that Baffert appears to have the best chance – or chances – to come away with yet another Futurity trophy.

For openers he’s got SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners’ Getaway Car, a Curlin colt who is two-for-two in his brief career, including a triumph in the Grade III Best Pal Stakes here on August 11. He gets leading rider Juan Hernandez in the boot and a morning line leading 6/5 on the program.

Next comes Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s Gaming, a Game Winner offspring who has run once and won once, capturing a straight maiden affair by more than five lengths, also on August 11. Put top rider Flavien Prat in the saddle for this one and pencil in the morning line number at second choice 7/2.

Finally, there’s another SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners’ youngster named Citizen Bull, an offspring of the top sire Into Mischief. He, too, ran once and won once and will have the saddle services of Hall of Famer Mike Smith come Sunday. He’s the stable’s “longshot” in the field with a morning line tag of only 9/2.

So, as anyone can see, Mr. Baffert is loaded for bear – and maybe buffalos and lions, too.

But they don’t hand away big prizes like this just for showing up. There are a couple of the others in the lineup that might give the Baffert threesome a whirl.

Trainer Tim Yakteen, who for several years was an assistant to Baffert, has a promising colt of his own in Amestoy, Amestoy or Beasley’s McKinzie Street, a son of the young stallion McKinzie (who Baffert trained) and who was a smart winner of his lone outing on July 28 locally in a straight maiden affair. He’ll be in the hunt with Japanese rider Kazushi Kimura aboard as they start at 4-1 in the morning line.

Finally, the Cal-bred R Heisman, owned by Gary Barber, is running in what will be his fifth start. He captured the Graduation Stakes for state-breds on August 9 and has trained well enough since that conditioner Peter Miller decided to step up and take a swing at the big boys in the Futurity. Umberto Rispoli has the call.

Also on the Sunday program will be the 13th go-round for the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, a one-mile grasser that has lured an oversubscribed field of 16 for a run at the $100,000 purse. Only 14 will be allowed to compete in what looms a wide-open affair filled with young horses trying to make their mark.

The Futurity goes as Race 10 on the card and the Juvenile Turf is Race 9. First post on the afternoon is 1:30 p.m. as the curtain nears falling on season No. 85 at the place where the turf meets the surf.