The $300,000 GII Starlet S. for the 2-year-old fillies will take place for the 10th time at the Orange County venue and will take place Saturday, Dec. 9, one week prior to the running of the male counterpart, the $200,000 GII Los Alamitos Futurity. Each race is run over a mile and a sixteenth.

The two other 2-year-old stakes are restricted to California-bred and or -sired horses. The $100,000 Soviet Problem S. for fillies will take place Sunday, Dec. 10, with the $100,000 King Glorious S.–a race won 10 years ago at Hollywood Park by future dual Classic winner California Chrome–set for Sunday, Dec. 17.

The stakes schedule is completed by the GIII Bayakoa S. for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth and is programmed for Friday, Dec. 15.

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The Fountain of Youth S. has evolved into somewhat of a “trap” race for high-profile 3-year-olds, with 12 of the last 16 favorites going down to defeat prior to this year's running. In fact, 10 years ago, one of those odds-on losers was Forte's sire, the then-undefeated Violence. He lost the 2013 edition by a half-length to eventual Kentucky Derby winner Orb, but Violence sustained a right front sesamoid fracture that necessitated his retirement after only four races.

Forte, of course, had no idea he was up against a historical trend that featured a familial plot twist when the starter sprung the latch Saturday. He had a clean break and tracked the action fifth into the first turn, racing while into the bit and eager to close gaps on the heels of the frontrunners through opening quarter-mile splits of :24.05 and :23.60.

Irad Ortiz, Jr., was able to dial back Forte's enthusiasm a touch while settling into a rhythmic stride down the back straight, and true to the tactics this colt displayed at age two, Forte asserted his presence while giving the impression he was sizing up the leaders and had them well within his striking sights.

Entering the far bend, Ortiz mulled his options for about a sixteenth of a mile, which is a tactical luxury a jockey enjoys only when he knows he has a willing partner who can take off like a rocket with just a subtle flick of the wrists.

As the 15-1 pacemaker Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief) got softened up by first and second runs from two stalkers through a third-quarter split of :24.19, Forte inhaled the three of them at the head of the lane with an all-in move that left him only three-sixteenths of a mile to fully unwind over Gulfsttream's short-stretch configuration.

Forte responded to Ortiz's rousing, but the jockey quickly sensed his mount didn't need much in the way of aggressive encouragement. Under his own power, Forte leveled off with a brief but discernible burst of late-race acceleration that put him 4 1/2 lengths clear of the leaders at the wire. The final-quarter split was :24.90 and the last sixteenth was :6.38 for a 1:43.12 finish and a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

That Beyer represents a two-point regression from the 100 Forte earned when winning last November's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.

But Forte was geared down in the late stages of the Fountain of Youth when it was obvious that a winning outcome had been assured, and his more-in-the-tank performance was visually strong enough that it doesn't make sense to quibble over numbers in this instance.

Meanwhile, on the Left Coast…

Practical Move had already done a little avenging on behalf of his sire, Practical Joke, by winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity back in December. That's because, despite being a top contender on the 2017 Derby trail, Practical Joke never won a two-turn race (although he did rack up a trio of Grade I victories up to one mile around one turn).

Yet bettors weren't too keen Saturday that his son, Practical Move, could win again over 1 1/16 miles in the San Felipe, letting this Tim Yakteen trainee go off as the 4-1 fourth choice coming off a three-month layoff. But a heady ride by Ramon Vazquez drove home the fact that this colt is swiftly rising through the ranks as a dangerous Derby commodity.

Breaking from post two, Practical Move brushed the gate, then absorbed some minor bumping from the horse down to his inside. Unfazed, he took up the chase while fourth through the first turn, hugging the rail. He remained unruffled with a rank rival to his outside, then willingly accepted a rating hold by Vazquez as the field cornered onto the backstretch.

Once the field hit the back straightaway, the riders avoided the rail like it was strung with barbed wire. Of the nine, Practical Move was closest to the inside, in the three path. The pace was honest, with quarter-mile splits of :23.14 and :23.98 for the first half mile. Vazquez edged his mount up incrementally–a nice display of grace under pressure–and Practical Move was jointly second 3 1/2 furlongs out.

But then the inside passage tightened up, and Vazquez had to take hold of Practical Move for a few crucial strides. The leader, Hejazi (Bernardini), still looked strong at that point, and two other horses were launching bids in the clear on the outside.

In an instant, Practical Move got relegated back to fourth. It was the type of positioning misfortune that costs races, and when you're trying to make the cut in a crucial Derby qualifying stakes, it can cost you an entire campaign.

Yet Vazquez never panicked, nor did Practical Move shy from his tight inside spot. Hejazi was soon spent, and he showed it by drifting out to the four path at the head of the lane after a robust third-quarter split in :23.96.

Practical Move deftly cut the corner when that seam opened, and he was as good as gone, kicking home under light encouragement to win with purpose by 2 1/2 lengths.

The final-quarter split was :24.59 and his final sixteenth was clocked in :6.34.

Owned in partnership by Leslie Amestoy, Jean Pierre Amestoy, Jr., and Roger Beasley, Practical Move earned a 100 on the Beyer scale, upping his Los Al Futurity number by 12 points.

There have now been 15 points-earning Derby qualifying stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 2022-23, and Practical Move owns the two fastest final clockings: 1:41.65 in the Los Al Futurity and 1:42.10 in the San Felipe.

Also Noteworthy…

Now that favorites have won the Fountain of Youth S. the past three years, the companion filly stakes on the same afternoon, the GII Davona Dale S., has become the 'bombs away” race on the first Saturday in March. The $95.40 win by Dorth Vader (Girvin) in this season's renewal was preceded by upset winners who paid $107.60 and $105.00 in 2021 and 2019…Interesting that Davona Dale herself only raced twice at Gulfstream. But the champion 3-year-old filly of 1979 did start her eight-race sophomore win streak there in the Bonnie Miss S., a run that included five Grade I victories before she lost at 1-5 odds in the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga. In a training move filed under the “you'll never see this again” category, Davona Dale then gallantly wheeled right back against colts in the GI Travers S. one week later, only to finish fourth.

The 2022 GI Kentucky Oaks winner, Secret Oath (Arrogate) will have a new jockey for her 4-year-old debut in Oaklawn's GII Azeri S. Saturday. Luis Saez, who has been aboard Secret Oath in her last six starts, is committed to pilot 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit) in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby, so trainer D. Wayne Lukas has named Tyler Gaffalione to ride. “Luis has got a [Kentucky] Derby prospect that he's really high on and didn't want to give it up. He really agonized over that decision, but he's afraid that he might lose [the call on Tapit Trice]. He's going to try to talk me into putting him back on. If Tyler rides a big race, he'll have a little trouble getting back on,” Lukas said

Here's wishing Hawthorne Race Course good luck with trying out a nationwide-low 12% takeout on win, place and show bets at the six-month meet that started Sunday. During the first three months of the season, Hawthorne will be racing on Sundays and Thursdays with a 2:30 p.m. Central first post.

“By shifting Saturday racing to Thursday in the spring, we will face less competition on the national scene while being able to make Hawthorne a more visible track to the wagering public,” said the track's racing director, Jim Miller.

Yes, it's the first week of March, and we already have two North American horses with perfect 5-for-5 records on the new season. Dulcimer Dame (Mineshaft), a 6-year-old Charles Town-based mare who races at the starter-allowance level, roared home by 5 1/2 lengths as the 1-5 fave in Saturday's eighth race at the West Virginia oval. She races for owner Richard Burnsworth and trainer Anthony Farrior. Earlier on Mar. 4, the Arizona-stabled Metarose (Metaboss) necked out a 3-2 favored win in a Turf Paradise starter-allowance. The 5-year-old mare is campaigned by owner Miguel Gallegos and trainer Miguel Hernandez.

The post The Week in Review: Forte’s Dominance was Expected, but Practical Move Truly Impressed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“Well give him a few more works and see where we're at, but we're looking at sometime in late February or early March,” said Yakteen. “We have a few options.” The conditioner indicated that there is a possibility Practical Move could ship out of town for his sophomore debut.

Should he remain local, the $90,000 Keeneland September buyback turned $230,000 OBS April breezer could take in the traditional GI Kentucky Derby preps in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 4 en route to the GI Santa Anita Derby a month farther down the road.

Yakteen, who was the trainer of record for 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) and Messier (Empire Maker) in last year's Run for the Roses, is looking forward to potential return trip to Louisville.

“Anytime you have a nice 3-year-old in the barn it's always exciting,” he said.

The post Practical Move Back To Work appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Carmel Road hit the ground running and led them along early as Arabian Lion was no better than three wide rounding the first turn before rolling forward to prompt from second. Ramon Vasquez had Practical Move in the early vanguard, but was only too happy to see Arabian Lion go on and took the sit from third. Positions were unchanged through the middle fractions, but when Practical Move went for a run underneath the odds-on pick at the three-eighths, there was no response from Arabian Lion, and Carmel Road became the target. Sent inside of that one in upper stretch, Practical Move struck to the lead about a furlong and a half from the wire and was pushed out to a comfortable score.

A debut second to the Baffert-conditioned 'TDN Rising Star' Cave Rock (Arrogate) on Del Mar debut Aug. 13, Practical Move was third at the seaside oval the following month to National Treasure (Quality Road), who would go on to be second to Cave Rock in the GI American Pharoah S. and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Put up to the victory after Fort Bragg hampered him badly in the final stages of a one-mile Santa Anita maiden Oct. 10, Practical Move was a latest third to Baffert stablemates Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) and 'Rising Star' Newgate (Into Mischief) in the GIII Bob Hope S. down in San Diego County Nov. 20.

Baffert had won the Futurity 13 times going back to the Hollywood Park days and had unsaddled the winners in seven of the eight renewals at this Orange County facility.

“I'm surprised because we were going up against the king, but I'm not surprised because my horse was doing really well,” Yakteen admitted. “That it all worked out is just fantastic. We had a great trip and I'm just thrilled to death with the horse and his effort today. This one's really special because Bob is a good friend and we have a great relationship. I hate to take him down, but it ended up that I got the better of him today and he usually gets the better of me.”

Pedigree Notes:

Practical Move is the 18th worldwide black-type winner (11th in the U.S.) and 10th graded/group winner worldwide (fourth in the U.S.) for his young sire and was bred by Practical Joke's trainer in partnership with Head of Plains Partners.

Produced by a three-times stakes-placed half-sister to the multiple black-type winners So Lonesome (Awesome Again) and No Spin (Johannesburg) and from the family of Commissioner and Laugh Track, Practical Move has a weanling half-brother by Complexity and his dam most recently visited Upstart.

Saturday, Los Alamitos
LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY-GII, $200,000, Los Alamitos, 12-17, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:41.65, ft.
1–PRACTICAL MOVE, 120, c, 2, by Practical Joke
                1st Dam: Ack Naughty (MSP, $310,450), by Afleet Alex
                2nd Dam: Dash for Money, by General Meeting
                3rd Dam: Hot Lear, by Lear Fan
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($90,000
RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Pierre Jean
Amestoy, Jr., Leslie A. Amestoy & Roger K. Beasley; B-Chad
Brown & Head of Plains Partners (KY); T-Tim Yakteen; J-Ramon
Vazquez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-2, $194,200.
Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Carmel Road, 120, c, 2, Quality Road–Inspired, by Unbridled's
Song. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($650,000
Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket
Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay
Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine
Donovan; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Bob
Baffert. $40,000.
3–Fort Bragg, 120, c, 2, Tapit–March X Press, by Shanghai
Bobby. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($700,000
Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket
Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay
Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine
Donovan; B-SF Bloodstock LLC & Henry Field Bloodstock (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 4 1/4, 2. Odds: 10.60, 4.60, 4.20.
Also Ran: Tall Boy, Arabian Lion. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Practical Joke Colt Upsets Los Al Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Completing the stakes program are a pair of one-mile races for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California, the $100,000 Soviet Problem S. for fillies Dec. 11 and the $100,000 King Glorious S. Dec. 18.

There will also be a handicapping contest Saturday, Dec. 17 and the Los Alamitos Racing Association will offer a cash prize and a pair of berths to the 2023 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Cost to enter is $500. Of that amount, $100 will be placed in the contest prize pool with the remaining $400 going towards a live money wagering card.

Tournament races will include the entire card at Los Alamitos. Permitted wagers include win, place, show, exactas, trifectas and daily doubles. Each entry must wager at least $50 on a minimum of five races that day, but there is no wagering limit. The player with the highest bankroll at the end of the day will be declared the winner and the second highest bankroll will be the runner-up. The winner will receive 50% of the prize pool. The remaining payoffs: 20% (2nd place), 15% (3rd place, 7.5% (4th place) and 7.5% (Most Money Wagered).

The post Six-Day Los Al Meet Starts Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The post Juvenile Events Highlight Los Al Stakes Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A year ago at this time, Nyquist was cantering under the wire as the leading freshman sire of a good-looking group that included two other successful sons of Uncle Mo. That freshman sire title was made much easier by the successes of Vequist, the champion juvenile filly of 2020, whose $1.2 million in earnings represented about half of her sire's freshman crop earnings last year.

Nearly all of Vequist's haul accrued over a 60-day period from Vequist's maiden victory in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 6 to her title-winning victory in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6 last season. The mass of her earnings propelled Nyquist to a clear leadership among freshmen sires with a margin of $864,335 over Laoban (Uncle Mo) and Not This Time (Giant's Causeway), who were separated by $2,610.

This year, however, Vequist made only one start, finishing ninth as the odds-on favorite in her seasonal debut, the G2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream. The filly was bumped at the start, made no progress on the turn, and was eased to the wire but walked off after the finish. Vequist worked through the summer but did not start and was sold at the Fasig-Tipton November sale for $3.4 million to Spendthrift Farm.

In the absence of the champion, the Nyquist 3-year-olds struggled for a bit but then picked up tempo. In particular, Gretzky the Great won the Greenwood Stakes at Woodbine in August, Team Merchants won the Let It Ride at Del Mar in November, and Willful Woman finished second in the G2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico back in May.

Once again, however, the juveniles were the source of power for the Nyquist engine. Four 2-year-olds by the sire have now won stakes, and six are stakes-placed, with three having graded stakes placings. In addition to Slow Down Andy, there is the sire's leading earner Tunerloose (winner of the rich Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs), Lemieux (Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Gulfstream), and Curly Girl (Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes). The six stakes-placed juveniles include Sequist (third in the G1 Alcibiades), American Xperiment (third in the G1 Del Mar Futurity), and Credibility (third in the G2 Bourbon Stakes).

The depth of the stallion's second crop holds much of the promise for his potential to carry forward this momentum into next season. Should a classic colt, in particular, develop from of this group, Nyquist would be settled in an enviable position among other young, upwardly mobile sires.

Slow Down Andy might just be the ticket for the classic hopes held for his sire. Both the winner and the highly regarded second-place finisher in the Los Alamitos Futurity, Bob Hope Stakes winner Messier (Empire Maker), drew away from their competition in the stretch of the Futurity, finishing nine lengths ahead of third-place Barossa (Into Mischief).

Bred in California by owner Reddam Racing, Slow Down Andy is the third foal and third winner from the Square Eddie mare Edwina E, who did not win in a pair of starts, but has been a star producer. Her second and third foals are both by Nyquist and are the stakes winners Team Merchants and Slow Down Andy. Edwina E is a full sister to a pair of stakes-placed performers, as well as two other racers who earned six figures.

All are by Square Eddie, a son of Smart Strike who more than earned his stripes as a sire in California. Winner of the G1 Breeders' Futurity in his first American start in 2008, Square Eddie was next out second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and looked like one of the stars of the division for the next season's classics.

Although the colt placed second in the 2009 G3 San Rafael and third in the G2 Lexington Stakes, the hopes for the colt went to pieces thereafter. Off six months, Square Eddie returned to race for owner Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O'Neill, but the good-looking horse never won another important race. Sent to Vessels Stallion Station in 2010, Square Eddie returned to race the following year. Although the owner persevered with Square Eddie through 2011, the horse never even placed in another stakes.

By that time, his commercial appeal had waned, and Reddam stood the horse in California at Ocean Breeze Ranch, where he was pensioned in 2020. The horse sired 17 stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Ralis, and has total progeny earnings of more than $16 million.

Reddam bred and raced nearly all the good stock by Square Eddie, including the five siblings mentioned above, and in Slow Down Andy, Reddam may have the colt who makes the wait worthwhile.

The post Bloodlines Presented By Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders And Owners Association: Slow Down Andy Keeps Young Sire Nyquist On The Fast Track appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A homebred son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist owned by J. Paul Reddam and trained by Doug O'Neill, Slow Down Andy surprised 1-2 favorite the Baffert-trained Messier Dec. 11, ending Baffert's streak of seven wins in a row in the Futurity.

In the Starlet, Eda, the 11-10 favorite, prevailed, continuing a run for Baffert that has seen him win the prestigious race for 2-year-old fillies five of the eight years it has been offered at Los Alamitos.

Baffert also won the meet's other graded race, capturing the $100,500 G3 Bayakoa with favored As Time Goes By for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

The two other stakes were for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California. Professors' Pride went gate-to-wire in the $101,500 Soviet Problem for Larry and Carolyn Samovar's Academic Farms and trainer Eddie Truman while 2-1 second choice Straight Up G led throughout to take the $102,000 King Glorious for owner-breeder Jim Rome's Jungle Racing LLC and trainer Richard Baltas.

Sherman, 84, was honored Dec. 10 minutes after he saddled his last career starter – Chasing Alchemy, who finished seventh in a $50,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds. The popular trainer, who has been involved in racing for more than 65 years, finished his career with 2,261 wins. His most famous pupil was two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, who was based at Los Alamitos for most of his career.

Baffert topped the trainer standings with five victories, one more than Lorenzo Ruiz. It was the 13th meet he has either led or shared the title since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in 2014.

Baffert had the most wins (13) for the year at Los Alamitos, combining the Winter meet with the Summer Thoroughbred Festival (June 25-July 5) and the Los Angeles County Fair season (Sept. 10-26). Peter Miller and Steve Miyadi tied for second with 11.

A closing day triple-double enabled Abel Cedillo to win the jockey title, his second in a row locally after taking the LACF meet. The 32-year-old native of Guatemala finished with nine wins, three more than Tyler Baze, apprentices Ricardo Ramirez and Diego Herrera, and Kyle Frey.

For the year at Los Alamitos, Cedillo totaled 35 wins, 14 more than closest pursuer Juan Hernandez. Frey and Herrera shared third with 16.

All sources handle for the Winter meet was up 11% on a comparative basis over 2019, which was also a seven-day season.

Handle at California satellite locations declined 23%, but advance deposit wagering in Southern California increased 61%. “We're pleased with how things went for the days we raced, but disappointed we aren't able to run next week,'' said F. Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association.

Daytime thoroughbred racing will return to Los Alamitos in 2022. The first of three meets is scheduled to begin Friday, June 24, and will continue through Sunday, July 10.

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In a short field of five, Slow Down Andy broke from the outside, settling in behind the front three of Olympic Legend, Durante, and Messier down the Los Alamitos straight and around the first turn. Through fractions of :22.79, :46.62, and 1:10.83, Olympic Legend maintained a half-length lead, with Messier pulling even with him as they approached the far turn. Mario Gutierrez on Slow Down Andy went four-wide into the turn, with Messier taking the lead as they hit the top of the stretch.

Into the Los Alamitos stretch, Messier on the rail had a short advantage over Slow Down Andy driving on the outside. The gap between them shortened as Slow Down Andy made his bid for the lead, passing Messier, but then the son of Nyquist lugged in and bumped the Baffert trainee, allowing Messier to battle back and take the lead briefly. Inside the last sixteenth, though, Gutierrez straightened Slow Down Andy out and dug in, passing Messier to take over for good, hitting the wire a length in front. Barossa, Durante, and Olympic Legend rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.35. Find this race's chart here.

Slow Down Andy paid $12.40 and $3.40. Messier paid $2.10. The field of five meant no show wagering for the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity.

“He relaxed perfectly early. When I saw the opening going to the turn I sent him through and he responded. I think he was just playing around in the stretch. When (runner-up) Messier got back in front of him, he regained his focus and showed his heart,'' jockey Mario Gutierrez said after the race.

“If it was up to me we would have run in the California bred race ($100,000 King Glorious) tomorrow. It was strictly (owner-breeder) Paul (Reddam) wanting to take a chance and having faith in Slow Down Andy and thank God he did. We figured our other horse (Durante) would show speed and being in (post 5) we hoped (jockey) Mario (Gutierrez) would get good position and ride his race. Down the stretch, it looked like we had it and then we didn't and then we did, so it was very exciting,” trained Doug O'Neill said after the race. “He doesn't really remind me of Nyquist. This horse has a lot of different gears and Nyquist was just a beast, so precocious. This horse is pretty calm and more mentally versatile at this stage than Nyquist ever was.''

The G2 Los Alamitos Futurity is part of the Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby. With his win, Slow Down Andy earns 10 points toward a spot in the starting gate for next year's Derby. Messier earns four points, Barossa gets two, and fourth-place Durante earns one.

Bred in California by owner Reddam Racing, Slow Down Andy is out of the Square Eddie mare Edwina E. With his win in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity, the 2-year-old colt has two wins in three starts for career earnings of $249,850.

The post Slow Down Andy Takes Los Alamitos Futurity For Reddam, O’Neil appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A debut winner against fellow Cal-breds going 5 1/2 panels at Santa Anita Oct. 9, he was a close second in Del Mar's seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile S. Nov. 5 and was dispatched at 5-1 in this first try around two turns and against open company.

Away a step slow from the outside stall in this field of five, Slow Down Andy was pulled back towards the inside by rider Mario Gutierrez, who also piloted his Eclipse-winning sire, and settled at the back of the pack alongside the Bob Baffert-trained Barossa (Into Mischief). Olympic Legend (Street Boss), a 45-1 shot, dictated terms with Slow Down Andy's stablemate Durante (Distorted Humor) on his outside hip and heavily favored Messier just off that one's flank through a :22.79 opening quarter. Slow Down Andy continued to watch the show alongside Barossa as Messier charged up to turn up the heat on the pacesetter. Olympic Legend and Durante inched a bit ahead to maintain the initial order as the half went in :46.62.

Durante had enough waiting at that point, sweeping to the lead with Messier right beside him as Olympic Legend called it quits. Slow Down Andy and Barossa charged up in unison to confront the top two and they were four across turning for home with Slow Down Andy in the four path. Barossa and Durante both threw in the towel at the top of the lane leaving Messier and Slow Down Andy to duke it out for the top spot. A battle ensued, with the pair brushing briefly, before Slow Down Andy kicked it into high gear, rolling clear of the chalk to spring the upset by a length over Messier. It was nine lengths back to Barossa in third with Durante back in fourth. Olympic Legend was eased.

“If it was up to me we would have run in the California-bred race [King Glorious S. Sunday]. It was strictly Paul [Reddam] wanting to take a chance and having faith in Slow Down Andy and thank God he did. We figured our other horse [Durante] would show speed and being in [post five] we hoped Mario [Gutierrez] would get good position and ride his race. Down the stretch it looked like we had it and then we didn't and then we did, so it was very exciting. He doesn't really remind me of Nyquist. This horse has a lot of different gears and Nyquist was just a beast, so precocious. This horse is pretty calm and more mentally versatile at this stage than Nyquist ever was.”

“He relaxed perfectly early,” Gutierrez said. “When I saw the opening going to the turn I sent him through and he responded. I think he was just playing around in the stretch. When Messier got back in front of him, he regained his focus and showed his heart.”

Pedigree Notes:

Hailing from the second crop of his connections' champion and GI Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist, Slow Down Andy is the third graded winner and seventh black-type scorer for his sire. His dam Edwina E (Square Eddie) is also a Reddam homebred, who was winless in two starts, but has produced three winners from three foals of racing age. Her second foal is Slow Down Andy's stakes-winning full-brother Team Merchants. The 9-year-old mare's recent produce includes a yearling colt by the Reddam and O'Neill-campaigned dual Classic winner I'll Have Another. Her 2021 colt by Pavel died.

Saturday, Los Alamitos
LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY-GII, $300,000, Los Alamitos, 12-11, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.33, ft.
1–SLOW DOWN ANDY, 120, c, 2, by Nyquist
1st Dam: Edwina E, by Square Eddie
2nd Dam: Electric Daze, by Gilded Time
3rd Dam: Electric Fable, by Quiet American
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Reddam
Racing, LLC (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill; J-Mario Gutierrez.
$180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $249,850.
*Full to Team Merchants, SW, $177,490. Werk Nick Rating: A.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Messier, 120, c, 2, Empire Maker–Checkered Past, by Smart
Strike. ($470,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Golconda Stable, Madaket
Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing,
Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Robert E.
Masterson & Jay A. Schoenfarber; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON);
T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
3–Barossa, 120, c, 2, Into Mischief–Bouquet Booth, by Flower
Alley. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($775,000
Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables LLC,
SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Stonestreet
Stables, LLC, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan,
Robert E. Masterson & Jay A. Schoenfarber; B-Spendthrift
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $36,000.
Margins: 1, 9, 1 3/4. Odds: 5.20, 0.50, 3.10.
Also Ran: Durante, Olympic Legend.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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