Kelly Leak bids for redemption in Del Mar Futurity

Kelly Leak (left) and Coronet of a Baron (far right) will renew rivalry in the Del Mar Futurity (Benoit Photo) KELLY LEAK (Runaway Groom), who was disqualified from an apparent victory in the Best Pal S. (G2) for causing interference, will try to make amends in the 61st running of the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Wednesday. The highlight of the closing day card, the $250,000 prize is supported by the $80,000 Pirate's Bounty H. and two divisions of the Daisycutter H., each worth $65,000. Trained by Michael Machowsky, Kelly Leak swept to a 1 1/4-length debut maiden score at Hollywood Park on June 5. The juvenile reappeared in the August 10 Best Pal, where he made a strong move to take command, but in the process, floated out. As regular rider Victor Espinoza tried to halt his drift, Kelly Leak in response came back in to his left. Both of his wayward motions affected 9-5 favorite Azul Leon (Lion Heart), who nevertheless finished strongly and missed by a nose. After the fracas, the Del Mar stewards posted the inquiry sign and ruled that Kelly Leak should be disqualified and placed fourth, a tough, yet understandable, conclusion to an otherwise commendable effort. On Wednesday, the bay colt will step up to seven furlongs, and hope to stick to a straight and true course.

CORONET OF A BARON (Pure Prize) crossed the wire third in the Best Pal, but

was promoted to second upon the demotion of Kelly Leak. The Eoin Harty pupil

argued the pace that day, held a narrow advantage in the stretch, and showed a

bit of greenness himself when drifting out late. The Darley Stable colorbearer,

who was an impressive first-out winner at Arlington Park, will reunite with

Corey Nakatani.

The lone stakes winner in the 11-juvenile field is unbeaten Canadian invader

SOUTHERN EXCHANGE (Exchange Rate). The gray has been ruling the roost at

Woodbine, capturing his three starts by daylight margins. The Gregory de Gannes

colt set a new track record in his 4 1/2-furlong debut and followed up with

convincing triumphs in the Victoria S. and Colin S. Southern Exchange's northern

exploits have attracted the attention of Garrett Gomez, who has taken the

Futurity call aboard the 123-pound highweight.

Bob Baffert, in search of his eighth Futurity coup, will saddle Stonerside

Stable's homebred MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song). Out of multiple Grade 2 queen

Fleet Lady (Avenue of Flags), the chestnut made his career debut a winning one

in an August 17 maiden over the track. Baffert has expressed a lofty regard for

Midshipman, who will keep Tyler Baze in the saddle as he takes a steep class

hike.

Other Del Mar maiden winners taking the Grade 1 plunge include BELIEVE IN

HOPE (Thunder Gulch) from the Ron Ellis barn and the uncoupled Doug O'Neill pair

of WILD WILD POSSE (Posse) and ESCALON (Spanish Steps).

The six-furlong

Pirate's Bounty attracted a full field of 14 sprinters. Grade 3 veterans

JUNGLE PRINCE (Sir Cat) and SAILORS SUNSET (Petionville) are exiting respective

third- and fourth-place finishes in the Bing Crosby H. (G1) at this venue, while

last year's Carry Back S. (G2) winner, BLACK SEVENTEEN (Is It True), will look

to rebound after a retreating fifth in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) at

Saratoga. COST OF FREEDOM (Cee's Tizzy) merits respect after a 5 3/4-length

allowance tally in his first outing for John Sadler.

The Daisycutter, a five-furlong turf scramble for distaffers, proved so

popular that it was split into two divisions. Each still drew overflow fields,

with a maximum of eight allowed to enter the gate. The

first

division marks the North American bows of Irish highweight older mare THAT'S

HOT (Ire) (Namid) and Brazilian Group 2 diva ELETRO NUCLEAR (Brz) (Dodge), who

will clash with Las Cienegas H. (G3) victress LIGHTMYFIREBABY (Unusual Heat),

multiple stakes heroine COCO BELLE (Storm Boot) and the up-and-coming SYNNIN AND

GRINNIN (Beau Genius). The

second division looks weaker on paper, with top contenders including MINI DO

(Hold for Gold), QUEEN OFTHE CASTLE (Tale of the Cat) and CAPTIVE MELODY

(Unbridled's Song).