Brant in control as Baffert’s 19th Del Mar Futurity winner

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert retained his grip on the Del Mar Futurity (G1) when 1-10 favorite Brant controlled Sunday’s $300,500 renewal every step of the way. But stablemate Desert Gate might have vied for the honor of giving their trainer his 19th win in Del Mar’s signature juvenile prize, if he’d broken cleanly.

Desert Gate, the hitherto unbeaten Best Pal (G3) winner, had shown high speed in both of his starts. He never got the opportunity to employ that running style here. The 6-1 second choice stumbled coming out of the gate and had to resort to Plan B by playing catch-up.

Meanwhile, Zedan Racing Stables’ Brant ran up to his $3 million purchase price, a record for the OBS March Sale, to remain perfect. A commanding debut winner in stalk-and-pounce fashion on July 26, the Gun Runner colt put on an exhibition of speed in the Futurity.

With Flavien Prat back aboard, Brant broke inward from post 2 but corrected himself to shoot clear through an opening quarter in :21.88. Stablemates Balboa and Litmus Test were in the gaggle trying to pursue, along with Doug O’Neill’s Civil Liberty. 

By the time Brant sizzled the half in :44.53, Desert Gate made up a chunk of his deficit to race just 1 1/2 lengths behind in fourth. Yet his trip wasn’t getting easier. Desert Gate had to muscle his way into contention, and in the process, scrimmaged with Balboa. 

As Brant was winging his way down the stretch, Desert Gate pulled away from the rest of the pack and loomed to challenge. But Brant had enough left to hold Desert Gate at bay by a length. 

There was a 3 1/4-length break to third-placer Civil Liberty, who bravely nipped Litmus Test and thwarted a Baffert trifecta. Balboa tired to a distant fifth. Brigante, the 64-1 longshot who Brant bumped at the break, was last at every call. 

Brant sped seven furlongs in 1:21.92 to extend his record to 2-for-2 with $228,000 in earnings. The gray paid a meager $2.10 in a race with no place or show wagering. 

Baffert was completing a big-race double that began with Saturday’s Del Mar Debutante (G1). Although he also sent out the Debutante exacta, lesser-fancied Bottle of Rouge stunned his odds-on Explora.

Bred by PTK in Kentucky, Brant is a three-quarter brother to Grade 2 winner Pappacap, who was fourth in the 2021 Del Mar Futurity. Pappacap’s notable placings include the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), American Pharoah (G1), Woody Stephens (G1), and Pat Day Mile (G2). 

Pappacap, himself by Gun Runner, is a half-brother to Brant’s dam, Tynan (by Liam’s Map). Tynan and Pappacap are also half-siblings to Grade 3 scorer Boppy O (by Bolt d’Oro).