Litmus Test outclasses stablemates in Los Al Futurity

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's record-extending 15th win in the $200,500 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) on Saturday came courtesy of Litmus Test, who overtook pace-setting stablemate Provenance in upper stretch and drove home a 1 1/4-length winner under Juan Hernandez.

Baffert trainees actually swept the top three spots in the Futurity, with the maiden Blacksmith outfinishing Provenance for second by 3 1/2 lengths. Provenance was more than 11 lengths clear of Acknowledgemeplz, while American King was last across the wire after Captivator was eased.

The Futurity represented a significant drop in class for Litmus Test, who started at 3-5. In his three previous starts, Litmus Test had finished fourth in the Del Mar Futurity, third in the Breeders' Futurity, and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, all Grade 1 races.

"He's getting better and the way he's bred he's going to get better with age,'' said Baffert of the son of juvenile champion and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist. "He's a horse we've always been very high on.

"Down the backside today he looked like he was traveling easy. (Hernandez) loves his stride and he thinks the farther the better for him."

Owned by a wide ranging partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, Litmus Test paid $3.20 and covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:42.38.

Litmus Test earned 10 qualifying points toward the 2026 Kentucky Derby and now has a total of 19. Blacksmith earned five points, Provenance three points, Acknowledgemeplz two points, and American King one point.

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Litmus Hall sold for $875,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. He was reared by Study Hard, a Malibu Moon full sister to Grade 2 heroine Sweet August Moon.