Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Run Away faces toughest test yet in Grade 1 Futurity
DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar’s surface proved confounding for many horses early on at this meet, but true to his nature, Run Away handled the transition as if it was no big deal. It’s the way he rolls. Both precocious and sensible, Run Away has been an ideal 2-year-old. He won at Santa Anita in his first start, quickly graduated to stakes company with a victory in the Santa Anita Juvenile, then – most recently and most notably – romped to a 3 1/2-length win in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes here at Del Mar on Aug. 12.
On Monday, closing day of the summer meet, Run Away will attempt to retain his position as the leading 2-year-old male on the West Coast, but his assignment has gotten considerably more difficult. The Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity has attracted five runners who were sharp debut winners, including Tatters to Riches, a $1 million auction buy, and a pair of horses – Soul Streit and Zatter – trained by Bob Baffert, who has won this race a record 13 times, all since 1996.
In addition, Run Away will have to stretch his speed from the 6 1/2 furlongs of the Best Pal to seven furlongs. With three starts, Run Away has the edge in experience, and while the distance should be well within his scope, it’s creeping into the territory where his rivals may be better suited down the line.
“I don’t see the distance as a problem,” said Simon Callaghan, who trains Run Away for Kaleem Shah, the owner who captured last year’s Futurity with Klimt. “He’s a good-minded horse. He’s a very seasoned horse. He’s been in a battle before.”
Run Away has thrived here this summer. In addition to his Best Pal win, he has turned in a series of works where he has gone well within himself, giving every indication that he could go much faster if needed.
Run Away drew post 3 in the field of nine.
“He’s won from the inside before,” Callaghan said. “He’s got very good speed. He can place himself. It’s an intriguing race.”
Tatters to Riches is among the quintet of runners who each made a good impression with a first-out win this meet, all as the favorite. He won going six furlongs, a distance that seems short of optimal for him. The additional furlong should benefit him.
“He does it so easy; everything he does is so effortless,” said trainer Jeff Mullins. “We haven’t gotten to the bottom of him yet. He hasn’t taken a deep breath yet.”
Tatters to Riches is just outside of Run Away in post 4.
“Could have been a lot worse, could have been a lot better,” said Mullins, who said he’d have preferred to be a bit farther out.
Gracida won his debut going five furlongs the first weekend of the meet on July 22 and skipped the Best Pal to point for the Futurity. He landed post 7.
“He’s a long, tall-bodied horse who looks like he needs more ground,” said trainer Doug O’Neill, who won this race two years ago with Nyquist. “I like the draw. There’s other speed, and the majority is inside us.”
Baffert landed the rail with Soul Streit and has the outside post with Zatter.
“We’ve got the bookends,” he said Saturday.
Soul Streit, owned in part by ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, won going five furlongs in his lone start Aug. 13. He had the outside post that day but is on the rail this time.
“I hate the 1 hole,” Baffert said. “We’re going to have to use him early. You need a break. If you don’t break, you’re in trouble.”
Zatter is coming back 16 days after his debut win going six furlongs against St Patrick’s Day, the full brother to American Pharoah. Zatter is owned by Zayat Stables, which owned American Pharoah, the winner of the Futurity in 2014.
“He’s a really masculinelooking horse,” Baffert said. “He powers through this track. Lighter horses get through it better, it seems to me, but he handled it. I liked the way he won.”
Bolt d’Oro also won his first start, taking a 6 1/2-furlong race on Aug. 5 despite a poor break.
Dia de Pago, Fleetwood, and Master Ruler – second, third, and fourth behind Run Away in the Best Pal – are back to try again. Master Ruler is adding blinkers.
The Futurity goes as race 8 on a 10-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.