By J.N. Campbell
Trainer Bob Baffert won seven consecutive editions of the GII Los Alamitos Futurity until that streak ended two years ago. The Hall of Famer will have half the field when Wynstock (Solomini), Coach Prime (Quality Road) and GSP Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) line up for his barn on Saturday.
Coach Prime was a $1.7 million Keeneland September yearling, and began to pay back owner Zedan last out with a 7 1/4-length win at Del Mar Nov. 10, earning him the status of 'TDN Rising Star'.
As for his stablemates, Wynstock broke his maiden by roughly the same margin as Coach Prime in what was his third attempt Oct. 15 at Santa Anita. While Wine Me Up returns after finishing second in the GI American Pharoah S. and then running eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, both at Santa Anita.
Last year, trainer Tim Yakteen won the Futurity with Practical Move (Practical Joke) and he is back again, this time with debut winner Moonlit Sonata (Malibu Moon). The bay colt came from off the pace to win by 2 1/2 lengths at Del Mar Nov. 25.
Rounding out the field is Doug O'Neill trainee Ace of Clubs (Mor Spirit) and Stronghold (Ghostzapper). The latter is a homebred trained by Phil D'Amato who was a well-beaten runner-up to 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in the GIII Bob Hope S. at the seaside oval Nov. 19.
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