Dixie Union Tries to Stay Unbeaten

Dixie Union will try to reinforce his position as the best 2-year-old colt in California when he faces four rivals--three from trainer Bob Baffert’s barn--in today’s $250,000 Del Mar Futurity.

The Futurity is part of the windup card for Del Mar’s 42-day meeting. Southern California’s major tracks--Del Mar, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park--take a breather until the Oak Tree season opens Sept. 29 at Santa Anita. Meantime, starting Thursday, the Los Angeles County Fair will run an 18-day meet at Fairplex Park in Pomona.

Dixie Union, a $425,000 yearling purchase trained by Richard Mandella, has done nothing wrong while winning all three starts. His career began with a maiden-race win at Hollywood Park on June 13, and that was followed by victories in the Hollywood Juvenile on July 18 and the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 18. Today’s distance is seven furlongs, just a sixteenth of a mile farther than the Best Pal.

Baffert has won the Futurity the last three years with Silver Charm, Souvenir Copy and Worldly Manner.

Baffert’s three horses today represent different ownerships and will run as separate betting interests. One, Captain Steve, finished third, six lengths behind Dixie Union, in the Best Pal. The others, moving into stakes company for the first time, are Cameron Pass, who is undefeated in two starts, and Forest Camp, who won his debut at Del Mar on Aug. 7. Baffert said that he might only start two of the three.