Baffert’s Futurity Win Is the Finishing Touch

Trainer Bob Baffert didn’t sweep the five Grade I stakes at Del Mar, as he did a year ago, but he still left little for anybody else as the 43-day meet ended Wednesday.

Baffert saddled a record 13 stakes winners and won 33 races overall, the most by a Del Mar conditioner since Farrell Jones hung up 35 victories in 1963.

His 12th and 13th stakes wins came on closing day, Flame Thrower’s gritty victory over Street Cry in the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity following Chilukki’s romp by five lengths against only three rivals in the $77,300 California Equine Retirement Foundation Handicap.

Both horses were ridden by New York-based Jerry Bailey. With one more prep left, they’re both bound for the Breeders’ Cup, Chilukki to run in the Sprint and Flame Thrower to compete in the Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4. Flame Thrower’s expected prep is the Norfolk at Santa Anita on Oct. 7.

Flame Thrower gave Baffert his fifth consecutive victory in the Futurity. The late Charlie Whittingham is believed to be the only trainer to win the same stake six consecutive times in Southern California. Whittingham won the Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park 11 times, six of them from 1978 to 1983.

Flame Thrower, extending his unbeaten string to three races, was pressured by his stablemate, Arabian Light, through an opening half-mile in :44 1/5, and was overtaken by Street Cry in midstretch, but owner Gary Garber’s colt had enough left to win by a head. Street Cry, trained by Baffert’s former assistant Eoin Harty for Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing outfit, finished second, three lengths ahead of Arabian Light. Learing At Kathy was fourth.

Flame Thrower, earning $150,000, ran seven furlongs in 1:22. Baffert’s first Futurity winner was Silver Charm in 1996, followed by Souvenir Copy, Worldly Manner and Forest Camp the next three years.

Corey Nakatani, sidelined because of a cracked collarbone, had ridden Flame Thrower in his first two wins.

“In the stretch,” Bailey said, “it looked like the other horse was going to run by us. But the really good ones find a way to get it done. When they do that, they’re showing you a lot of character and determination.”

Baffert thought the blazing opening fractions might spell defeat.

“At the eighth pole, I conceded the win to Eoin,” he said. “But in the last 50 yards, my horse found something extra.”

Street Cry, an Irish-bred, had finished second in his debut at Hollywood Park in July, then beat maidens by seven lengths at Del Mar on Aug. 19. David Flores, riding Street Cry, had won the Futurity for Baffert with Silver Charm and Forest Camp.

“I got a head in front,” Flores said, “and I thought I had him. But [Flame Thrower] is amazing. He just kept coming. He was like a machine. He’s plenty tough. But I’d like to catch him again going two turns. I think you’d see a different story then.”

Baffert also feels that Street Cry has a future.

“He’s going to be something to reckon with down the road,” Baffert said. “It was a great race, and I’m just happy I beat my man Eoin. I told him afterward that he should be proud of the way he had his horse ready to run.”

Glorious Bid, Baffert’s third horse in the Futurity, ran sixth in the eight-horse field.

Chilukki’s victory Wednesday was her third in five starts this year. Last year, after winning her first six races, she ran second to Cash Run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Chilukki was still voted an Eclipse Award, but began this year with a couple of second-place finishes going two turns. Baffert’s been sprinting her ever since.

“She didn’t like going long,” Baffert said. “She’s a very fast filly, and sprinting is her thing.”

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Jose Silva has been suspended for 45 days, from next Monday through Nov. 1. Silva’s horse Glorious Linda was disqualified, losing a $10,000 purse, after running second in a race at Santa Anita on April 21. Glorious Linda’s postrace test was positive for hydroxymepivacaine, a local anesthetic. . . . Jerry Bailey’s two wins Wednesday were his first ever at Del Mar. . . . Bob Baffert and Bobby Frankel have saddled 53 stakes winners apiece at Del Mar to share third place in the standings. Charlie Whittingham leads the list with 74 wins; Ron McAnally is second with 63. . . . Victor Espinoza won the Del Mar riding title, finishing with 52 victories, 20 more than second-place finisher Kent Desormeaux. It was the second consecutive major title for Espinoza, who also finished on top at Hollywood Park.