Baffert Is Shooting for Six

Trainer Bob Baffert should continue what has become a tradition on Del Mar’s closing day. Already the leading trainer at the meet for a fifth consecutive year, he will be aiming for his sixth win in a row in the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity. Barring a major upset, his streak will live to see another year. Officer, the 1-5 favorite on the morning line, is expected to remain unbeaten in his fourth start and maintain his ranking as the country’s top 2-year-old. Unbeaten and untested in four starts, the son of Bertrando should follow in the footsteps of Silver Charm, Souvenir Copy, Worldly Manner, Forest Camp and Flame Thrower, Baffert’s other Futurity winners. The card also includes the $75,000 Live The Dream Handicap at a flat mile on the grass and the $70,000 California Equine Retirement Foundation Handicap at six furlongs.

Race of the day: All of the attention will be focused on Officer in the Futurity, but the 10th deserves attention because it is the final race of the meet and the last turf race to be run in Southern California until Oak Tree opens in three weeks. Unless, of course, we missed the announcement that Fairplex Park has completed the turf course it said it was going to build a few years back. A full field of 10 will go 1 3/8 miles to end Del Mar’s 62nd season.

Who’s hot: Chris McCarron. After a long dry spell, the jockey has finished Del Mar on a roll and he has three mounts on today’s program.

Who’s not: Discovereds Dream. The 2-year-old Saros filly, who is 30-1 in the sixth, has beaten a total of six horses in her four starts..

Exotically speaking: A late pick three singling Speak In Passing in the eighth, using Just A Nugget, Bryanzole and Shapiro’s Hero in the ninth and Fade To Blue, Dream Weekend, Smart In Art and War Declaration in the 10th.