The Los Alamitos Futurity: A Pacesetter's Nightmare?
The $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity has a surprising trend. Since its move to Los Alamitos Race Course, this 1 1/16-mile race has been a challenge for front-runners, despite the small field size. In 11 editions, only one winner, Wynstock (2023), led at any of the first three calls, and even then, it wasn't a wire-to-wire victory.
But here's the twist: This Saturday's race (December 13, 2025) seems to favor late runners again. With six entries and plenty of pace on paper, will we see another off-the-pace winner?
The Entries:
Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), Los Alamitos Race Course, Race 8:
- Grade II, 1 1/16 miles, Dirt
- Purse: $200,000, 2-year-olds
- Post Time: 4:00 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Acknowledgemeplz | Armando Ayuso | 120 | Doug F. O'Neill | 7/2 |
| 2 | Provenance | Kyle Frey | 120 | Bob Baffert | 5/1 |
| 3 | Litmus Test | Juan J. Hernandez | 120 | Bob Baffert | 4/5 |
| 4 | Blacksmith | Kazushi Kimura | 120 | Bob Baffert | 5/1 |
| 5 | American King | Geovanni Franco | 120 | Ruben Gomez | 30/1 |
| 6 | Captivator | Hector Isaac Berrios | 120 | John W. Sadler | 6/1 |
#1 Acknowledgemeplz: This speedster showed promise in his debut, setting the pace before finishing second. After a layoff, he won a maiden special weight, leading all the way. But can he maintain this speed over 1 1/6 miles? His pedigree suggests sprinting, casting doubt on his stamina.
#6 Captivator: A potential pace rival, Captivator has set the pace in both his starts. He'll race without blinkers this time, which might help him relax and follow Acknowledgemeplz. However, his superior pace ratings could still draw him into a speed duel.
#2 Provenance: Bred by leading sire Into Mischief, Provenance won his maiden special weight from the front. He adds more speed to the mix.
#3 Litmus Test: Trained by Bob Baffert, Litmus Test has a strong chance. He won his debut by settling off the pace and rallying. In Grade 1 races, he's shown versatility, finishing fourth in the Del Mar Futurity and third in the Breeders' Futurity. His best performance was in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where he closed from midpack. Reuniting with jockey Juan Hernandez, who has a 37% win rate with Baffert, Litmus Test is poised for victory.
#4 Blacksmith: Another Baffert trainee, Blacksmith closed to finish second in his debut but faltered as the favorite in his next race. Recent fast workouts suggest a rebound, and his breeding suits the distance.
And this is where it gets intriguing: With so much speed, will Litmus Test's closing style be the key to success? Or will an early speed duel open the door for a late-running upset?
What's your prediction for the Los Alamitos Futurity? Do you agree that Litmus Test has what it takes to win, or is there another horse you favor? Share your thoughts and let's spark a lively discussion!
