Litmus Test Makes The Grade In Los Alamitos Futurity

The road that leads to Kentucky Derby 152 is full of twists and turns. The ability to navigate the highway that ends at the starting gates on the first Saturday in May is a multi-part test. These Thoroughbreds chasing immortality first must prove they belong. Those that happened to witness the grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on December 13 saw a talented runner prove he is on the early honor roll.

Litmus Test is a talented two-year-old son of 2016 Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist. Running out of the Bob Baffert barn, this $875,000 purchase as a yearling ran to expectations in winning this mile and a sixteenth exam on the Southern California dirt. Challenged throughout, this grandson of Malibu Moon clarified his position as a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender.

“I think he put himself on the list of solid Derby contenders for sure”, says Bob Baffert, a six-time winner of the world’s most famous race. “He handled things extremely well and a strong gallop out tells us added distance shouldn’t be a problem. He had been working well and we had indications he was ready to run a big race.”

Breaking from the gates alertly under jockey Juan Hernandez, Litmus Test stalked a solid early pace (23.26 opening quarter, 46.67 half mile). Keeping his Kentucky-bred in the clear rounding the far turn, California’s top jock urged his mount and Litmus Test responded. Digging in down the stretch, Litmus Test battled with determination as a stubborn stablemate, Provenance, continued to run strong. Lengthening his stride with a purpose, Baffert’s Test answered the questions put before him. Clearing his challenger, he ran through the wire a good length and a quarter ahead of a closing Blacksmith.

“He’s a quality colt that has never run a bad race”, says Baffert, who enjoyed his record-extending ninth win in this Futurity race. “He has proven he can ship and handle adversity. We are going to give him a little freshening and then figure out a schedule that can hopefully get him to the Kentucky Derby”

The Los Alamitos Futurity win was the second victory for Litmus Test in five career starts and marked his fourth consecutive start in Stakes company. Having previously run in the Del Mar Futurity (4^th place finish), Claiborne Breeder’s Futurity at Keeneland (3^rd), and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (4^th), Tested he has been. His career earnings are now standing at $350,186 and he stands in second place on the Kentucky Derby qualifying points board with 19. The next start for Litmus Test is to be determined.