Rolling Fog takes Del Mar Futurity for Baffert

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) – Trainer Bob Baffert has yet another promising young colt after a win Wednesday by Rolling Fog in the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity, a race for 2-year-olds that often serves as an early indicator of Kentucky Derby candidates and came two days after the death of Baffert’s father.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who led all jockeys in earnings at the Del Mar meeting that ended Wednesday, Rolling Fog ran second for most of the race, took the lead on the turn and gamely held off a charge from the favorite Know More to remain undefeated in two starts, covering seven furlongs in 1:22.96.

Baffert, a thoroughbred Hall-of-Famer who has saddled three Kentucky Derby winners, has now won the Del Mar Futurity 11 times. His father, William G. Baffert, nicknamed “The Chief,” died Monday in Arizona.

Baffert was at his home in Arcadia on Wednesday with an assistant saddling his colt at Del Mar, but said on his Twitter account “I think The Chief gave Rolling Fog a little push turning for home.”

Rolling Fog paid $16.60, $7 and $4.80. Know More paid $3.40 and $2.80, while Scherer Magic paid $5.80 to show.

Baffert won 85 races at the Del Mar meeting, putting him second to Peter Miller, who won 105, in the trainer standings.

Bejarano was the leading jockey in purse earnings with nearly $3.5 million but was second to Joe Talamo in wins, 241-225.

Earlier Wednesday, Talamo rode Dry Summer to a comeback victory by a nose over Power Broker in the $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes.