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Gaming wins Del Mar Futurity, giving Bob Baffert his 18th career victory in the race for 2-year-olds

Bob Baffert

Trainer Bob Baffert outside his barn at the Churchill Downs backside. “It doesn’t matter if they’re running a burro,” rival trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “They say, ‘Well, here’s Baffert. He wins races.’ So they bet.” Baffert has Game Winner, Improbable and Roadster in the 2019 Kentucky Derby. April 30, 2019 Bob Baffert

Matt Stone/Courier Journal/Matt Stone/Courier Journal, Louisville Courier Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC

DEL MAR, Calif. — Gaming won the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity by 1 3/4 lengths, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his 18th career victory in the Grade 1 race for 2-year-olds.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Gaming ran seven furlongs in 1:23.02 and paid $9.80 to win. The colt earned a credit toward entry fees for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at the same seaside track north of San Diego in November.

“He relaxed well; he was a bit on his toes before the race so I kept him quiet,” Prat said. “Very straightforward, and leveled out nice. Bob just told me not to rush him and I thought I was in a good spot on my way around the corner.”

Gaming improved to 2-0 in his young career, with earnings of $225,000.

McKinzie Street was second and Citizen Bull, also trained by Baffert, finished third. The trainer’s third entry, Getaway Car, was fourth in the field of seven.