Bob Baffert tasted victory and defeat simultaneously in the $300,000 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity S. (G1) on Saturday when Solomini crossed the wire first, but was disqualified to third, with his stablemate McKinzie being promoted to the winner's spot.
McKinzie was favored over his stablemate, but Solomini looked the best in the stretch, as he battled with McKinzie and Instilled Regard in a tight three-way fight for the win. Solomini, who bested McKinzie by three parts of a length, was determined by the stewards to have interfered Instilled Regard in deep stretch. The official final results placed McKinzie first, with Solomini behind Instilled Regard.
"I didn't think there was going to be a change," Baffert said. "(McKinzie) had a rough trip around the first turn and he got a little tired at the end. It's a long stretch and he hooked up with (Instilled Regard) early. (Flavien) Prat (on Solomini) rode a great race just sitting behind them. Unfortunately (Solomini) will lay on horses in the lane and you have to be careful with him. Prat might have gotten a little over aggressive. It's really too bad they took him down. He was the better horse today."
McKinzie, who broke his maiden by 5 1/2-lengths and earned a gaudy 99 Beyer Speed Figure on Oct. 28, is now 2-for-2 and has earned $210,000 for owners Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman.
Baffert has a remarkable 10 wins in the Futurity, including the last four, which have been run at Los Alamitos following the closing of Hollywood Park.
McKinzie earned 10 points and Solomini 2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series, which is used to determine the starters in next year's Derby.