Shah, Baffert’s Newest ‘Big’ Horse?

Kaleem Shah’s newest “TDN Rising Star” Dortmund (Big Brown) looks to solidify his spot among the soon-to-be sophomores in today’s GI Los Alamitos Futurity, formally run at Hollywood Park as the GI CashCall Futurity. The Bob Baffert pupil created plenty of buzz with his impressive debut victory going 6 1/2 panels at Santa Anita just one day after fellow Shah colorbearer Bayern (Offlee Wild) captured the Nov. 1 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. The chestnut was even more impressive when he romped home by 7 3/4 lengths going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, and was installed as the 9-1 favorite among individual betting interests in Pool 1 of the GI Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed one day after he went two-for-two. Dortmund will attempt two turns for the first time in this 1 1/16-mile test. “Until you go two turns, you never know what they are going to do,” Baffert, who already owns a record six wins in this event, told the TDN. “Both of his races were pretty impressive. He is a big, big horse that just has that raw talent. We will find out more about him as we go along.” Hard-knocking Zayat Stables runner Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) has danced just about all the major dances for juvenile colts this season and comes back for more here in search of that elusive first black-type victory. Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who captured his eighth GI Starlet S. here last week with likely champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway), Mr. Z has built his $440,000 bankroll thus far on runner-up finishes. After a debut victory beneath the Twin Spires June 28, the chestnut missed by just a neck when second in Saratoga’s GIII Sanford S. July 19 and filled that spot again there in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 10. Fifth as the favorite in Churchill’s GIII Iroquois S. Sept. 6, he was second to “TDN Rising Star” Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway) in Keeneland’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Oct. 4 and was fifth again next out after a troubled trip in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Nov. 1. Mr. Z gamely dueled with “TDN Rising Star” Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense) to miss by just a nose in the GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S. last time Nov. 22, and seems to pose the biggest threat to the favorite here. Michael McCarthy saddles GIII Bob Hope S. winner No Problem (Munnings) in search of his third-straight victory. The P & G Stables LLC colorbearer graduated at second asking in a $75,000 maiden claimer going six furlongs at Santa Anita Oct. 26 prior to his victory in the seven-panel GIII Bob Hope S. on the Del Mar synthetic Nov. 15. Arnold Zetcher’s Firing Line (Line of David) gets tested for class here. Second on debut at Santa Anita Oct. 25, the $240,000 Keeneland April buy earned his diploma last time going 6 1/2 panels on the Del Mar synthetic Nov. 30 for trainer Simon Callaghan. With previous pilot Mike Smith choosing Mr. Z, Rafael Bejarano takes over the reins on Firing Line, who breezed a best-of-65 five panels in :58 4/5 at Santa Anita Dec. 11. Also being thrown into the deep end is the John Sadler-trained Bench Warrant (Street Boss), owned by Doubledown Stables Inc. A debut winner sprinting on the Del Mar synthetic July 19, the chestnut finished third in an optional claimer there last time Nov. 21.