Sep. 08, 2024 22:37 PM EST

Gaming Wins Del Mar Futurity, Giving Bob Baffert His 18Th Career Victory In The Race For 2-Year-Olds

In this image provided by Benoit Photo, winning trainer Bob Baffert, left, and jockey Juan Hernandez, right, talk after Muth's victory in the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes horse race Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this image provided by Benoit Photo, winning trainer Bob Baffert, left, and jockey Juan Hernandez, right, talk after Muth's victory in the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes horse race Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP)
In this image provided by Benoit Photo, Gaming, with Flavien Prat aboard, wins the Grade I, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity horse race Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP)
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DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Gaming won the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity by 1 3/4 lengths on Sunday, 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.

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AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

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