Bob Baffert already racked up six wins in the GI CashCall Futurity during the race's time at Hollywood Park, but since the late-season juvenile event's relocation to Los Alamitos Racecourse in 2014, the Hall of Famer has been unbeatable, winning each of the three prior runnings contested in Cypress. He'll play another strong hand in the latest renewal Saturday, saddling the top two choices on the morning line in a field of five. Getting the 6-5 nod is the much-buzzed-about 'TDN Rising Star' McKinzie (Street Sense), named for the late, long-time Los Al executive Brad McKinzie. The bay earned a very strong 99 Beyer Speed Figure for a 5 1/2-length romp going seven panels at Santa Anita Oct. 28, and the form of that race has held up well, producing a pair of next-out graduates. The Pegram, Watson and Weitman representative will be joined by his stablemate and Zayat colorbearer Solomini (Curlin), a debut winner sprinting at Del Mar who checked in well-beaten seconds in both the GI FrontRunner S. Sept. 30 and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 4. If someone upends the Baffert one-two punch, it's likely to be Joe Peacock homebred Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper). Beaten a head first up in May by a subsequently stakes-placed runner, he bested a pair of next-out graduates in June. The Mike Machowsky trainee was last seen romping by six lengths in the Golden Nugget S. at Golden Gate Nov. 11.
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