by Jeff Apel

Midshipman rallied three wide approaching the stretch and edged runner-up Coronet of a Baron at the finish to post a nose win in the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Wednesday, closing day of the seaside track’s summer meet.

A Stonerside Stable homebred trained by Bob Baffert, two-year-old Midshipman earned his first stakes win and remained unbeaten in two career starts. The Unbridled’s Song colt entered off a debut win in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race on August 17 at Del Mar.

“How much horse is he? Here he runs two weeks ago and then he comes back and runs like this,” said jockey Tyler Baze, who rode Midshipman in both of his starts. “He’s very talented. He’s a special horse.”

Canadian multiple stakes winner Southern Exchange, the 2.80-to-1 favorite in a field of 11, dueled for the early lead and opened a half-length advantage through a half-mile in :46.53. Midshipman was positioned off the rail at the start and raced in fifth on the backstretch.

Rallying on the outside of foes, Midshipman moved up to third in early stretch, two lengths behind Coronet of a Baron. Unleashing a determined late run, Midshipman gamely won the seven-furlong race in 1:23.35 on a synthetic Polytrack surface.

Runner-up Coronet of a Baron finished three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Street Hero. Southern Exchange finished fourth.

Midshipman increased his earnings to $180,000. Bred in Kentucky, the chestnut colt is a half brother to Grade 2 winner Fast Cookie and is one of three winners from four starters out of multiple Grade 2 winner Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags.
For an Equibase chart, click here.

Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times Today assistant editor