The 45th running of the Los Alamitos Futurity (Grade II) capped the 2025 two-year-old season on a cool Southern California afternoon, drawing a solid crowd for the $200,000 final graded stakes event for juveniles. While the field was compact at six starters, the race carried major implications for the early Kentucky Derby picture.
Heavy favorite Litmus Test, already proven against elite company with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, led a formidable trio of Bob Baffert-trained runners into the gate. When the dust settled, the barn swept the trifecta, with all three horses earning Derby qualifying points.
Litmus Test – Los Al Futurity Winner 2025
Photo Credit: Nancy Wilkinson
Provenance set the pace from the outset, with Litmus Test tracking comfortably in second under Juan Hernandez. Approaching the far turn, Hernandez asked his colt to engage, but it was stablemate Blacksmith who produced the strongest late run, scoring the victory. Litmus Test held well to the wire, finishing ahead of Provenance in third.
Litmus Test stopped the clock for the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.38, earning a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the top numbers recorded by a two-year-old this season. While the win narrowly eluded him, the effort reinforced his consistency and class.
Derby Trail Outlook
With juvenile prep races now complete, attention shifts to January 1, 2026, when all horses officially turn three and the Derby trail resets into high gear. Litmus Test earned 10 points for his Futurity effort, bringing his total to 19 Kentucky Derby points. That places him behind early Derby leader Ted Noffey, who sits atop the standings with 40 points following a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victory. As history repeatedly shows, however, the Derby trail is anything but static—and development from two to three often proves decisive.
Los Al Futurity Winners Circle Litmus Test – Bob Baffert
Photo Credit: Nancy Wilkinson
Payoffs, Earnings, and Pedigree
Litmus Test returned $3.20 to win and $2.20 to place, with no show wagering offered. His career bankroll now stands at $350,168.
The remainder of the field—Acknowledgemplz, American King, and Captivator—earned Derby points of 5, 3, 2, and 1, respectively.
Bred for classic distances, Litmus Test is by Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of Study Hard, a daughter of Malibu Moon. He races for SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables LLC, a partnership no stranger to Triple Crown success.
As the calendar turns, Litmus Test remains firmly on the radar as a colt with the pedigree, speed, and foundation to take the next step toward Louisville.
Sleigh drone LA Futurity 12-14-25
Photo Credit: Nancy Wilkinson
