Tipsheet: 2025 Los Alamitos Futurity

A really good cast of prospects will go postward in Saturday’s $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series qualifying event will reward the top five finishers with points on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure. 

Los Alamitos Futurity Picks

• #3 Litmus Test
• #2 Provenance
• #6 Captivator 

Los Alamitos Futurity Wagers

• $15 exacta 3 with 2,6
• $2 trifecta box 2,3,6

Los Alamitos Futurity Contenders

#1 ACKNOWLEDGEMEPLZ: Maiden winner from the O’Neill barn has run a pair of good ones to begin his career and will go long for the initial time on this occasion. The chestnut son of Bucchero has very good early speed, but the chestnut is a question mark at this distance and would be a bit of a surprise against this cast. Armando Ayuso will take the reins. 

#2 PROVENANCE: Bay son of Into Mischief out of the sensational Monomoy Girl ran well with trouble at first asking, which preceded a wire-to-wire maiden triumph at Santa Anita in his second appearance. The first of three Baffert entrants appears to have a really nice future, and the colt might sit a good trip off of a contested pace in his local bow. Kyle Frey inherits the ride. 

#3 LITMUS TEST: Grade-1 placed son of Nyquist was last seen finishing a solid fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar and is the one to beat. The $875,000 yearling purchase has an excellent foundation under him, and the Baffert pupil will be very tough to upend with anything resembling his latest endeavor. Juan Hernandez has the assignment. 

#4 BLACKSMITH: The third from the Baffert shedrow flopped as the 2-5 favorite in a maiden tilt at Del Mar in his second attempt and will try a route of ground for the first time on this occasion. Liam’s Map colt will appreciate the extended distance on Saturday, and it’s difficult to ignore this barn with juvenile runners, but others have more appeal to me. Kaz Kimura inherits the mount. 

#5 AMERICAN KING: American Pharoah colt did improve on the move to the grass in his second outing, but the Ruben Gomez pupil will need huge improvement in order to grab a share in the contest. He seems a bit overmatched at this stage of his development. 

#6 CAPTIVATOR: Sadler trainee is something of a wildcard in the cast, coming off a daylight maiden win against a field that didn’t appear to be very deep. The fleet son of Charlatan did win in dominant fashion, however, and he has been working in swift fashion in advance of his stakes bow, so he could be evolving into a good one. Hector Berrios will guide the May foal, who will challenge for the lead in the early going.