Officer Goes in Hollywood Futurity

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2001) - Officer will attempt to avenge back-to-back defeats Saturday in the Grade I $350,000 Hollywood Futurity for 2-year-olds at Hollywood Park.

The California-bred son of Bertrando, out of the Septieme Ciel mare St. Helens Shadow, was bred by Pam and Marty Wygod and sold at last year's Del Mar Yearling Sale for $175,000 before being resold as a 2-year-old at Barretts for $700,000.

An odds-on favorite in each of his starts, Officer won his first five, was a disappointing fifth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, then was brought back on one week's rest and finished second to fellow Cal-bred Yougottawanna in the California Cup Juvenile. David Flores will be Officer's third jockey in as many races, replacing Gary Stevens, who is riding in Hong Kong this weekend.

Trainer Bob Baffert originally said Officer would skip the Futurity and run in the Dec. 29 California Breeders Championship at seven furlongs, but changed his mind to see if Officer could win a two-turn route. His only win longer than seven furlongs was the one-turn, 1 1/16-mile Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.

Yougottawanna, a son of Candi's Gold, out of the Midway Circle mare Chapel's Circle, also is a likely Futurity starter. He was bred by Halo Farms.

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