Pricey Nyquist Colt Decisive on Debut at Del Mar

This column highlights the performances of 2-year-old maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

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The definition of a litmus test, according to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, is "a test in which a single factor (such as an attitude, event, or fact) is decisive." In horse racing, there is little room for nuance when it comes to deciding the winner of each race; it's whatever horse crosses the wire in front. There was zero uncertainty in who was the winner of race 3, a 5 1/2-furlong 2-year-old maiden special weight, at Del Mar Aug. 16, and that was Litmus Test.

Nine days after the curtain closed on a record Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, one of the sale's 2024 graduates, Litmus Test, scored first time out for trainer Bob Baffert. The son of Darley stallion Nyquist , Litmus Test was an exceptional-looking yearling, bringing $875,000 in the ring to the powerhouse ownership group of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables. 

Litmus Test was just one of a string of impressive maiden winners unleashed by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert this summer, who also sent out fellow Maiden Watcher Brant earlier in the Del Mar meet. 

Sent off as the post time favorite over stablemate Falcon Jet, a runner-up at first asking two weeks earlier, Litmus Test raced professional-like in his debut. Taken back to third early under jockey Juan Hernandez, the bay advanced into the far turn, was angled out, and took dead aim at the pacesetter. Leveling down gamely, Litmus Test surged to the front and maintained his advantage to the wire, prevailing by three-quarters of a length over a closing Falcon Jet.

Litmus Test passed his exam in a final time of 1:03.64.

Bred by Machmer Mall in Kentucky, Litmus Test is the third winner produced by the Malibu Moon mare Study Hard, who hails from the family of graded stakes-winning race mares Sweet August Moon and Silent Turn.