Litmus Test

Litmus Test won his career debut on Aug. 16, 2025, at Del Mar for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He followed with a third-place finish behind stablemate Brant in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity Sept. 7 at the seaside Southern California track.

Baffert opted to ship him to Kentucky next for the $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Oct. 4 at Keeneland, a qualifying race for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA as well as a points race for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. The bay Nyquist colt finished willingly for third in the Breeders’ Futurity behind dominant winner Ted Noffey.

Litmus Test was back in California for his final start of his 2-year-old campaign in the Grade 2 $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity going 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 12. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite on the tote board atop a six-horse field, Litmus Test pressed the pace throughout and battled for the lead down the stretch and eventually prevailed for a 1 1/4-length win with Juan Hernandez aboard. Litmus Test earned another 10 points on the Road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby for a total of 19 points to that point.

The colt made his first start of 2026 in the $1 million Rebel Stakes March 1 at Oaklawn Park. He set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel through the far turn before yielding to Class President and Silent Tactic. Those two fought to a close finish, while Litmus Test tired to finish third, earning 15 more qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Litmus Test was produced by the Malibu Moon mare Study Hard, a full-sister (same dam [mother] and sire [father]) to Grade 2 winner Sweet August Moon.