The Del Mar Futurity has historically been one of the more influential West Coast 2-year-old  races for predicting future success, serving as a springboard for star 3-year-olds like Silver Charm, 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and Nyquist among others.

The Grade 1 race drew six contenders on Sunday’s closing-day card for the Del Mar summer meet with four entrants trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and the other two from the barn of trainer Doug O’Neill. Let’s take a look at the field for this year’s Del Mar Futurity, which Baffert has won a record 18 times, including the last four editions.

1. Brigante: He finished a distant third in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes, 9 ¾ lengths behind Baffert’s Desert Gate on Aug. 9. The stakes experience should help this well-bred 2-year-old, but that’s a significant amount of ground to make up while seeking his first win in his third start.

JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

2. Brant: Enters off a dominant 5 ¼-length runaway win July 26 at Del Mar that produced both the fastest Equibase Speed Figure and Beyer Speed Figure in the field. Showed maturity by rallying from off the pace in his debut and looks like a logical favorite for a Baffert-Flavien Prat tandem that has been potent at this meet. Gun Runner colt was a $3 million auction purchase in March and looks the part.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

3. Balboa: Finished 8 ¾ lengths behind Brant when third in his career debut then came back and dominated by 7 ¾ lengths when leading from start to finish Aug. 10 at Del Mar in his second race. Eligible to improve off that win and figures to have a very good chance at a top-three finish in a Grade 1 race.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

4. Civil Liberty: Overcame some early trouble to take the lead in his career debut but faded to finish second to Brant while beaten by 5 ¼ lengths. He has trained very well since then and should improve off that experience. Expect him to outrun his odds.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

5. Desert Gate: Followed a 2 ¼-length debut win in June at Santa Anita with a smashing 8 ¾-length romp in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes Aug. 9 on this track. Speed figures say stablemate Brant is faster, but don’t underestimate the importance of stakes experience. Figures to be challenged here for the first time but is bred to run longer and could rise to the occasion.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

6. Litmus Test: Last of Baffert-trained Del Mar Futurity quartet debuted with a three-quarter-length win Aug. 16 on this track and has worked well since. As a son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, he’s another who should relish added distance and looks like another serious prospect.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

THE PICK: Brant

LIVE LONGSHOT: Civil Liberty

SUPERFECTA: 2-6-5-4