MESSIER, named after one of the great NHL players, Mark Messier, has done his namesake proud already after only three career races. Foaled in Ontario at Sam-Son Farms and sold as a yearling by the famed Canadian farm for $470,000, Messier is the heavy favourite for the  Grade 2, $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity on Saturday.

The contest at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-olds is the ninth of 10 races on the next-to-last day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos. Post time Saturday is 12 Noon PST. Scheduled post time for the Futurity is 3:58 p.m. (6:58 p.m. EST).

Messier, a bay colt, is a son of Empire Maker and the Smart Strike mare Checkered Past has won two of three and earned $105,600. After finishing second as the odds-on favorite in his debut June 27 at Los Alamitos, the Canadian bred has gone back-to-back, prevailing by a combined 10 lengths. In his most recent appearance, Messier won the Grade 3 Bob Hope by three lengths on Nov. 14, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

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