DEL MAR – It has been five years since trainer Bob Baffert has been required to make his way to the winner's circle following the Del Mar Futurity.

For the seven years before that, it was an annual trek.

But today Baffert sends out Midshipman for the $250,000, Grade I Futurity, the traditional closing-day feature here that determines the 2-year-old champion of the meeting. Midshipman is a colt running under some unique circumstances – between owners might be the best way to put it – in the 61st edition of the event.

Track oddsmaker Jeff Tufts was impressed enough by Midshipman's 1¼-length victory in the colt's racing debut here on Aug. 17 to make him the 3-1 morning-line favorite in a field of 11 for the 7-furlong run.

“I was surprised by that,” Baffert said. “He ran well, he's a nice, well-bred horse and he's talented. But he's lacking some in seasoning and there are some other very good horses in there.”

Baffert's parade of Futurity winners started with Silver Charm in 1996 and continued with Souvenir Copy, Worldly Manner, Forest Camp, Flame Thrower, Officer and Icecoldbeeratreds through 2002.

That's where the parade stopped, however. And last year, with Del Mar converting to a Polytrack synthetic surface that frustrated his major owner of young horses, Ahmed Zayat, to the point of a walkout, Baffert wound up without a starter in the field of 13 over which Georgie Boy prevailed.

This summer hasn't been much better than last here for Baffert. The stable's 2007 total was 10 wins from 59 starters, putting Baffert seventh on the meeting trainer standings. Entering the final day, with only Midshipman to saddle, Baffert has eight wins from 62 starters, tied for sixth.

Midshipman put together a string of solid workouts leading up to his Aug. 17 race. The victory under Tyler Baze, who returns to ride today, was achieved in 1:04 for 5½ furlongs. It was accorded a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, highest of any Futurity entrant.

Until Monday, Midshipman, an Unbridled's Song colt, was owned by the Stonerside Stable of Robert and Janice McNair. But that is in the process of changing.

Robert McNair also owns the NFL's Houston Texans. A Stonerside Stable release on Monday said McNair was selling the 2,000-acre farm near Stoner Creek outside Paris, Ky. The farm includes 80 horses in training and about 170 others to Sheikh Mohammed bid Rashid Al Maktoum's Darley Stable.

“Janice and I have loved every minute of owning Stonerside,” McNair was quoted in the release. “But I have a duty to the Houston Texans now and it has become increasingly difficult to focus on both ventures.”

Baffert, who has two horses in training for Stonerside, was contacted yesterday by McNair and Darley representatives and told the horses would continue in his care. Baffert's understanding is that Midshipman will be carrying the Stonerside silks in the Futurity.

Southern Exchange, undefeated through three starts at Woodbine in Canada, is the 7-2 second choice on the opening line and Believe in Hope, like Midshipman a winner of one career start here, the 9-2 third choice.