Del Mar Debutante

The betting public had Saturday's GI Del Mar Debutante down to a battle of Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Stars' Explora (Blame) and Himika (Curlin), but Jill Baffert's Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso)--easily the least-fancied of a trio from that barn--proved best on the afternoon, causing a 9-1 upset. Veering in at the break, the $60,000 Keeneland November weanling and $100,000 Keeneland September yearling took up a mid-field berth in the early stages as 3-5 Explora rolled up at the fence to take up the running, while Himika sat a good...

A cool $15.6 million in prize money is up for grabs Saturday afternoon at Kentucky Downs, as a 12-race program features no fewer than five graded events each worth at least $2 million at distances from 6 1/2 to 12 furlongs. The GII Kentucky Turf Cup wraps up the main events on the afternoon, and a field of 11 will head to the post for a circuit of the undulating turf course, with a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf on the line. Fort Washington (War Front) is arguably...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest on the Japan Cup undercard Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse: Sunday, November 24, 2024 6th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($89k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT RHINO (JPN) (c, 2, Into Mischief--Princess Noor, by Not This Time) is the first foal for his dam, the $1.35-million topper at the 2020 OBS April...

A 3-year-old filly bred by Spendthrift Farm and sired by one of the nursery's top stallions gutted out the victory in Friday's seventh race at Del Mar. That in itself was unremarkable and not unexpected, but the result was, as 21-5 third choice Sandy Bottom (Omaha Beach)--making her first start since running her record to two-for-two in the Anoakia Stakes some 390 days ago--was quickly into stride from the outside gate in a field of six and made every yard of the running to just hold an equally game effort...

Unless you've been under a rock recently, you are well aware Darley's Nyquist has been the buzz horse the last few weeks. It's for good reason. Just two Grade I races for 2-year-old fillies on dirt have been contested in North America so far this year, the Aug. 31 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga and the Sept. 7 Del Mar Debutante Stakes in California. Daughters of Nyquist--Immersive and Tenma--won both. Logically, success on the track should beget success in the sales ring. No where was that more evident than at the...

It's been nearly 30 years since trainer Bob Baffert won his first GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes with Batroyale back in 1995. The Hall of Fame conditioner looks to have a stranglehold on this year's renewal of the seven-furlong contest, as he sends out a pair of big-money fillies, each campaigned by previous Debutante scorers. Front and center is 'TDN Rising Star' Nooni (Win Win Win), the $1.8-million topper from this year's OBS March Sale, who looks to become the second winner of the event in the last four years...

Some eleven years after her multiple champion dam Beholder (Henny Hughes) was just nosed out of a victory, 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) did her momma proud with a thoroughly dominating performance in the GI FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante on closing weekend at the seaside oval. It was an effort that even exceeded the already lofty expectations of her Hall of Fame connections. "She's been doing things in her training that 2-year-olds aren't supposed to do," said her jockey Mile Smith. "She's really special. She's like her mother....

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the summer's boutique meetings. Summer Breezes highlights debuting 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. To follow are the entries for Saturday at Del Mar, including previously raced fillies going postward in the GI Del Mar Debutante: Saturday, September 9, 2023 Del Mar 3, $82k, 2yo, f, (S), 5 1/2f, 5:30 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($),...

Peter Redekop's And Tell Me Nolies paid tribute to her late champion sire Arrogate Saturday, nailing heavy favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Home Cooking (Honor Code) on the line to take the GI Del Mar Debutante S. Given a 9-1 chance with Home Cooking pounded down to 3-5, And Tell Me No Lies shuffled a bit at the start as her neighbors on each side broke in her direction, but she did not falter and moved up to establish position as the chalk took control, clocking a :22.01 first quarter....

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S., a race with a surprising amount of repercussion on the sport. First run the year before Queen Elizabeth II took the throne, the Del Mar Debutante has seen 72 winners, with D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert together combining for more than a quarter of those visits to the winner's circle. It's been run on Polytrack; it's been...

Little Red Feather Racing's Elm Drive (Mohaymen) and Baoma Corporation's Eda (Munnings), who were separated by just a head after battling the length of the stretch in the GIII Sorrento S. Aug. 6, renew their rivalry in the GI TVG Del Mar Debutante Sunday. Elm Drive, trained by Phil D'Amato, romped by eight lengths in her five-furlong debut at Los Alamitos June 26 and refused to let Eda by when winning the six-furlong Sorrento. Eda has yet to finish in front in her two-race career. The Bob Baffert trainee inherited...

Dual Grade I winner Princess Noor (Not This Time--Sheza Smoke Show, by Wilko) has been retired from racing with a soft tissue injury after being pulled up as the heavy favorite in Saturday's GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos, owner Zedan Racing Stables reported Sunday morning. "She's a star and a very talented filly," said Amr Zedan. "She had the race and most probably a few more Grade Is to her name. Our focus now is to get her healthy and off to Kentucky to be the best mom she...