Since 2000, seven fillies who would later be crowned Champion Two Year Olds have contested the seven furlong Del Mar Debutante (G-1). Three of them, Halfbridled, Sweet Catomine and Stardom Bound, won the Debutante and completed a Debutante/BC Juvenile Fillies double. Tempera, Blind Luck and Beholder were runners-up in the Debutante but won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. All would capture the Eclipse Award as outstanding two year old filly. Last year’s Debutante heroine She’s a Tiger won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by a thrilling nose, but was disqualified for interference. She was still named Champion Juvenile Filly.
This year, a field of nine hopefuls will enter the starting gate at Del Mar. All except two fillies won their last start. Bob Baffert has sent out seven winners since 1997. Let’s review the field.
SEDUIRE (Elusive Quality - Holy Eclair, by Holy Bull) was a distant second, beaten by over six lengths by Sunset Glow in the Sorrento. The pretty gray filly tries Polytrack for the first time. Her sire gets 12% winners at Del Mar and enters for leading trainer Hollendorfer. Top jock Elvis Trujillo rides.
MANAHATTA (Old Fashioned - Ermelinda, by Sea Hero) made all of the pace in her debut, beating Windy Forecast and Dad’s Princess by a length, despite drifting out. Manahatta is her sire’s only winner over the Del Mar Polytrack. She’s a half to stakes placed Game for More and Terrys Tom Cat. She’s a stablemate to Seduire, and Bejarano rides back.
STARLET O'HARA (Discreetly Mine - My Chanel, by Gilded Time) showed improvement in her second start, stretching out and switching to Poly. Discreetly Mine is a superior Polysire. Mentioned on an early June Kiddie List, Starlet O’Hara is a half to multiple graded stakes placed turf router Trend. Their dam is a half to the graded stakes winning veterans WANDERING BOY, EARLY WARNING and graded stakes placed Vivid Sunset. The second dam VID KID is a stakes winning Juvenile. Starlet O’Hara is trained by Bob Baffert.
DAD'S PRINCESS (Mineshaft - Rooneys Princess, by Deputy Minister) was off slow in her debut, but made up ground to finish third to Manahatta, earning the highest late pace speed figure in the field. Extra distance will help, but Mineshaft’s progeny are 1-28 at Del Mar. Dad’s Princess is a half sister to Mountaineer Juvenile winner Prince Rooney. Their second dam is Champion Older Mare, Princess Rooney. Cassidy/Smith have won/placed in three of four attempts in the last two weeks.
SUNSET GLOW (Exchange Rate - Perfectforthepart, by Dynaformer) jetted to a 3 ¼ length win in the Sorrento Stakes in her last start. Fillies exiting that race have done well in the Debutante. In 2012 EXECUTIVEPRIVILEGE captured both races. Last year, SHE’S A TIGER was second in the Sorrento before being crowned in the Debutante. The pretty gray Sunset Glow is the first foal born of her stakes placed dam. There’s little blacktype in this distaff family, although the third dam ANDESTINE is a Grade 1 winner.
HER EMMYNENCY (Successful Appeal - Chic Dancer, by Joyeux Danseur) sat in third in the early stages of her debut before scoring a 2 ¾ length win. She was mentioned in the July 8 Kiddie List. Her dam won the G-3 Modesty at 1 3/16 miles and the 1 1/16 mile Flawlessly both over the lawn. There isn’t much blacktype in the first two distaff generations, but the second dam is a half sister to 3 time California Champ BEST PAL. Her Emmynency has posted two strong post-race breezes.
STEALTH DRONE (Smoke Glacken - Stealth Cat, by Magic Cat) battled gamely on the inside and fought back after being headed, earning a determined ½ length victory in her debut in a maiden claimer. She was quickly snatched up by Doug O’Neil. Her dam is a multiple stakes winning sprinter and owns the only blacktype in two generations of this female family.
CONQUEST ECLIPSE (Malibu Moon - Grand Traverse Bay, by Repriced) was mentioned on the July 1 Kiddie List. Trained by Mark Casse, Conquest Eclipse stopped the clock in 1:11.48 in her debut at Churchill. This will be Conquest Eclipse’s first start in California. Her unraced dam is a half to Sweet Damsel, who bore Travers Stakes winner and sire COLONEL JOHN. Conquest Eclipse has posted a series of five furlong breezes for her start in the Debutante.
WINDY FORECAST (4-1) fought hard in her debut and finished in between Manahatta and Dad’s Princess. Windy Forecast is a half sister to stakes winners TRES CORONAS, DESCAPATE and stakes placed Brocco Bry. Talamo sticks with Her Emmynency and Kenty D. picks up the mount.
Selections
Speed from the rail has been dominant the entire Del Mar Meet. Last week, 67% of the front runners wired the field. Six of the nine fillies in the Debutante have early speed. That being said, all but one of the last seven winners sat in fourth place or farther back before making their move. Last year’s winner She’s a Tiger, was a far back second place before making up almost five lengths to win.
SUNSET GLOW is the class of the field and the most accomplished with four starts under her girth. STARLET O'HARA doesn’t need the lead to win and is Baffert’s sole entry. HER EMMYNENCY has a good running style for this race. Have to respect SEDUIRE, who has speed on the rail. DAD'S PRINCESS will benefit from the extra distance.
#5 SUNSET GLOW
#3 STARLET O'HARA
#6 HER EMMYNENCY
#4 DAD'S PRINCESS – longshot pick
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