DEL MAR, Calif. – The fastest filly drew the worst post for the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Saturday, but does breaking from the rail really matter for Explora?
Twenty days after a smashing debut, Explora wheels back in the seven-furlong Debutante. Sure, the rail is a hurdle. But it’s not a deal-breaker. And the 88 Beyer Speed Figure by Explora, third-highest by a juvenile filly in North America, alleviates post-position concerns of bettors. As for the trainer, not so much.
“I don’t like having the one, especially with a 2-year-old,” Bob Baffert said. “You just have to deal with it. All three fillies, we knew they were really good.”
Baffert’s three Debutante starters are Explora, the 8-5 favorite off her debut romp; 2-1 second choice Himika, who won both starts by open lengths including a Grade 3; and maiden winner Bottle of Rouge.
Debut winners La Wally and Bourbon and Ginger have trained as if they will improve second out. Outsiders in the Debutante are maiden runner-up Grand Mary and maiden-claiming winner Fourlynnes. Seven entered the Debutante, race 6 on an 11-race Saturday card.
Juan Hernandez rode all three Baffert runners last out, and Baffert said the jockey chose which to ride in Debutante. Hernandez chose the favorite. Kazushi Kimura rides Himika, and Mike Smith picks up Bottle of Rouge.
Baffert said Explora’s explosive debut was not a surprise.
“She was working really well. She was really fit for that and handled it really well,” he said.
Explora, by Blame, popped the gate in her Aug. 17 debut, broke it open near the quarter pole, and won by almost five lengths in a fast 1:03.15.
“She’s quick,” Baffert said.
Explora is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. But can a filly go from a maiden race to a Grade 1 win? It happens every summer. Nine of the last 10 Debutante winners entered off a maiden race.
Himika was Baffert’s first 2-year-old starter this season, on June 12 at Santa Anita. She won by six lengths with a 90 Beyer, second highest this year by a juvenile filly. Himika then won the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes with an 81. Interestingly over past decade, only one Sorrento winner won the Debutante; eight have tried. Himika is owned by Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp.
Bottle of Rouge finished second to Himika at Santa Anita, then won a Del Mar maiden race second time out with a 78 Beyer. Bottle of Rouge is owned by Baffert’s wife, Jill, who named the filly after a verse in the Harry Styles song “Grapejuice.”
Baffert said Bottle of Rouge “changed a lot down here [at Del Mar]. These fillies, we keep then in the [outside] pens here, they really like it.” From post 5 of 7 on Saturday, Bottle of Rouge has the option of pressing or stalking the pace.
A pair of debut winners in the Debutante are likely to improve. To win, they must improve. La Wally, trained by Mark Glatt, earned a 62 Beyer winning at five furlongs. Bourbon and Ginger, trained by Richard Mandella, earned a 69 at 5 1/2 furlongs.
La Wally’s trainer believes she benefits stretching to seven furlongs.
“I was a little worried [five furlongs] might be a hair short for her, and it almost was,” Glatt said. “But she showed a lot of grit and determination.”
In the seven weeks since she ran, Glatt believes La Wally, by Constitution, has changed.
“She’s done extremely well,” Glatt said. “Her workouts, particularly the last two, have been very good. She’s galloped out strongly and we kind of feel like the more ground the better for her.”
Antonio Fresu rides La Wally, who is expected to rally from behind.
Bourbon and Ginger won her debut Aug. 2 with a pressing trip over Grandma Mary. Bourbon and Ginger, by Bolt d’Oro, has moved forward since her debut, according to Mandella.
“She’s trained even better from the race. I expect her to run really good,” Mandella said. “She’s very smart and seems to have a lot of class.”
Mirco Demuro rides Bourbon and Ginger, who is likely to be forwardly placed from the outside post.
While the Debutante sorts out the late-summer juvenile filly division in California, the circuit’s next graded stakes will finalize the local contingent for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in fall. The Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes at 1 1/16 miles is on Oct. 4 at Sana Anita.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.