Del Mar Debutante: American Cleopatra could be a Rising Star

Oftentimes the brilliant genes of one racehorse are not passed on down the line. Some horses sit in the shadow of their Grade 1 winning siblings, and horses out of the best mares, bred to the best stallions never live up to what was expected. American Cleopatra could be one of those horses, or she could prove doubters wrong, starting with the $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante this Saturday.

When American Cleopatra entered the starting gate for her first race ever just over a month ago, she was not the first choice, as one would expect. She was not even the second choice. The two-year-old full sister to 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah was sent off as the co-third choice at 7-1. In fact, it was her stablemate Jeweled that was the 4-5 favorite, and Jeweled had to settle for fourth.

Not too much hope was placed in American Cleopatra to be what her older brother was, but she did accomplish something that he did not – she broke her maiden first time out.

American Cleopatra started off in second, but it was not long before she took control of the race and never looked back. The Pioneerof the Nile-Littleprincessemma filly went on to win by two lengths without much of a challenge. Even though no one wants to place high expectations on American Cleopatra, she did give us a little bit hope that maybe, just maybe, there might be something good in her future.

Just like American Pharoah, American Cleopatra was bred by Zayat Stables and sent to McKathan Brothers Training Center to prepare for her racing career. While the McKathan Brothers, J.B. and Kevin, did not take her in with expectations to follow in her brother’s footsteps, they still had praise for the filly. “She’s got quite a bit of his mind,” J.B. McKathan commented in an America’s Best Racing video featuring the filly in training. “She’s got a very good mind.”

Following her first race, trainer Bob Baffert also reported, “She’s a sweetheart at the barn. She’s very sweet and he was sweet.” The physical build of American Cleopatra may differ from American Pharoah, but their temperaments are much the same.

Though one race is not enough to tell what a horse will become on the track, the fact Baffert entered American Cleopatra in the Del Mar Debutante shows that he thinks there is something more in this filly. American Pharoah had finished fifth in his race debut at Del Mar, but was next sent out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, which he led all the way. From there, the rest is history.

The stories between brother and sister are similar, but American Cleopatra’s test will not be easy. Champagne Room enters the Del Mar Debutante off an impressive win in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes after running second in her debut. She is the lone stakes winner in the field and will run with the most weight at 123 lbs. Like American Cleopatra, other maiden winners carrying 120 lbs. include Sorrento runner-up Miss Southern Miss, Morganite, and American Cleopatra’s stablemate Noted and Quoted. Carrying 118 lbs. are Holey Mosey, who enters off a maiden claiming win, and Union Strike, second to American Cleopatra in her debut.

Champagne Room goes into the race with the best record so far, but Noted and Quoted comes in off a thrilling maiden win. The filly was fourth in her debut, but came back in her second race to win by 9 ½ lengths.

American Cleopatra will have Rafael Bejarano aboard as she stretches out to seven furlongs. With American Pharoah retired to stud, it’s exciting to have his little sister on the track. She may win, or she may not, but it remains a thrill to have a little bit of hope in something that could be great.

By Christine Oser