Concave, She's a Tiger Meet Again at Del Mar

Reddam Racing’s Concave and Mark DeDomenico’s She’s a Tiger, who staged a rousing battle in the Sorrento Stakes, will be rematched Saturday in the 63rd running of the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs.

The Debutante, Del Mar’s traditional championship race for two-year-old fillies, kicks off the Labor Day holiday and final weekend of the summer racing season which will conclude Wednesday, Sept. 4. 

A half-length is all that separated the twosome at the end of the 6 ½ furlong Sorrento Stakes with Concave prevailing over a game She’s a Tiger. Patrick Valenzuela picks up the mount on Concave for trainer Doug O’Neill, while Gary Stevens has the call on She’s Tiger from trainer Jeff Bonde.

Looming a strong contender is Sprouts, also owned by Reddam, who is a two-time stakes-winner, having accounted for the Cinderella Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park and the restricted C.T.B.A. Stakes July 19 at Del Mar. Mario Gutierrez has the call.

Other Debutante entrants are Awesome Baby, Martin Garcia; Fascinating, Mike Smith; Bajan, Victor Espinoza; Southern Sunshine, Garrett Gomez, and Secret Compass, Joe Talamo.

Awesome Baby, from the powerful barn of trainer Bob Baffert, a seven-time Debutante winner, is sure to attract strong support after an impressive maiden victory in fast time. Other maiden winners in the field are Bajan and Secret Compass, while Fascinating and Southern Sunshine have yet to win their first races.

A supporting feature Saturday is the $90,000 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes with Liaison, a scratch from last Sunday’s $1 million TVG Pacific Classic, heading a field of nine going one mile on the main track. His foes will be Summer Hit, Wilkinson, Soi Phet, Clubhouse Ride, Lucky Primo, Batti Man, Sky Kingdom and Hawk’s Eyes.