Prospect Watch: Baffert's next filly to debut at Del Mar
Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Steve Asmussen, Shug McGaughey and Doug O’Neill all rank among the most successful and recognizable trainers in North America. They’ll also each have promising juveniles in action at Del Mar and Saratoga this week.
With fillies on dirt, colts on grass, stakes races for open company and state-breds, there’s something for everyone on the agenda.
Let’s dig in and review a few horses to watch during another great week of summer racing…
Friday, August 2
Del Mar Race 7: Graduation Stakes (5 ½ furlongs)
#10 Pas de Panique
Pas de Panique can’t boast a particularly fashionable pedigree or impressive purchase price, but this Mark Glatt-trained son of Smiling Tiger has already shown serious potential as a racehorse. After finishing second in his debut at Santa Anita behind future Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) winner Phantom Boss, Pas de Panique came right back to win a similar maiden race by a hard-fought nose. The third-place finisher, Thanks Mr. Edison, subsequently won a maiden claiming race at Del Mar by 9 ½ lengths. With form lines like these, Pas de Panique might outrun his 6-1 morning line odds in the Graduation Stakes.
Saturday, August 3
Del Mar Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (6 furlongs)
#3 Eclair
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert hasn’t started many juveniles at Del Mar this summer -- he’s 1-for-3 so far -- but after the popular unveiling of Immediate Impact, all eyes will be on his next debut filly to the races. Well-bred Eclair leads this six-furlong maiden special weight as a daughter of Bernardini out of Elbe, by Dansili. She solid for $420,000 as a 2-year-old in training in June and was immediately assigned to the work tab, posting seven timed moves since June 21. She’s flashed some speed and will have Baffert’s go-to jockey for juveniles, Drayden Van Dyke, in the saddle.
Del Mar Race 5: Sorrento Stakes (G2, 6 furlongs)
#1 Comical
Trained by Doug O’Neill, Comical will attempt an unusual double when she competes in the Sorrento Stakes. Three weeks ago, she won the Schuylerville Stakes (G3) at Saratoga against a classy field of East Coast fillies. If Comical can ship back home and add the Sorrento to her resume, she’ll have scored major victories at the two most prestigious summer race meets in North America.
Standing between Comical and an impressive stakes double is Amalfi Sunrise, a powerful 6 ¼-length debut winner sprinting 4 ½ furlongs at Santa Anita in June. Trained by Simon Callaghan, this daughter of Constitution ran legitimately fast from a speed figure perspective, earning numbers of 101 (Brisnet) and 88 (Beyer). A repeat of this eye-catching performance will likely land Amalfi Sunrise in the Sorrento winner’s circle, but Comical is a worthy opponent and their showdown should be exciting to watch.
Saratoga Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (8.5 furlongs on turf)
#2 Policy Option
One of two colts trained by Chad Brown in this two-turn grass heat, Policy Option sold for $240,000 as a yearling, a modest sum considering his regal pedigree. Policy Option is a son of Empire Maker out of the More Than Ready mare Starlight Tiara, already the dam of stakes winner and two-time Grade 1 competitor Surfside Tiara. Owned by Klaravich Stables, one of Brown’s major clients, Policy Option is stepping into the big leagues after conducting most of his pre-race training at Monmouth Park.
#5 Brewmeister
The second Brown runner was purchased by Peter Brant for $300,000 as a yearling and arguably brings a more grass-oriented pedigree to his debut, being a son of Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Point of Entry out of a mare by European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway. Like Policy Option, Brewmeister recently arrived at Saratoga from Monmouth Park and figures to be heavily supported in the wagering.
Saratoga Race 3: Maiden Special Weight (7 furlongs)
#4 Wayne O
There’s a lot of class in Wayne O’s pedigree, so it’s not surprising that he sold for $750,000 as a yearling. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Wayne O is a son of Into Mischief out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Silky Serenade, making him a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Restless Rider. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Wayne O has been breezing steadily at Keeneland and Saratoga in preparation for his debut and will have hot jockey Jose Ortiz in the saddle on Saturday. He figures to be a popular choice at the betting windows.
#10 Amends
Shug McGaughey conditions this Phipps Stable homebred son of Uncle Mo out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Guilty Verdict. McGaughey isn’t really known for winning with first-time starters (he’s 1-for-27 with juvenile first-timers at Saratoga since 2014), but Amends has a classy pedigree and brings a solid slate of half-mile workouts into his debut. Even if Amends doesn’t fire his best shot on Saturday, he has the pedigree and connections to be a factor down the road.