Champagne Room scores as Sorrento favorite
DEL MAR, Calif. - The maiden Champagne Room displayed experience befitting a veteran in Saturday’s $200,000 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar.
In her second start, Champagne Room ($4.60) closed from third in a field of five to win the Grade 2 race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 1 1/4 lengths as the favorite. The victory puts Champagne Room on course for the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 3. The Grade 1 Debutante is the championship race of the meeting for 2-year-old fillies.
There was a bit of a gamble involved in the decision to start Champagne Room in the Sorrento. Champagne Room was supplemented to the race for $2,000 on Wednesday. She races for the partnership that includes Joe Ciagloa, Exline-Border Racing, and Sharon Alesia.
“We decided to come here and it was a good decision,” trainer Peter Eurton said.
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Champagne Room was timed in 1:16.35. She stalked pacesetter Miss Southern Miss through early fractions of 22.63 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45 for a half-mile before engaging the leader in the final furlong.
Quickly, Champagne Room was in control of the race.
“I like the way she got away,” Eurton said. “I like the way she tracked. When she made the move in the middle of the turn, I was confident.”
Miss Southern Miss, second in the Landaluce Stakes at Santa Anita on July 9, held second, finishing 4 1/2 lengths in front of Auntjenn, who was followed by Rooms and Unforgivable U. Ciao Bella Rosa, a maiden who was also supplemented, was scratched on Saturday morning.
Miss Southern Miss is another candidate for the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs. Trainer Keith Desormeaux said the filly is still learning how to rate after three starts.
“I can see that her stride is not as fluid as it should be,” Desormeaux said. “She’s so worried about going fast. We can teach her to relax and we’ll see the real Miss Southern Miss.”
Champagne Room, by Broken Vow, was second in a five-furlong maiden race here on July 16 in her debut. She was purchased for $310,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training sale in April in Florida.
Champagne Room has earned $132,600.