Baffert tightens screws on Debutante trio

DEL MAR, Calif. – With last weekend’s conquest of Saratoga still fresh, trainer Bob Baffert was back on the scene at Del Mar on Monday morning, working his three Del Mar Debutante prospects in hopes of knocking off that Grade 1 race on Saturday for the eighth time.

American Cleopatra, American Gal, and Noted and Quoted – each a winner of a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies in her last start – all worked five furlongs Monday, with extensive gallop-outs designed to have them fit for what is shaping up as a very competitive race.

American Cleopatra is the best known of the trio, being a full sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. She progressed in her training leading up to her debut July 31 and has retained that edge, with a strong gallop-out following the work on Monday.

She worked in company with Noted and Quoted. They began at the 4 1/2-furlong pole, went out five furlongs for the work, and then galloped out another quarter-mile. American Cleopatra, under Rafael Bejarano, started one length back, and they were even when the work ended, so she was given an official clocking of 1:00.40, with Noted and Quoted given 1:00.60.

“They went off slow, but they finished well,” Baffert said.

American Gal had a similar work. She went in company, going off faster than the other two, and completed five furlongs in 59 seconds.

The Debutante, a $300,000 race at seven furlongs, is also expected to include Champagne Room, Miss Southern Miss, Morganite, and Union Strike. Morganite won a maiden race July 16 from which both Champagne Room and Noted and Quoted came back to win.

Baffert has won the race seven times, but that’s not a record. D. Wayne Lukas has won the Del Mar Debutante nine times.