Connections hoping Eclair can deliver in debut

DEL MAR, Calif. – Eclair, the most expensive horse at the Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita sale of 2-year-olds in training in June, will have her career debut amidst high expectations in Saturday’s first race at Del Mar.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Sarah Kelly and Jane Wiltz, Eclair is part of a field of five in a maiden special weight race at six furlongs for fillies. Drayden Van Dyke has the mount and has worked Eclair.

“She’s very athletic,” Van Dyke said. “She gets over the ground well.”

By Bernardini, Eclair was purchased for $420,000.

There are three first-time starters in the field, including Bristol Bayou, trained by John Shirreffs, and Lazy Daisy, trained by Doug O’Neill.

Lazy Daisy was scratched on July 20 because of a paperwork issue, O’Neill said. O’Neill has been impressed with her recent workouts.

“If the race was in the morning, she’d be a Grade 1 horse,” O’Neill said. “She’s training very well.”

The two fillies with experience were second in their last start – Gold Included in a maiden race at Del Mar on July 20 and Greg’s Diva in a maiden race at Ellis Park on July 4.