Daddy Is a Legend makes stakes debut in Jimmy Durante

DEL MAR, Calif. – For a horse who has won only a maiden race, Daddy Is a Legend has been well tested this fall.

The 2-year-old filly was second to Rushing Fall in a maiden race at Belmont Park in September before beating maidens at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 27.

Rushing Fall won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3. Daddy Is a Legend will have her stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at a mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar.

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“She’s been showing us talent,” trainer George Weaver said Thursday. “Her record is pretty good. We’re kind of excited to see what she can do in tougher competition.”

The $100,000 Durante Stakes drew a field of 13, but trainer Mick Ruis said One Fast Broad will be scratched in favor of a start in the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 2.

Chad Brown, who trains Rushing Fall, starts Data Dependent, a maiden race winner at Belmont Park on Oct. 22. Data Dependent is one of five fillies in the Durante who will start in California for the first time.

KEY CONTENDERS

Daddy Is a Legend, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 78-83-64

◗ Daddy Is a Legend, who races for Jim and Susan Hill, has had three starts. She was fifth in a maiden race at Saratoga in August in her debut and will have her California debut in the Durante.

◗ Daddy Is a Legend was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Rushing Fall at Belmont Park, a race that left Weaver encouraged.

“She’s got to be regarded as the top 2-year-old filly on the grass,” Weaver said of Rushing Fall. “Running a good second to her, it would be a good sign if she can do something similar.”

◗ Daddy Is a Legend is a closer. She rallied from 11th in a field of 12 to win by 2 3/4 lengths at Keeneland. Joe Bravo retains the mount.

Fatale Bere, by Pedro the Great
Beyers: 79-75

◗ Fatale Bere won her American debut in the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita Oct. 9. In the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, Fatale Bere closed from 11th with a wide rally to finish fifth, 2 3/4 lengths behind Rushing Fall.

“With a better trip, we could have been closer,” trainer Leonard Powell said.

Raucous, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 74-50-39

◗ Raucous won the Chelsey Flower Stakes at a mile on turf at Aqueduct in a 41-1 upset Nov. 4 in her stakes debut. She won a maiden race at a mile on turf at Parx Racing on Oct. 2 in her third start and first on turf.

◗ Trained by Christophe Clement, Raucous can race near the front, and is likely to be joined in that position by Multiplayer, who won the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 28, and Just a Smidge, who will have her turf debut Saturday.