Del Mar: Debutante kicks off closing weekend

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert will seek his eighth victory in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday with Pretty N Cool, who will be seeking her third victory, all at this meet.

Pretty N Cool defeated maidens the first weekend of the meet, then last month won the Grade 2 Sorrento, the major prep for the seven-furlong Debutante. Gomo and One True Kiss, second and third, respectively, in the Sorrento, also are scheduled to run in the Debutante, as are the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained trio of Songbird, Stays in Vegas, and Surfside Tiara; and Come to Mischief, winner of her lone start at Woodbine.

The Debutante is one of eight stakes races – four graded – that will be run over the final three days of the meeting, which closes Monday.

Also Saturday is the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf, a one-mile grass race for 2-year-olds in which trainer Peter Miller will send out both Getoffmyback and Hollywood Don, the likely favorite. Mr. Notorious, Rare Candy, and Tiz a Billy also are likely to run.

Prospect Park leads Derby

Prospect Park, the dynamic winner of the La Jolla Handicap, heads the prospective field for the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Derby, which tops the Sunday card. The Del Mar Derby, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf, also is expected to include Om, Papacoolpapacool, Royal Albert Hall, Soul Driver, Win the Space, and possibly Crittenden and Second Summer.

A large field of older female turf runners is expected Sunday for the Grade 2, $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, including Famous Alice, Istanford, Majestic Heat, Queen of the Sand, She’s Not Here, Stormy Lucy, and Thegirlinthatsong, and possibly Customer Base or Theatre Star.

Also Sunday is the $80,000 CERF Stakes at six furlongs for older female sprinters, which is expected to lure champion Judy the Beauty, as well as Amaranth, Ben’s Duchess, Clearly Confused, Our Pure Creation, Tribal Gal, and Velvet Mesquite.

Futurity the finale

Nyquist, unbeaten winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes, and impressive maiden winner Blameitonthelaw are the top candidates for the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity for 2-year-olds going seven furlongs Monday, closing day.

Swipe, second in the Best Pal, and Rockin Bayon also are expected. Mt. Veeder is possible.

Big Macher is scheduled to make his first start since March in the $80,000-added Pirate’s Bounty, a six-furlong race for older sprinters Monday that also is expected to attract Spirit Rules and Wine Police.

Maiden winners Imflatoutsweet, Land Over Sea, and One Last Shot are among the 2-year-old fillies expected for the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf over one mile Monday. European imports Jakaby Jade and Optimism and Hope also are likely.