Del Mar notes: Executiveprivilege targets Del Mar Debutante

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sorrento Stakes winner Executiveprivilege came out of the race Wednesday in good shape and will seek to run her unbeaten streak to four in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 1, trainer Bob Baffert said Thursday morning.

“It was a nice race for her,” Baffert said. “We’ve been going easy with her down here.

“She got a lot out of it, so it will set her up for the Debutante.”

Executiveprivilege, a daughter of First Samurai, is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, who paid $650,000 for her at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company sale in April.

“She wasn’t a secret at that price,” Baffert said. “I wanted her so badly. We thought she’d bring $300,000 or $400,000 – $400,000 tops. For the really good ones, you have to step up.”

Bejarano on record-setting pace

The win on Executiveprivilege was the eighth in a stakes race this meet for leading jockey Rafael Bejarano, who is on pace to set a single-season record at Del Mar. With the meet not quite halfway over, Bejarano seems a cinch to beat the record of 12.

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“He works hard in the mornings, and he handles pressure well,” Baffert said.

High hopes for Smart and Single

Baffert has high hopes for the 3-year-old filly Smart and Single, who was a fast debut winner against maidens at Betfair Hollywood Park on July 5 and now steps into a first-level allowance in Saturday’s seventh race.

Smart and Single, a daughter of Smart Strike, cost owner Kaleem Shah $400,000 as a yearling. She got a Beyer Speed Figure of 95 in her first start, which was at six furlongs, the same distance as Saturday’s race.

“She was very impressive,” Baffert said. “She’s a really good filly.”

◗ Fueled by a $257,477 carryover from Sunday, another $1,604,176 in fresh money was bet into the pick six Wednesday. Executiveprivilege helped turn it into a pick five. The 77 tickets that had her and the five other winners were each worth $14,472.80.

◗ All Star Heart, entered Thursday to run Sunday in the Grade 2, $250,000 John Mabee Stakes for older female turf horses, completed her serious training on the turf Thursday with a half-mile drill in 48.80 seconds for trainer Ron McAnally.

◗ Two-time Pacific Classic winner Richard’s Kid stayed on course for that race with a five-furlong work in 59.80 seconds Thursday for Baffert. He was going so easily that clockers termed the drill breezing, a designation given to just two of the 119 horses who worked on Polytrack on Thursday.

◗ Midnight Crooner, who won a division of the Oceanside Stakes and is awaiting the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2, worked five furlongs on Polytrack in 1:00 for Baffert.

◗ Maker or Breaker, a half-sister to Indian Blessing who was a dazzling debut winner earlier this meet, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, also for Baffert.