Del Mar notes: She's a Tiger eyes Chandelier Stakes

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DEL MAR, Calif. – She’s a Tiger, the winner of Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, will take a familiar path this fall toward a potential start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Trainer Jeff Bonde said Sunday that She’s a Tiger will make her next start in the $250,000 Chandelier Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 28. The Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies is California’s top prep race for the BC Juvenile Fillies and a customary stop for Del Mar Debutante winners.

The Chandelier Stakes will be She’s a Tiger’s first start around two turns, an increase in distance that does not concern Bonde.

“She’s got a real pretty stride,” Bonde said. “We’re trying to get to the Breeders’ Cup.”

She’s a Tiger won the $300,750 Del Mar Debutante over seven furlongs by a half-length over Fascinating, stalking pacesetter Awesome Baby for the first half-mile before taking the lead. She was timed in 1:22.71 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

“That was a fun day for us,” Bonde said.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, She’s a Tiger wore blinkers for the first time in the Del Mar Debutante and won the second stakes of her career. She won the Landaluce Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park in July.

She’s a Tiger races for Mark DeDomenico, Allen Aldrich, Lisa Hernandez, and Stuart Downey. A Tale of the Cat filly, She’s a Tiger has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $315,650.

Grade 1 races next for maiden winners

New Year’s Day and Schoolofhardrocks, the winners of maiden special weight races over a mile for 2-year-olds Saturday, are likely to start in Grade 1 races later this month or in early October.

New Year’s Day, who was timed in 1:36.93, is a candidate for the $250,000 FrontRunner Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 28, trainer Bob Baffert said. Owned by Gary and Mary West, New Year’s Day, by Street Cry, won his second start Saturday.

Baffert said he expects further improvement as New Year’s Day makes additional starts.

“He’s still immature mentally,” Baffert said. “Racing will help him.”

Schoolofhardrocks, by Rock Hard Ten, won his debut in Saturday’s second race, finishing a mile in 1:36.85.

The colt was bred by Jerry Amerman and is owned by her and husband John. David Hofmans trains Schoolofhardrocks, who will be considered for the FrontRunner or the $400,000 Breeders’ Futurity over 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland on Oct. 5.

“With the program at Santa Anita, we might have to evaluate that,” Hofmans said. “He’s impressed me in the mornings.”