Desormeaux has high hopes for Sorrento contender Miss Southern Miss

DEL MAR, Calif. – Miss Southern Miss, who makes her graded-stakes debut in Saturday’s $200,000 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar, is held in the highest regard by trainer Keith Desormeaux.

“She’s proved she’s nice, but I think she’s really nice,” he said. “That’s the only pressure I have.”

Desormeaux said he thinks Miss Southern Miss is capable of performing well in Grade 1 races later this summer and fall. The Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs can move Miss Southern Miss closer to that goal. Miss Southern Miss is part of a field of six and is one of two runners with stakes experience.

Miss Southern Miss was second in the Landaluce Stakes at Santa Anita on July 9. Unforgivable U, who breaks from the rail, was third in the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meeting on July 2.

The Sorrento is a key prep for the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante, a Grade 1 at seven furlongs on Sept. 3. The Debutante is the championship race of the meeting for 2-year-old fillies.

Sorrento, Race 4

KEY CONTENDERS

Miss Southern Miss, by More Than Ready

Last 2 Beyers: 66-67

◗ After a comprehensive maiden-race win June 9, Miss Southern Miss was beaten 2 3/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite by Theonewewaitedfor in the Landaluce Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs. Theonewewaitedfor is not currently in training.

◗ Desormeaux said Miss Southern Miss was too aggressive in the Landaluce after bumping with a rival at the start.

“We thought she’d win last time,” he said. “I think when she got bumped, it strained her, and she took off. In the first race, she was under a hold. She relaxed.”

◗ Desormeaux’s brother, Kent, rides Miss Southern Miss for the first time, replacing Flavien Prat, who will have the mount on the outsider Rooms. Keith Desormeaux is hopeful his brother can prevent Miss Southern Miss from being aggressive at the start.

“If he can get her to settle, she’ll be tough,” Keith Desormeaux said.

Champagne Room, by Broken Vow

Beyer: 69

◗ Champagne Room is one of three maidens in the Sorrento field, along with Ciao Bella Rosa and Rooms. Champagne Room and Ciao Bella Rosa were supplemented for $2,000 on Wednesday.

◗ Champagne Room was second in her debut, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Morganite in a five-furlong race. Champagne Rooms is considered a Debutante prospect, trainer Peter Eurton said.

“We always thought she’d be this kind of horse based on what we paid for her,” Eurton said.

◗ Owned by a partnership, Champagne Room was purchased for $310,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction of 2-year-olds in training in April.

Unforgivable U, by Langfuhr

Last 2 Beyers: 57-55

◗ Unforgivable U led to the eighth pole of the Juan Gonzalez at 5 1/2 furlongs before losing by a length. She was compromised by racing along the rail, trainer Jeff Bonde said.

“The inside is no good at Pleasanton,” Bonde said.

◗ Unforgivable U drew the rail in the Sorrento, a post position Bonde hoped to avoid.

◗ Unforgivable U led throughout her debut June 18. Bonde said she changed through July, showing more patience. That could be tough to harness from an inside post Saturday.