Exuberance among maidens eyeing Barretts Debutante

CYPRESS, Calif. – The conditions of Saturday’s $100,000 Barretts Debutante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos are proving very attractive for owner Tyler Seltzer and trainer Ian Kruljac.

They plan to start Exuberance, who was third at Del Mar on Aug. 26 in her only start. Exuberance was purchased for $100,000 at the Barretts select sale of 2-year-olds in training at Del Mar last March, which made her eligible for Saturday’s race. The Debutante, run at 6 1/2 furlongs, is restricted to fillies offered at a Barretts-conducted sale.

“We’ll take advantage of the restricted race,” Kruljac said on Wednesday.

By Archarcharch, Exuberance was beaten 3 1/4 lengths in the maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs, closing steadily after a wide trip.

“It was really impressive,” Kruljac said. “She should step up from it.”

Exuberance was one of at least four maidens being considered as of Wednesday morning, hours before post positions were drawn.

Kruljac’s small stable is led by Finest City, the champion female sprinter of 2016 who races for Seltzer. Finest City was third in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos in July and is scheduled to start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

“We’ll try to get one more big run out of her,” Kruljac said.

Finest City won the 2016 BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.