Grace Adler runs away with Del Mar Debutante
DEL MAR, Calif. - Grace Adler zoomed past five rivals on the turn of Sunday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante to burst onto the national picture among 2-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Grace Adler ($11.20) won by 11 1/4 lengths with little urging through the final furlong. Prat said Grace Adler’s emphatic rally was as much a product of the runners in front of him retreating from a quick early pace as his filly’s powerful finish.
“It looked like I moved early, but they were coming back to me,” Prat said.
Grace Adler ran seven furlongs in 1:23.76 to give trainer Bob Baffert a record 10th win in the $301,500 Debutante, one more than fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.
Grace Adler had her second start and stakes debut in the Debutante, having won a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on July 31.
In the Debutante, Prat had Grace Adler in sixth for the first half-mile, well behind Elm Drive and Eda who fought through early fractions of 21.78 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.37 for a half-mile.
Grace Adler took the lead entering the stretch and had a four-length advantage with a furlong remaining.
“I thought she was a little green in her first start,” Prat said. “She needed more distance and she ran a good race today.”
Dance to the Music, a maiden race winner in her only previous start on July 24, was third early and finished second as the 3-1 second choice. Abel Cedillo rode Dance to the Music, who was a clear second through the stretch.
“She missed the break a bit,” trainer Mark Glatt said. Cedillo “was able to get her some position.”
Bicameral, second to Dance to the Music in her only previous start, finished third at 28-1. Myfavoritedaughter was fourth, followed by Eda, Rock the Belles, Elm Drive, and At the Spa.
Eda, trained by Baffert, was the 6-5 favorite. She faded through the stretch. Elm Drive and Eda were first and second in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 6.
At the Spa was a two-time stakes winner at Santa Anita and earlier at this summer meeting. Sent off at 16-1, At the Spa was never a factor, racing as close as fifth on the backstretch.
Grace Adler, by Curlin, races for Willow Grace Farm and Michael Petersen. The filly was purchased for $700,000 as a yearling in 2020. She has earned $202,000 in her first two starts.
Baffert said Grace Adler will be pointed to the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.