Hamika overcomes sluggish start, rallies for Sorrento triumph
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DEL MAR, Calif. - For a 1-5 favorite, Himika did not appear to be in a good position when fifth of six on the backstretch of Sunday’s Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.
“She broke a little slow,” jockey Juan Hernandez said. “I didn’t want to chase. I sat there and got a position.”
After starting from an inside post, Himika trailed early leaders My Kat and Thank You India by a few lengths in the opening furlong when space developed between those longshot rivals.
Rapidly, Himika was in the middle of three fillies and on her way to a win. Himika took the lead on the turn of the six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies and won by a comfortable 4 1/4 lengths.
“At the five-eighths, she took off a little bit and had space,” Hernandez said. “I let her go a little bit and I let her run to get a better position.”
Himika ($2.40) was timed in 1:10.61 and earned and 81 Beyer Speed Figure.
“In the one hole like that, you either go or stay down there,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said. “He rode her like she’s a good horse and rode her with confidence. She got good experience.”
Mo ‘Em Down, the 4-1 second choice, and the winner of a maiden race by 9 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs on June 21, closed from fifth to finish a clear second, 3 1/4 lengths in front of the maiden Thank You India, a 21-1 outsider.
My Kat faded to finish fourth, followed by Stuffy Mist and Dreaming of Alys.
Himika is a Curlin filly purchased for $900,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training sale in April. The win preserved her unbeaten record after two starts for Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp. Himika won her first start by six lengths in a five-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita on June 12.
Baffert has won a record nine runnings of the Sorrento since 1991. Baffert and Hernandez teamed to win Saturday’s Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds with Desert Gate.
Himika, who has earned $126,000, is a candidate for the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 6.
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