Her Emmynency works swiftly for Debutante
DEL MAR, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Her Emmynency had one of the fastest workouts over five furlongs at Del Mar on Saturday, zooming around the track in 59.60 seconds. If Her Emmynency races like she is working, she could win the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante over seven furlongs next Saturday.
Trained by Mike Stidham, Her Emmynency won her debut in a maiden race on Aug. 2 for owners Ike and Dawn Thrash.
“She worked phenomenally,” said Chris Davis, Stidham’s assistant. “It seems the farther she goes, the better she’ll be.”
Her Emmynency is part of a projected field of six in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, the championship race of the meeting for 2-year-old fillies. The field is expected to include Sunset Glow, who won the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes here on Aug. 6, as well as the maiden race winners Manahatta, Starlet O’Hara, Stealth Drone, and Seduire, the winner of the Wine Country Debutante at Santa Rosa on Aug. 8.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer considered waiting for the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27 with Manahatta, but said on Saturday that she is likely to run in the Debutante. He said Tara’s Tango, a maiden race winner on July 20, will be pointed for the Chandelier.
The $300,000 Del Mar Futurity for 2-year-olds over seven furlongs on Sept. 3, the closing day of the meeting, will have a large field.
The candidates includes Skyway and Henry’s Holiday, who were first and second in the Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 3, as well as the maiden race winners Bench Warrant, Dallas Skyline, Holiday Camp, Lord Nelson, Om, Red Button, and Rowdy Dylan, and the maiden Iron Fist.
Ann of the Dance headed to Kentucky
Ann of the Dance, the upset winner of the CTT-TOC Handicap for females over 1 3/8 miles on turf on Friday, will stay with turf marathons for her next start.
Trainer Phil Oliver said via text on Saturday that he plans to run Ann of the Dance in the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes over 1 5/16 miles on turf on Sept. 24.
Owned by Ian Banwell, Ann of the Dance ($59.20) closed from fourth in the final furlong to win the CTT-TOC Handicap by a nose over 11-1 Scarlet Strike. Ann of the Dance was ridden by apprentice jockey Drayden Van Dyke, and it was the first stakes win for the 19-year-old.
Ann of the Dance, a 5-year-old mare by English Channel, has won 4 of 26 starts and earned $196,721.