Hollendorfer’s juvenile fillies continue to impress
DEL MAR, Calif. – The depth of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s 2-year-old fillies increased Sunday with a debut win by Manahatta and could be further bolstered by Majestic Presence, who stretches out around two turns for her second start in the fifth race Wednesday.
Majestic Presence, a daughter of Majestic Warrior, finished third in her debut behind the highly regarded Luminance, a Bob Baffert-trained filly who, along with Hollendorfer’s first-out winner Tara’s Tango, are considered the leading prospects for the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 30.
Majestic Presence is “a great, big, long-striding thing,” Hollendorfer said.
“We’re hoping she’ll improve around two turns,” he said.
Manahatta, a daughter of Old Fashioned, overcame a rail draw to win first time out under Rafael Bejarano. She was purchased as a 2-year-old in training at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. for $90,000 in March.
“We’ve really liked this filly all along,” Hollendorfer said. “She’s been beating a lot of good ones in our barn in her workouts.”
Hollendorfer said Manahatta would be considered for the Debutante.
Tara’s Tango won opening weekend and will not race again until the Debutante. She has had three works since her victory, most recently going six furlongs in 1:13.60 on Friday.
◗ Nancy Church, the former manager of the Turf Club at Del Mar and the wife of former jockey Ken Church, died at her home in Reno, Nev., last Thursday at age 83. The Churches relocated to Reno when Nancy Church retired from Del Mar.