Hope Road finds first graded stakes victory in Torrey Pines Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – A 3-year-old filly who inherited her dam’s class and her sire’s stamina scored her first graded stakes victory on Saturday at Del Mar.

Hope Road, produced by Grade 1 sprint winner Marley’s Freedom and sired by Quality Road, ran away with the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes, a dirt mile for 3-year-old fillies. In her first try around two turns, Hope Road ($3) won by five lengths in 1:36.15.

Bob Baffert trains the winner for Ron and Barbara Perry’s Cicero Farms. Baffert also trained the filly’s dam for Perry during the most successful portion of her career. From spring 2018 through summer 2019, Marley’s Freedom won six graded sprints, including the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga.

“A graded stakes winner from a Grade 1 winner,” Perry said after the Torrey Pines, insinuating that is tough to do. Hope Road is the first foal produced by Marley’s Freedom, and others are on the way. Perry said a 2-year-old filly by Medaglia d’Oro will be sent to California soon; Marley’s Freedom has a weanling by Uncle Mo, and is in foal to Violence.

:: DRF's Del Mar Handicapping Packages: Get everything you need to play the races with confidence.

Although Hope Road was trying two turns for the first time, Baffert was confident she would stay the mile “because of the way she trains.” He added “I knew her mother (Marley’s Freedom) couldn’t do it, but I knew Hope Road could do it.”

Juan Hernandez rode Hope Road, who sat second behind kamikaze pacesetter Soho, who was hustled to the lead from the inside post and set a fast pace. Soho went the opening quarter-mile in 21.70 and the opening half-mile in 45.70. At the three-eighths pole she chucked it, and Hope Road inherited the lead.

The outcome was never in doubt. Hope Road opened up on the far turn, drew clear by four lengths at the furlong pole and coasted home. Nothing Like You, the second Torrey Pines entrant trained by Baffert, finished second while six lengths clear of third-place Grand Slam Smile.

The order was completed by Desert Rhapsody, Back On Track and Soho.

Hope Road began her career with trainer John Sadler last year, and was transferred to Baffert for her 2024 campaign. She is 3 for 3 since the switch. In that regard, she is similar to her dam. Marley’s Freedom was an allowance-caliber sprinter until she moved to Baffert and won 6 of her final 9 starts.

Baffert said Hope Road does not resemble her dam. “I see a lot of Quality Road in her,” the trainer said.

Hope Road has now won 3 of 6. Baffert did not specify where she might start next, but the last four Torrey Pines winners all won their subsequent starts while moving up in class. The 2023 winner Ceiling Crusher won the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing; 2020-2022 winners Harvest Moon, Private Mission and Midnight Memories defeated older rivals next out in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Zenyatta is a potential next start for Adare Manor, who scratched from the Pacific Classic after she tied up on Thursday. “She’s fine,” Baffert said, when asked about Adare Manor’s condition. “I’m not going to take her back to the track for a few days at least.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.