Justique a question for Del Mar Debutante

DEL MAR, Calif. - Justique, the attractive winner of a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies in her debut at Del Mar on July 31, was briefly sidelined with a fever earlier this month that may jeopardize her chances of a start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 10.

Trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday that Justique has resumed training and is approaching her first workout since the maiden race win.

“She’s about a week behind,” Shirreffs said. “She had a little fever. I’ll go day by day.”

While expressing caution, Shirreffs described the Debutante “as still a possibility” for Justique.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable, Justique closed from last of 10 to win her debut at 5 1/2 furlongs by an easy 2 1/2 lengths under jockey Victor Espinoza. A $725,000 yearling purchase, by Justify, Justique is considered one of the leading 2-year-old fillies in California in advance of the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs, the top race of the summer for the division.

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Shirreffs has major stakes plans on Sept. 3, with Express Train bound for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles and Astronaut expected to run in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf.

Express Train won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March for his third consecutive stakes win, but has not raced since a second at 2-5 in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on April 30. Express Train has had a steady pattern of workouts this month leading to the $1 million Pacific Classic. Express Train was sixth in the 2021 Pacific Classic.

The Pacific Classic field is led by the undefeated two-time stakes winner Flightline.

Astronaut won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf last August in a 24-1 upset, but was later 12th of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November and last of seven later that month in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles.

Astronaut was in training briefly last winter before he was given a rest earlier this year.

“He was disappointing last time and we gave him some time,” Shirreffs said.

Shirreffs said the $300,000 Del Mar Mile is shorter than Astronaut’s best distances, but that the Del Mar Handicap on the same day is too far for the 5-year-old’s first start in more than nine months.

“He trained as well as he did before,” he said. “Where else do I go to run him? Horses sometimes need to run.”