Justique to skip Del Mar Debutante

DEL MAR, Calif. - Justique, one of the most impressive maiden special winners among 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar this summer, will miss Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante because of missed training time in August.

Trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday that Justique will be pointed to the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes, a $200,000 race at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 8.

Justique worked a half-mile in 50.20 seconds at Del Mar on Sunday, a week after she worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds. Those are Justique’s only workouts since she was briefly taken out of training following her maiden-race win on July 31.

“I thought she won’t be quite ready,” Shirreffs said.

Justique worked alone on Sunday. The workout was scheduled for Monday, but Shirreffs moved the exercise forward a day after a sea breeze developed shortly before 9 a.m. offering some comfort from above-average warm and humid conditions.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

“She looked pretty good,” Shirreffs said.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stables, Justique won her debut at 5 1/2 furlongs despite a slow start. She closed from last in a field of 10 to win by an easy 2 1/2 lengths.

The $300,000 Debutante at seven furlongs is the leading race of the summer for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar.

The list of candidates includes Vegas Magic, the winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 13; the maiden race winners And Tell Me Nolies, Fast and Shiny, and Home Cooking; and the maidens Halosnheaven and Ice Dancing.