Moonshine Memories may skip prep race for BC Juvenile Fillies

DEL MAR, Calif. - Moonshine Memories may race exclusively at Del Mar this year.

Moonshine Memories won her stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies. She may not race again until the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

“My thought is to wait,” trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday. “We know she loves the track.”

By not racing until the BC Juvenile Fillies, Moonshine Memories would miss the next major prep in California – the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 30. Callaghan said he is comfortable starting Moonshine Memories in the BC Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles without a prep race at the distance.

“I don’t think with this filly it’s that important with her pedigree,” Callaghan said.

Moonshine Memories is by Malibu Moon and races for Bridlewood Farm, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier.

The $300,690 Del Mar Debutante was run at seven furlongs and was the second start of the Del Mar summer meeting for Moonshine Memories. She won her career debut in a maiden race at six furlongs Aug. 19 and made a quick turnaround for Saturday’s race.

In the days after the maiden race win, Callaghan said he planned to wait for the Chandelier with Moonshine Memories. He changed his mind after watching the filly train in late August.

Piedi Bianchi and Spectator, second and third in the Del Mar Debutante, are likely for the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes.

The Del Mar Debutante was the stakes debut for Piedi Bianchi, who is trained by Doug O’Neill. Spectator was beaten for the first time in her third start in the Debutante. She won a maiden race at Santa Anita on June 23 and her stakes debut in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 5.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said Spectator suffered minor cuts after bumping with Just a Smidge at the start. Spectator closed from sixth in the final quarter-mile to finish 5 3/4 lengths behind Moonshine Memories.

“She came with a little bit of a run,” D’Amato said.

Just a Smidge was the 8-5 favorite in the Del Mar Debutante after beating maidens in her debut July 19. Just a Smidge was second behind Moonshine Memories on the turn, but faded to finish fifth, beaten eight lengths.

“She got slammed into Spectator,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “That might have knocked her off her game. I don’t think we would have beaten the filly that won.”

Baffert considers Just a Smidge to be a candidate for the Chandelier.

“I think she wants to go two turns,” he said.