Promising juvenile Nero set for debut Sunday
DEL MAR, Calif. – Nero, the highly promising colt who was expected to start early in the Del Mar meeting, will have his long-awaited debut in a maiden race Sunday.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Nero has worked quickly in recent months, first at Los Alamitos and in the last month at Del Mar. On Aug. 19, Nero worked five furlongs in 59 seconds from the gate, the fastest of 85 recorded works at the distance that day.
“He’s quick,” Baffert said. “He took a little while to get going. I was going to run him in the first week.”
Nero will be ridden by Martin Garcia and will break from post 2 in a field of 10. By Pioneerof the Nile, Nero was purchased for $950,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale and is owned by Stonestreet Stable and the Coolmore team of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
One of Nero’s principal rivals is Paddock Pick, a colt by Graydar who breaks one stall to the outside. Trained by Brian Koriner for Samantha Siegel, Paddock Pick also has worked quickly in recent weeks.
Sunday’s race is run at 5 1/2 furlongs, which may be too short for Paddock Pick, Koriner said.
“He’s a nice horse, but I don’t know if he’s a 5 1/2 horse,” he said. “I think he’ll run a distance. You don’t want to put too much pressure on them the first time.”
The maiden race is run too late in the meeting to influence the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, the $300,000 race at seven furlongs on Sept. 4, closing day.
The Del Mar Futurity field is led by Run Away, winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 12. Other expected starters are Bolt d’Oro, Dia de Pago, Fleetwood, Gracida, Soul Streit, Tatters to Riches, and Zatter.
The Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Sept. 2 may have a smaller field. The $300,000 race is led by Spectator, who won the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes on Aug. 5. Her rivals are expected to include Gabrielleelizabeth, Gas Station Sushi, Just a Smidge, Piedi Bianchi, and possibly Moonshine Memories, winner of a maiden race Aug. 19.
