Rabeeba uses stalking trip to capture Torrey Pines Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – The style was slightly different. The result was exactly the same.

Rabeeba extended her unbeaten streak to three races with a come-from-behind win in Sunday’s Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar.

In her first two starts, a maiden race at Los Alamitos in June and an allowance race at a mile here July 26, Rabeeba led or disputed the early pace. She showed a more patient manner in the Torrey Pines Stakes under jockey Juan Hernandez.

In the first half of the race, Rabeeba stalked a line of three fillies – Kinzlee’scharisma, She’s No Quant, and Mohaven – who contributed to an early pace of 23.39 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.96 for a half-mile.

Kinzlee’scharisma and Mohaven faded on the turn and in early stretch, leaving She’s No Quant with a one-length advantage with a furlong remaining. Rabeeba, third on the turn, closed steadily to take the lead in the final sixteenth.

Sent off favored, Rabeeba ($4.20) won by 2 1/4 lengths over She’s No Quant, the 3-1 second choice of seven.

“I think today was a good schooling for her,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said. “She’s never been behind horses like that.”

Rabeeba was timed in 1:38.19.

Baffert said he was concerned when Rabeeba was behind the leaders and racing between runners on the backstretch, but he was encouraged by the way she rallied to reach contention.

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“I didn’t like where she was,” he said.

“She took dirt for the first time. She came through.”

She’s No Quant, who had won her three previous starts including the Fleet Treat Stakes for 3-year-old statebred fillies at seven furlongs on July 24, finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of 10-1 Bank Shot, who has been second or third in five stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar and Santa Anita this year.

Wolf Hill, a maiden after 11 starts, finished fourth, followed by Channel Place, Kinzlee’scharisma, and Mohaven.

The $151,000 Torrey Pines Stakes is the leading race on dirt for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar’s summer meeting.

Rabeeba, by Curlin, races for owner Michael Lund Petersen. Purchased for $750,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in 2024, Rabeeba has earned $168,600.

“She’s learning,” Baffert said. “We feel good about the way she’s developing.”

While Rabeeba handled her stakes debut without difficulty Sunday, she may return in a tougher race. Baffert said in the winner’s circle that Rabeeba will be considered for the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes, a $200,000 race for 3-year-olds and older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

The winner of the Zenyatta Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

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