Square Peggy brings speed to Barretts Debutante

CYPRESS, Calif. – It would be human nature if trainers Brian Koriner and Ed Freeman let their eyes wander in the Los Alamitos paddock on Saturday.

Make no mistake – both trainers already are in good shape for the $100,000 Barretts Debutante that day. Koriner entered the likely favorite Square Peggy, a speedster coming off a sharp maiden win. Freeman entered Naughty Tiger, whose last-out stakes win was her second straight victory.

If Koriner or Freeman are distracted by a filly other than their own, it will be out of curiosity rather than envy. You see, both have a brief history with the competition, which includes Kim K, the highest-priced filly from the 2018 Barretts spring sale.

“I liked that filly at that sale,” Koriner acknowledged. “And she didn’t run bad first time out.”

Kim K, purchased for $335,000 by Rockingham Ranch, pressed a fast pace and finished fifth in her only start. When she runs again Saturday for trainer Peter Miller, she will keep Koriner-trained Square Peggy company early. Yes, Koriner has reason to eyeball Kim K in the paddock.

Though he did not buy Kim K, Koriner did fine at the sale for less than half the price. He purchased Square Peggy for $160,000 for a partnership that includes Blinkers On Racing Stable. The filly pressed the pace and faded first time. “A lot of my horses need an out,” Koriner said.

In her second start, Square Peggy shot to the lead, opened up by five, and won by 1 1/2 lengths. Turns out, it was a good race. Runner-up Sneaking Out won her next start by more than 10.

Square Peggy’s challenges Saturday include stretching from 5 1/2 furlongs to 6 1/2, and pesky front-runner Kim K to her inside. Square Peggy is fast; she earned a field-high 72 Beyer last out. There is more to it than numbers.

“If she has to duel, or does something stupid, she’s not going to win,” Koriner said. “Hopefully we get a smart ride and she relaxes enough to handle the six and a half.”

As for Freeman, whose Naughty Tiger could get a comfortable stalking trip, he has insight to Square Peggy’s distance potential. Freeman trained her dam, Puff Pastry. “She didn’t really get six and a half on the dirt,” he said.

Whether or not he checks out Square Peggy in the paddock, Freeman’s attention will focus on Naughty Tiger, who removes blinkers after wins at 5 1/2 and 5 furlongs.

“Going forward, the money is in going a bit farther and getting them to relax,” Freeman said. “We worked her without blinkers a couple times. I think she’s matured enough so that she doesn’t need them.”

Naughty Tiger was purchased at the Barretts spring sale for $40,000. The five-runner Barretts Debutante, restricted to fillies offered for sale at a Barretts auction, is the smallest in the 29-year history of the race.