Surrender Now risks unbeaten record in Sorrento Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Santa Anita’s program from July 2 may be remembered as a pivotal afternoon in California’s 2-year-old filly division. Surrender Now won her stakes debut in the Landaluce Stakes 90 minutes after Diamondsandpearls won a maiden race with ease in her first start.

Those fillies have progressed in the last month to Saturday’s Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. The $200,000 Sorrento Stakes is the first of two graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies at the summer meeting, leading to the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 2.

Going into the Sorrento, Surrender Now is the division leader but faces scrutiny with each start. Trained by Peter Miller for Rockingham Ranch, Surrender Now may have been an early-season winner, but the division grows in depth with each month and as distances increase.

Aside from Diamondsandpearls, Surrender Now faces a formidable rival in Spectator, a maiden-race winner in her debut at Santa Anita on June 23.

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Miller said Surrender Now is ready for the Sorrento.

“She seems very straightforward and very sound and sensible,” Miller said.

The Sorrento Stakes drew a field of seven, six of whom are maiden-race winners. Spirit of Shanghai was third in the Landaluce and is the only runner other than Surrender Now with stakes experience. Dancing Belle is the lone maiden in the field. She is winless in three starts, including losses by double-digit lengths to both Surrender Now and Diamondsandpearls.

KEY CONTENDERS

Surrender Now, by Morning Line
Last 2 Beyers: 79-68

◗ Surrender Now drew the rail, the first time in her career she has started from the inside. In her first two starts, including a maiden race at five furlongs June 9, Surrender Now was within a length of the lead early and took a clear lead in early stretch.

◗ Flavien Prat will ride Surrender Now for the first time, replacing Norberto Arroyo Jr. Last month, Miller said he would no longer employ Arroyo as his regular rider.

◗ Miller expects Surrender Now to be prominent at the start.

“She’s fast, super fast,” he said. “She’s getting stronger.”

Diamondsandpearls, by Congrats
Beyer: 70

◗ Diamondsandpearls was not urged in the stretch by jockey Mike Smith after making a comfortable lead in her debut. She drew away to win by 6 1/4 lengths as the 1-2 favorite.

“She’s been good since her first out,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “Her mind has been great.”

“You always worry about them being a little speed-crazy. She’s got speed, but I think we can control it.”

Spectator, by Jimmy Creed
Beyer: 68

◗ Spectator won a very productive maiden race in her debut at five furlongs. Through Wednesday, four of the other nine runners from that race had won their next starts. Spectator broke from post 9 in a field of 10 and closed from fifth to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

“I’m not a fan of running from the outside post going five at Santa Anita,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “She went from six wide to five wide to three wide to drawing off. I thought the win was impressive, but we’ll see how good she is.”