Taylor and Burton premieres in Sunday's sixth

DEL MAR, Calif. – Taylor and Burton, bought for $350,000 in Florida in March, has shown fast workouts for her debut, which comes Sunday at Del Mar in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs for 2-year-old fillies.

“She’s fast,” trainer Brian Koriner said on Friday. “I’m optimistic.”

At the same time, Koriner knows that Taylor and Burton is part of a tough field, with several other promising fillies set to have their first start.

“She’s been working good, but it seems like everyone else is working good,” he said.

“When the gate opens and they feel pressure, you find out if they’re racehorses. You don’t know that until game day.”

:: Christmas in July! Take 20% off PPs, Clocker Reports, and more

Taylor and Burton is owned by Samantha Siegel, who has runners with Koriner this year for the first time. Siegel continues to have horses trained by Ron Ellis.

Taylor and Burton, by Pioneerof the Nile, is out of Sha Hearah, who did not race. Taylor and Burton was listed as a private sale to Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable for $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale in March.

“It’s a new client,” Koriner said. “It’s the first big horse we’ve run.”

The maiden race, the sixth race on the card, drew a field of nine, all first-time starters. Katherine, a filly by Distorted Humor, was bought for $575,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s auction of 2-year-olds in training in April and races for Lee and Susan Searing.

Katherine could benefit from a start, trainer Peter Eurton said.

“She looks like she has a lot of talent,” Eurton said. “She’ll want to go a mile. I want to see a good experience.”