The $300,000 Debutante Stakes is one of the more intriguing races on Del Mar’s closing days.
Enjoying the favoritism with horse racing betting markets Saturday is Home Cooking, who looks to make it back-to-back wins on the track.
However, Vegas Magic, And Tell Me Nollies and Fast and Shiny are legitimate winning threats in the Grade I event for 2-year-old fillies at seven-eighths of a mile
Sunday’s closing card features the freshman boys in $300,000 Futurity (also GI), where trainer Bob Baffert shoots for his 16th win. It’s another (seven-furlong) sprint.
Fave is Looming Large
Home Cooking the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the Debutante after an impressive win, and she could be a nice type in here and down the line.
She was previously third on debut on this track, so she’s well-prepared for her first try in stakes.
The daughter of Honor Code is trained by Bob Baffert, and he has had a lot of success with his fillies. It’s Mike Smith riding from post position No. 6.
Home Cooking’s a deserving favorite, and we expert her to fight it out the finish here. She was a $260,000 yearling purchase. Winning the Debutante recoups a good portion of that.
A Stunner for Coaches?
Satin Doll might be a 20-1 early-line outsider to win the Debutante, but it’d make for a good story if she does.
Involved in the ownership are Rick Pitino, Chip Kelly, and Mick Cronin, so the coaches are looking to score a win of a different kind.
“Each and every one of them loves coming to Del Mar,” trainer Doug O’Neill told BloodHorse.
Satin Doll comes off a fourth in the Grade II Sorrento (behind second-favorite here in Vegas Magic), but not everything went her way. Her debut win at Del Mar was impressive, so the odds at the sportsbook are generous.
“That was a crazy race because she was a little bit high-strung in the paddock,” O’Neill said. “Then she kind of back-pedaled mid-race, and she just came flying. It was a really impressive race to watch. Then what she did in the Sorrento was exceptional.”
The daughter of Congrats drew post No. 4, assignment to Kyle Frey.
Debutante is the eighth race, with scheduled post time of 7:48 p.m. ET.
Baffert with Futurity Trio
Baffert has a mortgage on Sunday’s Grade I Futurity Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings, It’s not surprising he has a strong charge once again in the three-headed monster of Newgate, Cave Rock, and Havnameltdown.
Havnameltdown is the only stable runner her with a stakes win under his belt, the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar last month. So, a big effort in the Futurity wouldn’t stun.
“He is built for speed if you look at him,” Baffert said after the Best Pal. “He is very precocious looking. His sire (Uncaptured) was fast.” Smith has the honors from penultimate post No. 8.
Cave Rock (Juan Hernandez, post No. 7) was a six-length winner as the horse racing odds choice on debut. The $550,000 purchase (by Arrogate) had an impressive turn-of-foot, and that holds him in good stead in the Futurity.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see him sit out the back and hope for a fast early tempo. Cave Rock could finish over the top of them at each-way odds.
Newgate (John Velazquez, post No. 6) is the third Baffert runner.
Futurity is race No.10 (post time 8:30 p.m. ET) on Del Mar’s meet-ending card.
