Laurie Ross
Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds

The Darley Debutante (G1), formerly named the Del Mar Debutante, has been contested since 1951. Champions Landluce, Althea, Brave Raj, Chilukki, Halfbridled, Sweet Catomine and Stardom Bound won this race on their way to Championship Juvenile honors. Champions Phone Chatter, Spain and last year’s Eclipse Award winner Blind Luck finished second in the Debutante. The last two years, a California filly was voted Champion Juvenile. This year’s winner will likely head to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race and could become the next Champion Juvenile.

She’ll Heir, a daughter of last year’s leading Freshmen Sire, Wildcat Heir came from off the pace to post a one length victory in the Cinderella Stakes but failed to progress in subsequent starts. She’ll Heir shows no works since early July.  The Cerin barn wins 4 percent graded stakes and Brice Blanc (3 wins in 32 starts) jumps aboard, replacing Pat Valenzuela who stays with the recent maiden winner Sugarinthemorning.

Undefeated Wickedly Perfect, has strong Poly influences on both sides of her pedigree. She won the Sorrento (G3) in her last start for trainer Dug O’Neil who is winning main track sprints at 27 percent. The pretty gray filly owns two strong six furlong breezes and will be the likely morning-line favorite.

Tell a Kelly (Tapit – Evrobi, by Tabasco Cat) had awesome progression from her first to her second run.  Her dam is a half sister to a stakes placed runner. Train John Sadler has only a 15 percent win rate, but is in the money 54 percent of the time this meet.

Righteous Renee (Dixie Union – Successfully Sweet, by Successful Appeal) Both Dixie Union and her dam sire Successful Appeal are strong Poly types. Her dam was a stakes winning juvenile sprinter and is a half sister to a juvenile stakes winner.  Righteous Renee had a few stamina breezes after her last start and should be fit. Trainer Melody Conlon has run only four horses at this meet, producing a winner and two in the money.

Sugarinthemorning (Candy Ride – Sugar Belle, by In Excess) one more Candy Ride who eats Poly for breakfast and her debut was dominant. Has an “A” Poly Sire and a high “B” dam sire in In Excess.  Her full sister placed once in her only start. The McAnally barn produced two sprinters for the meet with one winner. The Hall of Fame trainer shouldn’t be ignored when teaming up with a veteran rider like Pat Valenzuela. Since his return, P. Val gets 15 percent win and 46 percent in the money with main track sprints.

Avid (More Than Ready – Meadow Silk, by Meadowlake) was 2¼ lengths clear of Righteous Renee and Big Tiz in their debut. Avid is a very well bred filly. She’s a half sister to Indiana Derby (G3) winner and first crop sire Star Dabbler and his three full brothers Run Production, a stakes winner, and stakes placed Bay Head King.  Dam is a half sister to stakes winner Silken Cat and two stakes placed runners. Further, Avid has inbreeding to Nothirdchance through Hail to Reason, the third sire of More Than Ready and Be Suspicious, the second dam of Meadowlake.  Avid attracts Joel Rosario, who with 22 percent wins in main track sprints, has the best win rate in the jockey colony.

Rigoletta (Concerto – Almost Aprom Queen, by Montbrook) won in her second attempt when switching from Cushion to Polytrack. Dam one once in five tries and is a half sister to the stakes winners Lady Gin and Sea of Green.  Trainer Dan Hendricks has six starters, one winner one placed, sprinting over the main track.

Gone Rebel (Macabe – Rebel Gal, Honour and Glory) was caught by a bare neck attempting to wire the field in a six furlong optional claimer last time out. Her sire, a son of Grand Slam, was stakes placed over the turf. Trainer Vladimir Cerin has a strong 26 percent win and 56 percent in the money this meet, however jockey Paul Atkinson is searching for his first win of the meet.

A Z Warrior is a daughter of freshman sire Bernardini out of Carson Jen (by Carson City). She was a fast closing second in the Sorrento Stakes and should appreciate the extra distance of the Debutante. Bernardini was lightly raced, but his spectacular performances earned him the Eclipse Award as Champion Three Year Old. A Z Warrior’s half brother EZ Warrior is a multiple stakes winner, including the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (G3) and her half sister JZ Warrior is also a multiple stakes winner. Their dam Carson Jen was stakes placed.

Izshelegal (Macho Uno – Unkatzable, by A.P. Indy) placed in her two efforts, including a third place finish behind Wickedly Perfect. Izshelegal is bred to go two turns and to improve with age, so she could turn the tables on them in the Debutante.   

Selections:

How the track is playing: 41 percent of the sprint races have been won on the lead this meet while closers are taking 30 percent of the races. The rail is winning at a 15 percent clip.

SHE’LL HEIR – last two races failed to progress, downgrade in jock to Brice Blanc, on the rail and she hasn’t worked since her last run on the 6^th (over a month).  WICKEDLY PERFECT – can’t fault her two races, both times she was game all the way through, 31 percent team, has strong Poly influences on both sides of her pedigree, and the added distance is a non-event.  TELL A KELLY –was on cruise control while pulling away at the end in her last race and could be dangerous here. RIGHTEOUS RENEE – another with a major league progression from her debut to her last. She has the look of a vertical spoiler, big odds and a third or second to screw up everyone’s exotics.  SUGARINTHEMORNING – could very well be a freak, but could face pressure on the lead.  AVID – rarely do Mandella charges win first out, but she did, convincingly. Even better is her post race works, including a scorching fast seven furlong work on the 22^nd (1:25/3). Second start for Mandella, a first out 77 and a scorching long work means she is mega dangerous.  RIGOLETTA – nice progression between her first two runs (48 to 67) and she was supplemented into this race. Works are above average but not spectacular, think she is a cut below, sire and dam sire are not know for Poly prowess, but she did win here. GONE REBEL – ran a 75 at Lone Star, bombed at Golden Gate (34) and then a 78 in her first at Del Mar where she was passed by Miss Reditore late.Think she is the initial speed in this race, and don’t think she can withstand the closers at the end, especially at seven furlongs. AZ WARRIOR – regressed some in the Sorrento, but still had enough to finish second, one length behind the winner (Wickedly Perfect). Baffert and Garcia are a paltry 5% at Del Mar (although they have done better of late). Probably a low odds play and she does have the outside post advantage.  IZSHELEGAL – was part of the blanket finish in the Sorrento, finishing 3^rd, one length from the winner. Works are average, Knight is still looking for his first winner, team is 0/6. Her major plus is her ability to close and the added furlong and the extreme outside post make her a possible.

AVID
A Z WARRIOR
SUGARINTHEMORNING
TELL A KELLY -  longshot selection at 5-1 or higher