19th Running of The Debutante
June 26, 2021
$125.000 2YO Fillies
6 Furlongs Dirt 119Lbs
Stakes Record: Blazing By (2019) 1:09.33
Track Record: Midnight Hour (2006) 1:07.80
The 2yo season is really starting to get cranked up and the 19th edition of The Debutante at CD is further example of that. A lot of high-quality barns are in here and it appears that they have sent the best of their crops to try to take down this non-graded event. A full field of 12 are entered (as well as three AE’s) so hopes are high for these juvenile fillies as they try to earn valuable EPR for the division’s graded races down the line. Not sure any of these would wheel back on short rest for The Schuylerville-G3, but a win could set them up nicely for The Sorrento or The Adirondack, both G2 events. Here are the horses and connections trying to take down the $125.000 on the table for the 2021 Debutante! (Note: For today’s Trainer Thoughts, the conditioners were asked why they paired the sire and dam if it was a homebred or what caught their eye if the horse was acquired from another barn.)
#1 Perfect Dunk (La Canada Racehorses/F. Geroux): Podunk filly debuted at TUP and got up for 4th on April 5 before breaking her maiden for a $40 tag at BEL on May 9 under I. Ortiz, Jr. In the maiden-breaker, she popped out of the gate and made every pole a winning one crossing the line a neck in front. Nice last work heading in to this and looks like she means business here. Trainer’s Thoughts: “The dam, Perfect Tip Toer dropped Rikki Tikki Tavi, one of the best 3 yos in the game (7th in the KYD this year). Her second foal was another 2 yo named Perfect Secrets – if you are covering the Bashford Manor running 3 races later on the same card you will see him too. So she has been nothing short of amazing so far. As for the sire, I as trying him out – he is a son of Quench.”
#2 Lassitude (Twin Towers Racing/E. Jaramillo): Another that broke her maiden on 2nd asking, this daughter of Platoon did so right here at CD on May 15 in a $91 MSW. On that day she laid 4th while getting a good stalking trip before taking over to win by 1/4 of a length. She showed much more speed than in her debut, but that opener was over a muddy track and that second attempt may have allowed her to show her talents. She has worked well in two trips to the track since and appears to be ready for today’s battle from an inside draw. Trainer’s Thoughts: “So when I do breeding I like to do a lot of line breeding. For instance RFR has Charley Farley in the third generation and the fourth generation on both sides as well as Commanding in the third and fourth generation on the mare side. While Lassitude has Mordred on both sides in the third generation and Charley Farley in the third and fourth generations on both sides(among others). I enjoy doing a lot of experimentation with line breeding. I use mostly proven BL but sometimes obscure ones if I can find ones I like. I have been collecting mares for a long time. Stallions too. I don’t mind spending time looking for the right pairings.”
#3 Rig For Red (Twin Towers Racing/J. Velazquez): The 2nd entrant from this barn appears just as formidable as her stablemate. She also won at CD in a $91 MSW in her second attempt. This daughter of Platoon showed her grit in that effort, just getting her nose down on the wire. This will be her 3rd start under the Twin Spires and she showed some ability to handle the off-going when she ran 2nd on debut here on April 24. Another that looks primed for a big effort. Trainer Thoughts: “So when I do breeding I like to do a lot of line breeding. For instance RFR has Charley Farley in the third generation and the fourth generation on both sides as well as Commanding in the third and fourth generation on the mare side. While Lassitude has Mordred on both sides in the third generation and Charley Farley in the third and fourth generations on both sides(among others). I enjoy doing a lot of experimentation with line breeding. I use mostly proven BL but sometimes obscure ones if I can find ones I like. I have been collecting mares for a long time. Stallions too. I don’t mind spending time looking for the right pairings.”
#4 Ginger Lucy (The Sidley Stud/D. Davis): This Ginger Haggis filly continues the theme of 2nd out winners as she third on debut at AQU before breaking her maiden at WO on May 1. Much like the three fillies to her inside, she is another that likes to be in proximity of the leaders early so it will be interesting to see how the race takes shape when they open the gates. Her works fall right in line with others in here so it may come down to the trip that she can work out if she wants to take down this test. Trainer’s Thoughts: Unavailable
#5 Coconut Milk (Wood Duck Stables/T. Gaffalione): This Chai Bay filly is our first debut winner as she took down a $31.60 state-bred MSW at PEN on April 9 over a dirt track listed as “Good”. Hasn’t been raced since, so should come in here fresh for this one. Not all first out winners are equal; however, of the three horses she defeated that day that have raced since, none of the three are maidens…and two of them, Blue Dream (CD) and Admin (PRX), came back to find the winner’s circle next out so there is obviously some talent here. The worktab is a little light as it appears she prefers the farm atmosphere to do her work in the mornings, but that debut was a quality win that may forecast a bright future for this filly. Trainer’s Thoughts: “Coconut Milk was a match up of two stakes winners from a sire who may produce a nice bloodline for fillies and mares. Narly Kruz (Dam) has some conformational issues and the match left her with a “Good” Lumbosacral. Coconut Milk was quick from the start and hopefully she stays healthy for the remainder of the year. She was bred to route but her tactical speed and her willingness to run on an off track gives her a chance in forward looking races. With only one race under her belt, she may be a little green but she looks to have some will to race.”
#6 Lemrun (Harrell Racing/R. Bejarano): It took a bid of $195.000 in the latest auction to let this Rumble filly change hands so it’s safe to say the winning bidder wasn’t the only one intrigued. This is another that took two attempts to break her maiden; doing so at SA in a $61 CA-bred MSW by a length on May 29. The two works on the page after Harrell Racing took over put her right in line with the others in here, but one has to wonder if the effects of three races in just over 50-days will be too much to overcome. That being said, the trainer obviously isn’t in here to just donate, so expect a big effort from this filly. Trainer’s Thoughts: “I don’t know the horse enough to have a real good handle on her just yet. I purchased her for $195(I believe) at auction a little over a week ago. For all the breeding I’ve done this year, I’m a little starved for top filly talent, so I was searching for some potential in the auction that could also serve my breeding program later on. T7 is undeniably one of the top breeders this game has seen. He’s one of about 4-5 trainer/breeders that I look to buy from when the opportunity presents itself.
My assessment of the horse was pretty simple, pedigree was attractive and she’s an early winner that has been improving steadily. You can’t really ask for more out of a young horse. She drew well enough, I believe she fits here and will have no excuses, that is If her trainer does his job, she should be competitive. I would say I’m cautiously optimistic when I look at all the talent in that race. It’s littered with really good horsemen and talented fillies.”
#7 Ballsacajeweeeya (Aer Stables/S. Bridgmohan): This one displayed the benefits of “the art of losing” when she turned the EPR from that April 10 show placing at HAW into her maiden-breaking win at WO on may 21. This daughter of Sinissippi Tune was always close to the pace at WO and displayed her determination to get the win by a head. This conditioner lives to take down these types of races and knows what he likes to see from horses that can give him that opportunity. Yet another that prefers to be in touch with the leaders, so Bridgmohan will play a key role in helping her work out a trip from the middle of the starting gate, but this is another that looks live in here. Trainer’s Thoughts: “As a part time player with 42 active….I find myself at the “taint” of HRP. This horse is a pure donkey and has a limited chance to hit the board or make it past the 5 minute status after the race. End of story….”
#8 Bahrain (Waldo/D. Cohen): It takes a good horse to win on debut like this one did at GG on April 10 in a $31 MSW. It takes a fast horse to work 1:11 1/5 in the middle of May of their 2yo season. This No Way Quentin filly checks a lot of boxes to be a big threat in here. In that debut, she was in the middle of a three horse group behind the leader before inching closer around the turn. When she got to the front she appeared to idle for a second before fending off all challenges. That combination of speed and determination makes this one the pick in an excellent renewal of The Debutante. Trainer’s Thoughts: “I will be honest with you I am not very clever at matching horses together; its just the luck of the draw if they turn out ok. Bahrain looks like she might be a runner will find out more with this race fingers crossed.”
#9 The Nation (Arindel/J. Court): Our first entry that was purchased privately when Jediminds Stable forked over the bill of sale after Arindel offered $40. This Punch Line filly returns here off of a 5th place finish in the G3 Astoria at BEL on June 5. That race was over a dirt surface listed as “good” so maybe that one is a throw-out. Certainly looked like a good thing when winning on debut at SA on April 4 where she took down the $61 purse by 3-lengths. If she runs back to that effort, she very well could prove dangerous in here and the two works since that June 5 attempt suggest she is ready to do just that. Trainer’s Thoughts: “I really like The Nation as one of my more promising filly prospects.. her last race was disappointing, but I’m chalking that up to the off going. Last race she was also going the wrong way with her works, so maybe she just wasn’t right. Now she’s headed in the right direction with her works, and looks like she’ll get a fast track again, where she was so impressive on debut. Unfortunately we’re drawn to the outside, the only downside to this race for me.
When I bought her I had noticed her most recent fast work in the morning, seemed like an early type. Hopefully she can hit the board here and point to a graded stake from here.”
#10 Fancy Dance Party (Williams9/M. Garcia): Another debut winner, this daughter of Pinnacle West also exits the G3 Astoria. She was 4th that day on the “good” dirt after she broke her maiden at SA on April 9 in a $61 MSW. That debut came under the tutelage of Martyparty who sold her a month later for $130.25 in a private sale to the current owner. After the purchase she was thrown into the deepest waters available and acquitted herself just fine even after appearing to tire in the latter stages of that last race. No 6f works on the tab, so hard to endorse confidently, but this is not out of her depth. Trainer’s Thoughts: “I love the horse from the first time I see her run. Then try and buy her for a good price. Just looking to her future and hope good things”
#11 Eloquent (Mb Stables/Ru. Gonzalez): This home bred daughter of No Doubt About It took two tries to break her maiden as she was 3rd in a PRX MSW on April 14 when beaten a length before returning to the races at WO on May 30. She took down that $65 MSW while racing just off of the leader before getting by that stubborn rival (On Solid Ground) and holding off a fast-closing Dance Fever. Was she the beneficiary of a rail trip that day…maybe, but she ran hard and fast the whole 5f and had to show some grit to get the job done. She is not the prettiest entrant this barn will run this weekend, but she deserves the same respect. The main rival to the top pick. Trainer’s Thoughts: “Her dam was an Oaks prep winner and comes from a successful family. Her full brother Winter Solstice is a multi G1 winning long turf runner. I like to try to breed complete outcrosses when possible because it seems as a whole HRP has been heading towards very repetitive pedigrees and she happened to have no Commanding lines in her pedigree So I matched her up with No Doubt About It for her first foal and Eloquent is the result. I’d say Eloquent’s abilities aren’t quite the norm for her bloodlines, but she appears to be a very precocious type and is massive for her age so why not give stakes racing a go?”
#12 Lawbringer (Rampage Stables/J. Rosario): Debut-winning daughter of Zee Unit comes in here with just that effort on her PP’s. In that April 16 contest at SA she assumed command in the stretch and increased her lead to 2-lengths at the wire. Although that race was over two months ago, we only have two published works since so we have to assume the trainer is happy with what he has seen from her on the farm. Based on her tactics on debut, it will be interesting to see how she handles this far outside post, but it appears a minor award may be her ceiling based on the competition and this post. Trainer’s Thoughts: Unavailable
Also Eligibles:
#13 Demanding Commander (Hippyheart) Trainer’s Thoughts: Unavailable
#14 Co Hogulate (Night Rider Stables): Trainer’s Thoughts: “My stance on breeding its mandatory that I have some super strong bloodlines. I acquired her mare via claim from NJ Vets because of her line. She is by multiple Gr1 winner Copper Beast out of a daughter of champion Vouvray. That kind of line really entices me. Especially because it makes a good cross with either Commanding or Charley Farley. The knock on the mare was she had no on-track ability. So usually with these I try to cross them with a stallion that was a Gr1 winner. That’s why I chose Dial It In; he is a Gr1 winning son of CF. Ideally I would want to breed GR1 winners with great bloodline to GR1 winners with great bloodline that matches perfect. But that’s so hard to acquire many of those. Put it in a nutshell, I’m not Smokey lol. So it’s rewarding when I get a runner of this quality from a total inhouse breed as I own both stallion and mare.”
#15 Commanding All (Team 7 Illusions) Trainer’s Thoughts: Unavailable
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
