Del Mar Debutante J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

Nine promising juvenile fillies will take center stage in the $250,000 Del

Mar Debutante S. (G1) on Monday. Only three have already tested stakes waters,

while the other top contenders are exiting impressive maiden wins. To try to

evaluate these youngsters with little record to go on, we'll focus on the way

the race promises to set up. With a ferocious early speed duel likely in the

offing, a proven closer holds a lot of appeal, especially considering that these

fillies are stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time.

We'll go with the unbeaten PINATA (Vision and Verse), who swept from near the

tail of the field to capture the six-furlong Landaluce S. at Hollywood Park, her

first outing since transferring to conditioner Peter Miller. For her previous trainer, the

chestnut had broken her maiden in her debut

at Pimlico. While her BRIS Speed numbers aren't the strongest in this race, her

pedigree screams later developing distance type, so her accomplishments so far

really speak to her talent, and there should be even better to come. Pinata

hasn't raced since the July 1 Landaluce, but we view that as a plus, as she'll

be fresher than her opponents. She's posted several drills at San Luis Rey Downs

in preparation for this, including a sharp five furlongs in :59 2/5 on Friday,

so she's ready to go for a horseman who wins 40 percent of the time in the

"31-90 Days Away" category. Norberto Arroyo Jr. picks up the mount.

The Bob Baffert-trained POINT ASHLEY (Point Given) is coming off a 4

1/4-length maiden win at Del Mar in her second career start, in which she set a

pressured pace before drawing off, an effort that garnered a 100 Speed rating.

Her half-mile split was a brutal :44 4/5, and the bay will likely be on or very

close to similarly taxing fractions in this contest. She's been training

brilliantly since then, including an unbelievable six-furlong move in 1:09 4/5

from the gate on August 24. While Point Ashley could be a phenom who can take

this hard training following a demanding race, we're concerned that this all

might catch up to her, and that's why we prefer to use her underneath.

The well bred UNTOUCHED TALENT (Storm Cat) hasn't had a real challenge yet in

her two outings, both of them stakes. After comfortably taking the Juan Gonzalez

Memorial S. at Pleasanton, the Jeff Bonde pupil scored a similarly geared-down

victory in the Sorrento S. (G3) over this track. In both races, the bay

telegraphed that she had much more left in reserve. This time around, she'll

probably have to dig deep, and we'll find out just what kind of reserves she

really has. At likely short odds, we prefer to try to beat her. Note that Victor

Espinoza has deserted her to ride Point Ashley.

JUMP ON IN (Jump Start) boasts the highest Speed figure in the field, having

garnered a gaudy 104 for her debut maiden victory at Del Mar. Like Point Ashley,

she got her half-mile in a blazing :44 4/5 that day. Jump On In obviously has

serious ability, but her lack of seasoning, with only one start under her belt,

makes this a tough assignment. We wouldn't be surprised by a top-three finish,

but we wouldn't expect the John Sadler pupil to win it all, especially if she

sticks to her front-running tactics. SHE'S INCLUDED (Include) is exiting a 3

3/4-length maiden score over the track, and boding well for her chances here,

she did it by stalking the pace before sweeping to the lead. Her Speed figures

leave something to be desired, but her trainer Chris Paasch is having a banner

year with his juveniles.

OUTOFTHEPAST (Exchange Rate) is a confirmed closer who made a smart late move

for second in the Sorrento. Interestingly, the gray defeated Point Ashley when

breaking her maiden. We won't read too much into that, as Point Ashley

progressed out of all recognition after that initial effort. Outofthepast will

hit her best stride in the stretch and is qualified to grab a minor award.

Still, even though she has a profile reminiscent of Pinata's, we're not

convinced that she's got as much upside as our top choice.

MISTICAL PLAN (Game Plan) captured her debut against softer foes at Santa

Rosa, but she will be making her first start here for leading trainer Doug

O'Neill. FILLIE BY THE BAY (Elusive Quality) and NUSHKA BABEE (Aptitude) are

both still maidens, having been well beaten runners-up to Jump On In and She's

Included, respectively.