Untouched Talent tops Del Mar Debutante

Impressive Sorrento S. (G3) winner UNTOUCHED TALENT (Storm Cat) will try to

extend her unbeaten string to three in Monday's $250,000 Del Mar Debutante S.

(G1) for juvenile fillies. The Jeff Bonde pupil has raced exclusively in stakes

company, having scored by an eased-down 3 1/2 lengths in the Juan Gonzalez

Memorial S. at Pleasanton in her debut. The well bred bay has trained well in

advance of this engagement and will get the services of new rider David Flores.

To maintain her perfect record, Untouched Talent will have to overcome

another stakes winner as well as several promising maiden winners who are making

their stakes debuts in the seven-furlong affair. The other unbeaten stakes

winner in the field is PINATA (Vision and Verse), successful in the Landaluce S.

at Hollywood Park two months ago. The Peter Miller juvenile has not raced since

she rallied to gain a neck victory in that event, but she has posted several

moves at San Luis Rey Downs since mid-August. Norberto Arroyo Jr. picks up the

mount.

Trainer Bob Baffert will be represented by smashing maiden winner POINT

ASHLEY (Point Given). After romping by 4 1/2 lengths in her second career start

at Del Mar, the bay filly has been working brilliantly over the track, including

a mind-boggling six-furlong drill in 1:09 4/5 out of the gate on August 24. Note

that Victor Espinoza, who rode Untouched Talent to her facile win in the

Sorrento, has opted to ride Point Ashley here. 

Other intriguing youngsters stepping up in class are JUMP ON IN (Jump Start)

from the John Sadler barn, the Chris Paasch-trained SHE'S INCLUDED (Include) and

MISTICAL PLAN (Game Plan), who will be making her first start since switching to

conditioner Doug O'Neill.

Mistical Plan has drawn the rail and will carry 117 pounds along with rider

David Cohen. To her outside will come Pinata, 121; Point Ashley, 117; Jump On

In, Corey Nakatani, 117; FILLIE BY THE BAY (Elusive Quality), Martin Pedroza,

115; NUSHKA BABEE (Aptitude), Omar Berrio, 115; Untouched Talent, 121; She's

Included, Alex Solis, 117; and Sorrento runner-up OUTOFTHEPAST (Exchange Rate),

Isaias Enriquez, 117.

Kicking off Del Mar's Labor Day card is the $100,000

I'm

Smokin S. for California-bred two-year-olds. Conditioner Carla Gaines will

send out the coupled entry of SPOT THE DIPLOMAT (Worldly Manner), the 124-pound

highweight in view of his victory in the Graduation S. last out, and debut

maiden winner STREET LIGHTS (High Brite).

In the $85,000

Windy

Sands H., runaway Blue Grass S. (G1) hero SINISTER MINISTER (Old Trieste)

will be returning to action for the first time since his 16th in the Kentucky

Derby (G1). The Baffert-conditioned sophomore will face five older rivals in the one-mile

event, including his stablemate, PREACHINATTHEBAR (Silver Charm), who has been

assigned the top weight of 120 pounds.