She's a Tiger earns Grade 1 stripes in Del Mar Debutante

Last updated: 8/31/13 10:11 PM

She’s a Tiger roared to victory in the Debutante at Del Mar

(Benoit Photos)

She’s a Tiger avenged her tough half-length beat in the August 7 Sorrento
when pulling out a half-length victory on Saturday in the Grade 1, $300,750
Del
Mar Debutante under jockey Gary Stevens. The Jeff Bonde-trained juvenile
, who was sporting blinkers for the first time, was sent off the 9-2 second
choice in the eight-filly field and returned $11 to win.

“The blinkers
definitely made a difference today,” Bonde asserted. “She was dominant over horses up north, but
when we came down here she was kind of pricking her ears and looking around. She
got stronger and when we added those she got more focused.

“She was very
professional in the paddock. A lot of Tale of the Cats can get a little hot but
she’s got such great mentality and I’m really pleased with her.”

She’s a Tiger broke from the outside six post but the swift filly immediately
moved up and over to duel with even-money favorite Awesome Baby through early
fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5. The duo were still neck-and-neck entering the
turn before She’s a Tiger finally shook loose in the lane.

It seemed liked clear sailing from there, but Fascinating was coming fast
down the center of the track. She’s a Tiger held for the win while finishing
seven furlongs over Del Mar’s Polytrack in 1:22 3/5.

“She got a flyer
away from there, but she settled pretty well,” Stevens explained his trip aboard
the winner. “But then when we got near the
three-quarters pole, she wanted to duck in on me. Seems a lot of horses have
been trying to do that at the meet. She was swapping leads on me, but she was
running strong.

“You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I think she’ll be better
going two turns, where I could drop her head and let her just get into a high
gallop like Winning Colors (the filly he won the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky
Derby with). She’s got a stride on her a mile long and I think she’d love to go
on.”

Fascinating was looking for her first career score in this race but ran out
of room late and had to settle for second while passing She’s a Tiger on the
gallop out.

She’s a Tiger sported blinkers for the first time in the Del Mar Debutante

(Benoit Photos)

“Her race was just
incredible. She’s only going seven eighths here; just wait until we go two
turns,” said Mike Smith, who had piloting duties on Fascinating. “That other mare (She’s a Tiger) had more seasoning on her today,
but further on down the line I think it’ll be a different story.”

Concave, who just nipped She’s a Tiger in the Sorrento, filled the
third spot another 1 3/4 lengths back while Secret Compass rounded out the top
four. Southern Sunshine, Bajan, Awesome Baby and Sprouts completed the order of
finish.

“I guess she
didn’t like all that pressure up front. I know she didn’t like getting bumped by
the winner going around there,” remarked Awesome Baby’s rider, Martin Garcia.

She’s a Tiger took her maiden debut at Pleasanton by nine lengths in late
June, then shipped to Hollywood Park for a three-quarter length victory in the
Landaluce. The Tale of the Cat bay filly showed up at Del Mar last out for her graded bow in the Sorrento,
but just missed after leading in the stretch.

Campaigned by Mark DeDomenico, Allen J. Aldrich, Lisa Hernandez and Stuart
Downey, She’s a Tiger has now banked $315,650 to go along with her 4-3-1-0
career mark. Bred by Dr. Rodney Orr in Kentucky, she is out of the
stakes-winning Cahill Road mare Shandra Smiles, who found fame when producing
multiple Grade 1 winner and $1.4 million earner Smiling Tiger.

Shandra Smiles is herself a half-sister to Grade 3 runner-up Traci Girl as
well as the stakes-placed Elusive Quality duo Draw Fire and Calidad. This female
family is also responsible for Group 1 diva Escaline and Grade 2 king Love That
Mac.

She’s a Tiger brought $150,000 as a Keeneland September yearling.

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