Sorrento (G3) winner Dreamfyre highlights a nice field of 14 two-year-old fillies entered for Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Debutante (G1). By freshman sire Flameaway, the dark bay will bring blazing speed to the seven-furlong test, establishing fast splits leading all the way in a pair of convincing wins.
Dreamfyre opened her racing career with a 3 1/2-length upset win over male rivals in a Pleasanton stakes on July 9, and she came back to dominate on the front end in the six-furlong Sorrento on Aug. 12, scoring by another 3 1/2-length margin. Hector Berrios will be back up for O.J. Jauregui.
Pushiness will try open rivals for Michael McCarthy following a pair of flashy odds-on wins over state-breds, taking the C.T.B.A. S. on Aug. 6. She’s led all the way in both, and Umberto Rispoli guides the Kantharos filly. McCarthy will also send out Julias Dream, who switches turf to dirt off a 5 1/2-length romp in a five-furlong turf maiden special weight on Aug. 6. Ricardo Gonzalez rides the daughter of Flameaway.
Tamara is a contender jumping to stakes competition for Richard Mandella, overcoming trouble to win her career debut going away by 2 1/4 lengths on Aug. 19. The Spendthrift Farm homebred, a daughter of leading 2022 freshman sire Bolt d’Oro, hails from four-time champion Beholder, and Tamara registered a commendable 91 Brisnet Speed rating for her first start.
Bendetta will seek to rebound after finishing second as the favorite in the Sorrento. Trainer Simon Callaghan will remove blinkers on the City of Light filly, and Victor Espinoza retains the assignment. Chatalas merits respect for Mark Glatt after rallying to win her career opener on July 30. Juan Hernandez sticks with the Gun Runner filly. Laurent is another intriguing first-out winner, overcoming terrible start with a last-to-first score on Aug. 13. Edwin Maldonado has the call for Peter Eurton.
A few races earlier on the program, Yellow Ribbon (G2) winner Closing Remarks tops six turf distaffers in the $250,000 John C. Mabee (G2). The five-year-old mare will seek her third win over Del Mar’s turf, and Rispoli will be up for Carla Gaines.
The 1 1/8-mile turf affair includes multiple Grade 3 winner Neige Blanche and last-out allowance scorer Oakhurst.
The stakes action kicks off with the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, and 11 are set for the mile event. Last-out maiden winners Angiolletta and Flattery are among the draws, and Irish import Loterie rates as a contender for Phil d’Amato following a troubled second in her U.S. debut.
