Sensational so far in her brief career, undefeated Executiveprivilege faces eight rival juvenile fillies in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) Sept. 1 on the Polytrack at Del Mar.
Executiveprivilege, winner of the Aug. 8 Sorrento Stakes (gr. III), can give trainer Bob Baffert his seventh lifetime win in the Del Mar Debutante. Baffert, who last won the Debutante in 2006 with Zayat Stable's Point Ashley, conditions the 2-year-old daughter of First Samurai for Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman.
A $650,000 purchase in April as the price topper at the Ocala Breeders' spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, Executiveprivilege has been barely tested in winning her first three starts by a combined nine lengths. In her most recent outing Aug. 8 at Del Mar, the bay took control of the Sorrento in the stretch and held steady in the final furlong to post a measured 1 1/4-length score at odds of 2-5.
She'll face her most formidable test yet in the seven-furlong Debutante, which includes fast-developing fillies Beholder and Mechaya, as well as a trio from the Peter Miller barn: Heir Kitty, Miss Empire, and Speedinthruthecity. The 62nd running of the Debutante goes as the ninth race on the Saturday card with a planned post time of 6:00 p.m. PDT.
Executiveprivilege made her career debut June 28 going 5 1/2 furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park, overcoming a tardy start to rally from fifth on the turn en route to a 4 1/2-length victory. Baffert moved her into stakes company for her second start and Executiveprivilege responded with an impressive 3 1/4-length tally in Hollywood's Landaluce July 14.
Having successfully transferred her form from the Cushion Track to Poly, Executiveprivilege has been a dynamo in two published workouts since the Sorrento. She drilled six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 Aug. 20, then came back six days later with a six-furlong move in a bullet 1:10 4/5, fastest of 13 on the morning.
Leading Del Mar rider Rafael Bejarano has ridden Executiveprivilege in all of her races and they will break from post eight while carrying co-top weight of 122 pounds. Bejarano won last year's Debutante aboard Weemissfrankie.
Doubledown Stables' Mechaya produced the best last-race Beyer figure in the Debutante field, earning a dazzling 93 for her debut win at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 10. The City Zip lass, trained by John Sadler, chased the pacesetter in second in her initial start and pulled clear in the stretch for a two-length triumph. Martin Garcia gets the call on the $240,000 2-year-old purchase, replacing Bejarano.
Sadler won the 2010 Debutante with Tell a Kelly.
Beholder, trained by Richard Mandella for Spendthrift Farm, ran fourth behind Executiveprivilege in their debuts. The daughter of Henny Hughes came back July 22 at Del Mar to break her maiden by 3 1/4 lengths. Garrett Gomez rides.
Miller's entrants includes two that performed admirably against males in their most recent start in the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 5. Heir Kitty, a Wildcat Heir filly to be ridden in the Debutante by Corey Nakatani, was edged by a half-length by the victorious Know More while finishing second in the eight-horse field. Her stablemate, Miss Empire, closed well after bobbling at the break and finished third, beaten by 1 3/4 lengths. Kevin Krigger retains the mount on the daughter of Empire Maker .
Speedinthruthecity, Miller's other starter, has been second to Executiveprivilege in both the Landaluce and Sorrento after graduating at first asking at Hollywood June 21.
Miller previously captured the Debutante with Set Play in 2007.
Renee's Titan, owned by Zillah Reddam and trained by Leandro Mora, is another debut winner at Hollywood. She comes off a fourth-place finish in the Sorrento, weakening late from between horses after pressing the pace into the stretch.
Pat's Back won her last start over maidens in front-running fashion by 2 1/2 lengths Aug. 25 at Del Mar. Wasted At Midnight, a closing fifth in her debut Aug. 5 after being squeezed and steadied at the start, goes with blinkers this time for trainer Alexis Barba.
$300,000 Del Mar Debutante (gr. I, Race 9, approximate post 6:00 p.m. PDT), 2YO Fillies, 7 Furlongs (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Heir Kitty (FL), C.S. Nakatani, 118, P Miller
2. Pat's Back (FL), P.A. Valenzuela, 118, M Pender
3. Miss Empire (KY), K. Krigger, 122, P Miller
4. Speedinthruthecity (KY), J. Talamo, 118, P Miller
5. Wasted At Midnight (FL), R. Jaime, 116, A Barba
6. Mechaya (ON), M. Garcia, 118, J W Sadler
7. Renee's Titan (KY), E.A. Maldonado, 116, L Mora
8. Executiveprivilege (KY), R. Bejarano, 122, B Baffert
9. Beholder (KY), G.K. Gomez, 118, R E Mandella
Blinkers On: Wasted At Midnight