Led by undefeated Texas-bred Shocktime, a field of eight 2-year-old fillies was drawn for the $100,000 Debutante (gr. III) June 25 at Churchill Downs. It is the first graded race of 2011 for juvenile fillies.
A homebred of Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch, Shocktime will carry top weight of 120 pounds in the six-furlong Debutante, which is the feature of Churchill’s 11-race Saturday card. The daughter of Langfuhr romped in both of her starts at Lone Star Park for trainer Bret Calhoun—by nine lengths in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight in April and by 12 3/4 lengths June 11 while going five furlongs in the TTA Sales Futurity.
Shocktime, who will be ridden by Miguel Mena from post 6, is out of the Devil His Due mare Red Thread.
Trainer Dale Romans, who won the Debutante last year with Just Louise, will have another chance with Pricilla Vaccarezza’s My Due Process. The Henny Hughes filly finished runner-up in both of her starts so far, missing by a head May 20 at Churchill last out. Robby Albrado will ride.
Trainer Todd Pletcher won the Debutante in 2008 with Garden District and will be represented this time with Let’s Go Stable’s Tippy Toes. The daughter of D'wildcat won a $50,000 maiden claimer June 5 in her second start at Churchill, prevailing by a half-length as the heavy favorite. Leading rider Julien Leparoux will have the mount.
Other maiden winners include Five Star Momma, Queen Teuta, Flashy Lassie, Culotte, and Defy Gravity. Culotte, trained by Tom Amoss for Gold Mark Farm, was a 5 1/4-length maiden special weight at Churchill Downs on May 13, while R N R Stable’s Defy Gravity ships in from Maryland for trainer Valora Testerman after a six-length triumph May 8 at Pimlico Race Course.
$100,000 Debutante (gr. III, Race 10, 5:25 p.m.), 2YO Fillies, 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Five Star Momma (KY), C J Lanerie, 118, C L Dickey
2. Queen Teuta (KY), C H Borel, 118, B S Flint
3. Tippy Toes (FL), J R Leparoux, 116, T A Pletcher
4. My Due Process (KY), R Albarado, 116, D L Romans
5. Flashy Lassie (KY), K J Desormeaux, 116, G W Simms
6. Shocktime (TX), M Mena, 120, W B Calhoun
7. Culotte (KY), L R Goncalves, 118, T M Amoss
8. Defy Gravity (KY), W Ho, 118, V A Testerman