Wild Fit, a maiden winner in her debut 13 days ago, quickly became a grade I victor Saturday by overcoming a wide trip under Alex Solis to win the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante.The 2-year-old gray/roan filly was drawing away at the wire to win by two lengths while completing the seven-furlong event in 1:24 as the 3-2 favorite in the field of 10 wagering interests. Jeff Mullins trains the Florida-bred daughter of Wild Wonder for Brewer Racing Stable (Ron Brewer) and Murray Smith.Mullins, who won his second stakes of the meeting, said Wild Fit's connections would like to run her to the Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) on Oct. 29 at Belmont Park."We'll be laying plans for the Breeders' Cup, but we'll let her get over this first," he said. "We ran her back kind of quick in 13 days, so we'll take it a little slow right now. Then we'll make our plans." The last two winners of the Del Mar Debutante – Sweet Catomine in 2004 and Halfbridled in 2003 – have gone on to win the Breeders' Cup Fillies and been named champion 2-year-old filly. Mystery Girl ran second, tiring late after fighting Indian Breeze through fast early fractions, while River's Prayer finished third, four lengths behind the winner.Bully Bones, the only previous graded stakes winner in the field after capturing the Sorrento (gr. III) at Del Mar Aug. 6, was not a factor, finishing ninth as the 3-1 second choice.Wild Fit earned $150,000 for her second win in as many starts. She broke her maiden in a 5 1/2-furlong heat by four lengths with a wide move after early traffic problems Aug. 14. It was impressive enough to warrant the rapid turnaround.Indian Breeze, digging from the inside, took over the lead from Calamity June shortly after the start and battled on the front end with Mystery Girl on her outside through an opening quarter mile of :21 3/5 and a half in :44 1/5. Mystery Girl, ridden by Garrett Gomez, nudged her way to the front on the turn and kicked clear in the stretch, running six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 as River's Prayer and Victor Espinoza closed in from the outside. From the extreme outside, however, Wild Fit circled the field five wide coming into the lane and with a head of steam kept coming under Solis' urging to pull away at the end. "When we made it to the turn I looked down inside and didn't see any room there," said Solis, explaining the decision to take the overland route. "So I went out and she was much the best. I sure like her." Hannahill Farm Inc. bred the filly, who was produced by the mare Grannies Feather (by At Full Feather) and sold privately. Wild Fit is a full sister to grade II winner Fusaichi Rock Star.Wild Fit paid $5, $3.60, and $2.80. Mystery Girl returned $4.60 and $3.40. River's Prayer was $4 to show. The $2 exacta paid $19.20."She wasn't quite all there for me today," Gomez said of Mystery Girl. "She wanted to do too much early. If I could have kept her bottled up early on, she would have had some more punch for the lane." Miss Norman ran fourth, 9 1/2 lengths behind Wild Fit, followed by I Can See, Golden Silk, Slick Road, Calamity June, Bully Bones, Diplomat Lady (coupled with the runner-up), and Indian Breeze."I had the perfect trip and was in the perfect spot with her and then she just quit on me," jockey Rene Douglas said of Bully Bones. "I don't know what happened with her. Maybe she bled. We'll probably find out tomorrow." (Chart, Equibase)
Rookie Wild Fit off to good start with second win in 13 days.
Benoit