Quality Beats Quantity In Female Weekend Stakes

This week's two graded stakes for female runners at Del Mar are expected to draw quality over quantity.

The weekend begins with Saturday's grade II Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, with Georgia's Storm, winner of three of four starts, including Hollywood Park's grade III Landaluce Stakes, expected to head a field of five or six.

Expected to challenge Georgia's Storm are a trio of maiden winners Tempera, trained by Eoin Harty; Roaring Blaze, trained by Caesar Dominguez; the James Chapman-trained Past You, and the winless Respectful, trained by J. Eric Kruljac. On the probable list is Newport Beach, an impressive Del Mar maiden winner July 22.

In Sunday's grade II, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap for older fillies and mares, the Bob Baffert-trained Saudi Poetry could be the prime prospect, but the possibility of a run from Gourmet Girl could change that outlook. Also expected for the 1 1/16-mile race on the main track are Nany's Sweep and Lovellon.