Bottle of Rouge with Mike Smith up. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press
DEL MAR, Calif.—Natalie J. Baffert’s Bottle of Rouge came running late under Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith Saturday at Del Mar and registered a one-length score in the 75th edition of the Grade I Del Mar Debutante.
The gray daughter of Vino Rosso bested stablemate Explora, owned by the trio of Pegram, Watson and Weitman and the 3-5 favorite in the seven-panel affair. Finishing third, a half-length farther back, was Muir Hut Stables’ La Wally.
Bottle of Rouge, a winner of one of two straight maiden races prior to the Deb, covered the distance in 1:23.05 and earned a check for $180,000 from the $301,000 purse.
“The way the race set up they were moving right along up front, so it doesn’t surprise me that’s the way we ended up finishing. They’re all lightly raced fillies. That’s her third start so that helps. We’ll take a one-two finish anytime. We’re just very proud of her,” said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to Bob Baffert.
She paid $20.20 for her upset.
The winner is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the husband of the owner. This was his 19th victory in the filly headliner and his 185th stakes win at Del Mar, both exceptional records.
The score was Smith’s fourth triumph in the Debutante and his 82nd stakes tally at the shore oval.
“First time I’ve ever been on her; never even worked her,” said Smith.
“Have to thank Jill (Jill Baffert, the filly’s owner and the wife of trainer Bob Baffert). She told Bob he had to ride me; she wouldn’t let up. She insisted. So, he put me on. Thank you, Jill. Thank you, Bob. About 150 yards or so out of the gate she just seemed to lose her hind end for a bit. But she recovered nicely and picked it up. She ran well today.”
The stakes win was the seventh of the meet for trainer Baffert and his record 12th in the Debutante. He now has 185 stakes wins at Del Mar, far and away the most of any trainer.
The winning owner is Jill Baffert, the wife of trainer Bob Baffert.
Bottle of Rouge now sports earnings of $240,000. The racy filly “only” cost $100,000 at the Keeneland September sale as a yearling.
