With a record 11 wins in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and three 2-year-old fillies entered in the Sept. 6 renewal, trainer Bob Baffert seems to have the decided edge in the seven-furlong race at Del Mar. Four other trainers—Richard Mandella, Mark Glatt, Luis Mendez, and Mick Ruis Sr.—might disagree that the only question is which of Baffert's three will win.
The six-furlong Sorrento Stakes (G3) Aug. 10 could give some indication, especially since Baffert won it with Debutante entrant Himika. It is worth noting, however, that only three of Baffert's 11 Debutante winners captured the Sorrento: Executiveprivilege in 2012, Chilukki in 1999, and Batroyale in 1995.
On the other hand, Charles and Susan Chu's Baoma Corp. owns Himika. Baoma and Baffert teamed up to win last year's Debutante with Tenma and the 2019 edition with Bast.
Yet Del Mar leading rider, Juan Hernandez, has ridden all three of Baffert's runners—Himika, Explora, and Bottle of Rouge—and he will be aboard Explora.
Himika, a daughter of Curlin , sports the best record. A $900,000 purchase at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Himika is undefeated in two starts. She broke her maiden at Santa Anita Park June 12 by six lengths and took the Sorrento by 4 1/4 lengths after running third early, both with Hernandez riding.
"He had a hold of her since she stumbled there, and she got behind a little bit," Baffert said after the Sorrento. "She's young, second out and all, but Juan rode her with a lot of confidence. He put her in the right spot, and he had a lot of horse the whole way."
Longtime Baffert owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman own Explora, a daughter of Blame who cost $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. With Hernandez up Aug. 17 in her only outing, Explora dominated a maiden field by 4 3/4 lengths.
Bottle of Rouge is the only Baffert runner with a loss. She finished second to Himika in her debut at Santa Anita June 12 and then broke her maiden by 6 3/4 lengths at Del Mar Aug. 9. The daughter of Vino Rosso sold for $100,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and Baffert's wife, Jill, owns her.
Baffert's other two runners will get excellent substitutions for Hernandez. Kazushi Kimura, co-fourth by wins in the Del Mar standings through Sept. 3, will be aboard Himika, while Hall of Famer Mike Smith rides Bottle of Rouge.
Despite the powerful Baffert triumvirate, never underestimate Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella or Mark Glatt, the latter tied for second by wins in the Del Mar trainer standings. They each bring a filly with a one-for-one record.
Mandella won the Debutante in 2023 with Tamara and in 2003 with Halfbridled. The latter went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly. Mandella also lost a nose heartbreaker to Executiveprivilege in the 2012 Debutante with Beholder, who more than made up for that with three Breeders' Cup wins, four Eclipse Awards, and induction into the Hall of Fame.
Mandella will try this year with Bourbon and Ginger, a daughter of Bolt d'Oro . She defeated another daughter of that stallion, Grandma Mary, by a half-length in an Aug. 2 maiden race. Grandma Mary, trained by Ruiz, is also entered in the Debutante.
La Wally, a daughter of Constitution , is Glatt's entry. She won her July 19 maiden race by only a nose, but closed well in the stretch.
Fourlynnes, a daughter of Tom's d'Etat trained by Mendez, won a maiden claiming race in her second start. She had a rough trip in her debut, finishing last in that event on turf, and returned to score by 1 1/4 lengths over the main track Aug. 28.
Del Mar, Saturday, September 6, 2025, Race 6Entries: Del Mar Debutante S. (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Explora (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 120 Bob Baffert 8/5 2 2Himika (KY) Kazushi Kimura 123 Bob Baffert 2/1 3 3Fourlynnes (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 118 Luis Mendez 20/1 4 4Grandma Mary (KY) Ricardo Gonzalez 118 Mick Ruis, Sr. 8/1 5 5Bottle of Rouge (KY) Mike E. Smith 120 Bob Baffert 5/1 6 6La Wally (KY) Antonio Fresu 120 Mark Glatt 10/1 7 7Bourbon and Ginger (KY) Mirco Demuro 120 Richard E. Mandella 8/1
