How to bet the Del Mar Debutante

A total of seven talented two-year-olds will jaunt seven-eighths on the dirt in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) at Del Mar. Conditioner Bob Baffert has won the race on a record 10 occasions, and he has my top two selections in the affair. 

Del Mar Debutante Wagers

• $30 win #6 Tenma ($30)
• $10 exacta 6 with 2 ($10)

#6 Tenma didn’t show much early speed in her debut and had a whole lot to do as the field turned for home, but the daughter of Nyquist kicked into a high gear late to win, and she galloped out well, too. Purchased for a healthy $850,000 at OBS in April, the dark bay filly had not been training especially fast leading up to her unveiling, but she is bred to go long and gave an indication at first asking that she will improve with distance going forward. 

The juvenile lass has posted a pair of good five-furlong morning moves since her first out tally, and I expect her to show more speed and to move forward on Saturday. She is well drawn with Kaz Kimura back in the saddle. 

#2 Nooni is the one to catch and beat in hopes of moving her lifetime mark to an unblemished 3-for-3. Also trained by Baffert, the $1.8 million daughter of freshman sire Win Win Win demolished her foes in frontrunning fashion at Santa Anita on June 13, prior to leading at every call in eclipsing the Sorrento S. (G3) on the strip in her latest showing. The Florida-bred bay has not finished her races as swiftly as I would like, although her blazing early foot can obviously leave her foes with too much to do in the stretch. The March foal did pass a bit of a test most recently despite facing just a trio of contenders in the Sorrento, and the toughness that she displayed can surely aid her in this heat. Juan Hernandez retains the mount. 

I really can’t find much separation with the other fillies, who have each impressed in their own right, and I will just stand pat with my top duo for wagering purposes.