How to bet the 2023 Sorrento Stakes

An octet of juvenile fillies will dash six furlongs on the Del Mar dirt in Saturday’s $200,000 Sorrento S. (G3). Simon Callaghan’s #8 Benedetta (2-1) looked like the real deal in a powerful debut victory at Los Al at first asking and received a fine post slot for this one for her stakes debut. Purchased for a hefty $750,000 in the spring, the exciting daughter of City of Light has posted a trio of local works since her unveiling, and the Kentucky-bred surely has a lot more to offer as she wasn’t asked for her best at any stage of her July 8 showing.

Benedetta is from a very productive female family and will benefit from being outside in the heat to allow Victor Espinoza to see how the pace unfolds to the inside of him. I envision this one edging to the lead nearing the turn for home on Saturday.

Bob Baffert’s #3 Dua (5-2) was not overly impressive in her debut score on the oval, but she did show a good level of fight in the event and will likely move forward in this run for a conditioner who is always superb with two-year-old runners. The bay daughter of Arrogate was well backed at 3-5 odds in her debut and had to work hard to graduate, but she will improve after posting a swift five-furlong drill in the interim. Juan Hernandez, who guided both this miss and the top pick last time out, opted to stay in the silks aboard the Zedan Racing color bearer.

The Doug O’Neill-trained #7 Ur In Trouble (6-1) put in a strong late rally to be second on debut and could sit a very good trip behind a fast and contested pace in the dash. The $87,000 juvenile purchase races for a trainer who is solid with youngsters in general, and the daughter of interesting young sire Maximus Mischief should be fit and ready after getting a nice half-mile morning move on the course as of late. Antonio Fresu retains the ride atop the bay Kentucky-bred.

Sorrento Wagers

$30 exacta: 8 with 3 ($30)

$10 exacta: 8 with 7 ($10)

$5 trifecta: key 8 with 3,7 ($10)