Cleopatra Out to Rule Del Mar Debutante

American Cleopatra (Pioneerof the Nile) has already accomplished something her superstar full-brother, American Pharoah, failed to do. Now she'll try to follow in his footsteps with a Grade I victory on closing weekend at Del Mar.

Zayat Stables' bay homebred graduated at first asking on the seaside oval July 31 at a surprisingly generous 7-1, a performance that earned her a 'TDN Rising Star' nod. American Pharoah finished fifth in his debut–one of only two losses in his career–before going on to break his maiden in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity next time out. His little sister now will try to replicate that success in the filly equivalent Grade I Del Mar Debutante.

The race features many chances, not least of which comes from another Bob Baffert trained 'TDN Rising Star', Speedway Stable's Noted and Quoted (The Factor), who earned the distinction when dominating by 9 1/2 lengths in an Aug. 7 maiden win. The gray filly worked in company with her uncoupled stablemate Aug. 29, going five furlongs on the main track in 1:00 3/5, one-fifth of a second slower than American Cleopatra's credited time.

Champagne Room (Broken Vow) captured the prep for this event, the Grade II Sorrento S. Aug. 6, as a maiden after finishing second in her July 16 debut. Trained by Peter Eurton, the $310,000 OBS April purchase earned a field-best 78 Beyer Speed Figure in that effort. She also sizzled a best-of-62 bullet four furlongs in :46 1/5 here Aug. 27.

The horse who beat Champagne Room in that one's aforementioned debut, Morganite (Gemologist) also looms a big player for Hronis Racing and John Sadler. Bought for $360,000, 24 times her sire's stud fee, after breezing one furlong in :10 flat at OBS March. A big filly who graduated going five panels first out, should appreciate the stretchout to this seven-furlong test. She has been working steadily at increasing distances with this race in mind since that win, including going three-quarters in a bullet 1:12 1/5 Aug. 19.