2023 Debutante Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | V V’s Dream Could Build Off Dominating Debut At Ellis Park

Mike previews the 2023 Debutante Stakes from Ellis Park, then gives his top picks & long shots. After dominating her rivals on debut at Churchill Downs on May 19, the Kenny McPeek-trained V V’s Dream looks poised to build off of her initial success. Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The press release:

    MJM Racing’s eye-catching 2-year-old filly V V’s Dream will be in search of her first stakes victory when she squares off against five rivals in Sunday’s 122nd running of the $225,000 Debutante (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

    The six-furlong Debutante Stakes is one of five stakes contests on the Sunday card from Ellis Park. First post is 11:45 a.m. (all times Central) and the Debutante will go as Race 3 of 10 with a post time of 12:43 p.m. The supporting stakes on the card are the $275,000 Hanshin presented by the JRA (Listed), the $225,000 Bashford Manor, the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes and the $175,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes.

    Trained by three-time Debutante Stakes winner Kenny McPeek, V V’s Dream impressively rallied from six lengths off the early pace in her debut to defeat seven fillies by 6 ¼ lengths. The gray daughter of Mitole stopped the clock on :57.91 for five furlongs and earned a 93 Brisnet Speed Rating. McPeek previously won the Debutante with Behave Virginia (2021), Restless Rider (2018) and Sunny Skies (2017). V V’s dream will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post No. 3.

    Another intriguing prospect that entered the Debutante is Heider Family Stables’ Hibernacle. Now under the care of Brendan Walsh, Hibernacle galloped to a 7 ½-length victory on debut at Keeneland for former owner/trainer Wesley Ward. Hibernacle will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from the rail. 
    
    The Debutante Stakes began in 1895 and has produced seven Champion 2-year-old Fillies including last year’s winner Wonder Wheel. The others are: Chilukki (1999), Silverbulletday (1998), Golden Attraction (1995), Bewitch (1947), Alcibiades (1929) and Anita Peabody (1927).

    Here is the field for the 2023 Debutante Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Hibernacle (Gaffalione, Walsh)
2. George’s Honey (Rey Gutierrez, Mark Casse)
3. V V’s Dream (Hernandez, McPeek)
4. Brightwork (Luis Saez, John Ortiz)
5. City Ghost (James Graham, Henry Johnson Jr.)
6. Easy Red (Cristian Torres, Doug O’Neill)