DEL MAR, CA – Trainer Simon Callaghan’s Moonshine Memories wired a field of seven juvenile fillies in a noteworthy running of Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante.
The Debutante was a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race, giving Moonshine Memories an all-fees-waived entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 4 back here at Del Mar.
Jockey Flavien Prat angled Moonshine Memories in at the start, using her speed to set fractions of :21.97 and :44.85 while turning away an early challenge from favored Just a Smidge. Off the turn, she kicked clear and held off a late bid from Piedi Bianchi to cross the line first in a final time of 1:23.61 for the 7-furlong main track event.
“No special instructions for me today,” Prat said. “(Callaghan) said, ‘She’s got speed; get her away from there and find a spot.’ She was cruising out there today. Just cruising. She’s a nice filly, and I think she’ll definitely run on.”
Spectator finished third ahead of Dancing Belle. Just a Smidge, Poetic, and Gabrielleelizabeth completed the order of finish.
The win was the second in as many weeks for Moonshine Memories, who broke her maiden on debut here on August 19.
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“We were actually looking for any small excuse not to run her back (in two weeks),” Callaghan said. “There was no pressure from the owners. This filly just did everything you’d want from a horse in between (starts). She showed in the paddock, her disposition and how calm she was, is something you can’t instill in them, it’s within them. (During the race) I liked the way she was traveling within herself, but then you look at the fractions and you get a little worried. She just kept running potential rivals off and she was all heart at the end.”
Moonshine Memories paid $13.40 to win, $6.40 to place, and $4.20 to show. Piedi Bianchi paid $14.20 to place and $6 to show, while Spectator paid $3 to show.
