Bet on The Del Mar Debutante
The Del Mar Debutante is one of the highlights of Del Mar’s summer racing season and showcases the next generation of star fillies. Restricted to two-year-old fillies and held annually in September, the race was inaugurated in 1951 and changed distances several times from six furlongs to one mile before settling on the distance of seven furlongs in 1993 and has remained at that distance since then. The Del Mar Debutante has held Grade 1 status since 1999 and currently offers a purse of $300,000.
There is a rich history surrounding the race and many fillies have used it as a stepping stone towards an ultimate two-year-old filly Eclipse Award. Most recently, Songbird won the Del Mar Debutante in only her second career start in 2015 and has since remained undefeated. No trainer has won the Del Mar Debutante more times than D. Wayne Lukas who amassed an impressive nine victories in the race from 1978-1996. Gary Stevens and Bill Shoemaker have each won the race five times as jockeys. The seven furlong stakes record was set in 1994 by Call Now and the time of 1:21.40 still stands.
Del Mar Debutante Betting Odds
In the 2015 edition of the Del Mar Debutante, Songbird went to the post as the heavy favorite despite only having a maiden win to her credit. She delivered and while she only paid $4.20 to win, there was a 2-1 shot and a 29-1 shot in second and third, so the trifecta did return $58.70. Online racebooks offer generous cash back bonuses on straight wagers and exotics so even when a favorite comes in, you can still add more value to your return.
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* REMINDER! - you must be of legal age in your state or province to legally wager on thoroughbred or harness horse racing. Please bet responsibly!
2016 Del Mar Debutante Contenders
The 2015 Del Mar Debutante was a coming out party for the brilliant Songbird. With only a maiden victory at that point, the dark bay filly gave the fans a glimpse of what was to come with a stirring victory.
She broke alertly and contested the pace with Pretty N Cool, a talented filly with some real ability herself. Songbird would prove too much, however. Confidently handled by Mike Smith, she drew off to win by 5 ½ lengths. Since that victory, she closed out her juvenile season with a victory in the Breeder’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and clinched the Eclipse Award for Champion Two Year Old Filly.
As a sophomore, she has yet to be challenged let alone defeated. Her record has improved to ten for ten and she is well on her way to her second Eclipse Award. After two impressive victories at Saratoga, her next scheduled race could be the Pennsylvania Oaks at Parx before she heads back to California for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
2015 Order of Finish: Win Place Show
1st: Songbird $4.20 $2.60 $2.20
2nd: Pretty N Cool $2.80 $2.60
3rd: Land Over Sea $5.00
(Also Ran: Right There, Stays in Vegas, One True Kiss, Surfside Tiara, Mitzi Winks, My Dynamo, Come to Mischief Scratched: Gomo)
