American Cleopatra Readies for Del Mar Debutante

Photo Credit: Gary Tasich

American Cleopatra, full sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, has begun putting the finishing touches on her preparations for the Del Mar Debutante, working a swift six furlongs from the gate in 1:12.80.

The Zayat Stable’s filly was last seen on July 31st, where she trounced a group of maidens by an easy two lengths. That day she completed the five and a half furlongs in a snappy time of 1:03.38. She was let go at odds of 7-1 that race, going off as the co-third choice. Given how she won her maiden, along with her pedigree, the chances of her going off at 7-1 or higher in the Debutante are slim.

The Del Mar Debutante will be run over seven furlongs, a distance that is one and one half furlongs longer than American Cleopatra's debut. The connections are not worried about the extra distance, always maintaining that the filly will improve with distance and maturity.

A win in the Debutante would give trainer Bob Baffert his eight victory in the race, with the last coming with Executiveprivilege in 2012. The Zayats have not had as much success in this race as their illustrious trainer, only winning once with Point Ashley in 2006, who was also trained by Baffert.

In 2014, American Pharoah took the male counterpart to this race when running away with the Del Mar Futurity by nearly five lengths. That win would represent the first win of his career, after he finished a dull fifth in his two-year-old debut.

Will American Cleopatra emulate her brother by taking a grade one in her first attempt? The entire country will be watching, waiting, and willing her to do so as the gates open and she is sent on her way.

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