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2017 Del Mar Debutante

Flavien Prat celebrates aboard Moonshine Memories after winning the 2017 Del Mar Debutante

The $300,000 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) on Saturday features the top 2-year-old fillies on the west coast sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track. Conditions were typical for the end of the Del Mar summer meeting, with clear skies and temperatures in the low 80's for the 10,533 fans in attendance. Debut winner Just a Smidge was sent off as the 9-5 facorite in the field of 7. In to challenge her included 2-1 second choice Spectator, winner of the Sorrento (G2), and 3-1 third choice Poetic, winner of her debut last out.

Moonshine Memories leads in the stretch

Jockey Flavien Prat sent 11-2 fourth choice Moonshine Memories to the lead exiting the chute and she set fractions of 21.97 and 44.85 while pressed by Just a Smidge and stalked by 19-1 Piedi Bianchi. Entering the lane, Moonshine Memories opened up a 2 length lead throuh 3/4 in 1:09.90. Piedi Bianchi attempted to close late but Moonshine Memories held her off by 1/2 a length in 1:23.61 over the fast main track. It was a long 5 1/4 lengths back to Spectator third, while favorite Just a Smidge faded to 5th.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Moonshine Memories Prat 13.40 6.40 4.20 6 Piedi Bianchi Gutierrez 14.20 6.00 3 Spectator Theriot 3.00 Winning Time: 1:23.61 $1 Exacta 2-6 74.00 $2 Quinella 2-6 62.80 $1 Trifecta 2-6-3 267.70 $1 Superfecta 2-6-3-7 1,292.60 Results Chart

Left: Moonshine Memories in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Simon Callaghan said, "We were actually looking for any small excuse not to run her back (in 2 weeks). 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. 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."

Right: Moonshine Memories in the paddock. Winning jockey Flavien Prat said, "No special instructions for me today; Simon 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."

Left: Second place finisher Piedi Bianchi in the paddock. Jockey Mario Gutierrez said, "That was a good late run from her. She's getting better. Improving all the time."

Right: Third place finisher Spectator in the paddock. Jockey Jamie Theriot said, "She stumbled coming away from there and grabbed a quarter (cut herself up front.) She was swapping leads on the backside and I couldn't figure out why. Afterwards I knew. But she fought through the pain and came running late. Good effort for her."

Fifth place finisher and beaten favorite Just a Smidge in the post parade. Jockey Rafael Bejarano said, "She just didn't pick it up late. It wasn't there."

Cambodia wins the John C. Mabee Stakes

14-1 Hillhouse High dueled for the lead with 70-1 Frenzified through fractions of 23.20, 47.38, and 1:11.67 while stalked by Mrs McDougal. On the far turn the pacesetters tired, as favorite Cambodia, 6th early under Drayden Van Dyke, swept 3 wide to lead through 1 mile in 1:36.07. Goodyearforroses, 8th early, put in a strong rally late but Cambodia held her off by 3/4 length in 1:47.79 over the firm going. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to late-running 13-1 Madame Stripes third.

Results Chart

Left: Cambodia in the winner's circle. Winning owner Don Robinson said, "I felt so fortunate to win the Yellow Ribbon and I look at this as icing on the cake. This filly has never been a mile and an eighth, and to do it this way – rate and close – I'm over the top. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. I've raised some awfully good ones for other people, but this is a thrill. This is a crowning achievement. I love Del Mar."

Right: Cambodia returns after the race. Winning jockey Drayden Van Dyke said, "No special instructions for me. Just get her out of there and get a good spot. She was really relaxed today; all class. She can be a little quirky sometimes, but today she was calm. We thought she might be close to the lead, but she was just going so easy I was happy with where I was. When it came time, she fired. I was just a passenger today."

Left: Second place finisher Goodyearforroses in the post parade. Jockey Corey Nakatani said, "Pretty good trip for me today. No real problems. She came running. Impressive."

Right: Third place finisher Madame Stripes in the paddock. Jockey Joe Talamo said, "I had a great trip. She really showed me a good turn of foot for the finish."

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