Tenma © Benoit Photo
As has been known to happen more than once, it was “the other Baffert” again Saturday at Del Mar in the 74th running of the $301,000 FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante as the Nyquist filly Tenma came running late to take down honors by an oh-so-slim nose in the Grade I feature.
Trainer Bob Baffert was in Kentucky and had his trusty right-hand man Jimmy Barnes saddle the winner. The trainer also had sent out Zedan Racing Stables’ Nooni, the 4/5 favorite in the seven furlong dash, but she could only finish a troubled fifth in the field of seven 2-year-old fillies.
Tenma provided another stark contrast with her score: The victory was the 11th in the Debutante for the trainer and his track-leading 175th added-money tally. Conversely, the winning rider, Kazushi Kimura, was scoring his first stakes victory at the seaside oval.
Tenma is owned by the Baoma Corp. of Charles Chu of North Andover, MA. It was her second tally in her second outing after having clicked in a straight maiden affair at Del Mar on Auguste 18. She was an $850,000 purchase at a 2-year-old in training sale earlier this year.
Finishing second in the Debutante was Medallion Racing, Aldabbagh or Strauss’ Vodka With a Twist, who was handled by Mike Smith. Running third, nine lengths farther back, was Davis or Great Friends Stables’ So There She Was, who had Antonio Fresu in the saddle.
Tenma earned a first prize of $180,000 and increased her bankroll to $225,000.
The winner was the second-favorite and returned $8.00 to her $2 backers on the day.
KAZUSHI KIMURA (Tenma, winner) – “I rode her the other day when she won first time our and she did well closing. The plan was to try to do the same thing today. I saw those two fillies up front working on each other and I was happy with my spot. She closed well for me. I think she’s going to want to run farther.”
JIMMY BARNES (Assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, Tenma, winner) – “It wasn’t the way we were hoping it would set up. A race sets up the way it sets up. If there’s a lot of speed there’s a chance they’re going to go quick and there’s a chance the closers are going to come in and basically that’s what happened. We were very confident going into the race. She ran so well first time and she was doing very well. It was no surprise to me.”
FRACTIONS: :21.50 :44.38 1:10.13 1:23.67
The stakes win was the first ever at Del Mar for rider Kimura.
The stakes win was the seventh of the meeting for trainer Baffert and his 11th in the FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante. He now has a Del Mar record 175 stakes wins.
The winning owner is Baoma Corp, the nom du course for Charles Chu of North Andover, MA.