Pricey Princess Noor Strolls in Debut at Del Mar

Two months after first turning heads in June at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Princess Noor is now doing the same on the racetrack.

The $1.35 million 2-year-old purchase rolled by 2 1/2 lengths in her debut Aug. 22 at Del Mar, defeating stablemate Flash Magic, a half sister to 2017 2-year-old champion Good Magic . Always in front, she cruised to the finish under token urging from Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza in the day's opener, a $56,000 maiden dash.

The Bob Baffert-trained daughter of Not This Time  raced 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:04.03, which followed splits of :22.39, :46.04, and :58.02. Her final time was the fastest of 11 races at the distance by 2-year-olds at the Del Mar meet. She paid $3.40 as the heavy favorite.

2-year-old #2 Princess Noor makes her debut a winning one @delmarracing! @VictorEspinoza on the mount for Trainer Bob Baffert & Zedan Racing Stables! @SpendthriftFarm 2-year-old Race of the Day pic.twitter.com/ySb3avoWWC

— TVG (@TVG) August 22, 2020

Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Princess Noor was a sales topper in Ocala, catching the eyes of potential buyers with her looks and a swift :20 1/5 clocking for a quarter-mile that she posted during the under tack show. 

Agent Gary Young purchased the filly, who is out of the graded-winning Wilko mare Sheza Smoke Show, from the Top Line Sales consignment. She sold the year before at Keeneland for $135,000.

Sheza Smoke Show won three races from 10 starts and $150,644, including the 2014 Senorita Stakes (G3T) at a mile on grass at Santa Anita Park. She has produced two winners, the other being Moonline (by Malibu Moon ), a four-time-winning sprinter within the claiming ranks with earnings of $27,756.

First-crop sire Not This Time, the winner of the 1 1/16-mile Iroquois Stakes (G3) in 2016 and second that year in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky for a $12,500 fee.

Although no match for her barn mate, Flash Magic (by Pioneerof the Nile) also performed well in her debut, launching an eye-catching wide rally from the back of the pack under Flavien Prat. She finished 4 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place Avisse.

Baffert said before the race he was reluctant to run the pair together but wanted to get them started with hopes of pursuing the Breeders' Cup. He praised Princess Noor's quickness and said Flash Magic is "definitely a route horse."