Several Fillies Eye Graded Win in Sorrento

Several 2-year-old fillies who broke their maidens by daylight will face off in the $200,000 Sorrento Stakes (G2) at Del Mar Aug. 6, with Smash Ticket  and Elm Drive  perhaps receiving the most betting attention. The six-furlong Sorrento will go off as the seventh race on the eight-race card, with a post time of 7 p.m. PST.

The complexion of the Sorrento also depends upon the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes for state-bred 2-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs the previous day. The Sorrento drew three California-breds—At the Spa , It's Simple , and Roses for Suzzett . At the Spa and It's Simple were cross-entered in the CTBA Stakes.

Jorge Periban trains At the Spa, and Doug O'Neill conditions It's Simple. Prior to the Aug. 4 scratch time for the Aug. 5 card, Periban and O'Neill elected to stay in the CTBA Stakes rather than run in the Sorrento, according to the Del Mar racing office.

Smash Ticket, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Midnight Lute  —Hennesey Smash, by Roll Hennessy Roll, began her career at Lone Star Park in what turned out to be a strong five-furlong maiden special weight race on a muddy track June 5. She finished second to Wicked Halo , who subsequently finished third in the June 26 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Todd Fincher shipped Smash Ticket to Del Mar, where on the second day of the meeting, July 17, she annihilated a field of eight rivals by five lengths at five furlongs.

Breeder Brad King races Smash Ticket in partnership with Stan and Suzanne Kirby. Umberto Rispoli will ride from post 2.

Elm Drive (Juan Hernandez, post 9) made her racing debut at Los Alamitos Race Course June 26 for trainer Phil D'Amato and owner Little Red Feather Racing. The Kentucky-bred daughter of freshman sire Mohaymen   rocketed to the front and never looked back, demolishing the field by eight lengths.

D'Amato also trains Sax , to be ridden by Joe Bravo from post 7. Agave Racing Stable and Matthew Schera own the Kentucky-bred daughter of Jimmy Creed  . Previously trained by Derrick Bright, Sax broke her maiden second time out at Churchill Downs June 11 in a gritty performance.

As well as It's Simple, O'Neill also entered She's So Shiny in the Sorrento. A new addition to his stable, O'Neill said that Bob Feld introduced O'Neill to Marc Ricker, who owns She's So Shiny. Although she is winless in two starts, the daughter of Capo Bastone  finished third in the June 3 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park in her second start after a runner-up maiden effort at Keeneland. She drew the rail in the Sorrento and will have the services of Ricardo Gonzalez.

"I got her about a week or so ago," said O'Neill. "I'm very grateful to have Marc give us an opportunity. Marc and I have been developing a game plan, and she's a lovely filly. We're optimistic she's going to put in a good effort."

She's So Shiny is the first horse O'Neill has trained for Ricker.