Desert Dawn , second against older fillies and mares in the Aug. 6 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, is back with fillies in her own 3-year-old age group in the $125,000 Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) Sept. 4.
On the strength of that effort, as well as other fine races this year—such as a win in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and a third-place finish in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) for trainer Phil D'Amato—the H & E Ranch homebred Cupid filly is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Torrey Pines. She faces threats in the seven-horse mile race from a trio of talented prospects trained by Bob Baffert, including a graded-winning pair in Under the Stars (5-2 odds) and Grace Adler (3-1 odds).
Umberto Rispoli, aboard Desert Dawn throughout 2022, returns aboard the favorite.
"She ran a great race here against older last time in the grade 1," D'Amato said. "This time we're going to run against fellow 3-year-old fillies, and it should be a good spot for her."
Under the Stars, owned by the Coolmore-affiliated Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, has twice scored in grade 2s, including last out in the June 12 Summertime Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita Park, when she left Desert Dawn in her wake. A start earlier, Desert Dawn defeated Under the Stars in the Santa Anita Oaks.
"She got a little sick on me, and I missed a couple of weeks with her," Baffert said, explaining her short summer break. "She's one more work away (from top condition), but she has the class."
Willow Grace Farm and Michael Lund Petersen's Grace Adler has performed at a high level locally, notching two wins and a second in five main track starts, a record that includes a romp in the TVG Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) last year.
Most recently, she was runner-up to older New Mexico-bred standout Slammed in a fast six-furlong allowance optional claiming race July 28, a race in which Baffert's third Torrey Pines entrant, Midnight Memories , ran third. Slammed validated the strength of the July 28 race by running a close second to Edgeway in the Aug. 28 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3).
Neither Grace Adler nor Midnight Memories is established around two turns. Though by distance sire Curlin , Grace Adler's best performances have come in sprints. Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's Midnight Memories (Mastery ) sheds blinkers after a one-race experiment with the equipment and now routes for the first time.
The Torrey Pines goes off as Sunday's fifth race, four races before the Green Flash Handicap (G3T), a five-furlong turf sprint that offers a Breeders' Cup Challenge berth into the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland.
The 125-pound high weight in the Green Flash is last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up, Nick Alexander's Lieutenant Dan , who hasn't raced since he finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Golden Pal in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint last year at Del Mar when chasing him throughout.
That was his sole defeat in four starts last year for trainer Stephen Miyadi. Also in 2021, the sprinter won an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar, the Green Flash, and the Eddie D Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita.
He enters Sunday's race following three consecutive slow five-furlong breezes but is a horse that has typically fired fresh, including capturing his 2021 bow after a 13-month hiatus. Juan Hernandez rides the California-bred 6-year-old Grazen gelding.
Coulthard , Dubai Key , Lane Way , Whatmakessammyrun , and Maven are other top Green Flash win candidates.
Del Mar, Sunday, September 04, 2022, Race 9Entries: Green Flash H. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Dubai Key (ARG)
Hector Isaac Berrios
120
Amador Merei Sanchez
3/1
2
2Yes He Can (KY)
Kyle Frey
118
Philip D'Amato
15/1
3
3Super Ocho (CHI)
Armando Ayuso
118
Amador Merei Sanchez
6/1
4
4Lane Way (KY)
Mike E. Smith
118
Richard E. Mandella
15/1
5
5Nero (KY)
Ryan Curatolo
118
Neil D. Drysdale
15/1
6
6Chasin Munny (MD)
Abel Cedillo
119
Mark Glatt
20/1
7
7Barristan The Bold (GB)
Joe Bravo
118
George Papaprodromou
15/1
8
8Coulthard (IRE)
Ramon A. Vazquez
119
Philip D'Amato
15/1
9
9Lieutenant Dan (CA)
Juan J. Hernandez
125
Steven Miyadi
5/2
10
10Whatmakessammyrun (KY)
Umberto Rispoli
120
Mark Glatt
5/1
11
11Maven (KY)
Edwin A. Maldonado
117
Ryan Hanson
8/1
Del Mar, Sunday, September 04, 2022, Race 5Entries: Torrey Pines S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Desert Dawn (AZ)
Umberto Rispoli
124
Philip D'Amato
9/5
2
2Kirstenbosch (KY)
Tyler Baze
120
John W. Sadler
15/1
3
3Midnight Memories (KY)
Ramon A. Vazquez
120
Bob Baffert
3/1
4
4Malibu Marie (KY)
Jose Valdivia, Jr.
120
Paula S. Capestro
15/1
5
5Under the Stars (KY)
Juan J. Hernandez
124
Bob Baffert
5/2
6
6Cinnamon Cat (KY)
Abel Cedillo
120
Michael W. McCarthy
10/1
7
7Grace Adler (KY)
Mike E. Smith
120
Bob Baffert
3/1