Unbeaten Dreamfyre, Pushiness Vie in Del Mar Debutante

Trainer O.J. Jauregui doesn't have millions to spend on sale horses, so he watches for bargains that will fit the Northern California circuit, where his owners typically race. He found Camino Del Paraiso  for just $5,000 as a yearling in 2014, and the gelding won more than $650,000 and raced through age 9.

Dreamfyre  has earned herself out in just two starts for owner Dan Eplin and Jauregui. They got the daughter of first-crop sire Flameaway   for $140,000 earlier this year at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's spring 2-year-old sale, and the filly has banked $165,000, won two stakes, and should be one of the top choices for the Sept. 9 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1).

She will face 13 others in the seven-furlong event. But Dreamfyre brings the most earnings and the best record into the race, as the only multiple stakes winner and one of only two stakes winners in the field.

Because Eplin lives in Livermore, Calif., he suggested that they debut Dreamfyre in the 5 1/2-furlong Everett Nevin Stakes July 9 at Pleasanton on the Northern California fair circuit instead of waiting for a maiden race at Del Mar.

"I'd only worked her one five-eighths," Jauregui said. "We took a shot. She was feeling good going into the race. I still believe with one work of five-eighths that it wasn't enough, and she proved me wrong."

At 11-1, Dreamfyre scored by 3 1/2 lengths. Jauregui then brought her to Del Mar and entered her in the six-furlong Sorrento Stakes (G3) Aug. 12. This time a 3-1 third choice when ridden by Hector Berrios, Dreamfire led throughout and won by an identical margin.

"I knew she was ready to run that day," Jauregui said. "Obviously, when you go from Pleasanton to Del Mar, it's a lot harder."

Now Dreamfyre steps up to grade 1 company, with Berrios back aboard from post 7. But it's a bigger leap for the rest of the field. Most are either maidens or eligible for a non-winners of two, though two finished behind Dreamfyre in the Sorrento.

Then there is Pushiness , the only other stakes winner, also with a two-for-two record. Pushiness has an unusual background. She is a California-bred by Kentucky sire Kantharos   owned by New Yorker Mike Repole, better known as a partner in such horses as Eclipse Award champion Forte  and 2022 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Mo Donegal  .

But Repole has other California connections. He also owns Cal-bred multiple graded stakes-placed Uncontrollable , while Stay Thirsty  , a horse Repole campaigned to win the 2011 Travers Stakes (G1), is now a leading California sire.

Michael McCarthy, a former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Repole's primary trainer, conditions Pushiness and Uncontrollable. Repole bought Pushiness for $115,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale.

Against Cal-bred company, Pushiness blew away a maiden field at Santa Anita June 9 by 6 1/4 lengths. She then came back at Del Mar Aug. 6 in the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite. Umberto Rispoli, who piloted Pushiness in the CTBA Stakes, will ride her in the Debutante from post 8.

McCarthy's other entrant, Julias Dream , is another daughter of Flameaway and came out of the same OBS sale as Dreamfyre. Talla Racing purchased Julias Dream for $180,000.

Julias Dream has started only once, but it was a corker. Leading all the way in a five-furlong maiden turf race at Del Mar Aug. 6, Julias Dream won by 5 1/2 lengths. Ricardo Gonzalez will ride Julias Dream, who drew the rail.

Benedetta  and Motet , second and fourth in the Sorrento, drew posts 4 (with jockey Victor Espinoza) and 11 (with Abdul Alsagoor).

A $750,000 2-year-old at the OBS March sale, Benedetta won her debut at Los Alamitos July 8 by three lengths for trainer Simon Callaghan, who won back-to-back Debutantes in 2017-18 with Moonshine Memories  and Bellafina . A City of Light   filly, Benedetta went off as the narrow 19-10 favorite in the Sorrento over Bob Baffert-trained Dua , also at 19-10, and closed for second, 7 1/4 lengths ahead of Dua, who is bypassing the Debutante.

Motet finished a half-length behind Dua in the Sorrento after running well back early following a slow start. That has been Motet's only outing, and Ruben Gomez trains the daughter of Mo Town  .

Tamara  comes with splendid connections: a daughter of Bolt d'Oro   out of Hall of Famer and multiple champion Beholder , owned and bred by Spendthrift Farm, trained by Richard Mandella, and ridden by Mike Smith (from post 9). She won her debut at Del Mar Aug. 19 by 2 1/4 lengths after stumbling at the start.

Chatalas , a daughter of Gun Runner  , will be ridden from post 6 by Del Mar leading jockey Juan Hernandez, who piloted her in her debut. Mark Glatt trains the filly, a half-length winner at Del Mar July 30.