Der Lu Puts It All Together in Del Mar Maiden Score
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Photo: BENOIT PHOTO
Der Lu, with Drayden Van Dyke aboard, breaks her maiden on debut at Del Mar
Trainer Bob Baffert knows how to keep his barn replenished and has the clientele to afford some of the best horseflesh offered at public auctions. His latest winner, Der Lu, is no different.
The 2-year-old Orb filly, purchased by Baoma Corporation for $900,000 when she was consigned to The Gulfstream Sale by Tom McCrocklin, broke her maiden in Del Mar's second race by 3 1/4 lengths Aug. 5 with a little rousing in the stretch.
Courteous fought to the lead in the 6 1/2-furlong race for juvenile fillies and ran the first quarter-mile in :22.44, but at the top of the turn for home, Der Lu and Bizwhacks geared up and ran past the faltering leader. Coming off the turn, the two were head to head, but Der Lu proved too much and pulled clear to post a final time of 1:17.92 on the fast main track.
Bred by Merriebelle Stable in Kentucky, Der Lu is out of the Forestry mare Taboo. Her second dam is the grade 1-winning Dream of Summer, who produced grade 1 winner and leading third-crop sire Creative Cause , grade 2 winner Destin, and grade 2-placed Vexatious.
McCrocklin originally went to $130,000 to obtain Der Lu from the Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services consignment to the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale.
Video: Race 2 (MSW) at DMR on 8/5/18
At Saratoga Race Course earlier in the day, the scratch of coupled entry Mo Wheels Up saw stablemate Lady T N T run for purse money only. Leading gate-to-wire, the Justin Phillip filly scored easily in the $85,000 maiden special weight.
Coming out of the gate for the 5 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies, Lady T N T broke on top while Dance Club—a daughter of multiple grade 1 winner and 2002 champion 2-year-old filly Storm Flag Flying—was squeezed and checked, giving the field a wide-open advantage.
Up front, fractions went in :22.19, :45.76, and :58.21 through five furlongs, with little change in the order. Into Mystic, a $650,000 Into Mischief filly purchased by Spendthrift Farm, gave chase to the winner but landed 5 1/2 lengths short at the wire. Dance Club, a full sister to grade 3-placed Revved Up, by Candy Ride , was able to rally from last to third. Final time over the good main track was 1:04.92.
Bred by Castleton Lyons, Lady T N T is out of High Heeled Hope, who also produced grade 3 stakes winner and 2008 Test Stakes (G1) runner-up Sweet Hope. Joe Sharp trains the filly for Scott Dilworth.