Rainha De Bateria Heads Durante at Del Mar

Rainha Da Bateria, unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT), still remains the class of the 11-strong field in the $250,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes (gr. IIIT) going one mile over the Del Mar turf Nov. 29.

Durante, a regular Del Mar patron in its early days, was known for his prominent proboscis, so a nose finish isn’t out of the question.

Rainha Da Bateria is the only stakes winner among the 2-year-old fillies entered in what was previously the Miesque Stakes when contested at Hollywood Park. She won the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland going 1 1/16 miles Oct. 8.

The daughter of Broken Vow  , who brought $435,000  from Three Chimneys Farm as a Keeneland September yearling, employs a come-from-behind style and needs a well-timed ride from Mike Smith. She was bred by the prolific team of Helen Alexander, Helen Groves, and DD Matz.

Bennett Jean finished third in the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate Fields Oct. 25, making a late, steady move. She won her maiden in front-running fashion at Santa Anita Park one start before that.

A couple of Irish-breds figure to spice up the field. Belle Et Bete will be making her first start in the States off consecutive maiden and allowance victories in Ireland. Bobbi Grace broke her maiden in Ireland and ran third in the one-mile Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita in her first North American start.

Devil's Beauty and Don't Blame Me both broke their maidens going wire-to-wire at one mile at Santa Anita on the dirt, while Jaded Glory won at first asking going 6 1/2 furlongs. Ol' Fashion Gal took to the Del Mar turf in her most recent, scoring at one mile over maidens, while Backstreet Lisa graduated at a mile over the Santa Anita green.