Courtsey of the TDN

Saturday,

Del Mar
DEL MAR DEBUTANTE S.-GI, $300,750, DMR, 8-31, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT),
1:22 3/5, ft.
1–@SHE’S A TIGER, 122, f, 2, by Tale of the Cat
1st Dam: Shandra Smiles, by Cahill Road
2nd Dam: Beyond the Storm, by Great Above
3rd Dam: Brenda’s Storm, by Medieval Man
($150,000 yrl ’12 KEESEP). O-Mark DeDomenico LLC, Allen J Aldrich,
Lisa Hernandez & Stuart Downey; B-Dr Rodney Orr (KY); T-Jeff
Bonde; J-Gary L Stevens. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0,
$315,650. *3/4 to Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger), MGISW,
$1,480,7042

2–Fascinating, 116, f, 2, Smart Strike–Untouched Talent, by Storm
Cat. ($1,300,000 yrl ’12 KEESEP). O-Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc
(J G Sikura) and Bruce Lunsford; B-Audley Farm Equine LLC (VA);
T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.

3–Concave, 122, f, 2, Colonel John–Galadriel, by Ascot Knight.
($90,000 yrl ’12 KEEJAN; $75,000 yrl ’12 KEESEP; $160,000 2yo ‘13
OBSMAR). O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Windways Farm Limited (ON);
T-Doug F O’Neill. $36,000

EARNING HER STRIPES
Tabbed as a “TDN Rising Star” following a jaw-dropping nine-length debut victory at Pleasanton June 22, She’s a Tiger (Tale of the Cat) stepped up to the big leagues with a courageous performance in Saturday evening’s GI Del Mar Debutante S. Drawn kindly in post six, the GII Sorrento S. runner-up mixed it up with favored Awesome Baby (Awesome Again) through hot early fractions of :22.39 and :44.89. Loaded for bear beneath a confident Gary Stevens turning for home, the 9-2 chance turned on the jets and opened a clear lead, and was never seriously threatened by the smart late rally of Bodemeister’s little sister Fascinating (Smart Strike), who cut the margin to a half-length.She’s a Tiger, a game heroine of Betfair Hollywood’s Landaluce S. second time out July 13, was equipped
with blinkers for the first time in the Debutante. “The blinkers definitely made a difference today,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “She was dominant over horses up north, but when we came down here, she was kind of pricking her ears and looking around. She got stronger, and when we added those, she got more focused. “Bonde continued, AShe was very professional in the paddock. A lot of Tale of the Cats can get a little hot, but she’s got such great mentality and I’m really pleased with her.” She’s a Tiger was ridden for the first time by Stevens Saturday. She was piloted by Frank Alvarado in her first three starts. “She got a flyer away from there, but she settled pretty well,” Stevens commented. “But then when we got near the three-quarters pole, she wanted to duck in on me. You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I think she’ll be better going two turns, where I could drop her head and let her just get into a high gallop like Winning Colors. She’s got a stride on her a mile long and I think she’d love to go on.”