Wickedly Perfect has indeed been perfect so far in her young career, but if the Florida-bred filly is going to remain undefeated following today’s $250,000 Darley Debutante (G1), she’ll have to beat a talented group of juvenile fillies that includes three other products of the Sunshine State.
Wickedly Perfect, a daughter of Vinery stallion Congrats bred by Y-Lo Racing Stables, has won both of her starts and leads the field for the Darley Debutante with $114,600 in earnings. She was a $70,000 purchase at OBS in April. Wickedly Perfect cruised to a 4 ¾-length victory in a $41,000 maiden special weight race at Hollywood Park in June, then took the Sorrento Stakes (G3) by a length at Del Mar on Aug. 6.
Wickedly Perfect, trained by Doug O’Neill for a partnership led by STD Racing Stable, drew the No. 2 post for the seven-furlong Darley Debutante and will have usual rider Rafael Bejarano aboard. She’ll carry the high weight of 122 pounds, conceding two to six pounds to her rivals.
The field includes the second- through fourth-place finishers in the Sorrento – A Z Warrior, Izshelegal and Florida-bred She’ll Heir. A Z Warrior won her career debut at Hollywood Park in July before running in the Sorrento. Izshelegal made her career debut in the $100,000 Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood in July, finishing second to Florida-bred Dawnie Macho, before stepping up to graded company in the Sorrento.
She’ll Heir, a daughter of Journeyman Stud stallion Wildcat Heir, finished fourth in the Landaluce. The filly, bred by Ocala’s Michelle Redding, won her first two starts, including a one-length victory in the $70,000 Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood in June.
She’ll Heir, trained by Vladimir Cerin for owners David and Holly Wilson, ranks second in the Darley Debutante’s field with $77,580 in earnings from four starts. She’s the most experienced horse in the field. She’ll Heir drew the rail and will have Brice Blanc aboard for the first time.
The two other Florida-breds in the field will be making their stakes debuts after breaking their maidens in their second start. Starting from the No. 3 post under Alonso Quinonez will be Tell a Kelly, a daughter of Tapit bred by Karen C. West. Tell a Kelly finished fifth in her career debut at Del Mar in July, then captured a $50,000 maiden special weight race there by 2 ½ lengths Aug. 15.
Breaking from the No. 8 post under Mike Smith will be Rigoletta, a daughter of Ocala Stud Farm stallion Concerto. Rigoletta, bred by Ocala Stud, finished fifth in her career debut at Hollywood in July, then won a $52,000 maiden special weight race at Del Mar by 1 ¼ lengths Aug. 8. The filly, owned by Thor-Bred Stable, was a $35,000 purchase at OBS in April.
The field also includes Righteous Renee, Big Tiz, Sugarinthemorning, Avid, Gone Rebel and Distant Glow.
Avid and Sugarinthemorning both are stepping up to stakes company after scoring impressive wins at first asking at Del Mar last month.
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– Photo of Florida-bred Wickedly Perfect by Benoit & Associates
