Juan Hernandez and Bob Baffert combined for another notable success at Del Mar on Sunday as Holmby held off Ruiva by a neck to win the Grade III Sorrento Stakes for two-year-old fillies.
A day after partnering Hughes to an impressive victory in the Best Pal Stakes, Hernandez was back in the winner’s enclosure, this time aboard the chestnut Holmby, a daughter of champion Corniche. The filly covered six furlongs in 1:10.73 and showed plenty of determination in the closing stages to secure the $150,000 feature.
Holmby was settled behind the early pace before Hernandez asked her to improve approaching the turn for home. Ruiva remained a serious threat through the final furlong, but Holmby found enough to maintain her advantage at the wire.
The victory earned Holmby $90,000 and extended an excellent weekend for Baffert, who had already watched Hughes establish himself as one of the leading young colts at the meeting.
Ruiva, representing Three Chimneys Farm, finished second, while McMillan and Bryner’s Crazy Hot Mess completed the next two places. Ruiva was beaten by a neck for the top spot but finished seven and a half lengths clear of McMillan.
The Sorrento Stakes result adds another promising name to Baffert’s two-year-old filly team, with Holmby now likely to be aimed at Del Mar’s championship race for fillies, the Grade I Del Mar Debutante on closing weekend.
The Sorrento Stakes result also capped a productive weekend for Hernandez and Baffert, who had paired up successfully in the Best Pal Stakes on Saturday with Hughes. Baffert has indicated that Hughes is also being pointed towards the Del Mar Futurity on the meeting’s closing weekend.
Holmby’s performance was particularly encouraging for a filly still developing. She was able to track a proven rival, make her move at the right stage and then find enough in the final yards when the pressure increased.
With racing at Del Mar taking a three-day break, the meeting will resume on Thursday with first post scheduled for 2 p.m.
Holmby is now expected to move towards the Del Mar Debutante, giving Baffert another leading contender for one of the meeting’s major races for two-year-old fillies.
For Hernandez, the victory completed a two-day run of success with Baffert’s promising juveniles. After Hughes’ Best Pal Stakes victory on Saturday, Holmby followed with another composed performance on Sunday, giving the trainer and rider plenty of encouragement heading into the final weekend of the meeting.
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