Head of Plains Partners' favored Fluffy Socks escaped tight quarters at the head of the stretch, then accelerated smartly to draw clear at the finish for a half-length tally in the $102,500 Jimmy Durante Stakes Saturday at Del Mar.
The daughter of the British stallion Slumber was handled by Irad Ortiz, Jr. for trainer Chad Brown and had to survive a claim of foul to earn her $60,000 first prize in the Grade 3 feature for 2-year-old fillies. Ortiz, Jr. and Brown had just teamed up with another eastern-based filly, Orglandes, at the shore oval Thursday to capture the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap for older distaff runners.
Fluffy Socks ran the mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 1:35.35 to establish a stakes record. The previous mark was 1:35.68 set by Elsa in 2018.
“No special instructions for me,” Ortiz Jr. said. “He (Brown) just said 'Ride her like you did before.' She felt like a winner all the way around. We had some traffic on the turn (for home), but I got through and got her to where I wanted to be. She's a nice filly. Big kick.”
Finishing second in the Durante was Godolphin's Javanica and running third was Red Baron's Barn or Rancho Temescal's Quattroelle.
Fluffy Socks paid $5.40, $3.40 and $2.60 across the board. Javanica returned $5.20 and $3.80. Quattroelle paid $4.80.
The winner increased her bankroll to $226,880 for her third win in five starts.
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