Midnight Memories cruised along on an easy lead early in the one-mile Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar Sunday but had to dig deep in the stretch to hold off favorite Desert Dawn to get the win.
Pegram, Watson, and Weitman's Midnight Memories scored by three-quarters of a length in the $125,500 test for 3-year-old fillies and finished the trip in 1:36.32 with Ramon Vasquez at the reins.
A homebred Mastery filly out of the Midnight Lute mare Tiz Midnight, Midnight Memories was taking her first try in a stakesand proved up to the task for trainer Bob Baffert. Her $75,000 winner's share of the purse pushed her bankroll up to $166,680. The Torrey Pines marked her her third win from four career starts.
“She broke well and we were going easy on the lead,” Vasquez said of the Kentucky-bred filly. “Then when it came time, she dug in down the stretch. She's a very nice filly. I'm so happy to be riding at the meet for the first time and doing well. I wanted to ride for someone like Bob Baffert and here I am. Today I rode two horses for him and both were winners. It's exciting.”
Desert Dawn, the 6-5 favorite, held on for second, 4 ¼ lengths ahead of Baffert-trained third-place finisher Grace Adler.
Midnight Memories returned $13. Her victory was the second on the day for the Baffert/Vazquez team and put the Hall of Fame conditioner in front in the contentious local trainers' race with 17 winners at the session, ahead of Phil D'Amato with 16 and Doug O'Neill with 15.
“I told 'Vaz' I don't know how far she'll go but just leave there and put her on the lead,” Baffert said. “I was afraid when Desert Dawn (came to her) because she has a lot of races under her belt. We've been high on this filly all along. I would have liked to run one-two-three, but it's been a good day.”
Baffert, who has been the leading trainer at Del Mar seven times, most recently in 2003, also sent out Under the Stars, who finished fifth.
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