Vino Rosso Filly Bottle of Rouge Has Them Seeing Red In the Debutante

[Wandering Eyes]

The betting public had Saturday's GI Del Mar Debutante down to a battle of Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Stars' Explora (Blame) and Himika (Curlin), but Jill Baffert's BOTTLE OF ROUGE (f, 2, Vino Rosso–Blues Corner, by Bluegrass Cat)–easily the least-fancied of a trio from that barn, proved best on the afternoon, causing a 9-1 upset.

Veering in at the break, the $100,000 Keeneland September yearling took up a mid-field berth in the early stages as 2-5 Explora rolled up at the fence to take up the running, while Himika sat a good trip just in behind those. The latter peeled away from the inside and Bottle of Rouge ranged up three deep, and at the quarter pole, it was a Baffert 1-2-3, with any of the trio in with a chance. Himika was first to hoist the white flag and Explora began to feel the strain of a decent early gallop, and Mike Smith and Bottle of Rouge won the war by about a length in the finish.

Bottle of Rouge is the seventh stakes winner and first at the Grade I level for Spendthrift Farm's Vino Rosso. Baffert was unsaddling his 12th Debutante winner.

Sales history: $60,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0. O-Natalie J Baffert; B-Kathie Maybee (KY); T-Bob Baffert

 

BOTTLE OF ROUGE ($20.20) and @mikeesmith10 give trainer @BobBaffert his 12th victory in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) at @DelMarRacing. The 2YO filly by @spendthriftfarm's Vino Rosso is owned by Jill Baffert. pic.twitter.com/NUdgOCfTJM

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 6, 2025

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