DEL MAR – Trainer Christopher Paasch said he waited about five years to name “just the right horse” Stardom Bound.
Yesterday, the one he bestowed the moniker upon outran the name in only her third career start. “I don't think she's 'bound' anymore,” Paasch said. “I think she just became a star.”
Stardom Bound, ridden by Mike Smith, charged from 11 lengths behind the leader and 11th place in a field of 12 in the final three-eighths of a mile and won going away by 4¼ lengths in the $250,000, Grade I Del Mar Debutante.
Pace-setting 48-1 shot Palacio de Amor held on for second, a neck in front of 29-1 Will O Way. In becoming the second filly in history to make the Debutante her first career victory, Stardom Bound covered seven furlongs on the Polytrack main course in 1:22.50, more than a second off the track record but more than four seconds faster than Set Play negotiated the distance in 2007, the first year of the synthetic surface here.
“She was picking those horses up in the stretch without even trying,” said Smith, a Hall of Fame rider who recorded his fifth stakes victory of the meeting and second in as many days. He won the Del Mar Derby on Sunday aboard Madeo.
“With this filly, the farther the better. Things come so easy for her.”
Empressive Lady, the 5-2 favorite, was a no-excuses fifth. Stardom Bound, a gray daughter of Tapit-My White Corvette, was purchased for $375,000 in March at a 2-year-old in training sale in Ocala, Fla., by Paasch for San Diego real estate magnate Charles R. Cono of La Mesa, a client of Paasch's for nine years.
Body type and the filly's way of moving in a workout were the things that caught Paasch's eye.
“I've always liked the longer striding, big long lean fillies,” Paasch said. “I actually thought we'd pay a lot more for her than we did. We were ready to go about $600,000 for her.”
Stardom Bound made her racing debut here July 20 and followed that up in the Grade III Sorrento Stakes on Aug 6. She got off to bad starts and finished second in both.
Stardom Bound was eligible for a mile race against much lesser company Sunday, but Paasch said his wife Bonnie convinced him to keep the faith and go in the Debutante. Cindy's Hero (2000) is the only other maiden to win in 58 runnings of the Debutante.
Smith said that Stardom Bound exited the gate a little better than previously and got into a comfortable rhythm. So being 11th at the half-mile marker wasn't a concern.
When Smith asked for run the response was strong, and circling five paths wide into the stretch made no difference.
Stardom Bound is bound for the Oak Leaf Stakes on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita and then most likely, if all goes well, the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies there on Oct. 24. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.
“If she continues to progress I wouldn't be afraid to try her at any distance,” Paasch said.
The victory was worth $150,000 and increased the filly's earnings to $190,600.
Hank Wesch: (619) 293-1853; hank.wesch@uniontrib.com
