Kentucky-bred Tenma emerged victorious in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) on Saturday, Sept. 7, to remain undefeated in her first two career starts.
Owned by Baoma Corp and trained by Bob Baffert, Tenma raced in fifth position early in the seven-furlong event. Jockey Kazushi Kimura eased her out past the three eighths as she knifed her way between runners. She angled three wide into the stretch and closed resolutely through the lane. She collared Vodka With a Twist close to home and prevailed by a nose at the finish. Tenma covered the distance in 1:23.67.
“I rode her the other day when she won first time out and she did well closing,” shared Kimura following the determined win. “The plan was to try to do the same thing today. I saw those two fillies up front working on each other and I was happy with my spot. She closed well for me. I think she is going to want to run farther.”
Undefeated Daughter of Nyquist
Jimmy Barnes saddled the winner who won her only other start in a Del Mar maiden special weight in her career bow. Tenma, by Nyquist out of the Tapit mare Amagansett, was an $850,000 graduate of this year’s OBS Spring Sale, where she was consigned by Wavertree Stables.
“It wasn’t the way we were hoping it would set up,” said Barnes who also saddled race favorite Nooni who flashed high speed away from the gate and dueled early with Proud Starlet. “A race sets up the way it sets up. If there’s a lot of speed, there’s a chance they’re going to go quick and there’s a chance the closers are going to come in, and basically that’s what happened. We were very confident going into the race. She ran so well first time, and she was doing very well. It was no surprise to me.”
Bred in Kentucky by Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds, Tenma is now an earner of $225,000 and is perfect in two starts.