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Holmby uses late push to win Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar

August 10, 2026

DEL MAR — For a brief moment in the middle of the stretch Sunday afternoon, it appeared out-of-town challenger Ruiva was getting the upper hand on one of Bob Baffert’s prized 2-year-olds at Del Mar.

Then the switch went off.

This is Del Mar. Holmby is the latest in the corps of talented 2-year-olds trained by Baffert and dominant at Del Mar over the years. And seven-time Del Mar riding champion Juan Hernandez was in the saddle.

Holmby, a daughter of Corniche, passed Ruiva a second time with about a third of the stretch to go and won the Grade III Sorrento Stakes — a six-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies that is a stepping stone for the Del Mar Debutante.

Holmby finished a neck in front of second-favorite Ruiova, the daughter of Munnings, and talented young rider Yedsit Hazlewood, who was making his Del Mar debut. It was then another 7½ lengths back to Crazy Hot Mess in third.

It was pretty much a two-horse race from the quarter-pole on, although Ruiva led by six lengths entering the stretch.

“We were tracking Ruiva,” said Hernandez, who won all three of Del Mar’s graded stakes this weekend. “I know how good Ruiva is; I rode her twice. But Holmby is improving. She did the tracking. Then we put it in motion coming for home.

“Holmby brought her game today. She’s improving and getting better each time.”

Baffert said Holmby was “very game. I like the way she sat off the pace and ran down a really nice filly. I’m excited for (owner) Michael Talla.”

Baffert and Hernandez have teamed to win three straight Sorrentos and four of the last five Best Pals. Their collaboration in races for 2-year-olds led both to titles during the 2025 summer meeting.

Three-peat?

Sweet Azteca will be seeking a third straight Grade III Rancho Bernardo Stakes win next Sunday. The 6-year-old daughter of Sharp Azteca has dominated the past two editions of the 6-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.

Trainer Richard Baltas thinks a third straight win in the Rancho Bernardo could springboard Sweet Azteca into the Breeders’ Cup. The strongest competition among the nine nominees could be Magnificat, who ran second to Sweet Azteca recently in the Grade II Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Post positions for the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic will also be drawn at the track next Sunday.

There will be two ungraded stakes next Saturday.

Grand Slam Smile will be the defending champion of the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes for Cal-bred fillies and mares at one mile on the turf. Also among the 13 nominees are Take Another Card and Can’t Sleep, who ran second in the $100,000 Daisycutter Handicap last month. Take Another Card finished second to Grand Slam Smile in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine at Santa Anita in May. Grand Slam Smile was the Cal-bred champion as both a 2- and 3-year-old.

Also Saturday will be the marathon $100,000 CTT and TOC Stakes, a 1 3/8-mile run on the grass. The prep for the Grade II Aug. 29 Del Mar Handicap could finish the top three finishers from June’s $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita – respectively, Kentucky Gal, Innovative and The Mizzen Queen.

Notable

Brant, the winner of last year’s Del Mar Futurity, has been retired to stud. The son of Gun Runner was a $3 million purchase by Saudi businessman Amr Zedan as a 2-year-old. He won his debut at Del Mar in July of 2025 and followed with the Futurity victory. But he finished fifth and fourth in his two graded stakes starts this year.

With two wins Friday, Paul Reddam of Reddam Racing continues to lead all owners at Del Mar with seven wins this summer. Harris Farms and Hronis Racing are tied for second with three apiece.

Trainer Doug O’Neill has saddled winners on 10 of the first 15 days of the summer meeting and leads the standings with 14 victories — four more than Phil D’Amato. Baffert is now tied for third with seven wins.

Hernandez leads the jockey standings with 20 wins. Joel Rosario is second with 16 and Antonio Fresu is third with 14. Seven jockeys have 10 or more wins.

Orange County Register

News Details

Holmby uses late push to win Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar

Three-peat?

Notable

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