Del Mar Racetrack Hosts Thrilling Sorrento Stakes Victory for Nooni
(August 11, 2024 – Del Mar, CA) – Heavily favored 2-year-old filly Nooni outran three rivals to claim her first stakes win in the 56th edition of the Grade 3, $150,000 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack on Saturday. The 1-2 favorite prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths at the wire, rewarding her connections with a $90,000 payday.
Nooni, a $1.8 million 2-year-old-in-training purchase by Zedan Racing Stables earlier this year, was making just her second career start. The Bob Baffert-trained filly broke sharply from the gate and led throughout, stopping the clock in 1:10.41 for the six-furlong test. Jockey Juan Hernández was in the irons for the winning effort, which boosted Nooni’s career earnings to $122,400.
“She was really comfortable, really quick out of the gate,” Hernández said. “I had to push her a little at the end, but we did it. She gave me another good breath, and she took another good step.”
Baffert, who also saddled the runner-up Vodka With a Twist and third-place finisher Casalu, was pleased with Nooni’s performance. “I haven’t really trained her that hard, but she’s just got real class,” the Hall of Fame conditioner commented. “Two-year-old, second out, you don’t know how they’re going to respond to the dirt, but these are nice fillies.”
With the Sorrento victory, Nooni has firmly established herself as a promising prospect on the road to the Breeders’ Cup. Racegoers and horseplayers alike will eagerly await her next appearance as she continues her ascent through the juvenile filly division.
🔗 Source