Just Grazed Me stepping up

DEL MAR, Calif. – She will be facing open company for the first time and also trying two turns for the first time, but the way in which Just Grazed Me dominated her rivals in the Fleet Treat Stakes earlier in the meet at Del Mar makes her the one to beat on Sunday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Just Grazed Me was forced to rally four paths wide in the Fleet Treat, but she went right about her business and drew clear in the seven-furlong race while appearing as though the extra distance of the onemile Torrey Pines will be well within her scope. She has to prove she’s more than a laterunning sprinter, but this looks like a prime opportunity, as the Torrey Pines does not appear to have a filly of the quality of Beholder or Stellar Wind, champions who won this race earlier in the decade.

“She acts like she’s got the temperament to go long,” said Phil D’Amato, who trains Just Grazed Me for her owner and breeder, Nick Alexander. “She’s very relaxed in the mornings. We’ve been working on her since her last race to set her up to go a distance. Her demeanor, the way she does things, indicates the distance shouldn’t be a problem.”

Just Grazed Me has raced just twice. She was an easy winner against maidens in her debut on June 24 at Santa Anita going 6 1/2 furlongs.

The Torrey Pines drew a field of 11, all of whom are looking for their first graded stakes victory. It goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

Just Grazed Me, by Grazen Beyers: 87-76

◗ She has come back to work well since the Fleet Treat, including a five-furlong drill in 1:00 on Aug. 17 that was the best of 63 at the distance.

◗ Tyler Baze rode her in the Fleet Treat and is back aboard.

Thirteen Squared, by Liaison Last 3 Beyers: 89-78-79

◗ Although she owns just one victory in nine starts, she has placed in three graded stakes, most recently finishing second in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita.

Lemoona, by Lemon Drop Kid Last 3 Beyers: 85-70-62

◗ She was an easy winner against older runners in a firstlevel allowance on July 27 when making her first start in seven months and her first start for trainer Richard Baltas.

◗ Her win last time out came at a mile, the same distance as the Torrey Pines.

Well Hello, by Quality Road Last 3 Beyers: 82-73-65

◗ She returned from a layoff of nearly four months and finished third in a sprint prep behind the high-quality Moonshine Memories, and now gets a chance to go two turns, which her pedigree suggests should be right up her alley.

◗ She started from the rail last time and ended up inside in the stretch on a day when it turned out that was not ideal.