Debutante split into two divisions

Fifteen 2-year-old fillies will try to turn potential into performance Friday at Golden Gate Fields in split divisions of the $50,000-added Golden Gate Debutante.

The large number of sign-ups for the race prompted racing secretary Patrick Mackey to split the stakes, with seven fillies in the first division, race 6 on the card, and eight in the second division, race 8.

There isn’t a stakes winner in the group, but Drizella, who drew the rail in the first division, has a second, a third, and a fourth in four stakes tries. The second division includes Code Ribbon, third in the Pike Place Dancer, and Sen Sen, fourth in that race after setting the pace. Royal O’Haigain will be making her first start since running fifth in the Fasig-Tipton Debutante in June.

Three of the runners, trained by Jonathan Wong for Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, were six-figure purchases, including $330,000 Uncorked, who will make her racing debut in the first division. In the second division, Wong and Tommy Town have likely favorite Shoppingforpharoah ($300,000) and I Am Yours ($100,000).

Wong also sends out the Scott Herbertson homebred Mimajoon in the first division.

Though he admits he’s pitching Uncorked pretty high in her debut, Wong says he did not make the decision due to the Uncle Mo filly’s price tag.

“We treat all our 2 year-olds the same,” he said.

Wong believes in patient development, and Uncorked has 11 works for her debut. She worked four times in August before minor issues sidelined her in September. She has seven more works in October and November.

“She’s trained like she’s going to be really nice,” Wong said.

Uncorked’s breeding is impeccable. Uncle Mo is her sire and her dam, Sis City, was a Grade 2 stakes winner at 2 and Grade 1 and Grade 2 stakes winner at 3.

Mimajoon, who won a maiden race for Wong on Nov. 13, worked with Uncorked twice.

Drizella and Rose Maddux, a winner in her debut here Sept. 11 and second in a one-mile turf event at Santa Anita in her second start, could prove Uncorked’s primary competition.

Shoppingforpharoah, a daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and Smart Shopping, a winner who was stakes-placed at 2, drew the rail in the second division. She began her career with workouts here before running second and then first in turf sprints at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

Stablemate I Am Yours won her debut at Fresno before finishing fourth behind Ellamira, who is entered here for trainer Steve Specht.

Specht also has Sen Sen in the second division.

In the first division, Specht has Tam’s Little Angel, who won her second start after losing to Ellamira in her career debut.

Trainer Jacqui Navarre has high hopes for Code Ribbon, who has hit the board in all five career starts.

“She has talent, but she’s exceeded what we originally expected,” Navarre said. “She’s got a huge heart.

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