Miss Monica delivered one of the most decisive juvenile performances of Del Mar’s closing weekend, drawing off to win the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante by 6 1/4 lengths on Saturday, September 5.
The daughter of Early Voting sat behind the early speed in the seven furlong test, moved to the lead without being asked for her best on the far turn, and then separated from the field through the stretch. She completed the race in 1:23.54 over the main track.
Crazy Hot Mess finished second, with Holmby third. Miss Monica, the heavy favorite, improved to 2 for 2 and earned $180,000 from the $302,000 purse.
Baffert adds another Debutante
The victory was Bob Baffert’s 13th in the Del Mar Debutante, extending a record that reflects how consistently his barn has developed elite fillies at age 2 in Southern California. Juan Hernandez rode Miss Monica and collected his 11th stakes win of the summer meet.
Baffert said after the race that the filly handled the seven furlong distance comfortably and indicated that two turns should suit her. That matters because the juvenile championship trail begins to demand more stamina as the season moves toward the Breeders’ Cup.
Why the performance matters
Miss Monica did not simply win. She showed the kind of tactical profile that tends to translate well as competition gets tougher: enough speed to stay close, the ability to settle behind rivals, and a strong response when asked to accelerate.
She remains lightly raced, so there are still questions to answer before championship level conclusions are justified. But staying unbeaten while winning a Grade 1 by more than six lengths makes her one of the most interesting juvenile fillies to watch heading into the fall.
Breeders’ Cup picture begins to sharpen
Del Mar’s September juvenile stakes often become important reference points for the Breeders’ Cup. The 2026 championships will be held October 30 and 31 at Keeneland, and Miss Monica’s connections now have time to decide how they want to prepare her for a possible assignment around two turns later in the season.
OTB Bet will continue tracking the top juvenile fillies as the major preps develop. For the broader schedule, venue and championship format, see our Breeders’ Cup 2026 guide. You can also revisit our Del Mar Debutante preview to compare the picture before the race with Saturday’s result.
Primary verification source: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Featured image: Lee Taylor via Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License; image is illustrative and does not depict Miss Monica or the Del Mar Debutante.
