Summer is always an exciting time in horseracing with emerging two-year-olds, but one two-year-old filly in particular was in the spotlight yesterday. American Cleopatra, full sister to 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, made her debut in Del Mar’s third race yesterday. And what a debut it was.

With bettors knowing the talented genes of the best horses are not always passed on, American Cleopatra, by Pioneerof the Nile and out of Littleprincessemma, went off at 7-1, the co-third choice. War Factor got the jump out of the gate and led the field of eight fillies through a quarter mile in :21.87, while American Cleopatra sat just off her flank.

After the opening quarter, it was all over. American Cleopatra made her move and grabbed the lead, running a half-mile in :45.17. Jockey Stewart Elliott looked over his shoulder to check on the competition and saw the advantage they had over the field. Second choice Union Strike, 7-2, gave chase, but could only get within two lengths of the winner. American Cleopatra completed the five and one-half furlongs in 1:03.38.

“Those are good genes, there,” commented Bob Baffert. One thing American Cleopatra did that her older brother did not was win her debut at Del Mar. American Pharoah had finished fifth in his first race before winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.

“She’s got a beautiful way of moving and she’s got a pretty good mind,” Baffert said of American Cleopatra. “She’s a sweetheart at the barn. She’s very sweet and he was sweet.”

Whether the Zayat’s homebred filly goes on to do anything like American Pharoah or not, American Cleopatra’s win certainly brought a lot of excitement to the racing world. It even brought a little glimmer of hope.

By Christine Oser