Baffert Has Backup Plan

If trainer Bob Baffert is going to win the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante for a sixth time, it won’t be with Inspiring.

The unbeaten 2-year-old filly, who broke her maiden in her debut at Hollywood Park last month, then won the Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 7, will miss the Grade I stakes race because of sore shins.

This means Baffert’s hopes in the seven-furlong Debutante rest with No Bull Baby, a daughter of Indian Charlie who beat maidens by 2 1/2 lengths in her debut 13 days ago for owners and breeders Patti and Hal Earnhardt.

Corey Nakatani will ride No Bull Baby against Ninadivina, Hello Lucky, Girly Girl, Proposed, Souvenir Gift, Sweet Catomine, Princess Godiva and She’s Salty. Proposed and Sweet Catomine will race coupled.

Race of the day: Grey Traffic, an easy winner in her Saratoga debut on Aug. 8 for the Amerman Stables and trainer Bobby Frankel, heads a field of nine 3-year-old fillies in the $75,000 Victory Ride.

The six-furlong race contest is the first leg of an all-stakes pick four at Saratoga. The other races are the $200,000 Fourstardave Handicap, $250,000 King’s Bishop and the $1-million Travers.

One for the road: Package Store makes his first start since Aug. 1, 2003, and first for trainer Patrick Byrne in today’s fourth at Saratoga, a $100,000 claimer at one mile on the turf.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Planning Surprises in the sixth, the Special Rate entry and Ulterior Motives in the seventh and the Proposed entry, Souvenir Gift, She’s Salty and No Bull Baby in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/81. Money: Previous day/meet total: $9.40/$431. Total money bet: $544.