‘Nice Is Back for More

Owners Hal and Patti Earnhardt and trainer Bob Baffert didn’t get close with No Bull Baby in Saturday’s Del Mar Debutante, but they might get a consolation prize in today’s $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar.

The Earnhardts and Baffert will be represented by Excessively Nice in the six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies bred in California.

Excessively Nice, a daughter of In Excess, broke her maiden stylishly in her debut on Aug. 8, rallying to win by 1 1/4 lengths at 5-1. She completed the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17 3/5 and is one of only two in the field to have run beyond 5 1/2 furlongs. Memorette looped the field after being last early to break her maiden by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Aug. 14.

Besides Memorette, the field includes Lunar Flight, Coastal Strike, who was impressive beating males in a $100,000 claimer on July 23 for trainer Cliff Sise Jr.; Kelly’s Princess, the only two-time winner; Lady Truffles, Short Route, who won at 52-1 in her debut Aug. 1, and Hold The Game.

Race of the day: Agata, who finished third in a Group I race at Longchamp on May 23, will make her U.S. debut for owner Gary Tanaka and trainer Julio Canani in today’s sixth at Del Mar, a $58,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

One for the road: Making her first start for trainer H. James Bond, Golden Damsel looks like the controlling speed in today’s eighth at Saratoga. Edgar Prado will ride the 4-year-old Gold Token filly, who has won five of 15, in the $65,000 Saratoga Dew at 1 1/8 miles.

Exotically speaking: A place pick all using Ditch Digger in the first, On Location and Chanel Islands in the second, Billy’s Echo and Los Solano in the third, Brief Contact and Alchema in the fourth, Iron Flight, Conceal The Deal and Nandu in the fifth, Agata in the sixth, Excessively Nice in the seventh and Systems Steve in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/96. Money: Previous day/meet total: $26.20/$525.20. Total money bet: $614.