Self Preservation, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Lion Heart who made her first
two career starts in Ireland, is completing the orientation phase in the stable
of trainer Ben Cecil and could be among the contenders in the $250,000, Grade I
Del Mar Debutante on Saturday, September 3.
Self Preservation caught the attention of the racing manager for owner J.
Paul Reddam with a five-length victory in a maiden event at Tipperary, Ireland
in late June and a private purchase was arranged.
“I’d say she got here about three weeks ago,” Cecil said Saturday. “I think
a month after they get in is one of the worst times to run them, but she seems
to have settled in well, so hopefully it won’t be too bad.
“She broke her maiden over there very impressively and her Time Form rating
was very good. She’s never run on synthetics, but she seems to handle it very
well in the mornings.”
Patrick Valenzuela has been lined up to ride.