Skip to content

Bottle of Rouge the first Grade 1 winner for Vino Rosso

September 7, 2025

Natalie 'Jill' Baffert's Bottle of Rouge and hall of fame jockey Mike Smith beat favored stablemate Explora (Juan Hernandez up) in the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Debutante Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA. Both fillies are trained by Baffert's husband, Bob Baffert. Benoit Photo
Vino Rosso’s Bottle of Rouge and beat favored stablemate Explora in the Grade I, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante S. – Benoit Photo

Bottle of Rouge came home a one-length winner in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante (G1) on Aug. 6 to become the first Grade 1 winner for top-five Third-Crop sire Vino Rosso.

The winner defeated her Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Explora, who led most of the seven-furlong trip. After a half-mile, Bottle of Rouge was 1 ½-lengths off the :44.62 pace. Explora had a one-length lead in midstretch, with Bottle of Rouge wearing her down and surging by in the final sixteenth to stop the timer in 1:23.05.

“The way the race set up, they were moving right along up front so it doesn’t surprise me that’s the way we ended up finishing,” said assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. “They’re all lightly raced fillies. That’s her third start so that helps. We’ll take a one-two finish anytime. We’re just very proud of her.”

Bottle of Rouge is now 2-1-0 in three starts and has earned $240,000 who is owned by Baffert’s wife Natalie.

Bottle of Rouge was bred in Kentucky by Kathie Maybee.

View All News