Jill Baffert’s Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), the 2-5 favorite, survived a steward’s inquiry to secure 20 qualifying points to the GI Kentucky Oaks with her victory in the Sunland Park Oaks Sunday evening in New Mexico.
Winner of last year’s GI Del Mar Debutante, Bouttle of Rouge was making her first start since finishing sixth in the Oct. 31 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. The gray filly stalked the pace three wide as Cashed (I’ll Have Another) took the field through fractions of :23.85 and :46.80. Bottle of Rouge took control approaching the stretch and, after drifting in slightly in upper stretch, darted out and appeared to impede the tiring Pashmina as Touch of Magic was closing late down the center of the track. Juan Hernandez got the favorite straightened out and she was pulling away at the wire.