Rodeo Drive Stakes Offers Breeders' Cup Spot

Rodeo Drive, the posh Beverly Hills shopping district, boasts some of the world's top fashion houses but its international flavor has nothing on its namesake Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T), renewing Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

The 1 1/4-mile turf fixture, a "Win and You're In" for the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), has contenders who got their careers started in such diverse locations as Brazil, the south of France, and Ireland.

There's even a Japanese breeding interest.

Trainer Arnaud Delacour ships Magic Attitude  cross-country for the Rodeo Drive, looking for a rebound from two dull efforts in New York. The 4-year-old daughter of Galileo , bred by Japanese racing kingpin Katsumi Yoshida, showed great promise last year, finishing second in the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (G1) at Chantilly and a respectable fifth in the Prix de Diane Longines (G1), also at Chantilly.

Magic Attitude looked like the real deal on debut in the United States, too, winning the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T), and finishing the year with a close third in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana (G1T) at Keeneland. This season, however, she has struggled, winning the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park but finishing well back in three other races.

Fast Jet Court  finished fourth in the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) Sept. 4 in her first U.S. start for trainer Michael McCarthy. The Courtier  filly was a powerhouse at Cidade Jardim Racecourse in Sao Paulo with six wins from nine starts there and two of those victories in group 1 events. 

Neige Blanche  began her career in the French minor leagues. It took her a while to get acclimated when tossed into the deep end in her new surroundings, starting with a fourth in the 2020 Del Mar Oaks (G1T), then third in the Belmont Oaks Invitational, and eighth in the American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita. After starting 2021 with a fourth-place showing in the Santa Ana Stakes (G3T), she scored her first U.S. win in the Santa Barbara Stakes (G3T) May 8, finished third in the Possibly Perfect in June, and won the CTT and TOC Stakes in her most recent.

“(Neige Blanche) had a bit of a layoff before her last win and we were waiting for that spot,” trainer Leonard Powell said, alluding to Neige Blanche's victory in the Aug. 14 CTT and TOC Stakes at Del Mar, her first race in two months. “Now, she’s ready to go. The main thing for her Saturday is to get enough pace."

What would an American turf race be without an Irish-bred? No need to wonder as the Rodeo Drive has Red Lark , not only bred in the Emerald Isle but raced there early in her career. The plus side of the Epaulette  filly's record: She won the 2020 Del Mar Oaks (G1T). The negative: That was one of only two wins from 19 career starts.

The international theme drives on down Rodeo Drive to Luck , a Kentucky-bred daughter of Kitten's Joy  , who had two wins from four starts in France and won her U.S. debut at Del Mar Aug. 7. She steps way up in class, making her first graded/group stakes appearance.

Going to Vegas  arguably tops the local contingent, exiting a victory in the John C. Mabee Stakes. The Goldencents   filly also captured the Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita in March, en route to compiling a 3-for-5 record so far this year for trainer Richard Baltas.

Dogtag , a War Front mare from the Richard Mandella barn, looks to rebound from a severe case of "seconditis." She has been runner-up in four straight races, all at Santa Anita and Del Mar, culminating in the Mabee.

Rideforthecause , a Candy Ride   miss who won the Possibly Perfect Stakes in June and comes off a fourth in the CTT and TOC Stakes Aug. 14, and Crystalle , winless since January at Gulfstream Park, round out the field.

Entries: Rodeo Drive S. (G1T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 02, 2021, Race 9

• Grade I
• 1 1/4m
• Downhill turf
• $300,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:38 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Dogtag (KY)	Joe Bravo	122	Richard E. Mandella	4/1
2	2Fast Jet Court (BRZ)	Drayden Van Dyke	124	Michael W. McCarthy	10/1
3	3Neige Blanche (FR)	Juan J. Hernandez	124	Leonard Powell	8/1
4	4Going to Vegas (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	124	Richard Baltas	5/2
5	5Rideforthecause (ON)	Mario Gutierrez	122	Michael W. McCarthy	15/1
6	6Crystalle (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	Peter Miller	20/1
7	7Magic Attitude (GB)	John R. Velazquez	124	Arnaud Delacour	5/1
8	8Luck (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Richard Baltas	3/1
9	9Red Lark (IRE)	Mike E. Smith	122	Patrick Gallagher	10/1