Going to Vegas Defends Rodeo Drive Title

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Photo: Benoit Photo
Going to Vegas wins the 2021 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Going to Vegas , the 2021 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) winner, returns to defend her title Oct. 8. But she has much more at stake because the Santa Anita Park race offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) and could also improve Going to Vegas' sale prospects.

Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and MyRacehorse own 5-year-old Going to Vegas, three entities comprised of multiple partners. Keeping a mare for breeding purposes usually doesn't suit these types of partnerships, and so Going to Vegas has been entered as Hip 293 in the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale.

"We generally don't keep them after they are 5 years old," said Bing Bush of Abbondanza. "Last year we thought about selling her. We've really enjoyed having her."

Though Going to Vegas hasn't won since last year's Rodeo Drive, she has provided another season of exciting races for her ownership. After running unplaced in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she has placed in four consecutive graded races—the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T), Santa Ana Stakes (G3T), Gamely Stakes (G1), and John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T).

"She likes a mile and a quarter—historically, she's a little better going longer," said Bush. "She seems like she's in good form. I think she might have needed that last race. She'd been on the shelf for a little bit."

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The Sept. 10 Mabee was Going to Vegas' first start since the May 30 Gamely. Phil D'Amato, who tied with Bob Baffert for the Del Mar training title, conditions Going to Vegas, a daughter of Goldencents  . Umberto Rispoli, who rode Going to Vegas in last year's Rodeo Drive, returns from post 3.

Trainer Chad Brown is sending Head of Plains Partners' Fluffy Socks  out from New York for the Rodeo Drive. The 4-year-old daughter of Slumber   has traveled to California on three previous occasions with good results. She won the 2020 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar at 2 for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and ran third in the 2021 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) for Joel Rosario and American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita for Mike Smith. Brown has named Joe Bravo on Fluffy Socks this time, and they drew post 2.

In addition to her California performances, Fluffy Socks won the 2020 Selma Stakes at Pimlico and 2021 Sands Point Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park. She is coming off seconds in the July 23 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park and Aug. 27 Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga, losing to Lemista  and Technical Analysis , also members of the powerful Brown stable.

Trainer Brendan Walsh is shipping 5-year-old Family Way  from Kentucky. The daughter of Uncle Mo   won the Orchid Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park in the spring and is coming off a second in the 1 5/16-mile AGS Ladies Marathon Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs. Tyler Gaffalione has been riding Family Way, but Mike Smith will pilot her locally from post 7.

Neige Blanche  has most consistently performed at longer distances. Trainer Leonard Powell has kept the 5-year-old daughter of Anodin  at 1 1/4 miles or more in all of her 14 U.S. starts except the first one, the 2020 Del Mar Oaks (G1T). Neige Blanche has won six of those races, all stakes, including two editions of the Santa Barbara Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita.

"She's coming into the race extremely well," said Powell. "She showed really good form at Santa Anita in the spring, and I'm hoping for a very good effort on Saturday."

Juan Hernandez, Del Mar's leading rider and quickly atop the Santa Anita list after just three days of the fall meeting, has ridden Neige Blanche in most of her races. He returns from post 5.

Scarabea , a 4-year-old daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah   trained by Jack Sisterson, most recently ran second by a half-length to Sister Otoole  in the 1 3/8-mile CTT and TOC Stakes at Del Mar. She has placed in all three of her California starts after spending the majority of her career in Kentucky and on the East Coast. Though she has yet to win a stakes, Scarabea also ran second to Neige Blanche in the June 19 Possibly Perfect Stakes over this same distance at Santa Anita. Abel Cedillo rides from post 4.

Bellamore  (Kyle Frey, post 6) finished third in the CTT and TOC Stakes and fourth in the Mabee for trainer Simon Callaghan. Prior to that she finished first in two allowance optional claiming events, though she was disqualified and placed fourth at Golden Gate Fields when she was bumped and then drifted out and was deemed to have bothered another horse.

Queen Ofthe Temple  (Hector Berrios, post 1) completes the field. Trained by Dan Blacker, the 4-year-old filly was third in the Santa Barbara.


Entries: Rodeo Drive S. (G1T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 08, 2022, Race 5

  • Grade I
  • 1 1/4m
  • Downhill turf
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 3:06 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Queen Ofthe Temple (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 122 Dan Blacker 30/1
2 2Fluffy Socks (KY) Joe Bravo 124 Chad C. Brown 2/1
3 3Going to Vegas (KY) Umberto Rispoli 122 Philip D'Amato 5/2
4 4Scarabea (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Abel Cedillo 122 Jack Sisterson 6/1
5 5Neige Blanche (FR) Juan J. Hernandez 124 Leonard Powell 5/1
6 6Bellamore (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Kyle Frey 122 Simon Callaghan 15/1
7 7Family Way (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 124 Brendan P. Walsh 5/2