Going to Vegas Sparkles in Rodeo Drive

As soon as Going to Vegas  crossed the finish line first in the Oct. 8 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, Bing Bush hugged a nearby Abbondanza Racing partner and shouted, "We're going to Kentucky!"

For Bush, it's more than Going to Vegas earning a Breeders' Cup Challenge berth to the Nov. 5 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Keeneland. Bush is from Lexington, and he would like nothing better than to win a Breeders' Cup race there.

"I grew up galloping horses at Keeneland," said Bush, who now lives near Del Mar. "I love Del Mar—I can walk to the track every day. But my home, home, home is where I grew up in Lexington, galloping horses through high school, college, and law school. It has a special place for me."

Going to Vegas, who also won the Rodeo Drive in 2021, brings plenty of cheerleaders with her wherever she goes, being owned by Abbondanza, Medallion Racing, and MyRacehorse, all partnerships with many participants. The 5-year-old mare had a huge fan club in attendance at the Rodeo Drive, a 1 1/4-mile turf race for older fillies and mares. They made her the 5-2 third choice behind favored Fluffy Socks , an East Coast graded stakes winner trained by Chad Brown who has done well in all three of her California forays, and Family Way , trained by Brendan Walsh in Kentucky and a graded stakes winner at Gulfstream Park.

Without much early speed in the $301,000 race, Going to Vegas was able go to the front easily, jockey Umberto Rispoli dictating a fairly easy pace. Going to Vegas ran the first quarter-mile in :23.82, a length in front of second-place Neige Blanche , and the first half-mile in :48.60.

"She ran it the way that we thought she would," said Bush. "We didn't see a lot of early speed in there. When Neige Blanche was a little closer—she kind of laid closer before—I was a little concerned about that because I wanted her to have a little bit of an easier lead than what she had. But it wasn't bad."

In the 2021 Rodeo Drive, Neige Blanche tracked Going to Vegas' early pace from second. Rodeo Drive was able to hold off Luck , who closed to within a head of her at the wire, while Neige Blanche finished fourth.

Going to Vegas led throughout in both of her Rodeo Drive wins. This time, Family Way posed the biggest challenge. Going to Vegas completed six furlongs in 1:13.42 and a mile in 1:36.61, giving her plenty of energy for the stretch run. Family Way closed from sixth and was able to grab second by a neck over Bellamore , but she couldn't catch Going to Vegas, who scored by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:59.41. Fluffy Socks also closed late for fourth, a length behind Bellamore.

"At the top of the stretch, she took off," said Rispoli of Going to Vegas. "She felt good, was really relaxed, and she did everything. She always responds."

Phil D'Amato trains Going to Vegas. Bush praised the conditioner, saying, "Phil has done a good job of teaching her to relax a little bit. So even though she went in :48, almost :49, she did it in a more relaxed kind of way."

Going to Vegas held onto that demeanor into a very crowded winner's circle, which will serve her well if she wins the Breeders' Cup because the partners are sure to show up in force.

"This was our plan all along to focus on this race to bring us to the Breeders' Cup, and we got the job done," said D'Amato.

J. Kirk and Judy Robison, the owners of sprint champion Jackie's Warrior  , bred Going to Vegas, (Goldencents  —Hard to Resist , by Johannesburg ) in Kentucky. She began racing for them in 2019 under the care of trainer Peter Miller. Trainer Richard Baltas claimed Going to Vegas from them for $50,000 at Santa Anita in mid-2020.

Going to Vegas began racing for the current partnership in 2021, with Baltas continuing to train her. Bush said that they contemplated selling Going to Vegas last year, but decided to race her another season. 

D'Amato took over the training of Going to Vegas when Baltas' California stable was disbanded this spring amid alleged pre-race treatment violations of Baltas-trained horses. In three starts for D'Amato, the mare ran second in the May 30 Gamely Stakes (G1T) and third in the Sept. 10 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T). This is D'Amato's second victory in the Rodeo Drive, following Mirth  in 2019.

Going to Vegas has been entered in The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's marquee breeding stock sale in Kentucky. She is scheduled to sell as Hip 293 in the Nov. 6 sale, the day after the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Video: Rodeo Drive S. (G1T)