Miss Serendipity Could Stroll in Rodeo Drive

After winning the Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) in the spring at Santa Anita Park, Miss Serendipity will try for another top-level victory at the Arcadia, Calif., track when she faces an expected 13 other fillies and mares in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) Sept. 27.

A 6-year-old Argentine-bred daughter of Not For Sale, Miss Serendipity enters Saturday's 1 1/4-mile turf race off a victory in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. IIT) Sept. 1 on the turf at Del Mar. She will be racing on the Santa Anita turf for the first time since securing a nose victory over Emollient in the Gamely May 26.

With the large field, Racing Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally is hoping for some racing luck for Miss Serendipity, who favors a stalking running style, and rider Brice Blanc, who has been aboard for both of her most recent victories.

"She needs to get the right trip and be clear in a big field," McAnally said.

The distance should not be a problem for Miss Serendipity, who finished a close second to Rodeo Drive rival Stormy Lucy in Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIIT) over 10 furlonghs at Santa Anita. In her final start in Argentina, Miss Serendipity won the Estrellas Distaff (Arg-I) at about 1 1/4 miles.

Some familiar foes await Miss Serendipity in Parranda and Cozze Up Lady, who finished second and third in the Yellow Ribbon, and multiple grade I winner Emollient, returning to Southern California after fading in the Beverly D. at Arlington International Race Course last time out. 

Juddmonte Farms homebred Emollient will be looking for her first victory since taking last year's Spinster Stakes (gr. I) on the former Polytrack at Keeneland. The 4-year-old Empire Maker filly also won last year's American Oaks (gr. IT) on the turf at Hollywood Park and the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) on the Polytrack at Keeneland.

The Rodeo Drive is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In," race to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita.