Rodeo Drive Stakes (Grade 1) (BC)- $300.000 Purse
SA- For Filles and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Quarter on the Turf
September 26, 2015

Heading into this race, our question concerning Altered Skeleton was how much of an impact her addition of blinkers for the Lake Placid in her last race would alter her success level.   The Skeleton Key filly had always been good, but at Saratoga in August, she was great as she wore blinkers for the first time. Her trainer, Chili King Stables kept the blinkers on for the Rodeo Drive, and Altered Skeleton found her way back into the winners circle.   Credit needs to go to Chili King here for making this alteration, but that’s what we are coming to expect from him. We may have to start asking the question now of is Chili King the best in the game when it comes to distance turf horses right now?   His filly here is likely just one of many he will be racing on the grass at KEE on the last days of October.   Somehow, Altered Skeleton was allowed to be the second longest shot on the board as well, at odds of 13/1. We didn’t pick her either, but we did have her third. Hopefully many loyal SRF readers were able to cash winning tickets on her. Let’s take a look at how these fillies traveled down Rodeo Drive, and how Altered Skeleton punched her ticket to KEE!   Dare I say, she has a great name to win a race on Halloween?

1st- 1- Altered Skeleton (13/1)- Our eventual race winner from Chili King Stables got off to a comfortable start early.   For the initial run to the frontstretch, she stayed about four lengths off the lead, then got a little closer, within about two lengths from pacesetting Rock Warrior down the stretch. There was not much change in the running of the race as the field went around the turn leading to the backstretch, and Altered Skeleton kept her stalking position during the middle portions of the race. As Onorata Rodiana made a move to get by Rock Warrior, J Rosario did not waste any time in deciding to send Altered Skeleton at this time as well. Impressively, she would emerge stronger then Onorata Rodiana before the turn even began. At the top of the stretch, Altered Skeleton was giving the field the slip, pulling away by a length. No one was going to catch her at this point, not even the hard charging End Times. Altered Skeleton pulled away from the field and won this race by about two lengths, in a time of 1:58.91, the second fastest Rodeo Drive in the stake’s history. Altered Skeleton is a three year old filly by Skeleton Key and out of Altered Victory, part of the Party Talk line.   She was bred in Florida by Chili King Stables, the only trainer for which she has ever known! Congrats to the connections! Skeletons on Halloween? Perfect.

2nd- 2- End Times (7/1)- The Jolly Be Great mare was off to an average start for trainer Sarah Stables, staying along the rail, about four to five lengths from the leaders in the early stages, as well as through the second turn and early in the backstretch run. Began to get a little closer as the run to the final turn commenced and the top three began to battle it out. Inched her way forward during the turn but was at her best in the stretch, charging towards the lead in the final furlong.  Unfortunately for her, Altered Skeleton was long gone, but this put her in position to get second, and in the end would prevail over Onorata Rodiana in a tight place photo.

3rd- 3- Onorata Rodiana (6/1)- Got off to a good start for Team 7 Illusions, and was content to stalk the pace setting Rock Warrior into the frontstretch the first time. Did not look to pressure Rock Warrior around the clubhouse turn, but did make her intentions known towards the end of the backstretch, putting herself in position to pass with three furlongs to go. She would accomplish this pass, but at the same time, Altered Skeleton was splitting the two of them and would be the one emerging with the lead. She looked good at the top of the stretch to maintain a second position. Looked to tire very late, and would be caught by End Times for that spot.

4th- 6- Rock Warrior (6/5)- The post time favorite from Canadian Racing handled the opening turn very well and was in front as they went down the front stretch for the first time, at one time pulling away by a couple lengths. He would set the opening half mile in a reasonable :48.23. Maintained the advantage around the second turn and for much of the backstretch run, setting the 3/4 time in 1:11.87. As the backstretch run ended however, she looked to be in jeopardy as those who had been stalking her were setting up their moves to get by. Once they did, Rock Warrior was unable to keep up with the leaders and would gradually drop back.

5th- 4- Fair Quest (5/2)- The Glorify Stables filly was fourth in the early stages of this race, but until after a gap of about three to four lengths separated her and the top three. Never made an effort to get involved in the first half of the race, but as things started getting interesting as the run into the final turn began, Fair Quest also began to make progress cutting the deficit to the leaders. She would not be able to keep up with End Times in the stretch as that one charged toward the front, and would have to settle for this out of the money position.

6th- 7- Volare (7/1)- The Axeman filly spent the early portions of the race in a three wide spot of End Times and Fair Quest.   Volare was content to stay there for the backstretch run, but when those two began to make a push forward, she did not have the same kind of power in her kick, though this may be because of being three wide. I don’t want to make that much of an excuse for her, as she simply came up empty today.

7th- 5- T S Razor (207/1)- Not often you see a horse trained by Mb Stables go off as such a major longshot! She would not have those who bet her screaming like they won the lottery at any point, trailing from the get go. Never made her presence felt in her return to the turf.

Track: Firm
Time: :48¹  1:11⁴  1:35¹  1:58⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 2 Paid 164.40
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 2 – 3 Paid 792.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I