Rodeo Drive Stakes – Grade I (P5) [BC]
SA Race #12 1 1/4m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Maggie Greene The Sidley Stud Baze T C

Its a sign of the times as this is one of only three older horses in the race against 9 three year olds. A few years ago it was completely opposite but it is a sign of the times since fast development was brought in. So what about this four year old, well she certainly started the season strongly easily winning the Orchid and the Sheepshead Bay but since then she has come up against the younger generation and whilst she has run very well she hasnt managed another win. Beaten just a half length in the grade one Diana by the three year old Na Pali she then went on to finish seventh in the Beverly D but a wide draw and a blanket finish meant the one length she was beaten by was easily excused. She has won from this draw before and of the older horses in the field she must rate a strong chance if she can just overcome the 3Lb.

2 Di Magni Gdp Inc Hernandez B J Jr

Gets the ideal draw in this race which will be a big advantage and though she is only five starts from her maiden win she certainly has some good form which put her in with a chance of taking the big scalps in this. Forget the last run where she hated the off track, before that she was a game winner of the Matchmaker after a good allowance win. If it doesnt rain the inform trainer will be hoping she can step up to this level.

3 Trippi Tip Toe Estero Farms Desormeaux K J

She is having a good season and in her last two starts has taken on the grade ones and come out pretty well. Third beaten just a length in the Diana she went right up on the speed that day and kept on pretty well after leading at the furlong pole. She ran a very similar race in the DMR Oaks again leading with a furlong to run and just getting run down ending up fifth beaten a length. She runs the ten furlongs today and one feels from this draw she can just take things a little easier and sit off the lead a little more. If she can save a bit for the end she may run a good race.

4 Snacks D J C Racing Stables Lezcano J

Another from the older minority this is a really tough filly but doesnt really have any form against the three year olds and will have to step up today. She was really brave in the Ballston Handicap last time making all and just clinging on by a nose. Previously her best run was probably when a neck second in the grade one Wily and whilst i am not sure she is as good as Maggie Greene on the balance of form she certainly has plenty of heart and will give her all.

5 Bach In Tune Threshold Gaffalione T

This three year old has taken a while to find herself but was only a quarter length behind De Magni in the Matchmaker last time and looks like she is crying out for the longer trips. She will be flying at the end and as long as there is no rabbit employed where she will be one of many she could end up pretty close by the end.

6 Easy Time Mb Stables Hernandez R

As usual the stable has three runners so we are left to guess whether they will have a rabbit in the race or where each one will be placed as we can expect a front middle and back scenario. This five year old has the best draw of the group but again i am not sure she is as good as Maggie Greene so may struggle to beat that one and the three year olds. Could she be the rabbit for the two wider drawn fillies? Well she is an on pace sort who doesnt have much finishing kick so i think she will certainly be placed forward its just how quick her trainer wants her to go.

7 Conviction Team 7 Illusions Colon L H

Talking of rabbits another trainer that likes to deploy a race spoiler is this one and with a Cherokee Sunset of spring out wide we may see this one sent forward. Having said that she looks far too good to be wasted as a rabbit and has the sort of form that would give her a good winning chance. The winner of the Regret and the SAR Oaks after being claimed for just thirty dollars from a maiden she ran well enough in the Dance Smartly over this trip to suggest she will be in this race for a long way.

8 Na Pali Smokey Stover Pennington

When she won the FL Oaks she looked like a real progressive filly but her form since has been a bit up and down. She looked good again in the Diana but in the Regret and the DMR Oaks looked just OK so you do have to wonder which Na pali will turn up today. Being a little filly at just 15.1hh i do wonder about her ability to carry weight and tough it out but she certainly has the ability if things go her way.

9 Dream Whisperer Mb Stables Maldonado

Gets the turf jockey of the moment here but does have a widish draw to worry about although with 3 entries the trainer should be able to negate that issue. Although this filly has been campaigned on the dirt the surface doesnt seem to mean so much at HRP so i fully expect her to show her form on the grass. The very good winner of the FG oaks she had a horrible draw in the KYO and weakened away after the wide gate speed push beat her. She has been better in her last three finishing fifth in each but not far behind in some very strong races. My main worry with her is she likes to go up on the speed and that will be very difficult with this draw without a repeat of the KYO run, if the trainer gets it right she could run well.

10 Laffer Our Athletes Geroux F

This filly has been improving this season but after her honest run in the DMR oaks i wonder whether she is improving quick enough to figure here. A tough field and a tough draw she will certainly need things to go her way.

11 Emotionless Team 7 Illusions Esquivel E

This daughter of Cherokee Sunset has done well from wide draws in her last two races especially when third in the DMR Oaks last time. She has come a long way for a filly that was a maiden at the start of the year but her chances will depend on what the trainer does with their other entry. If this one is the rabbit then it certainly means she wont win but if her stable companion goes fast and allows her some space then she could run a big race.

12 Diluted Mb Stables Saez L

A look at this filly’s last two starts just shows you how much the draw is more important than the horse at HRP. Drawn wide in the BEL Oaks she was catapulted by the wide gate speed push into an unwanted lead and weakened right out of it to finish tenth. Next up she was drawn perfectly in the DMR Oaks and sat in a comfortable stalk before extending for a three quarter length win. So what can the trainer do from another wide gate today, well we all know a rabbit would be one solution but the trainer has been so against the instruction that i am not sure he will do that. Without his own rabbit he may rely on another trainer sending one but as usual we are guessing and playing the point and click version of horse racing so lets not go there. This filly is certainly good enough to win, how is the question.

SUMMARY

I actually think that Maggie Greene is ideally placed here to mop up the tactical mess that will go on outside her and me suggesting an older horse will beat three year olds is pretty unusual. So i am going for a glitch in the matrix by saying that Snacks, another older horse will run second.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES