Rodeo Drive Stakes – Grade I [BC]
SA Race #8 1 1/4m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.
This race tends to find all the nearly fillies and mares desperately seeking a BC slot and is often very competitive and throws up a BC contender, despite being late in the day to qualify. This years field may contain the BC Fillies and Mares champ so lets go ahead and sort them out.
1 Insist You Fail Rock Creek Albarado R J
This one definitely falls into the catagorey of a one puncher. This will be her only chance at a BC start and the trainer will be very happy that she has been given every chance by the draw at least. She ran a nice second in the Yellow Ribbon last time but that was with just 116Lbs on her back so she will need to step up on that to take this better race.
2 Yankee Stadium Iolaus Racing Lezcano J
Three year olds haven’t had the results they have had in past seasons so whilst they have won four of the last six runnings of this race it is no longer a matter of just choosing the best three year old. Having said that there are signs the development curve is catching up and this consistent and lightly raced daughter of Bronx Bomber could be competitive from the perfect draw. The winner of her last two in top end allowance races and with comparative work times she looks to use the 3Lbs and the draw here to chalk up a rare success for her generation at grade one level.
3 Intanga Rose D J C Racing Stables Vargas J A Jr
This is a very good filly who has already nearly won a grade one this year and looks to be set up nicely for this race with a good draw. A close second in the Flower Bowl last time that looks very good form for this race with my only fear being that this is her third grade one race in a row in a fairly short space of time. Her worst races are on an off track so that would certainly hurt her chances but she deserves a race like this and looks to have come up with the perfect chance to achieve the win.
4 Forever Phooey Party Night Rider Stables Rispoli U
Just a half length behind Intanga Rose when fourth in the Flower Bowl last time, that was only her second career turf start and could be pointing towards some improvement on this new surface. She got buried from the one box that day so gets a better draw to work with today but she will still have to get out quicker than she did in the Flower Bowl. Another one puncher, the trainer will be looking for a BC slot.
5 Here Z Comes First Street Stables Ryan S
Already twice a stakes winner this year at grade three and two she looks to make the set today with a grade one win. A game winner from the outside gate in the Dance Smartly last time she has been a hugely consistent filly and will be very competitive in this race, It looks like she will track just behind the stalkers which may be a good spot of she can find it and a good run here should see her take her place in November.
6 Forbidden Blush Smokey Stover Gonzalez Ru
This trainer has a big hand when it comes to fillies and this winner of 7 from 14 looks to add another string to the bow. She has already achieved more than most winning three graded stakes this year and just a length behind the winner in the Flower Bowl. Three of the top four in that race meet again today with this one the middle of them and i must be honest when i say i cannot pick who will beat who this time.
7 Delinquent Assembly Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R
Another multiple winning mare she has eleven victories in a good looking career. She too is looking for a full set here with a grade three and two this season and i really like the improvement she has shown through the season and how the trainer has brought her through. Had Blondewithhandcuffs behind when gamely winning the Mabee Stakes last time and the trainer throws their favorite hoop on here to give her the best chance.
8 Blondewithhandcuffs Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario
It s difficult to weigh this filly up as the trainer has been taking her round the cheap tracks in an effort to find her three year old form. her effort in the Mabee said those confidence boosting runs has told the trainer something and that she is ready for another shot at the big time today but she gets an awkward draw and i can’t see her reversing form with Delinquent Assembly.
9 Sweetness High Voltage Saez L
Doing consistently well for the trainer the only real blot on her copybook this year was on an off track in the Diana. She gets a rotten draw at her one shot at a BC place but certainly deserves that shot. Luck will need to be on her side but her work times and form put her within range for a run.
10 Fashionable Mb Stables Hernandez C J
The trainer gets some bad luck here with two rotten draws and this one finds herself in the car park. It has to be said she was disappointing when fading into sixth in the Flower Bowl last time but she contested a face early pace and that could’ve been her undoing. The draw will probably see her on the speed again today so a lot may depend on whether the trainer spins the wheel and tries her closing for a change.
SUMMARY
An open looking race as they all tend to be i think i will go against recent trends and settle on a three year old to get a rare grade on win in Yankee Stadium. I could easily be proved way off the mark and if i am, and the trends continue then Forbidden Blush and Delinquent Assembly could fight out the finish.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
