Auerbach eyes Grade 1 placing for Majestic Heat in Rodeo Drive
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Majestic Heat, a consistent five-year-old Unusual Heat mare trained by Richard Mandella, is one of two entrants for the Hall of Fame trainer in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Win and You’re In Rodeo Drive Stakes, a mile and a quarter turf test for fillies and mares, three and up. Mandella also will send out last year’s Rodeo Drive winner, Avenge.
“Majestic Heat tries hard and is very talented,” said part owner Madeline Auerbach, who also is second Vice Chairman on the California Horse Racing Board. “Richard has given her plenty of time to do everything the way she’s supposed to do it.
“She won the SolanaBeach (on Aug. 11) and Richard’s a big believer in giving her time, so the first thing he did was give her a break. He sent her out and let her clear her mind.
“We’re pleased with her and would love to get a Grade I placing.”
Majestic Heat won the Solana beach for the second straight year, and, in a racing oddity, each time by a nose.
As for her sire, the recently deceased mega-stallion Unusual Heat, Auerbach is the first to admit he’s a story unto himself.
“We don’t have enough hours in the day to go down that path,” she said.
The field for the Rodeo Drive, race nine of 11: Frenzified, Santiago Gonzalez, 20-1; Goldy Espony, Mike Smith, 8-1; Responsibleforlove, Joe Talamo, 6-1; Majestic Heat, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; Avenge, Flavien Prat, 3-1; Amboseli, Victor Espinoza, 20-1; Beau Recall, Rafael Bejarano, 8-1; Decked Out, Kent Desormeaux, 5-1; Kiss Me Now, Martin Garcia, 20-1; and Goodyearforroses, Corey Nakatani, 5-2.
FINISH LINES: The life of former trainer Sarah “Sally” Lundy, who died at age 63 in August, will be celebrated at Santa Anita’s 100 to 1 Club 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11. Lundy trained in New York and also was assistant to the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. Her family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to Old Friends in Kentucky . . . Slam Dunk Racing’s Nick Cosato will replace clocker Andy Harrington on Tom Quigley’s handicapping seminar Saturday, 11:20 a.m. in the East Paddock Gardens. An emergency caused Harrington to cancel . . . Retired Los Angeles Times racing reporter Bill Christine will be on hand Saturday to sign his new book entitled “Bill Hartack—The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey.” Published by McFarland and available at Barnes & Noble, Christine’s book chronicles the life of the legendary Hartack, who along with Eddie Arcaro, won a record five Kentucky Derbies throughout his meteoric career. Christine will greet well wishers and sign copies of the book Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. outside Champions! Gifts & Apparel.
Source: Santa Anita Park
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