Baltas pair Lady Prancelot, Bodhicitta lead Rodeo Drive field
Blessed with a pair of talented turf distaffers, trainer Richard Baltas has a big look at Saturday’s Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita, as his Lady Prancealot, a fast closing second in her most recent start, has solid distance credentials, while his Bodhicitta is in top form although distance may be a question.
For fillies and mares three and up going a mile and one quarter on turf, Saturday’s $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes has attracted a competitive field of seven fillies and mares.
A winner of the American Oaks (G1) in her only try at the Rodeo Drive distance five starts back on Dec. 28, Lady Prancealot, a 4-year-old Irish-bred filly, is winless in four graded stakes this year, but she flew late to be beaten a diminishing neck at a mile and one eighth on turf Sept. 5 and merits top billing.
With Umberto Rispoli back aboard Lady Prancealot and Flavien Prat with Bodhicitta, these two ultra-talented reinsmen will most certainly renew their rivalry, which resulted in Prat taking a 50-49 photo finish for leading rider honors at the recently concluded Del Mar meeting.
The Rodeo Drive is a Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Race qualifier, with the winner to receive a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 7.
Owner: Jerry McClanahan, Michael Iavarone, Parkland Thoughbreds, et al
Trainer: Richard Baltas
A winner of three graded stakes in 16 stateside starts for Baltas, she has been close in nearly all of her races while amassing earnings of $604,841 from an overall mark of 21: 5-5-3. With turf master Rispoli back aboard, look for Irish-bred Lady Prancealot to be on the move the final eighth of a mile.
Owner: Calvin Nguyen
Trainer: Richard Baltas
A game nose winner of the Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 8, this 4-year-old English-bred filly has won three out of her last four starts, all with Prat aboard. Second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade I Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf two starts back, she’ll try a mile and one quarter for the first time in what will be her 16th career start. With four wins, as many seconds and one third-place finish, she has earnings of $265,808.
Owner: Slam Dunk Racing & James D. Branham
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
A winner of two consecutive turf routes at Del Mar, the most recent a neck victory in the CTT & TOC Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on Aug. 16, she brings a solid recent record to the Rodeo Drive party but she’ll be facing tougher. Ridden by Rispoli in her last two starts, she’ll get the services of eastern-based Luis Saez, as Rispoli appears to have opted for Lady Prancealot. A Grade 3 winner going a mile on turf at age 3, her 1 3/8-mile win on Aug. 16 lends added encouragement at the Rodeo Drive distance.
The Rodeo Drive is race 7 of 11 on the card, with an approximate post tie of 6:30 p.m. ET.