Blanc Hopes to Avoid Traffic in Rodeo Drive

Brice Blanc has his work cut out for him aboard Miss Serendipity in Saturday’s Rodeo Drive Stakes.

The regular rider of the Argentine-bred mare breaks from the 13 post position in a field of 14 fillies and mares going 1 ¼ miles on turf.

“We’ll try and work our way through,” Blanc said. “She’s usually pretty good in the gate so I think I’ll be able to get a good position into the first turn and at least try to save a little bit of ground at that point in the race.

“I hope to be in a position where I don’t give the rest of the field too much of a head start and don’t give my mare too much to do.”

Miss Serendipity, conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally, seeks her second straight win in the Rodeo Drive and her second Grade I triumph in the United States. She captured the Grade I Gamely at Santa Anita on May 26.

The Rodeo Drive field: Cozze Up Lady, Kent Desormeaux, 10-1; Famous Alice, Drayden Van Dyke, 20-1; Moulin de Mougin, Mike Smith, 5-1; Bee Brave, Tyler Baze, 30-1; Scarlet Strike, Joe Talamo, 20-1; Rusty Slipper, Aaron Gryder, 15-1; Emollient, Rosie Napravnik, 6-1; Parranda, Elvis Trujillo, 6-1; Irish Mission, Corey Nakatani, 6-1; Charlie Em, Martin Garcia, 30-1; Stormy Lucy, Rafael Bejarano, 6-1; Bunairgead, Victor Espinoza, 30-1; Miss Serendipity, Brice Blanc, 4-1; and Queen of the Sand, Alex Solis, 15-1.

Source: Santa Anita Park