Callaghan Takes Brave Step in Rodeo Drive

Bee Brave seeks her first U.S. stakes win in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 ¼ miles on turf. Simon Callaghan is optimistic that she has a longshot’s chance.

“She’s coming into the race well,” the trainer said of the English-bred daughter of Rail Link. “I think she’s getting better. It’s a step up in class but she won well last time (by nearly a length despite steadying on Del Mar’s turf Aug. 24), and if she hadn’t had trouble, she would have won a lot easier. We’re taking a shot, but she’s going the right way.”

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