Mirth easily wires field in Rodeo Drive to earn Breeders' Cup berth

“Theft” is how Mirth owner Billy Koch labeled the 4-year-old filly’s gate-to-wire win Saturday in her Grade 1 debut.

“Mike Smith, he’s unbelievable,” Koch said after Mirth claimed the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) under Smith at Santa Anita Park. “He slowed it down. He talked in the paddock about getting her into a rhythm. 

“When they turned for home, I was like, ‘Man, she’s still going.’ It was so exciting.”

Mirth went out to an early lead from the inside post Saturday in the Rodeo Drive, a 10-furlong turf stakes for fillies and mares. None of her five rivals ever pressed the Colonel John filly, and she came home in 1:58.47.

Philip D’Amato trains Mirth, who returned $14.20 to win. Odds-on favorite Beau Recall got up for second ahead of Elysea’s World.

Mirth came into D’Amato’s care this season after running on the East Coast in 2017 and ’18. The Rodeo Drive marked Mirth’s two wins in nine starts for D'Amato, with the other a Santa Anita allowance optional claiming score back on Feb. 23.

“(Mike) drew it up and executed,” D’Amato said. “… We were the lone speed in the race and Mike was able to execute it.”

Saturday’s victory – which came in Mirth’s first-ever graded stakes start – clinched the Pennsylvania-bred runner a “Win and You’re In” ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, set to run Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Mirth joins Oh Susanna (Cartier Paddock Stakes), Gracia Divina (Gran Premio Pamplona), Sistercharlie (Beverly D. Stakes), Enable (Yorkshire Oaks), Iridessa (Matron Stakes) as winners of qualifying races in the division.

Three more Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf spots will be up for grabs next weekend between Keeneland’s First Lady Stakes (G1), Belmont Park’s Flower Bowl (G1) and the Prix de L’Opera Longines (G1) at Paris Longchamp.