Photo Call Scores Upset in Rodeo Drive

Photo Call scored a 2 ¼-length upset in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes under Drayden Van Dyke.

DRAYDEN VAN DYKE, PHOTO CALL, WINNER: “I picked up the mount from Graham (Motion, trainer.) He’s been very nice to me and given me some nice horses, given me a lot of opportunities. Graham told me to place her behind the lead horses and just try to get her to shut off as much as possible. In her last race she was pretty sharp the whole way. She was tugging on me a little but we got into a nice, happy rhythm.

“The stretch was a bit hairy. I went down to the inside hoping Joe (Talamo on Fanticola) would float off of the rail a little bit but he never did. I had to cut back and luckily she was brave enough to go through. Not a lot of fillies are brave enough to go through a hole like that but she just rocketed through there and I was lucky to get the good trip.”

         

 

VICTOR ESPINOZA, HARD NOT TO LIKE: “She was too much in the bridle. Right out of the gate I tried to save ground and go to the inside and she was doing good but as soon as she crossed the dirt she grabbed the bridle and I couldn’t relax her.

“She got strong and finally on the backside I gave into her a little bit to help her out and hopefully help relax her but when I gave her the go-ahead she didn’t want to run.”

 

 

ANNE SINCHAK (ASSISTANT TO GRAHAM MOTION), PHOTO CALL, WINNER: “She’s been a class act. She loves the track, she loves the heat, and it’s beautiful here. You just have to keep them happy, and they’ll run the way they like to.

“I think the race just fit. She’s been training well, and Graham seems to like it here – we do well here. It fit well in her schedule, and it’s a ‘Win and You’re In’ race.”