Santa Anita undercard: Didia, Chatalas win graded stakes

Intent on keeping his mount covered up in the early stages, French-born Vincent Cheminaud was fifth, about seven lengths off the lead aboard race favorite Didia heading into the clubhouse turn of Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita. From there, he worked out a perfect trip that resulted in an emphatic 1 3/4-length score that figures to propel the 5-year-old Argentina-bred mare to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Didia, trained by Ignacio Correas IV and based in Kentucky at Keeneland, got 1 1/4 miles on turf in 1:59.79.

The Rodeo Drive is a Breeders’ Cup win-and-you’re-in qualifier, making Didia eligible for a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Three-deep and third, about 1 1/2 lengths off of long-shot leaders Turnerloose and Stoic Luna three furlongs out, Didia made the lead approaching the eighth pole and easily kept talented Anisette at bay from there in a romp.

Most recently a close second in the New York Stakes (G1) going the same distance at Belmont Park June 9, Didia had won her four previous stateside starts and was off as the even-money favorite, returning $4.20, $2.40 and $2.20.

A two-time Group 1 winner in Argentina, Didia is owned by Merriebelle Stable and now has nine wins from 13 starts. With Saturday’s winner’s share of $180,000, she increased her earnings to $772,109.

Trained by Leonard Powell, 3-year-old English-bred Anisette, facing older company for the first time Saturday, once again exhibited an impressive turn of foot, but was second best, finishing a neck in front of long shot Juncture. Off at 8-5 with Umberto Rispoli, Anisette paid $2.60 and $2.40.

Off at 18-1 with Mike Smith, English-bred Juncture, who shipped in from Kentucky for Brad Cox, paid $5.40 to show while finishing 1 3/4 lengths in front of Closing Remarks.

Fractions on the race were 24.50, 48.75, 1:13.31 and 1:37.22.

Chatalas leads gate to wire to take Chandelier

In her first time around two turns, Chatalas broke running from her rail post position and although pressed through solid fractions, she was able to shake loose from Dua in deep stretch and prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths over New York invader Scalable in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Chandelier is a Breeders’ Cup win-and-you’re-in qualifier, enabling Chatalas to earn a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Trained by Mark Glatt and ridden for the first time by Antonio Fresu, Chatalas, a bay filly by Gun Runner, got the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.28.

A first-out maiden winner going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on July 30, Chatalas then was a well-beaten fourth by budding superstar Tamara in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) on Sept. 9.

Off at 3-1 in her third start Saturday, she paid $8.20, $5.80 and $3.80.

Owned by breeder Dan Agnew and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, Chatalas, who is out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Safari, picked up $120,000 for the win to run her earnings to $187,200.

Fifth in her seven-furlong debut at Saratoga Sept. 3, Todd Pletcher’s Scalable was about six lengths off the winner three furlongs out and rallied nicely for the place under Mike Smith.

Off at 8-1, Scalable paid $9.40 and $5.80.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Dua pressed the winner throughout and paid a price, finishing third, a neck behind Scalable. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, she was off at 5-1 and paid $4.40.

Fractions on the race were 23.69, 47.97, 1:11.88 and 1:37.55.