Vasilika, Cambodia head competitive renewal of Rodeo Drive Stakes

In what could be the most competitive Grade 1 event Saturday at Santa Anita Park, the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes attracted eight fillies and mares three and up and is headed by Jerry Hollendorfer’s streaking Vasilika and Tom Proctor’s classy Cambodia.

Fresh off a 1 ½-length tally over Cambodia in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 1, the amazing Vasilika, who was claimed for $40,000 eight starts back, is in search of her seventh consecutive victory.

A four-time graded stakes winner, Cambodia, like Vasilika, will be seeking her first Grade I win in the Rodeo Drive in what will be her first-ever start at Santa Anita.

 

Owner: All Schlaich Stables, LLC and Hollendorfer                                   

Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer

A maiden $25,000 claiming winner in her eighth career start on Jan. 26, 2017, Visilika has ascended the class ladder in dramatic fashion for Hollendorfer.  Off at 4-1 in a field of 11 in the Grade 2 Mabee Stakes, she rallied boldly from off the pace to notch her first-ever graded stakes win.  With Flavien Prat set to ride her back, her connections will be out to prove the win was no fluke in what will be only her second graded stakes assignment.  With five wins and a second from six tries over the Santa Anita turf and Prat a perfect six for six with her, Visilika, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Skipshot, appears to be at the top of her game.

 

Owner: Winter Quarter Farm                                              

Trainer: Tom Proctor

 

An impressive 2 ½-length winner of Del Mar’s Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes two starts back on Aug. 4, Cambodia was dispatched as the 4-5 favorite in Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes Sept. 1 and was perhaps unlucky to lose under regular pilot Drayden Van Dyke. Far back early, she had to wait for room turning for home and unleashed a furious rally but ended up second, 1 ½ lengths behind Vasilika at the wire. Classy and consistent, Cambodia will no doubt vie seriously for top billing on Saturday. A 6-year-old War Front mare, out of the Smart Strike mare Sassifaction, Cambodia has an overall mark of 19-7-1-6, with earnings of $819,913.

 

Race 10 of 12. Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT.

1. Paved—Joel Rosario—120

2. Tisbutadream—Tyler Conner—121

3. Beau Recall—Joe Talamo—123

4. Queen Blossom—Florent Geroux—121

5. Amboseli—Stewart Elliot—121

6. Vasilika—Flavien Prat—123

7. Sophie P—Kent Desoremeaux—125

8. Cambodia—Drayden Van Dyke—123

 

Special early first post time for a 12-race card on Saturday is at 12 noon.