Saturday's GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita offers the winner an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland Nov. 7, and Lady Prancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) figures a slight favorite against six familiar faces.
Winner of the GI American Oaks over this course and distance last December, Lady Prancealot has done her California-based shuttle stallion proud this season, despite not having her picture taken. Fourth to the in-form Keeper Ofthe Stars (Midnight Lute) in the GII Buena Vista S. over a mile trip that is short of her best in February, she was fifth to that rival in the GI Gamely S. in May. A troubled fourth to Bodhicitta (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the GI Yellow Ribbon H. at Del Mar Aug. 8, she finished fast to just miss in the GII John C. Mabee S. Sept. 5. Umberto Rispoli, who rode for the first time in the Mabee, has the return call.
Rispoli was just outfinished in the Del Mar jockeys' premiership by Flavien Prat, and the Frenchman goes in search of his fourth win in five starts atop Bodhicitta. An allowance winner over a mile of this turf course Mar. 8, the chestnut attacked the line to be second in the Gamely and outfinished Tonahutu (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) in the Yellow Ribbon. The latter has since added a handy allowance victory at the seaside Sept. 5.
The visiting Luis Saez picks up the mount on Maxim Rate (Exchange Rate), who was guided by Rispoli to an allowance defeat of Tonahutu at Del Mar July 10 ahead of a neck success in the CTT & TOC S. over 11 furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 16.
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