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A dedicated deep closer that's unbeaten in three stateside starts, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' English-bred Anisette tops a field of eight fillies and mares three and up going a mile and quarter on turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Rodeo Drive is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race Qualifier, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf here on Nov. 4.

Trained by Leonard Powell, Anisette comes off a pair of dazzling stakes wins at Del Mar, taking the G2 San Clemente at one mile on turf by 2 ½ lengths on July 22 and followed by a sensational 2 ¾ length score at a mile and one eighth on grass in the G1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 19.

Although both of those wins came versus sophomore fillies, Anisette rallied for a three quarter length win versus older fillies and mares in her U.S. debut, a one mile turf classified allowance here on May 29.

Far back early in all of her three of her Southern California starts, she registered consecutive improving Beyer Speed Figures of 80, 88, and 91 and although she may be dependent upon a solid pace at a mile and a quarter, she has thus far exhibited a brilliance that should carry the day with Umberto Rispoli engaged for the third consecutive time.

With Rispoli opting to stick with Anisette, Juan Hernandez will take over on the consistent Harris Farms homebred Closing Remarks. A 5-year-old California-bred mare by Vronsky out of the Unusual Heat mare Orange Cove, Closing Remarks rallied for a solid 1 ¾ length tally going a mile and one eighth on turf in the G2 John C. Mabee Stakes on Sept. 9 and prevailed by a neck in the G2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar Aug. 12.

Trained by Carla Gaines and favored in both of her Del Mar wins, Closing Remarks has proven effective rallying from far back, mid-pack and as she demonstrated in the Yellow Ribbon, when she lays close to a legitimate early pace. A three-time graded stakes winner, Closing Remarks has three wins from 14 tries over the Santa Anita lawn and is enjoying her best year ever, winning three out of her seven starts and banking $462,500.

With an overall race record of 22-6-5-4, Closing Remarks has career earnings of $861,320.

THE GRADE 2 RODEO DRIVE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

1. Turnerloose—Antonio Fresu—122
2. Anisette—Umberto Rispoli—122
3. Juncture—Mike Smith—122
4. Closing Remarks—Juan Hernandez—126
5. Stoic Luna—Hector Berrios – 122
6. Didia—Vincent Cheminaud—124
7. Neige Blanche—Diego Herrera—122
8. Symphony Perfect—Abel Cedillo–122

First post time for a 10-race card that will include three other stakes on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

The Rodeo Drive Stakes will be part of the first-ever Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick Six, which will combine three races from Keeneland and three from Santa Anita. The wager has a $1 minimum and a player-friendly 15 percent takeout.

The post Late-Running Anisette Chasing Breeders’ Cup Berth In Saturday’s Rodeo Drive appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Freshened since beaten in his second start, Zedan Racing's Muth is the horse to beat as he stretches out to a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita. Named for the 2015 Triple Crown winner, the American Pharaoh has attracted a field of eight juveniles.

A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race Qualifier, the American Pharoah winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Muth, a $2 million 2-year-old in training sale purchase this past March, was a runaway 8 ¼ length winner of his five furlong maiden debut here on June 18. Subsequently second to his eventual Grade 1 stakes-winning stablemate Prince of Monaco going six furlongs in the G3 Best Pal Stakes Aug. 13, Muth sat out the G1 Del Mar Futurity Sept. 10 and should be extremely tough with leading man Juan Hernandez back aboard on Saturday.

Odds-on in both of his races to date, Muth is out of the Uncle Mo mare Hoppa.

Todd Pletcher will be represented in the American Pharoah by Repole Stable's Be You, a colt by Curlin who ships in from Saratoga Springs. Second, beaten a nose as the 3-2 favorite in his six furlong debut Aug. 5 at Saratoga, Be You checked in fourth, beaten 4 ¼ lengths in the Grade 1, seven-furlong Hopeful at 5-2 on Sept. 4 and will also be two-turning for the first time.

A $320,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Be You is out of the Congrats mare Jacaranda and will be ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli.

A first-out maiden winner going six furlongs on Sept. 2 at Del Mar, Wine Me Up will assume the role of the “other Baffert” for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. A $300,000 March 2-year-old in training purchase, he's one of several that figure to ensure a fast pace on Saturday.

By Vino Rosso out of the Kitten's Joy mare Deanaallen'skitten, Wine Me Up will be ridden for the first time by Ramon Vazquez.

THE GRADE 1 AMERICAN PHAROAH WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 10 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

1. Rothschild – Mike Smith – 122
2. Muth – Juan Hernandez – 122
3. Next Level – Kent Desormeaux – 122
4. Wine Me Up – Ramon Vazquez – 122
5. Raging Torrent – Antonio Fresu – 122
6. Be You – Umberto Rispoli – 122
7. Indispensable – Geovanni Franco – 122
8. El Magnifico – Hector Berrios – 122

First post time for a 10-race card that will include three other stakes on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

The American Pharoah Stakes will be part of the first-ever Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick Six, which will combine three races from Keeneland and three from Santa Anita. The wager has a $1 minimum and a player-friendly 15 percent takeout.

The post Freshened Muth Will Be Horse To Beat In Saturday’s American Pharoah Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Although winless in two starts sprinting, C R K Stable's Gate to Paradise showed marked improvement in her most recent start and her connections are hopeful she'll continue her ascendancy as she stretches out versus nine rival juvenile fillies at a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Chandelier is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race Qualifier, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Gate to Paradise ran into a buzzsaw going seven furlongs in the G1 Del Mar Debutante, as she finished third, beaten nine lengths by what appears to be a superstar in the making, the Richard Mandella-trained Tamara, who will train up to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Although she was well beaten, Gate to Paradise earned a respectable 73 Beyer Speed Figure, 10 points better than her debut third place performance versus eight maiden fillies going 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 13.

By Arrogate out of the More Than Ready mare Heart of Paradise, Gate to Paradise sold for $950,000 at an Ocala, Fla. 2-year-old in training sale this past March. Given her running style and pedigree, Gate to Paradise gives every indication that she should improve around two turns with Kent Desormeaux back aboard.

While Gate to Paradise improved in her second start, Zedan Racing Stables' Dua appeared to regress in the G3 Sorrento Stakes Aug. 12, which followed a promising debut going five furlongs July 22 at Del Mar. Off as the 3-5 favorite first time out, she pressed the pace and prevailed by a half length, earning a 73 Beyer.

Off at 9-5 versus six rivals in the six furlong Sorrento, Dua tired to finish third, beaten 10 ¾ lengths, earning a markedly lower 57 Beyer. Trained by Bob Baffert, Dua, a filly by Arrogate out of the Consolidator mare Attempt to Name, will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Juan Hernandez and could very likely bounce back with a big effort stretching out.

THE GRADE 2 CHANDELIER WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT

1. Chatalas—Antonio Fresu—122
2. Scalable—Mike Smith—122
3. Pacific Rose—Ramon Vazquez—122
4. Pink Whitney—Tiago Pereira—122
5. Autumn Chill—Hector Berrios—122
6. Gate to Paradise—Kent Desormeaux—122
7. Dua—Juan Hernandez—122
8. Laurent—Edwin Maldonado—122
9. Motet—Edgar Payeras—122
10. Next Right Thing—Emily Ellingwood–122

First post time for a 10-race card that includes three other stakes, is at 1 p.m. Admission gates will open at 11 a.m.

The Chandelier Stakes will be part of the first-ever Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick Six, which will combine three races from Keeneland and three from Santa Anita. The wager has a $1 minimum and a player-friendly 15 percent takeout.

The post Sadler-Trained Gate To Paradise Leads Field Of 10 Juvenile Fillies In Chandelier appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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