For the second year in a row, Going To Vegas (Goldencents) led past every pole and proved an easy winner of the GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita, punching her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in Lexington four weeks down the road. Kentucky raider Family Way (Uncle Mo), narrowly second in the wagering ahead of Going To Vegas, ran on late to complete the exacta, while longshot Bellamore (Empire Maker) spiced up the exotics in third. Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}), the 3-2 chalk, could manage only fourth after covering stacks of ground on the bend.
Going To Vegas bounced well from gate three and had some early company in the form of Neige Blanche (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}), but that one backed off a bit and Umberto Rispoli did his best to put Going To Vegas to sleep through an opening couple of furlongs in a moderate :23.82. Ears pricked as they turned up the backstretch, Going To Vegas continued to lob them along, having gotten a nice breather in the middle furlongs, and took the Rodeo Drive field into the second turn after three-quarters in 1:13.42. Rispoli began to up the tempo as they hit the three-eighths, and his mare kicked smartly when asked for her best in upper stretch and proved not for catching.
“We were expecting to go to the lead,” said Rispoli. “We had the same plan and everything worked well. I haven't been on her since last March, but she gave me that same feeling as the last time. At the top of the stretch, she took off. She felt good, was really relaxed and she did everything. She always responds. I think she really loves this track. It's on to Keeneland.”
Going To Vegas was 11th of 12 in last year's Filly & Mare Turf, an 11-furlong race at Del Mar and a distance that was always going to stretch her. Campaigned over more suitable trips this term, the one-time claimer was runner-up in the one-mile GII Buena Vista S. Mar. 5 and again in the GIII Santa Ana S. at this distance three weeks later. Beaten a half-length into second in the GI Gamely S. going nine panels May 30, she was a troubled third when last seen in Del Mar's GII John C. Mabee S. at a mile and an eighth Sept. 10.
Pedigree Notes:
One of two winners from two to race for her dam, Going To Vegas is a half-sister to the 2-year-old filly Brand Loyalty (Grazen). The stakes-winning Hard to Resist foaled a colt by Om (Munnings), then was purchased by Matt Dorman's Determined Stud for $350,000 when offered back in foal to Grazen at last year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The mare produced a colt Feb. 20 of this year and was among the first book sent to Charlatan.
Saturday, Santa Anita
RODEO DRIVE S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 10-8, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/4mT, 1:59.41, fm.
1–GOING TO VEGAS, 122, m, 5, by Goldencents
1st Dam: Hard to Resist (SW, $284,538), by Johannesburg
2nd Dam: Anja, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Knoosh, by Storm Bird
O-Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing & MyRacehorse;
B-J. Kirk & Judy Robison (KY); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Umberto
Rispoli. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 28-8-11-3, $989,151.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Family Way, 124, m, 5, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Susie's Baby, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Mekko Hokte, by Holy Bull
3rd Dam: Aerosilver, by Relaunch
($775,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; €150,000 3yo '20 ARQDEC).
O-Hunter Valley Farm, Marc Detampel & Debra L. O'Connor;
B-Diamond Creek Farm (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $60,000.
3–Bellamore, 122, f, 4, by Empire Maker
1st Dam: Smart N Soft, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Softly, by Binalong
3rd Dam: Coragil, by Metfield
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($170,000 Ylg
'19 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Kaleem Shah, Inc.;
B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (KY); T-Simon Callaghan.
$36,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 2.60, 2.50, 34.00.
Also Ran: Fluffy Socks, Scarabea, Queen Ofthe Temple, Neige Blanche (Fr).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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