A field of six line up in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita. (photo credit: santaanita.com)
A field of six line up in Saturday’s $300,000 Rodeo Drive (G1) at Santa Anita with Elysea’s World appearing to have an upset chance in the 1 ¼ mile test on the turf.
The Rodeo Drive is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) which will be run on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
Beau Recall is the 9-5 morning line favorite and is looking to improve off her fourth-place finish in last year’s edition. She is 0 for 3 in her career at 1 ¼ miles.
Elysea’s World (6-1) was sixth in the John C. Mabee (G2) in her last outing at Del Mar, but does have a win at 1 ¼ miles, taking the Santa Ana (G3) over the Santa Anita turf back in March.
The co-feature on the card is the $300,000 Awesome Again (G1), with the winner stamping a fee-expenses paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
The Bob Baffert trained McKinzie is the 4-5 morning line favorite. The colt won the Whitney (G1) in his last outing and is 3-1 early favorite in Breeders’ Cup Classic betting odds at USRacing.
He faces Pacific Classic (G1) winner Higher Power (2-1) and Seeking the Soul (4-1) who faded to finish seventh in the Pacific Classic after earning his trip to the Breeders’ Cup Classic winning the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 15.
Let’s head out to Santa Anita for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Santa Anita Race 9 The Rodeo Drive (G1) Post time 4:41 PT
3 Elysea’s World 6-1
2 Beau Recall 9-5
6 Paved 5-2
5 Excellent Sunset 7-2
Elysea’s World
The Baltas trainee makes her third start of her current form cycle and may appreciate the extra ground here after a sixth last out in the John C. Mabee (G2) at nine furlongs. The mare stalked the early pace and did not have enough punch left late, beaten four lengths for the top spot behind Vasilika. Her last win came over the grass here in the Santa Ana (G3) I March which was at today’s 1 ¼ mile distance. That outing came in her second start for the barn after previously being in the Chad Brown barn where last year she won the Matchmaker (G3) and Violet (G3). She has been facing tougher and this race did not come up very strong for a Grade 1. Decent value if she goes off near her 6-1 morning line.
Beau Recall
This mare is coming off a game nose win in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2) last out at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar. The third-place finisher Vasilika came back to win the Mabee and would have been tough in here but with her trainer Jerry Hollendorfer banned from racing here she is headed to Kentucky. Beau Recall was fourth in the Rodeo Drive last year, beaten 3 ¼ lengths by Vasilika. The Cox trainee is now 0 for 3 at 1 ¼ miles and there is no doubt she is better going shorter. She won the Distaff Turf Mile (G3) three back at Churchill Downs and was a good second in the Just A Game (G1) two back at Belmont Park. While 1 ¼ miles is not her game she does catch a field here she seems capable of beating.
Paved
The Mike McCarthy trainee checked in fourth in the Mabee last out, beaten 2 ¾ lengths for the top spot. She makes her third start off a 6 ½ month layoff after running third in the restricted Osunitas two back off the bench. She won the Honeymoon (G2) here last year at nine furlongs and her career top speed fig came in this race last year where she was the runner up, beaten a half-length. She looks headed in the right direction form wise and if she runs back to her effort here last year that looks good enough to be in the mix.
Wagering:
WIN: Elysea’s World to win at 4-1 or better.
EXACTA: 2,3 / 2,3,6
TRIFECTA: no play
