Maxim Rate Upsets Gamely

ARCADIA, CA – Ignored at 13/1 odds come post time, trainer Simon Callaghan’s multiple graded stakes-winning mare Maxim Rate stalked and rallied to win Monday’s $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Maxim Rate and jockey Juan Hernandez broke from post 7 and settled into a stalking position in fourth, two-wide outside of Going to Vegas, while the 4/5 favorite Charmaine’s Mia shot out to an early lead.

Tipped out to run three-wide at the top of the stretch, Maxim Rate collared a weakening Charmaine’s Mia at the 1/16 pole, then dug in to keep La Sigare at bay late.

Maxim Rate crossed the wire a 1/2-length clear, stopping the clock for the 1 1/8-mile fast turf route in 1:46.61.

“She broke out of there, really clean break, and she relaxed really well for me,” Hernandez said. “She’s a very classy filly, you can do whatever you want with her. I had a really good trip all the race and just waited for the 1/4 pole to start working on her, and when I asked her to go, she took off. She’s a very nice filly.”

La Signare rallied to take second by a 1/2-length over Bodhicitta, herself a neck in front of defending race champion Keeper Ofthe Stars.

Going to Vegas, Charmaine’s Mia, and Red Lark completed the order of finish. Raymundos Secret and Stela Star scratched.

Maxim Rate’s win was her third at the graded stakes level following the 2019 Senorita (G3) and the 2020 Goldikova (G2). The 5-year-old Exchange Rate mare’s record now stands at 16-6-3-0 with $597,185 earned.

“We knew she was training really well coming into this race,” Callaghan said. “We felt that the setup will be perfect. A mile and 1/8 back here in California I think is totally her game. We had some speed to run at and it actually turned out exactly how we wrote up the race.”

Maxim Rate returned $29.80 to win, $12 to place, and $7.40 to show. La Signare brought back $6 to place and $4.20 to show. Bodhicitta paid $8 to show.