Rodeo Drive Preview: Bodhicitta Looks for Two in a Row

ARCADIA, CA – After an impressive victory in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, Bodhicitta will look for back-to-back graded stakes scores in this Saturday’s $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

The winner of the Rodeo Drive will receive an automatic position in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1) this fall at Keeneland. Pre-entry and entry fees will be paid and a nominator award of $10,000 will be given to the nominating person. Also, all Breeders’ Cup starters based outside of the state of Kentucky will receive a travel allowance of $10,000 if based in North America and $40,000 if based Internationally.

The Rodeo Drive is a 1 1/4-mile turf route restricted to fillies and mares ages 3 and up that attracted 7 for the 2020 edition.

Let’s look at the full field:

#1 Tonahutu – This 6-year-old mare comes into this race hot, winning 2 of her last 4 starts and finishing second in both defeats. She lost the Yellow Ribbon by a nose to fellow rival Bodhicitta but followed that up with an optional claiming triumph at Del Mar last time out.

#2 Maxim Rate – After 2 straight wins at Del Mar this summer (including the CTT and TOC Stakes by a neck last time out), she jumps back into graded stakes company. Those types of victories and getting Luis Saez aboard give major boosts to her chances.

#3 Bodhicitta – She has been tremendous this year, winning 3 of 4 starts including the Yellow Ribbon. Earlier this year, she captured 2 optional claiming victories over this course and finished a close second in the Gamely Stakes (G1). She is the class of this race.

#4 Mucho Unusual – The lone California-bred in the field came close in several of her most recent tries. She made a name for herself when she won the San Clemente Stakes (G2) in July 2019 and has narrowly missed multiple times since. Her consistency always makes her a player in these types of races.

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#5 Pretty Point – She will try to rebound from a poor effort last time out in the CTT and TOC, where she finished seventh. She won an optional claiming race over that track 1 race prior, though, and she also finished third in the American Oaks (G1) in 2019 over this course.

#6 Lady Prancealot – One of the most consistent horses in the race, she’s hit the board in 13 of 21 career starts but has struggled much of this year. She ran the race of her last time out to finish second in the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. That effort could mean that she’s rounding into solid form at the perfect time.

#7 Catch the Eye – She seems to do her best running at Santa Anita Park, where she’s earned both of her career wins. She defeated optional claiming company here in June but failed to win any of her 3 next starts at Del Mar. Her last race was solid, though, as she finished third in the John C. Mabee.

The Rodeo Drive serves as race 7 and is one of seven stakes on the Saturday card at Santa Anita Park. The American-based Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” events continue Sunday at Santa Anita Park with the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (Sprint) and the Zenyatta (Longines Distaff).

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is presented by America’s Best Racing.