Marketing Mix, coming off a tough loss in the Beverly D Stakes (gr. IT) last month, takes on 12 Southern California-based fillies and mares in the $250,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park Sept. 29.
Trained by Tom Proctor for Glen Hill Farm, Marketing Mix charged from sixth in the stretch after swinging five wide for the drive to miss by a head while second to I'm A Dreamer in the 1 3/16-mile of the Beverly D. at Arlington Park Aug. 18. She will have a little more ground to deal with in the Rodeo Drive, which is contested at 10 furlongs.
The Rodeo Drive, named for the swank retail district in Beverly Hills, replaces the Yellow Ribbon on the Santa Anita calendar this year. The Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" event qualifies the winner for an expense-paid berth for the Cup's Filly & Mare Turf (gr. I) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
Following the Beverly D, Marketing Mix, a 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro , was moved to Southern California to prepare for the Rodeo Drive. Garrett Gomez takes the mount, replacing Julien Leparoux. Previously racing at Woodbine, the consistent Ontario-bred filly has won three of her other four starts this year, including Woodbine's Nassau (Can-IIT) and Dance Smartly (Can-IIT) stakes.
Marketing Mix, who has banked more than $1.1 million in her career while winning seven of 14 starts with four placings, drew post 11 in the bulky field and will shoulder co-top weight of 121 pounds.
Proctor also entered Vivo Per Lei and Left a Message in the Rodeo Drive.
City to City, also in at 121, comes off a runner-up finish in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap. The race was run for the first time at Del Mar this summer as a grade II event. (It was contested since 1977 at Santa Anita as part of the Oak Tree Racing Association's annual autumn meet.) City to City closed with interest to finish second behind stablemate Halo Dolly, who is skipping the Rodeo Drive in favor of the Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) at Belmont Park on the same day.
Jerry Hollendorfer trains and co-owns City to City along with Will DeBurgh and Dr. Mark Dedomenico. Prior to the Yellow Ribbon, City to City won the John C. Mabee Stakes (gr. IIT) by a nose at Del Mar.
Most effective when she is able to run down fast fractions from well off the pace, City to City should appreciate the added distance of the Rodeo Drive, although she has been off the board in two lifetime tries at 1 1/4 miles.
Also coming out of the Yellow Ribbon are Vivo Per Lei, who was third in her first start for Proctor after shipping from the East Coast for owner Eurowest Bloodstock. Others coming out of the Yellow Ribbon are Go Forth North, who was fourth, and fifth-place Camelia Rose.
$250,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. I, Race 9, 5:08 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/4 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Go Forth North (KY), D R Flores, 119, A C Avila
2. Let's Go Cheyenne (KY), R Bejarano, 119, V Cerin
3. Stormy Lucy (KY), M A Pedroza, 116, F Lucarelli
4. Left a Message (KY), B Blanc, 116, T F Proctor
5. My Gi Gi (KY), V Espinoza, 116, P Eurton
6. Cambina (IRE), M Garcia, 119, J Bonde
7. Camelia Rose (FR), M Gutierrez, 119, S Callaghan
8. Thisismystage (KY), E A Maldonado, 119, C Dollase
9. Vivo Per Lei (KY), A Quinonez, 119, T F Proctor
10. I Dazzle (LA), P A Valenzuela, 119, J C Van Berg
11. Marketing Mix (ON), G K Gomez, 121, T F Proctor
12. City to City (KY), J Talamo, 121, J Hollendorfer
13. Nereid (KY), R Napravnik, 119, J A Shirreffs
Blinkers Off: Nereid
Marketing Mix' wins this year include the Nassau at Woodbine.
Michael Burns