Race is a Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” qualifier to BC Filly & Mare Turf
ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2021)–In a thrilling stretch duel, the Richard Baltas-trained Going to Vegas held off an upstart Luck by a head to win Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Going to Vegas led gate to wire and got a mile and one quarter on turf in 1:58.84.
A Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race qualifier, the Rodeo Drive winner earns a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6.
Never challenged early through splits of 24.35, 48.72, 1:13.49 and 1:36.35, Going to Vegas kicked into high gear upon Rispoli’s cue turning for home and marched to her third consecutive win.
A handy winner of the Grade II John C. Mabee Stakes Sept. 4, Going to Vegas was off as the even money favorite and paid $4.20, $2.60 and $2.20.
Owned by Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing and MyRacehorse, Going to Vegas, 4-year-old filly by Goldencents out of the Johannesburg mare Hard to Resist, notched her third graded stakes victory and picked up $180,000 for her efforts, increasing her earnings to $634,151.
Luck, who came off a huge allowance win in his debut with Rispoli on Aug. 7 at Del Mar, was the second choice at 2-1 and paid $3.20 and $2.
Dogtag, attentive to the early pace, kept to his task and finished third, 3 ½ lengths in front of Neige Blanche and paid $2.60 to show with Joe Bravo up.
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Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: Going to Vegas, (Benoit)
