Keeneland Select Pick of the Day | October 2, 2021

Race 9 at Santa Anita | Saturday October 2 | Post Time 7:30 PM Eastern

Rodeo Drive Stakes – Grade 1 | Purse $300,000 | One and One Quarter Miles on Turf | Fillies and Mares, Three Years Old and Upward

Luck (8) was absolutely scintillating in her U.S. debut on August 7, whooshing by the field in a blink of an eye right after the eighth pole (an eighth of a mile to go) as she went from fourth and three lengths back to win by two and one-half. Better still, jockey Umberto Rispoli (who was up that day) NEVER moved his hands off the reins so the filly did it completely on her own. Flattered when the runner-up came back to win, this filly who won at one and three-sixteenths miles in France should have no problem at this 10 furlong trip and she should definitely improve in her second start after three months off and second in the U.S.. Rispoli gets off to ride trainer Richard Baltas’ other starter, Going to Vegas (4), and Flavien Prat gets off Going to Vegas, who just won the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes, to ride Luck. Prat choosing to ride this filly speaks volumes for how good she may be and to add a little more as to why I like her chances so much, she’s a Kentucky bred by Kitten’s Joy (sire of a slew of stakes winners on turf) out of the Caerleon mare Gold Round, who is a half-sister to champion turf superstar Goldikova.

Dogtag (1) is saddled by Richard Mandella but is owned by LNJ Foxwoods, the owners of Luck and gives this uncouple entry a huge shot to run first and second in this race. Dogtag has been first or second in nine of 14 career races and perhaps more importantly all five of her races on the Santa Anita turf as well as both races she’s ever run at this mile and one-quarter distance. She was second to Going to Vegas in the John C. Mabee Stakes last month at nine furlongs and she was second to Rideforthecause (5) two races before that in the Possibly Perfect Stakes at this 10 furlong trip, but she won last year’s Possibly Perfect and one race before last she was second to streaking Princess Grace in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar. As such, it’s extremely probable Dogtag will complete the exacta at the least in this event.

There’s no real knocks on most of the other nine, including the aforementioned Going to Vegas or Rideforthecause. Magic Attitude (7) won the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational at this distance in her U.S. debut last September and although she’s only won one of five since can’t be ruled out. A longshot to consider is Fast Jet Court (2), who was making her U.S. debut one month ago in the John C. Mabee and was only beaten a neck for third.

Win bets:

Luck (8) to win at odds of 3 to 2 or more.

Exactas:

Box Luck (8), Dogtag (1) and Going to Vegas (4)

Box Luck (8), Dogtag (1) and Fast Jet Court (2)

Box Luck (8), Dogtag (1) and Rideforthecause (5)

Box Luck (8), Dogtag (1) and Magic Attitude (7)