Rodeo Drive Stakes 2013 Contenders at Santa Anita Park

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes goes down this Saturday, September 28 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race will feature fillies and mares three years old and upward willing to go 1 1/4 miles on Santa Anita's turf track as they chase the winner's portion of the $250,000 purse.

A field of seven older females will take part in the Rodeo Drive Stakes - race 6 on Santa Anita's Saturday card. Post time is 3:34 PM. Let's take a look at the credentials of all seven combatants for this Grade 1 stakes. The Rodeo Drive serves as a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

2013 Rodeo Drive Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Marketing Mix - has won five of her last eight starts overall but is coming off her worst performance since May 2012 - a fourth as even money favorite in the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes after a win in the Grade 3 Sunset Handicap, a win over Tiz Flirtatious and Lady of Shamrock in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes May 27, a good second in her last race of 2012 - the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, an easy win in the 2012 Rodeo Drive Stakes and a second in the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington August 18. She has been worse than second just twice in her last 14 starts and is arguably the most consistent of the Rodeo Drive entries. Marketing Mix is the defending champ and will break from the far outside post with the legendary Gary Stevens in the saddle.

Tiz Flirtatious - Tiz Flirtatious has been terrific in her career with seven wins, three seconds and a third place finish in 11 career starts. She is coming off a great win in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes August 11 after a second in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes behind multiple Grade 1 winner Marketing Mix after leading at Hollywood Park May 27. Before that second was a win in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes over Lady of Shamrock, a win in the minor Valentine Dancer Stakes January 23 and a pair of seconds in graded stakes races - the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel in December and the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes in November. Tiz Flirtatious has been at or near the top in every career start, has never been worse than second in seven starts on grass and should be in the mix Saturday despite trying this distance for the first time. Julien Leparoux gets the mount from post 3.

Rodeo Drive Stakes 2013 | Remaining Contenders

Lady of Shamrock - is a five time stakes winner (two Grade 1 scores) coming off a pair of seconds - last time out in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee to Tiz Flirtatious and in the Grade 2 New York Stakes to Starformer June 29 at Belmont Park after third in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park May 27, a win via disqualification in the Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap and a second as even money favorite in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes March 24 behind Tiz Flirtatious. Before that was her worst career performance - a fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November. She has placed in all five starts in 2013 - a win, three seconds and a third place finish and has proven not to be scared about saddling up with the best in the land. She is close to regaining the form we saw at this time last year - a win this weekend would go a long way in helping her to that end. Garrett Gomez rides Lady of Shamrock for the first time Saturday as she tries to improve upon her 4-for-6 mark with a second place finish on Santa Anita turf.

Rodeo Drive Stakes betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

My Gi Gi - won her first graded stakes June 9 2012 - the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap over Lady of Shamrock and Stormy Lucy to follow an OK second in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes on May 5. She had an OK fourth in the Del Mar Oaks last August and followed that with a fifth in the 2012 Rodeo Drive Stakes in September. She finished another ho-hum fifth in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes in her first start of this year and since has recorded three straight thirds ahead of this weekend - the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon last time out, in the Grade 2 John C Mabee Stakes August 11 and in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Mile at Hollywood Park July 6. She has been knocking on the door lately and hopes to break through Saturday. Rafael Bejarano gets the mount from post 4 Saturday.

Topic - Neil Drysdale trained filly has eight career starts with two wins, a second and two third place finishes. She stepped into stakes company for the first time July 13 and finished a very respectable third in the Grade 1 American Oaks and followed that with a win last time out in the CTT and Thoroughbred Owners of California Handicap August 23. After six MSW she finally broke maiden at Hollywood Park June 13 by 2 1/4 lengths. She breaks from the rail with Joe Talamo in the saddle.

Starstruck - Larry Jones trained filly has seven starts in her native Ireland with a win, a second and a third place finish before debuting with an Allowance score in May, a second in an Allowance May 19, a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming in June and her best ever result - a terrific win in the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes last time out July 28 at Monmouth Park. Rosie Napravnik will be in the reigns from post 5.

Vionnet - Richard Mandella trainee has just two starts this year after a nine month layoff - both Allowance Optional Claiming races at Del Mar. Last time out was a win August 30 after a sixth in her return July 18. She had a couple of second place finishes in minor stakes action before the layoff and was eighth in her only graded stakes action - the Grade 3 Autumn Miss in October. Vionnet has three wins and two seconds in nine career starts.