Sans Vasilika, Half-Dozen Try to Navigate Rodeo Drive

[Wandering Eyes]

There has been a mighty shadow over the California filly and mare turf ranks for the past year in former claim Vasilika (Skipshot), the win machine who has picked off a remarkable eight graded stakes victories in SoCal since annexing last September’s GII John C. Mabee S. at Del Mar. But the chestnut will vacate her comfort zone for a shot at Keeneland’s GI First Lady S. next weekend, leaving a half-dozen combatants in Saturday’s GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita, a “Win and You’re In” spot for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Favored on the morning line is Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}). Unable to challenge Vasilika last fall, the 5-year-old has found new life since switching to the Brad Cox barn, running first or second in all six starts for the Kentucky-based outfit. Following up a pair of listed stakes wins at Fair Grounds, Beau Recall pulled off a 10-1 upset in the GII Distaff Turf Mile S. May 4 at Churchill and impressed again with a sharp second in the GI Just A Game S. June 8 at Belmont. Last time out Aug. 3, she got her belated revenge on Vasilika, surging in the dying strides to best that foe and four others in the GII Yellow Ribbon H. at Del Mar.

Paved (Quality Road) is the second choice and will try to break a losing streak that goes back to last summer. Capturing three of her first six starts, including the GII Honeymoon S. here last spring, the dark bay was runner-up, beaten just a half-length by Vasilika, in this event last fall. She’s cracked the trifecta just once in four subsequent starts, however, and comes in off a fourth-place run in the Mabee Aug. 31 at Del Mar.

Multiple graded stakes winner Elysea’s World (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) looks to recapture her top form. Victorious in the GIII Suwanee River S., GIII Matchmaker S. and GIII Violet S. last year, she added the GIII Santa Ana S. second time out this year, but has been off the board in her last three, most recently running sixth in the Mabee.

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