D'Amato has Turnerloose, Macadamia for Rodeo Drive Stakes
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Phil D’Amato, the leading trainer at the Del Mar summer meeting that ended last weekend, is planning to have at least two runners in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 7.
D’Amato said earlier this week that he plans to run Turnerloose, who was second in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 9, and Macadamia, who has not raced since a win in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on May 29.
The $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes is run at 1 1/4 miles. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
Turnerloose was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Closing Remarks in the Rodeo Drive after setting the pace. Owned by the partnership of Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and Ike and Dawn Thrash, Turnerloose was a two-time stakes winner for trainer Brad Cox in 2021 and 2022.
Turnerloose began racing for D’Amato earlier this year.
“I think we’ll try to take a big swing in the Rodeo Drive,” D’Amato said. “I think the longer the better for that filly. She’s a long-striding filly with plenty of stamina.”
Macadamia has largely had a steady pattern of workouts since mid-June, but did not race at Del Mar’s summer meeting. She has won 5 of 13 stats racing in Brazil and California.
D’Amato plans to start Zona Verde in the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf on Oct. 8 after her win in a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 8 in her American debut.
Conclude, winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3, could run in the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes at a mile on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 28 or the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
“It’s a mile versus a mile and an eighth,” D’Amato said. “Both are good spots.”
The undefeated sprinter Bolden may be retired after he was pulled up following an impressive win in a come-from-behind style in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Sunday.
Bolden, a California-bred by Square Eddie, was vanned off and is undergoing assessments regarding a potential return from an injury D’Amato did not disclose.
“He’s doing fine,” he said. “He did come up with an issue after the race. We’re trying to decide whether to give him more time for the issue or possibly make him a stallion somewhere.
“We’ll see which path to take. He’s ultra-talented on dirt and grass. He’s faster than 99.9 percent of your racehorses.”
Owned by Rockingham Ranch, Bolden, 5, has won four starts, including a maiden race for statebreds at five furlongs in 2020 when trained by Peter Miller, and two starts in allowance races at six furlongs for D’Amato in May and June of 2022.
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