Hang the Moon registers another upset in Rodeo Drive
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ARCADIA, Calif. – For some bettors, ignoring Hang the Moon in major stakes in Southern California has been an expensive habit of late.
For others, it has been quite lucrative.
Hang the Moon won the first stakes of her career in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 7 at 20-1. On Saturday, Hang the Moon won the longest race of her career in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita at 9-1.
The win gave Hang the Moon a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 2. Considering that race will have a field of national and internationally prominent runners, Hang the Moon will be a longshot next month, if she starts.
In an eventful Rodeo Drive Stakes, Hang the Moon won by 1 1/2 lengths over 3-1 Aspen Grove. Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, who was aboard for the win in the Mabee, Hang the Moon ($21.80) was timed in 1:58.58 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
Hang the Moon closed from last of seven to win the Mabee and Kimura opted for similar tactics in the longer Rodeo Drive.
“I didn’t want to change her strategy,” Kimura said. “I thought she was in a good position and a good rhythm.”
While Hang the Moon was at the rear of the field early, there was plenty of action near the front. Iscreamuscream, the 3-2 favorite, set the early pace, but lugged out sharply on the first turn, carrying out Be Your Best.
The incident left Lucky Girl on the lead as the field entered the backstretch. Lucky Girl was clear by three lengths through six furlongs in 1:11.16 and by 2 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining.
Lucky Girl was unable to sustain her advantage. She led entering the stretch, but Hang the Moon was in full stride at that point and had a narrow lead with a furlong left.
“I picked it up at the three-eighths pole,” Kimura said.
Aspen Grove, best known for winning the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks in the summer of 2023, closed well on the inside.
“We were second best,” trainer Jack Sisterson said. “I think we had a good trip.”
Beach Bomb (14-1) closed from fifth to finish third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths. Iscreamuscream recovered from the incident on the first turn to be in contention in early stretch, but faded to finish fourth and was followed by Sunset Glory, Be Your Best, and Lucky Girl.
Iscreamuscream, the only 3-year-old filly in the Rodeo Drive, was beaten for the first time in her fifth start. She won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles in August for trainer Phil D’Amato.
Hang the Moon, a 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, races for CJ Thoroughbreds and D’Amato. She has won 5 of 12 starts and earned $427,913.
D’Amato and Kimura won their second stakes of the day in the Rodeo Drive. The D’Amato-trained One Magic Philly won the race prior to the Rodeo Drive, the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes. Kimura won the Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters on Pali Kitten earlier in the afternoon.
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