Maxim Rate gets perfect trip to win Goldikova Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Umberto Rispoli won his fifth and final stakes of the Santa Anita autumn meeting in Sunday’s Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes, a victory that developed like a well-choreographed football play.

Rispoli positioned Maxim Rate in a stalking position in the first half of the $201,000 Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. Maxim Rate was third on the turn and took the lead with a wide move in early stretch before drawing away to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Rispoli is unbeaten in three starts on Maxim Rate and knew the filly’s ability from a stalking position.

“Everything went perfect for me when I swung out in the stretch,” Rispoli said. “She won with something left.”

Maxim Rate ($6.80) was timed in 1:33.85, winning the most prestigious race of her career in her 13th start. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91. The Goldikova Stakes, the top race on the final day of the Santa Anita autumn meeting, was a prep for the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares Nov. 29 at Del Mar.

Raymundos Secret, the even-money favorite, set the pace in the Goldikova – 22.79 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.20 for a half-mile. Maxim Rate was within two lengths of Raymundos Secret midway through the race and a length behind the leader with a quarter-mile remaining.

Raymundos Secret, winner of the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes on Sept. 5 at Del Mar, could not sustain the effort and faded from contention in the final furlong.

Zee Drop, a 21-1 outsider who was fourth in the Mabee, closed from sixth in a field of seven to finish second, a length in front of 6-1 Tonahatu. Raymundos Secret finished fourth, followed by Silberpfeil, Atomic Blonde, and Hang a Star.

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Maxim Rate, trained by Simon Callaghan for Slam Dunk Racing and James Branham, has won 5 of 13 starts and earned $402,185. A 4-year-old filly by Exchange Rate, Maxim Rate won the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at a mile on turf in May 2019.

Earlier this year, Maxim Rate won the CTT and TOC Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 16 at Del Mar and was second to Mucho Unusual in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf here Sept. 26.

Rispoli rode Maxim Rate to a win in an optional claimer on turf at Del Mar in July and the CTT and TOC Stakes. Luis Saez rode Maxim Rate in the Rodeo Drive.

One Bad Boy leads all the way in Lure

One Bad Boy, best known for winning the 2019 Queen’s Plate at Woodbine, won his first stakes in the United States in Sunday’s $71,500 Lure.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, One Bad Boy ($3.20) led throughout the Lure Stakes, winning by three-quarters of a length over 5-1 Majestic Eagle.

The Lure was restricted to horses that had not won a first-place purse of $55,000 or more at a mile or farther this year, with the exception of statebred races.

One Bad Boy was timed in 1:33.27, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

Gregorian Chant (6-1) finished third, followed by Murad Khan and The Black Album in the small field. Grecian Fire was withdrawn on Sunday morning.

One Bad Boy has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $559,632 for owners Sayjay Racing, Brooke Hubbard, and Greg Hall and trainer Richard Baltas. The Lure Stakes was One Bad Boy’s second start of 2020. A 4-year-old ridgling by Twirling Candy, One Bad Boy was a troubled fourth in an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar in August after a troubled start.