Smith pilots Mirth to front-running victory in Rodeo Drive

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mirth was the last runner to join the field for Saturday’s Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita when entries were taken on Wednesday and the first past the finish line in the $300,351 turf race.

“Credit goes to the racing office,” said winning trainer Phil D’Amato. “I was the last one in.”

D’Amato said he was contacted by racing officials on Wednesday to alert him the race had a small field. With the addition of Mirth, the Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles drew a field of six.

The win gave Mirth an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf over the same course and distance here on Nov. 2.

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Mirth essentially stole the race. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Mirth took the lead shortly after the start and led throughout. She led by 2 1/2 lengths through the first half-mile.

“I thought the way it set up I could get away with something,” Smith said. “I wanted to stretch the race a little early to take away their explosive kicks.”

The trailing fillies and mares did close ground on Mirth in the stretch, but their rallies were not enough. Mirth ($14.20) won by 1 1/4 lengths over 6-5 favorite Beau Recall, who was ridden by Drayden Van Dyke.

“He had everything his own way,” Van Dyke said of Smith.

Mirth was timed in 1:58.47 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94. Beau Recall closed from fifth and was third in the stretch.

“My main concern was to get a clean run,” Van Dyke said. “She put in a nice run. I think she was second-best.”

Elysea’s World, who was second on the turn and in early stretch, was caught by Beau Recall in the final strides and held third, a neck behind the runner-up. Siberian Iris was fourth, followed by Excellent Sunset and Paved.

Mirth had her graded stakes debut in the Rodeo Drive. A 4-year-old filly by Colonel John, Mirth was second by a neck in the Possibly Perfect Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf here in June and fifth in the minor CTT and TOC Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 16.

Owned by the Little Red Feather Racing partnership, Mirth has won five of 16 starts and earned $315,563.

Mirth gave D’Amato his third graded stakes win in the first two days of the Santa Anita autumn meeting. He won Friday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes for turf sprinters with Pee Wee Reese and Saturday’s Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship with Cleopatra’s Strike.