Thought Process runs away with Rodeo Drive Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Allowed to set her own pace, Thought Process was impossible to catch in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday in a prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Sent off favored, Thought Process ($3.60) was never bothered by 10 rivals and won by 4 1/4 lengths for her sixth win in 12 starts. Thought Process is undefeated in five starts on turf at Santa Anita.

“She controlled the pace. I saw the fractions and I thought” it was ideal, trainer Phil D’Amato said. “She loves this turf course.

“All of those things combined helped to get us a nice win.”

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Thought Process ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 1:58.47 in the longest race of her career.

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Berrios had Thought Process in front shortly after the start and led by at least a length through early fractions of 24.51 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.33 for a half-mile.

Thought Process won comfortably over 5-1 Vronti, who closed on the inside through the stretch. Resolve, the 64-1 longest shot in the field, rallied to finish third, 4 3/4 lengths behind Thought Process.

Resolve was “third-best,” trainer Leonard Powell. “We kicked, but not as fast as the winner.”

Totally Justified finished fourth, followed by Kentucky Gal, Public Assembly, May Day Ready, The Mizen Queen, Victorious Dream, Dona Clota and Hey Jessie.

Thought Process, a 4-year-old filly by Collected, earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Filly and Mare Turf with Saturday’s win.

The $203,000 Rodeo Drive was the third stakes win of the year on turf at Santa Anita for Thought Process, who won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile in February and the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in May.

Thought Process was second by a length to Medoro as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 7. The Gamely and Mabee Stakes were the longest races for Thought Process prior to the Rodeo Drive.

“Added ground with the right scenario was not an issue,” D’Amato said on Saturday.

Owned by the Little Red Feather Racing partnership, the family of the late Brereton Jones and Madaket Stable, Thought Process has earned $910,200.

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