Marketing Mix much the best in Rodeo Drive Stakes

Marketing Mix, sent off at even-money odds, lived up to expectations in the $250,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. I) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park, drawing off at the top of the stretch to win the ten-furlong turf race by an easy 2 1/4 lengths.

With jockey Garrett Gomez aboard, Marketing Mix was content to settle into the fifth position early on as Vivo Per Lei and Let's Go Cheyenne dueled through blazing fractions of :23.69. :45.78, and 1:09.62 seconds while leading the remainder of the field by as many as ten lengths. Camelia Rose and Thisismystage were the leaders of the second-tier group, followed by Marketing Mix, Left a Message, City to City, Stormy Lucy, Nereid, Go Forth North, I Dazzle, My Gi Gi, and Cambina.

Rounding the final turn, Vivo Per Lei and Let's Go Cheyenne began to tire, and Marketing Mix was the first to take advantage. With a bold three-wide run, she seized command of the lead and quickly opened up a 2 1/2 length lead. Nereid put in a decent run to mildly challenge, but Marketing Mix had plenty left in the tank to hold on for a convincing victory in the sharp time of 1:59.20 seconds.

Stormy Lucy rallied to catch Camelia Rose for the third spot, while My Gi Gi, I Dazzle, Go Forth North, Let's Go Cheyenne, Left a Message, City to City, Thisimystage, Vivo Per Lei, and Cambina completed the order of finish.

The winner is a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of Instant Thought, by Kris S.. She is owned by Glen Hill Farm and trained by Thomas Proctor.

-Keelerman

Rodeo Drive Stakes Entries: 13 looking for Breeders' Cup berth

A huge total of thirteen fillies and mares have been entered in the $250,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. I), which will be held on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The ten-furlong turf race, which is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. I), appears to be a wide-open race without any clear-cut favorite. Marketing Mix, beaten a head in the Beverly D. Stakes (gr. I) last time out, may go off as the favorite. Other logical contenders include John C. Mabee Stakes (gr. II) winner City to City and Del Mar Oaks (gr. I) runner-up Stormy Lucy.

Post Positions

PP	Horse	Weight	Jockey	Trainer
1	Go Forth North	119	David Flores	A. C. Avila
2	Let's Go Cheyenne	119	Rafael Bejarano	Vladimir Cerin
3	Stormy Lucy	116	Martin Pedroza	Frank Lucarelli
4	Left a Message	116	Brice Blanc	Thomas Proctor
5	My Gi Gi	116	Victor Espinoza	Peter Eurton
6	Cambina	119	Martin Garcia	Jeff Bonde
7	Camelia Rose	119	Mario Gutierrez	Steve Callaghan
8	Thisismystage	119	Edwin Maldonado	Craig Dollase
9	Vivo Per Lei	119	Alonso Quinonez	Thomas Proctor
10	I Dazzle	119	Patrick Valenzuela	Jack Van Berg
11	Marketing Mix	121	Garrett Gomez	Thomas Proctor
12	City to City	121	Joe Talamo	Jerry Hollendorfer
13	Nereid	119	Rosie Napravnik	John Shirreffs

-Keelerman

HALO DOLLY WINS THE YELLOW RIBBON HANDICAP!

Halo Dolly stamped herself as a filly to watch last Monday when she rallied to victory over a strong field in the $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar.

Ridden to victory by Joseph Talamo, Halo Dolly was a bit slow to get going, but recovered well enough to settle into sixth place early on as Broken Dreams and Cosset led the way through fairly quick fractions of :23.63, :46.75, and 1:10.27. Vivo Per Lei and Camelia Rose were next in line, with Byrony, Halo Dolly, Go Forth North, and City to City trailing the field.

Entering the final quarter of a mile, Halo Dolly began to advance on the outside, taking over the lead just inside the eighth pole. City to City put in an exceptional late run and appeared to have a chance at catching the leader, but Halo Dolly had enough left in the tank to hang on for a 1 1/4-length victory in the good time of 1:40.52 seconds.

Vivo Per Lei stayed on well for third, while Go Forth North, Camelia Rose, Byrony, Cosset, and Broken Dreams completed the order of finish. The winner is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

-Keelerman

Yellow Ribbon Handicap Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. II), to be run on Monday at Del Mar. The 1 1/16th miles turf race has drawn an intriguing and evenly-matched field of nine, including John C. Mabee Stakes (gr. II) winner City to City and Las Palmas Stakes (gr. II) winner All Star Heart.

1 Vivo Per Lei
2 Cosset
3 City to City
4 Camelia Rose
5 Broken Dreams
6 Byrony
7 Halo Dolly
8 Go Forth North
9 All Star Heart

-Keelerman