Thought Process Leads Competitive Field in Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita
The Road to Glory: A Fierce Battle for Breeders' Cup Berth at Santa Anita
Thought Process Aims for Redemption in Prestigious Turf Race
Following a narrow second-place finish as the favored horse in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes last month, the Grade 1 champion, Thought Process, is geared up to reclaim her winning form this Saturday. She will face off against ten formidable fillies and mares in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes, a demanding turf challenge spanning 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita. The victor of this high-stakes race will earn an automatic, all-expenses-paid entry into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland.
Trainer Phil D'Amato's Strategy for Thought Process
Trained by Phil D'Amato, Thought Process narrowly missed victory, being defeated by a single length at 3-5 odds in the Mabee Stakes, contested over 1 1/8 miles on turf on September 7. Earlier in May at Santa Anita, the four-year-old filly, sired by Collected, demonstrated her prowess by securing a Grade 1 win in the Gamely Stakes over the identical distance. Thought Process boasts an impressive career record of 7 wins, 1 second, and 2 third-place finishes from 11 starts, accumulating total earnings of $730,200 for her owners: Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing, and Madaket Stables. Hector Berrios, her regular jockey, will once again be in the saddle.
Challengers from Beyond: Out-of-State Invaders Join the Fray
The Rodeo Drive field is further enriched by several highly competitive entrants from outside California, each determined to secure a Breeders' Cup spot. These include Vronti, trained by Graham Motion, and Dona Clota, under the guidance of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Vronti's Bid for a Breakthrough Victory
Vronti has made two previous journeys to the West Coast this year under Motion's tutelage. Her most recent outing in August saw her clinch the listed CTT and TOC Stakes at Del Mar as the favorite, competing over 1 3/8 miles on turf. She also participated in the Gamely Stakes earlier this spring, finishing a non-threatening fifth. This daughter of Night of Thunder, bred in England where she commenced her racing career with four starts last year as a three-year-old, is owned by Andrew Stone. Juan Hernandez has been assigned to ride her.
Dona Clota: A South American Star on the American Stage
Dona Clota, owned by Resolute Racing, is a Grade 3 winner whose last start resulted in a fifth-place finish in the Ladies Marathon (G3) at Kentucky Downs, contested over 1 5/16 miles on September 6. Bred in Chile, where she achieved Group 1 success, this five-year-old mare by Ivan Denisovich holds an overall record of 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 3 thirds from 19 starts, with total earnings of $336,777. Micah Husbands will be her jockey for the Rodeo Drive Stakes.
Detailed Entrant Information for the 2026 Rodeo Drive Stakes G2
The lineup for the 2026 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2) features an array of talented horses and their connections. Notable entries include Thought Process (No. 1), ridden by Hector I. Berrios and trained by Philip D'Amato, with a last start of 2nd in the 2026 John C. Mabee Stakes G2. Resolve (No. 2), under Armando Ayuso for Leonard Powell, placed 4th in the 2026 CTT and TOC Stakes. Dona Clota (No. 3), with Micah Husbands and trainer Saffie A. Joseph, Jr., comes off a 5th place in the 2026 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon G3. Totally Justified (No. 4), ridden by Joseph C. Bealmear for Anna Meah, secured 1st place in the 2026 Ellis Park Turf. Public Assembly (No. 5), with Julien R. Leparoux and Philip D'Amato, was 6th in the 2026 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon G3. Kentucky Gal (No. 6), paired with Joel Rosario and Philip D'Amato, finished 3rd in the 2026 CTT and TOC Stakes. Hey Jessie (No. 7), ridden by Emisael Jaramillo for Sean McCarthy, was 3rd in the 2026 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon G3. Victorious Dream (No. 8), with Ricardo Gonzalez for Michael W. McCarthy, placed 7th in the 2026 Del Mar Oaks G1. May Day Ready (No. 9), guided by Kazushi Kimura for Richard E. Mandella, claimed 1st in the 2026 One Dreamer. The Mizen Queen (No. 10), with Kyle Frey for Dan Blacker, finished 2nd in the 2026 CTT and TOC Stakes. Lastly, Vronti (No. 11), ridden by Juan J. Hernandez for H. Graham Motion, was 1st in the 2026 CTT and TOC Stakes. Each horse is poised to deliver a strong performance in this crucial Breeders' Cup qualifier.