RODEO DRIVE STAKES

(Grade 1)

WITH the Breeders’ Cup just around the corner, Mrs P.K. Cooper’s Irish-bred Photo Call is on course to be a strong competitor at Keeneland.

The four-year-old daughter of Galileo was ridden by Drayden Van Dyke to go between her rivals midstretch and power away to a clear victory in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes last Saturday over the turf course at Santa Anita for the first Grade I victory of her career for trainer Graham Motion.

“She’s been a class act. She loves the track, she loves the heat, and it’s beautiful here,” said Anne Sinchak, assistant trainer. “I think the race just fit.”

Photo Call raced fourth throughout, improved position into the stretch, then squeezed between Grade 2 winner Fanticola and Stormy Lucy on her way to the two and a quarter length victory.

Elektrum finished second, with long shot Stormy Lucy held on for third.

Hard Not to Like, who had won her last two Grade 1 races failed to fire and finished eighth as the 8/5 favourite.

Photo Call was bred in Ireland by Evie Stockwell, and is out of the Group 3 winner Theann, by Rock Of Gibraltar.

Photo Call has won four of her 13 career starts.

Brandi bows out

Last year’s top two-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi has been retired. She was a 66/1 shock winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last year for D. Wayne Lukas but went on to win her next two races and secure the Eclipse Award. She returned this year with a win in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn but was sidelined by injury for the summer and has disappointed on her two most recent runs since returning to the track. She won over $1.6 million and a decision will be made in coming weeks whether she will be bred or offered for sale at the Keeneland November sale.

Onus impresses

In the Grade 3 Commonwealth Oaks at Laurel Park last Saturday, the Blame filly Onus, owned by Stuart Janney and trained by Shug McGaughey, was an impressive four and a half-length winner from Lola Beaux who was trained by Jessica Harrington last year.