HANG THE MOON (9-1) RALLIES FROM LAST AND WINS THE GII, $200,000 RODEO DRIVE STAKES FOR FILLIES AND MARES GOING 1 ¼ MILES ON TURF SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

With the win, Hang the Moon earns an automatic berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar

ARCADIA, CA (Oct. 5, 2024)—While it wasn’t with race-favorite Iscreamuscream, trainer Phil D’Amato came out on top in Saturday’s $200,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes. Stablemate Hang the Moon, ridden by Kazushi Kimura, rallied from last to win the 1 ¼-mile turf race for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

With the victory, Hang the Moon—who previously rallied to win the GII John Mabee at Del Mar Sept. 7—earned an automatic berth for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

Iscreamuscream (3-2), ridden by Hector Berrios, went to the early lead but then drifted out when leaving the downhill turf course and turning into the stretch for the first time. Then when reaching the clubhouse turn, Iscreamuscream again drifted out substantially. With that, 25-1 longshot Lucky Girl—D’Amato’s third starter in the race—took over on the lead.

Meanwhile, winner Hang the Moon was far back in last in what was a strung-out field down the backstretch. Hang the Moon steadily began to make up ground with a wide move on the turn and then blasted through the stretch to prevail by 1 ½ lengths.

“She did a great job coming from behind,” Kimura said. “I really didn’t change anything from last time (in the Mabee). I just took it easy and slow for the first part. She responded to me well. She finished up strong and I’m happy with that.”

Eastern invader Aspen Grove (3-1), who raced in mid-pack throughout, made a late bid on the rail under Juan Hernandez to get second. It was three-quarter lengths back Beach Bomb (14-1), also invading from the east for trainer Graham Motion. Iscreamuscream checked in fourth.

"We had the right strategy for Hang the Moon,” D’Amato said. “We planned to do the same thing as we did last time, sit back and come with the run. She came with a monstrous run late. “

Hang the Moon won in a final time of 1:58.58. It was the second last-to-first stakes win of the day for Kimura, a 24-year-old native of Japan. In the Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds going five furlongs on turf, Kimura used similar tactics to win with 13-1 longshot Pali Kitten for trainer Doug O’Neill.

"It was a weirdly run race,” D’Amato added. “I thought my other filly, Lucky Girl, would sit back there with Hang the Moon, and she ended up being on the lead early."

A 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, Hang the Moon is owned by CJ Thoroughbreds. The $200,000 auction purchase upped her record to 12: 5-1-1 with $427,913 in earnings. Hang the Moon made her first eight starts for trainer Michael Stidham while based in the east. Her local unveiling for D’Amato came June 9 at Santa Anita in a second-level allowance going a mile, which she won by 1 ¼ lengths with Antonio Fresu in the irons.

Hang the Moon paid $21.80, $7.80 and $4.60. Aspen Grove returned $6.00 and $4.00. Beach Bomb paid $6.80 to show.