Thought Process goes for a stroll in Rodeo Drive

Odds-on favorite Thought Process rolled to an eminently logical victory in Saturday’s $203,000 Rodeo Drive (G2) at Santa Anita, earning a fees-paid berth to the the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Keeneland.

The Phil D’Amato trainee was a logical winner not only as the class of the field, with a perfect record over this turf course, but in terms of her tactics. When overturned at 3-5 last time out in the John C. Mabee (G2) at Del Mar, Thought Process was restrained to track the pace. Jockey Hector Berrios realized in hindsight that the daughter of Collected is the free-wheeling type who needs to stride out early, and his reasoning was validated here.

Bounding straight to the lead from her rail post, Thought Process was in her element as she clicked off fractions of :24.51, :48.33, and 1:12.54 on the firm turf. Totally Justified tried to pursue, but she could not maintain her position. 

Thought Process ratcheted up the tempo at the mile mark in 1:35.85 and blew the race open turning into the stretch. The moderate pace ensured that she could forestall any concern about her stamina for the 1 1/4-mile distance. In full flight through a final quarter in :22.62, the chestnut romped by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:58.47. 

Vronti, the 5.30-1 second choice, got up for second by a half-length from 64-1 longshot Resolve. Totally Justified reported home the same margin back in fourth. Next came Kentucky Gal, Public Assembly, May Day Ready, The Mizen Queen, Victorious Dream, Dona Clota, and Hey Jessie.

Racing for the Estate of Brereton C. Jones (her breeder), Little Red Feather Racing, and Madaket Stables, Thought Process is now 5-for-5 at Santa Anita. Four of those victories have come in graded stakes – the 2024 Surfer Girl (G3) as a juvenile along with this season’s Buena Vista (G2), Gamely (G1), and Rodeo Drive.

Thought Process has compiled an overall mark of 12-8-1-2, $850,200. She’s also won the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf and last year’s San Clemente (G2) at Del Mar, but her record is mixed at the seaside track. Ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at that circuit, she placed third in the Del Mar Oaks (G1). The pattern continued with her runner-up effort in the Mabee, where she was coming off a break in addition to the tactical question. 

“I think last time I got beat because I fought her too much,” Berrios said. “This time (in the Rodeo Drive), I let her break, she settled and I dropped my hands. She liked it. When it was time to run, she showed her power. I think I learned something last time. She's ready for the next one.”

“She controlled the pace there,” D’Amato observed. “When I saw those fractions, I thought this was really within our wheelhouse. Kudos to Hector Berrios for doing a great job and, this filly, she loves this turf course here. I think all those things combined helped get us a nice win. 

“We knew last time, from the last race, that we weren't going to let them get close to us at the quarter pole. We were going to use her tactical speed to her advantage, and he turned her loose and she responded. To me, it shows that added ground, with the right scenario, shouldn’t be an issue.”

Billy Koch of Little Red Feather also commented on the tactical key.

“We had a long talk about just letting her be comfortable. I didn’t care how fast or slow they went, I didn’t think a mile and a quarter was going to be a problem, and Hector did a great job. They flew home. Let’s see what happens at Keeneland.”

Kentucky-bred Thought Process is out of the Creative Cause mare Creative Thinking, who stayed 1 1/2 miles when dominating the 2018 Keertana S. at Churchill Downs. 

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