Trainer Chad Brown, a former assistant to Bobby Frankel, pursues a win in the stakes race named after the late Hall of Fame trainer dec. 27 when he runs Miss Teheran in the $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.
Known as the San Gorgonio Handicap through 2010, during which time Frankel won the race a record seven times before his death at age 68 in 2009, the race was renamed starting with the 2011 edition in his honor. It is a 1 1/8-mile turf test for fillies and mares, the type of race in which Frankel trainees so regularly excelled—as have Brown runners over the past decade.
Brown's representative, Doubledown Stables' 4-year-old Miss Teheran, has run infrequently, starting four times in France in 2018 and twice in the United States this year. She narrowly missed when second in an allowance Sept. 6 at Monmouth Park following a layoff of more than a year and a half, and then was fifth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the Nov. 27 Forever Together Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The strong-finishing Teoflio daughter, whose two victories came in longer races in France, should benefit from stretching out a sixteenth of a mile from her two earlier U.S. races.
Joel Rosario, spending the winter in California after riding mostly on the East Coast this year, has been named to ride.
Trainer Michael McCarthy is represented by two newcomers to California with Rideforthecause and Altea, the latter a former Brown trainee.
Most recently fourth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths as the 5-2 favorite in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Woodbine, Rideforthecause, a 4-year-old Canadian-bred daughter of Candy Ride , took the Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T) at 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 12. She has a record of 4-0-1 from 11 starts with earnings of $291,226.
Video: Canadian S. Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T)
Formerly trained by Gail Cox for Sam-Son Farm, she will make her first start for McCarthy and owner Alpha Delta Stables.
Myracehorse.com's Altea, winless in seven starts this year, is 2-for-23 overall with earnings of $290,664. She has placed in seven stakes, four times in group/grade 3s.
"They're both training like nice fillies," McCarthy said of his two entrants. "I've had them since early November."
Umberto Rispoli will ride Rideforthecause from the inside post while Abel Cedillo will be aboard Altea from post 5.
George Krikorian's California-bred Mucho Unusual, winner of the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T), also figures to contend. Following her Rodeo Drive score, she finished 12th of 14 in the Nov. 7 Maker's Mark Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Keeneland for trainer Tim Yakteen.
John Velazquez will be up.
Other contenders in a closely matched group include She's Our Charm, Meal Ticket, Colonial Creed, and Zee Drop.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, December 27, 2020, Race 9Entries: Robert J. Frankel S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Rideforthecause (ON) Umberto Rispoli 125 Michael W. McCarthy 3/1 2 2She's Our Charm (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 121 Ronald L. McAnally 12/1 3 3Never Be Enough (GB) Tiago Josue Pereira 123 Manuel Badilla 12/1 4 4Miss Teheran (IRE) Joel Rosario 121 Chad C. Brown 5/1 5 5Altea (FR) Abel Cedillo 121 Michael W. McCarthy 5/1 6 6Meal Ticket (FL) Tyler Baze 121 Jeff Mullins 8/1 7 7Colonial Creed (KY) Mario Gutierrez 121 Richard Baltas 12/1 98 8Posh Holly (IRE) SCRATCHED 0 UNKNOWN - 8 9Zee Drop (KY) Flavien Prat 121 Philip D'Amato 8/1 9 10Mucho Unusual (CA) John R. Velazquez 125 Tim Yakteen 5/2
