A nose shy of being undefeated in three starts, trainer Simon Callaghan’s Maxim Rate bids for her second consecutive graded victory as she heads Saturday’s Grade III, $150,000 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
For 3-year-old fillies at a mile and one eighth on turf, the Honeymoon has attracted a field of eight, including stablemate Hostess and the Richard Baltas-conditioned Lady Prancealot, both of whom were narrowly beaten by Maxim Rate when last they met.
| Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lady Prancealot (IRE) | 3-1 | Joseph Talamo 120 Lbs |
Richard Baltas |
| 2 | Over Emphasize | 6-1 | Alonso Quinonez 120 Lbs |
Michael McCarthy |
| 3 | Seranitsa | 6-1 | Flavien Prat 120 Lbs |
Neil Drysdale |
| 4 | Holly Hundy | 8-1 | Norberto Arroyo, Jr. 120 Lbs |
Vladimir Cerin |
| 5 | Dr Wysong | 20-1 | Aaron Gryder 120 Lbs |
Philip D’Amato |
| 6 | Maxim Rate | 9-5 | Kent Desormeaux 124 Lbs |
Simon Callaghan |
| 7 | Sold It | 10-1 | Mario Gutierrez 122 Lbs |
Doug O’Neill |
| 8 | Hostess (GB) | 5-1 | Drayden Van Dyke 124 Lbs |
Simon Callaghan |
MAXIM RATE
A first-out one mile maiden turf winner from off the pace on Feb. 16, she was second, beaten a nose from off the pace in the Grade III, 1 1/8 miles Providencia Stakes on April 6. In her next out, Maxim Rate pressed the pace en route to an impressive half length win as the 6-5 favorite in the Grade III, one mile turf Senorita Stakes, a race in which Lady Prancealot finished second and Hostess checked in fourth, beaten 1 ¼ lengths. By Exchange Rate out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Catch My Eye, Maxim Rate will be ridden back by Kent Desormeaux.
Owner: Slam Dunk Racing | Trainer: Simon Callaghan
LADY PRANCEALOT
Best suited as a deep closer, she finished strongly from way off the pace to finish third, beaten a head by Hostess two starts back in the Providencia on April 6 and finished well at 5-2 to be second, beaten a half length by Maxim Rate in the one mile turf Senorita on May 4.
With a larger field and the prospect of a hotter pace, this Irish-bred rates a big chance stretching out a furlong with Joe Talamo riding back. Easily the most seasoned Honeymoon runner, Lady Prancealot took one out of five starts in England and is now 12-2-4-2 overall with earnings of $129,341.
Owner: Donald Durando, Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone & Jerry McClanahan | Trainer: Richard Baltas
HOSTESS
One for three in her native England, Hostess came rolling to take her U.S. debut, the Grade III Providencia two starts back on April 6 and like Lady Prancealot, would appreciate a hot pace in the Honeymoon on Saturday. Off at 7-2 in the one mile turf Senorita on May 4, Lady Prancealot just nipped her for third money by a nose with Brice Blanc up.
In what will be her third Santa Anita start, Hostess will be reunited with Drayden Van Dyke, who was up for the Providencia win.
Owner: Mr. J. Warren Stable | Trainer: Simon Callaghan
