CONSISTENT MAXIM RATE HEADS SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $150,000 HONEYMOON STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

CONSISTENT MAXIM RATE HEADS SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $150,000 HONEYMOON STAKES AS EIGHT SOPHOMORE FILLIES GO 1 1/8 MILES ON TURF

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 29, 2019)—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. 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.

MAXIM RATE
Owner: Slam Dunk Racing
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
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

LADY PRANCEALOT
Owner: Donald Durando, Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone & Jerry McClanahan
Trainer: Richard Baltas
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.

HOSTESS
Owner: Mr. J. Warren Stable
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
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.

THE GRADE III HONEYMOON STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT
1. Lady Prancealot—Joe Talamo—120
2. Over Emphasize—Alonso Quinonez—120
3. Seranitsa—Flavien Prat—120
4. Holly Hundy—Norberto Arroyo, Jr.—120
5. Dr. Wysong—Aaron Gryder—120
6. Maxim Rate—Kent Desormeaux—124
7. Sold It—Mario Gutierrez—122
8. Hostess—Drayden Van Dyke—124

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

ABOUT SANTA ANITA PARK
Santa Anita Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is North America’s premier supplier of virtual online horseracing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.