Clement Filly On a ‘Mission’ in So Cal

A little more than an hour after GI Belmont S. hero Tonalist (Tapit) tries to secure his spot in the field for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, Robert S. Evans’s Irish Mission (Giant’s Causeway) will try to earn a Breeders’ Cup berth of her own as she faces a full field in today’s GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita, a Challenge race for the Filly/Mare Turf. 

The long-winded filly, runner-up in the 2012 Queen’s Plate and victorious over the boys in that year’s Breeders’ S., has rounded into solid form while under the care of Tonalist’s trainer Christophe Clement this term. Third in the GII Sheepshead Bay S. in May, the attractive chestnut was runner-up in the inaugural Belmont Gold Cup over two miles June 6. Second to horse-for-the-course Starstruck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Monmouth’s GIII Matchmaker S. July 27, Irish Mission earned a richly deserved first graded-stakes success last time in the Aug. 31 GIII Glens Falls S. over 11 panels at Saratoga.

Miss Serendipity (Arg) (Not for Sale {Arg}) is Jon White’s lukewarm 4-1 favorite in this bulky field, having finished second behind Stormy Lucy (Stormy Atlantic) in the GIII Santa Barbara H. over course and distance Apr. 13 ahead of a nose defeat of Emollient (Empire Maker) in the May 26 GI Gamely S. With Rafael Bejarano deputizing for Brice Blanc two back, the dark bay was a troubled sixth as the favorite in the GII John C. Mabee S. at Del Mar Aug. 10, but the Frenchman was back in the saddle for a 1 1/4-length defeat of Parranda (English Channel) in the GII Yellow Ribbon S. Sept. 1. 

“She needs to get the right trip and be clear in a big field,” Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally said. “She won at a mile and a quarter last time out in Argentina and set a track record that day [1:57 4/5 under 132 pounds in the G1 Estrellas Distaff June 29, 2013].

Moulin de Mougin (Curlin), a daughter of downhill specialist Cambiocorsa (Avenue of Flags), was only third to Parranda in the GII Royal Heroine S. going a mile here June 28, but belied odds of 8-1 in the Mabee, rallying past four rivals in the final furlong en route to a half-length success.