Rodeo Drive Deo scurries late for $165,000 Kindergarten victory

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – With a four-wide sweep in the stretch, Rodeo Drive Deo (Captaintreacherous) – with David Miller at the reins – won the $165,000 Kindergarten Series Final for 2-year-old harness racing pacing fillies in 1:50.3 at The Meadowlands on Saturday (Nov. 9).

Strong favorite Rodeo Drive Deo sat cold off the gate as Shes A Streaker and Duration dashed for the early lead. Behind them Youllfindout broke stride and Chakra took over the third spot. Rodeo Drive Deo was fifth in line through the :27.3 first panel while Champagne Room soon rolled out of fourth and brushed to the lead entering the backstretch.

Chakra left the cones aiming to take the lead, but hanged while second-choice Champagne Room showed muscle at the :54.3 half and dismissed all the early competition. Shes A Streaker tried to move boldly with a three-wide move at three quarters in 1:22.2 and Rodeo Drive Deo loomed widest of all from a third-over trip. Full of pace, Rodeo Drive Deo had enough to easily go by her peers and win by two lengths at the beam.

Simply Perfect followed the winner to be second and Duration got third. Ronstadt stayed at the pylons and zipped through for fourth.

RODEO DEO DRIVE REPLAY

Rodeo Drive Deo is from the Bettor’s Delight mare Miss L A. She won her fourth race from 10 starts and has now earned $312,632 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Beasty LLC, J & T Silva and Purnel & Libby.

After the race co-owner Jerry Silva said,  “I think that she’s got the speed and the physical ability to become a great 3-year-old. That’s what I’m looking for.” Asked if he was confident about the filly’s chances he said, “You’re never confident in a race until you win it. When you win it, you celebrate. That’s the way it is. That’s the business. I didn’t expect her to come from where she came back from. If they have it in them, they make it happen. If they don’t have it in them, they just don’t have it.”

Cool Cat Racing and Deo Volente Farms LLC bred the filly. She paid $3.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands