Santa Anita: Saturday Stakes Previews

By Victor Ryan —-

SEAL TEAM, AIR FORCE RED LEAD A COMPETITIVE FIELD OF 9 IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 THUNDER ROAD STAKES GOING A MILE ON TURF AT SANTA ANITA
ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 27, 2025)—Grade II winners Seal Team and Air Force Red headline a field of nine older horses entered in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Seal Team, trained by Richard Mandella, most recently finished a solid third in the GII San Gabriel Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on turf on opening day of the Santa Anita Classic Meet Dec. 26. He finished just 1 ¼ lengths back of winner Johannes, who was a 2024 finalist for champion turf horse.

Seal Team will be seeking his first stakes win since the 2023 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita. A homebred for Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass, the 5-year-old horse by War Front is 8: 3-1-2 with $290,776 in earnings. He will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli.

Air Force Red was the morning line favorite in Sunday’s Clockers’ Corner Stakes but was scratched after the race was moved to the main track because of rain. Trained by Leonard Powell, Air Force Red most recently was a troubled seventh in the GII Joe Hernandez sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

A 7-year-old ridgling by Air Force Blue, Air Force Red is 22: 6-3-1 with $639,074 in earnings for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Holly Golightly. He will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

El Potente returns to the stakes ranks in top form for trainer Dan Blacker. On Jan. 4 at Santa Anita, El Potente was a clear two-length winner going a mile on turf in a second-level allowance. In his only previous stakes try in October, El Potente was beaten less than a length in the restricted Lure Stakes going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

A 6-year-old horse by Temple City, El Potente is owned by My Way Racing. He has a record of 13: 5-2-2 with $186,796. Jockey Hector Berrios, who was aboard for his most recent allowance win, has the call.

THE GIII THUNDER ROAD WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

Cabo Spirit—Kent Desormeaux—124
Air Force Red—Juan Hernandez—122
Zio Jo—Tiago Pereira—120
Lammas—Assael Espinoza—124
Astronomer—Frankie Dettori—122
Wizard of Westwood—Kyle Frey—122
El Potente—Hector Berrios—120
Packs A Wahlop—Antonio Fresu—124
Seal Team—Umberto Rispoli—124

GRADE I WINNER KOPION TAKES ON BAFFERT TRIO IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II, $200,000 SANTA MONICA STAKES FOR FILLIES AND MARES GOING 7 FURLONGS

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 27, 2025)—Kopion, who returned from an 8 ½-month layoff and took down the GI La Brea for 3-year-old fillies on opening day at Santa Anita, will take on a trio of contenders from the Bob Baffert barn in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares going seven furlongs.

In the seven-furlong La Brea, Kopion attended the pace and then drew off in the stretch to win impressively by 2 ¾ lengths. Left in her wake that day was runner-up Splendora, who also returns in the Santa Monica. Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, Kopion last January won the GIII Santa Ynez, also going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

By Omaha Beach, Kopion is 5: 3-1-0 with $314,600 in earning for owner Spendthrift Farm. She will be ridden by Antonio Fresu for the first time.

Baffert entered Richi, winner of the GIII Las Flores on Jan.4, Splendora and Hope Road, who was fourth in the La Brea.

Richi, a Group I winner in her native Chile, won the six-furlong Las Flores by 1 ½ lengths following a seven-month layoff when making her second U.S. start. In her stateside debut last June, Richi finished second in the six-furlong Desert Stormer.

Richi is a 5-year-old mare by Practical Joke campaigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stud Vendaval Inc. She is 11: 7-3-0 with $178,424 in earnings. Hector Berrios will ride Richi for the first time.

Splendora was second in the La Brea at odds of 25-1. Previously, the 4-year-old Audible filly broke her maiden at Santa Anita in October and then won a first-level allowance at Del Mar in November, both going 6 ½ furlongs. Her record stands at 4: 2-2-0 with $138,400 in earnings for owner By Talla Racing LLC. Splendora will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who previously rode the filly to a second-place finish in her debut in December 2023.

Hope Road disappointed at 5-2 when checking in fourth in the La Brea by 5 ¼ lengths. She previously won the GIII Bayakoa Stakes in November and GIII Torrey Pines Stakes in August, both going a mile at Del Mar. Owned and bred by Cicero Farms, the 4-year-old Quality Road filly is 8: 4-2-0 with $336,020 in earnings. Regular rider Juan Hernandez has the call.

THE GII SANTA MONICA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT

Richi – Hector Berrios – 122
Hope Road – Juan Hernandez – 122
Kopion – Antonio Fresu – 124
Splendora – Lanfranco Dettori – 120

With 10 races Saturday, including four stakes, first post time is 12 p.m. PT. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.

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With 10 races Saturday, including four stakes, first post time is 12 p.m. PT. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.