8 FILLIES AND MARES BATTLE FOR GRADE I GLORY IN GAMELY STAKES GOING 1 1/8 MILES ON TURF MONDAY AT SANTA ANITA

By Victor Ryan —-

Alpha Delta Stables’ Liguria and jockey Flavien Prat, right, outfinish Tirupati (Jose Ortiz up), middle, and Rashmi (Umberto Rispoli up), left, to win the Grade II $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA.
Benoit Photo

8 FILLIES AND MARES BATTLE FOR GRADE I GLORY IN GAMELY STAKES GOING 1 1/8 MILES ON TURF MONDAY AT SANTA ANITA

Infield carnival, beer festival also part of Memorial Day weekend activities

at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, CA (May 21, 2025)— Eight fillies and mares from across the country will converge on Santa Anita Monday seeking their first-ever Grade I wins in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on turf. The Gamely is part of an exceptional 11-race card on Memorial Day at The Great Race Place that also includes the GI Shoemaker Mile on turf and the GII Hollywood Gold Cup.

Leading the local hopes in the Gamely are Liguria, Public Assembly and Lady Claypoole, who all exit graded-stakes victories at Santa Anita.

Liguria, trained by Michael McCarthy, most recently won the GII Buena Vista at one mile on turf March 1. In the Buena Vista, she finished a head in front of Tirupati, who would come back to win the GIII Wilshire also at a mile on turf on March 29 at Santa Anita.

A 5-year-old mare by War Front, Liguria is 10: 4-1-1 with $374,200 in earnings for owner Alpha Delta Stables. She’ll be ridden by Umberto Rispoli.

Public Assembly won the GIII Royal Heroine at a mile on turf when making her stakes debut April 26 for trainer Phil D’Amato. A 4-year-old filly by More Than Ready, Public Assembly enters with a record of 6: 3-1-0 and $224,66 in earnings. Her first four starts while based in the east with trainer Chad Brown. Public Assembly is owned by Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing and Lissa Ann McNulty. She’ll be ridden by Antonio Fresu.

Lady Claypoole has won three straight for trainer Richard Baltas including the GIII Santa Ana at 1 ¼ miles on March 15, which was her first stakes try in the U.S. She is owned by Abbondanza Racing and Omar Aldabbagh. Bred in Ireland, the 5-year-old mare by Starspangledbanner has an overall record of 19: 4-2-2 with $227,428 in earnings. That includes four starts in England as a 3-year-old. Lady Claypoole will have regular rider Tiago Pereira in the irons.

The lineup also includes eastern-based shippers Be Your Best, who comes in from Florida for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.; No Show Sammy Jo, who is based at Fair Hill in Maryland with trainer Graham Motion; and Kentucky-based Expensive Queen for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Be Your Best most notably won the GII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf in January at Gulfstream Park. The 5-year-old mare by Muhaarar returned to finish a disappointing eighth in the GI Jenny Wiley going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland April 12. Owned by Michael J. Ryan, Be Your Best is 19: 5-3-2 with $906,559 in earnings. She’ll be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

No Show Sammy Jo was seventh in the Jenny Wiley in what was her seasonal bow. Last year, the now 5-year-old mare by Lope de Vega won the All Along at Laurel Park and was beaten just a nose by Be Your Best when second in the GIII Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct. She’ll have the services of top jockey Flavien Prat.

Expensive Queen was imported from England over the winter and promptly won a first-level allowance at Keeneland in her U.S. debut going 1 1/16 miles on turf April 18. A 4-year-old filly by Lope de Vega, she has an overall record of 8: 2-2-0 with $64,703 in earnings. She is owned by Farfellow Farms. Taking the call on Expensive Queen is Santa Anita-based jockey Kazushi Kimura.

THE GI GAMELY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 11 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Lady Claypoole—Tiago Pereira—122
Alpha Bella—Juan Hernandez—122
Khinjani—Hector Berrios—122
Public Assembly—Antonio Fresu—122
No Show Sammy Jo—Flavien Prat—122
Expensive Queen—Kazushi Kimura—122
Liguria—Umberto Rispoli—124
Be Your Best—Irad Ortiz Jr.—124
Where’s My Ring—Mike Smith—122

First post Monday is at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.