Grade I American Pharoah, GII Oak Leaf And GII Rodeo Drive Provide Automatic Bids To The Breeders’ Cup As Part Of Big Saturday Card At Santa Anita

By Victor Ryan —-

GRADE I AMERICAN PHAROAH, GII OAK LEAF AND GII RODEO DRIVE PROVIDE AUTOMATIC BIDS TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP AS PART OF BIG SATURDAY CARD AT SANTA ANITA

The high-powered 10-race program also includes the GIII Chillingworth Stakes and Speakeasy Stakes, which also have Breeders’ Cup implications

ARCADIA, CA (Sept. 29, 2025)—Berths in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup will be part of the spoils of victory for the winners of Saturday’s three Breeders’ Cup Challenge races at Santa Anita—the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes for 2-year-olds, GII Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies and GII Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares on turf.

The three automatic qualifiers to this year’s Breeders’ Cup are part of a high-powered 10-race program at The Great Race Place. Also on the card are the GIII Chillingworth Stakes for fillies and mares going seven furlongs and Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds on turf, each of which also comes with Breeders’ Cup implications.

The $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Sports is contested at 1 1/16 miles and awards the winner a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. It will be aired on CNBC as part of NBC Sport coverage of Santa Anita and Keeneland from 1 to 3 p.m. PT.

The most accomplished in the field is Desert Gate, a colt by Omaha Beach trained by Bob Baffert. Desert Gate was a debut winner in June at Santa Anita going five furlongs, then romped by 8 ¾ lengths in the GIII Best Pal going six furlongs at Del Mar. Most recently, Desert Gate came up one length short of highly regarded stablemate Brant in the GI Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs on Sept. 7. Jockey Juan Hernandez has been aboard for all three starts and again has the call on Saturday.

Two of the other key principles are Intrepido and Kristofferson, who each exit promising maiden wins at Del Mar.

Intrepido graduated by 3 ¼ lengths when stretched out to a mile in his second start on Aug. 23. A ridgling by Maximus Mischief, he is trained by Jeff Mullins. Hector Berrios was aboard for his maiden-breaker and again has the call.

Kristofferson from the Baffert barn was a debut winner going six furlongs on Aug. 31 at Del Mar. By Nyquist, Kristofferson dueled on the lead and then dug in gamely late to prevail by three-quarters of a length. He’ll have Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard.

The American Pharoah goes as the third race at approximately 2 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Desert Gate, Juan Hernandez; Intrepido, Hector Berrios; Plutarch, Kazushi Kimura; Civil Liberty, Antonio Fresu; Balboa, Umberto Rispoli; Kristofferson, Mike Smith.

$200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes presented by the Oak Tree Racing Association

The Oak Leaf at 1 1/16 miles awards the winner a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31.

The key principles are all exiting the GI Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 6. Explora, a daughter of Blame hailing from the Baffert barn, was the 3-5 favorite in the Debutante following a sharp debut win going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar three weeks earlier. She set the pace in the Debutante but then weakened in the final furlong to finish second, one length behind winner Bottle of Rouge. She’ll have regular rider Juan Hernandez in the irons.

La Wally, trained by Mark Glatt, finished third only a half-length behind Explora in the Debutante. The daughter of Constitution previously won her debut going five furlongs at Del Mar in July. Regular rider Antonio Fresu again has the call on La Wally.

Himika finished fourth, 9 ¼ lengths back in the Debutante. In her two previous starts, the daughter of Curlin won her debut at Santa Anita in June and then scored in the GIII Sorrento going six furlongs at Del Mar in August. Trained by Baffert, Himika will have Mike Smith aboard for the first time.

The Oak Leaf goes as the ninth race at approximately 5 p.m. The field in post position order: Banzai Betty (Umberto Rispoli); La Ville Lumiere (Kazushi Kimura); La Wally (Antonio Fresu); Himika (Mike Smith); Heaven’s Bolt (Hector Berrios); Explora (Juan Hernandez).

$200,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes

Contested at 1 ¼ miles on turf, the Rodeo Drive provides the winner with a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Set to try and defend her title in the Rodeo Drive is Hang the Moon, a 5-year-old mare by Uncle Mo trained by Phil D’Amato. Last year, Hang the Moon sprung a 9-1 upset when winning the Rodeo Drive by 1 ½ lengths under Kazushi Kimura. In two starts this year, both at the Del Mar Summer Meet, Hang the Moon finished off the board in both the GII Yellow Ribbon and GII John C. Mabee. She’ll have Armando Ayuso aboard for the first time Saturday.

As a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In,” the Rodeo Drive attracted a trio of out-of-state shippers including a pair exiting the GII Flower Bowl at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

Amber Cascade comes west after finishing second in the GII Flower Bowl for trainer Mark Maker. The 5-year-old mare by Free Drop Billy, who is seeking her first stakes win, will have Juan Hernandez aboard for her local debut.

Long Ago weakened to sixth in the Flower Bowl after stalking the pace in second for most of the 1 3/8-mile journey. Trained by William Morey, Long Ago is a 5-year-old mare by Roaring Lion who was bred in England where she raced for her first two seasons. She is also seeking a first stakes win. Jockey Kazushi Kimura has the call on Long Ago.

The Rodeo Drive goes as the eight race at approximately 4:30 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Watchtower (Mirco Demuro); Starry Heavens, Antonio Fresu; Speed Shopper (Kazushi Kimura); Long Ago, (Mike Smith); Misson of Joy (Umberto Rispoli); Hang the Moon (Armando Ayuso); Amber Cascade (Juan Hernandez); Alpha Bella (Hector Berrios).

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.