Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

GI AMERICAN OAKS FAVE ATSILA MAKES U.S. BOW FOR BALTAS
THOMAS RUNNERS LOOM IN 3 TURF STAKES RACES OPENING DAY
SADLER HAS MATHIS MILE FAVE, UPSET CHANCE IN 2 OTHER STAKES
MAKEUP CARDS ADDED FOR THIS MONDAY, WEDNESDAY

GI AMERICAN OAKS FAVE ATSILA MAKES U.S. BOW FOR BALTAS

After being a veterinary scratch in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, European import Atsila is installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for her belated U.S. debut in Sunday’s Grade I American Oaks at Santa Anita.

Atsila, an Irish-bred daughter of Phoenix of Spain, was a Group III winner and Group I-placed while in Europe with trainer Donnacha O’Brien. After the Breeders’ Cup scratch, she was sent to Santa Anita based-trainer Richard Baltas for a U.S. campaign by owners Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing and Parkland Thoroughbreds. Baltas previously trained multiple graded stakes winner Going to Vegas for Medallion.

“I’ve trained for them before and they’re giving me another chance,” Baltas said.

Baltas noted Atsila hasn’t been the easiest to work with since she’s joined the barn.

“She’s been kind of a little brat. She’s coming around now, but when she first got here she was a lot to handle,” Baltas said.

Atsila has worked twice at Santa Anita this month for the 1 ¼-mile American Oaks. Baltas acknowledged he’s not sure what to expect Sunday.

“She’s been galloping strong, but her workout have just been OK. I don’t know,” Baltas said. “But what I do know is she’s a filly with a lot of heart. We’ll see how it goes.

The American Oaks goes as the 11th and final race on opening day Sunday. First post is 11 a.m. PT and the Oaks is scheduled for 4:20 p.m. The field in post position order: A Thousand Miles, Mike Smith (30-1); Will Then, Flavien Prat (7-2); Cliffs, Jose Ortiz (6-1); Ambaya, Antonio Fresu (8-1); Slick, Umberto Rispoli (20-1); Take A Breath, Irad Ortiz Jr., 15-1); Resolve, Diego Herrera (30-1); Totally Justified, Juan Hernandez (5-1); As Catch Can, Joel Rosario (8-1); Atsila, Tiago Pereira (5-2); Ribbons, Mirco Demuro (15-1).

Baltas also has at least a puncher’s chance in three other graded stakes on opening day His best chance with that group is likely Friendly Confines, the 7-2 second choice in the GII Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf.

Friendly Confines, by Twirling Candy, will be getting class relief after a sixth-place finish in the GI Hollywood Derby Nov. 29 at Del Mar. Prior to that in the one-mile Let It Ride at Del Mar, Friendly Confines went to the lead and was overhauled late to finish second by a half-length. Both the winner that day, Tempus Volat, and third-place finisher Lyle the Crocodile are both also back in the Mathis Mile.

“I don’t want him on the lead,” Baltas said. “He drew outside that day and was too aggressive, didn’t relax.”
In the Mathis Mile. Friendly Confines will be ridden by top jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time.

The Mathis Mile goes as the fifth race with post time set for 1:05 p.m. The field in post position order: Hiding in Honduras, Antonio Fresu (6-1); Tempus Volat, Mirco Demuro (9-2); Namaron, Flavien Prat (3-2); Geometry, Joel Rosario (12-1); Friendly Confines, Irad Ortiz Jr. (7-2); Lyle The Crocodile (12-1); Maaz, Jose Ortiz (5-1).

Baltas will also saddle Modus Bestia (15-1) in the GI Malibu, Artisma (15-1) in the GI La Brea and British Isles (30-1) in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr.

Baltas spoke most highly of Artisma’s chances. The Munnings filly will be adding blinkers for her second shot at a Grade I. This summer at Saratoga, Artisma finished off the board in the GI Test.

“She doesn’t look bad in there,” Baltas said of the La Brea. “I’m not sure what we’ll do (tactically), probably just play the break. But there are some good horses with speed in there. Hopefully we can get a piece, these Grade Is are valuable for these fillies and mares.”

The La Brea goes as the eight race at 2:43 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Simply Joking, Kazushi Kimura (20-1); So There She Was, Antonio Fresu (15-1); Five G, Irad Ortiz Jr. (7-2); Artisma, Edwin Maldonado (15-1); Usha, Juan Hernandez (9-2); Brilliantly, Flavien Prat (6-1); Scilflied, Tyler Baze (50-1); Her Laugh, Jose Ortiz (6-1); Formula Rossa, Mike Smith (3-1); Magnificat, Mirco Demuro (20-1); Silent Law, Joel Rosario (10-1).

As for Modus Bestia, he enters the seven-furlong Malibu for 3-year-olds following a pair of sharp victories sprinting at Del Mar. Unfortunately for Baltas, the Maclean’s Music colt will start from the inside in a field of 10.

“He’s ran two good races in a row but drew the rail. That’s no good,” Baltas said.

Modus Bestia was a $500,000 auction buy as a yearling by owners Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran.

The Malibu goes as the 10th race at 3:49 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Modus Bestia, Edwin Maldonado (15-1); Spenard, Tyler Baze (30-1); Madaket Road, Irad Ortiz Jr. (5-1); Speedy Wilson, Armando Ayuso (15-1); Midland Money, Juan Hernandez (7-2); Berlin Wall, Tiago Pereira (20-1); Smooth Cruisen, Kyle Frey (30-1); Cornucopian, Flavien Prat (7-2); Barnes, Jose Ortiz (3-1); Goal Oriented, Joel Rosario (5-1).

British Isles most recently finished a half-length back in second in the GIII Native Diver behind Nevada Beach, who also returns in the Malibu. The effort followed a string of turf starts and resulted in a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure. Of course, all in the field will have to deal with Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and 3-5 favorite Nysos.

“My horse is doing great. But Nysos is in there,” Baltas said.

The Laffit Pincay Jr. goes as the sixth race at 1:37 p.m. The field in post position order: Nysos, Flavien Prat (3-5); Vodka Vodka, Kent Desormeaux (15-1); Nevada Beach, Juan Hernandez (2-1); Cornishman, Ricky Gonzalez (30-1); British Isles, Diego Herrera (30-1); Indispensable, Joel Rosario (8-1); Bartholdy, Tyler Baze (12-1).

THOMAS RUNNERS LOOM IN 3 TURF STAKES ON OPENING DAY

Trainer Jonathan Thomas on Sunday has three fillies entered in the GI American Oaks including 7-2 program favorite Will Then, two in the GII Mathis Mile (Hiding in Honduras, 6-1; Geometry, 12-1) and longshot Twirling Point (20-1) in the GIII San Gabriel at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Joining Will Then in the entries for the 1 ¼-mile American Oaks are Ambaya (8-1) and As Catch Can (8-1). As Catch Can is also entered Wednesday against older horses in the GIII Robert J. Frankel at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Thomas said a decision on where As Catch Can ultimately runs will be made later Saturday.

“We might go here, we might go in the Frankel, I’ll handicap the races tonight and make a decision.” Thomas said. “She did run on soft ground and like it. That’s the other variable. It’s going to be soft out there.”

As for Will Then, she’s back in with 3-year-olds after trying the GIII Red Carpet against older going 1 3/8 miles on Nov. 23 at Del Mar. The War of Will filly set the pace that day before flattening out and finishing fifth, beaten two lengths.

“Honestly that was a prep for this race,” Thomas said. “We did that intentionally. We felt from the mile-and-three-eighths to a mile-and-a-quarter was a way to put some stamina in her. I thought she ran respectably against older fillies, she was hanging in there until the eighth pole. I don’t think she’s quick enough to make the lead this race, but if she can pop out and sit a good pocket trip, maybe kick away before the real closers come into play, on her day she may be good enough.”

Ambaya, by Ghostzapper, will be making her graded stakes debut in the American Oaks. She most recently earned minor shares in a pair of one-mile allowances at Del Mar. Both efforts came with an excuse, Thomas said.

“Two starts ago the starter held on to her a little too long. She broke poorly, came running and just missed. Then the second time, the same thing happened. The starter held on to her. Then right after that she got bumped around pretty significantly, It looked like (jockey) Umberto (Rispoli) kind of mailed it in until they turned for home. Then he asked her to finish up and she finished up pretty well.”

Hiding in Honduras and Geometry in the Mathis Mile both exit the same race. In the Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar, the two stablemates pinballed off each other on the first turn. Hiding in Honduras, by Dialed In, ran on to be fourth while Geometry, by Twirling Candy, checked in seventh.

“The didn’t do each other any favors, that’s for sure,” Thomas said.

The Let It Ride was only the second start for Hiding in Honduras. It followed a blowout maiden win at Presque Isle Downs on synthetic.

“He’s an improving horse. From what we’ve seen in the morning, suggests he belongs in races like this. He does seem a little one-paced where he doesn’t have a big turn of foot, so he’ll need to break a little better.

Geometry will have blinkers off in the Mathis Mile. Prior to the Let It Ride, he finished fourth in both the GII Del Mar Derby and Kent Stakes at Delaware Park.

“Geometry I feel like is kind of an exposed horses. When he’s able to get things his own way, right off or on the lead, he seems to fire,” Thomas said. “But he encountered quite a bit of trouble last time (in the Let It Ride) so we’re yanking the blinkers off him. I don’t know what his definitive style is, but we’ll probably be close.”

In the San Gabriel, Twirling Point will break from the rail in an 11-horse field. The 4-year-old gelding by Twirling Candy steps up in class and cuts back in distance after finishing fifth in a second-level allowance going 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar.

“It’s a reach for sure. It’s a tough spot for him but we wanted to take a look at it,” Thomas said. “I thought he drew well. If he can just save ground and come running. On his best day he’s not out of line in a race like this, but will absolutely have to run his best.”

SADLER HAS MATHIS MILE FAVE, UPSET CHANCE IN 2 OTHER STAKES
Trainer John Sadler will be represented in three stakes on opening day with 3-2 program favorite Namaron in the GII Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf, Suchet (6-1) in the GIII San Gabriel and Indispensable (8-1) in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr.

Namaron cuts back a furlong in the Mathis Mile after finishing third in the GII Twilight Derby in October at Santa Anita, which was the second U.S start for the European import. He had the lead inside the eighth pole that day but was overtaken late to finish two back of winner Test Score.

“I thought he ran well. I don’t know about the mile-and-an-eighth. His best form is at a mile. That’s why we skipped the (Del Mar Derby) and waited for this one, because of the distance,” Sadler said.

In the Mathis Mile, Namaron will have blinkers on, which Sadler described as “a very small cup.” Namaron will also have the services of top jockey Flavien Prat.

Suchet will be making his stakes debut in the 1 1/8-mile San Gabriel following a big 3 ¼ allowance win going 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar Nov. 1. Joel Rosario was aboard that day and again has the call in the 1 1/8-mile San Gabriel.

“It was a very good race, a good-looking race. Very strong,” Sadler said. “He ran into kind of a slow pace and still won impressively. We love the way Joel rode him. We’re going to take a real step up and run here with Joel here this weekend.”

Last Saturday, Suchet signaled his readiness with sharp five-furlong workout in 59.80 seconds on the Santa Anita training track.
“He’s training great. We tried to run him at the end of Del Mar but the race didn’t go. He’s more than ready,” Sadler said.

Indispensable, a 4-year-old colt by Constitution, enters the 1 1/16-miles Laffit Pincay Jr. following a fourth-place finish in the GIII Native Diver going 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar Nov. 22. The winner and runner-up that day, Nevada Beach and British Isles, also return in the Pincay.

“Kind of a weird race last time,” Sadler said. “We know he doesn’t like the inside. He’ll get an outside trip in this one. He’s better than his last race showed. Hopefully he can bounce back in this one.”

The Laffit Pincay Jr. goes as the sixth race at 1:37 p.m. The field in post position order: Nysos, Flavien Prat (3-5); Vodka Vodka, Kent Desormeaux (15-1); Nevada Beach, Juan Hernandez (2-1); Cornishman, Ricky Gonzalez (30-1); British Isles, Diego Herrera (30-1); Indispensable, Joel Rosario (8-1); Bartholdy, Tyler Baze (12-1).

FINISH LINES: There will be live racing this Monday and Wednesday due to the delayed start to the Classic Meet. First post Monday is 12 p.m. PT for a nine-race card. Monday’s card includes the GII Joe Hernandez and Blue Norther Stakes. On Wednesday is also a nine-race card starting at 12 p.m. The co-features are the GIII Robert J. Frankel and Eddie Logan Stakes…Opening Day Sunday marks the return of the $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 and $1 Sunset Pick Six. Both wagers feature a low 15 percent takeout and are open to retail players only. The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5, which combines races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, starts at 1:18 p.m. PT with the seventh race from Gulfstream Park. The Sunset Pick 6 includes the final three races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. Sunday’s Sunset Pick Six starts at 1:48 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream…Nominations close Sunday for both the GII San Vicente Stakes on Jan. 10 and GIII Las Cienegas on Jan. 11. The seven-furlong San Vicente is for 3-year-olds of 2026 and kicks off the road to the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 4…Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest on the Santa Anita simulcast feed Sunday starting at 9:50 a.m. PT.

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