Santa Anita Stable Notes Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

CAL CUP: GRAND SLAM SMILE, SNEAKER MEET AGAIN IN TURF SPRINT

The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint on California Cup Day Saturday will feature a fourth matchup since August between multiple stakes winners Grand Slam Smile and Sneaker. For the second time, they will meet at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. The duo is part of a deep and competitive field of nine signed on for the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint.

Grand Slam Smile, trained by Sean McCarthy, is installed as the 9-5 favorite on the morning line. A seven-time stakes winner, Grand Slam Smile has won two of the three previous matchups with Sneaker. In August when going one mile on turf, Grand Slam Smile beat her rival by a half-length in the Solana Beach at Del Mar. Most recently, the two met at seven furlongs on dirt in the Betty Grable at Del Mar and Grand Slam Smile again prevailed on Nov. 7.

But between those two efforts, when the pair last met on hillside turf course in the California Distaff Handicap in October, Sneaker successfully ran down Grand Slam Smile in the final strides to prevail by a head.

“It’s a fun rivalry,” McCarthy said. “Sneaker is a nice horse and I’m looking forward to getting another chance against her on the hillside. Though there are a few others in there that look like they can be pretty tough also.”

Sneaker, who is trained by George Papaprodromou for owner R L Stables, will be adding blinkers on Saturday. Among the other key principles in the field are Prancingthruparis (7-2) and Issa Court (8-1). Prancingthruparis is a statebred stakes winner on the hillside turf course for trainer Peter Eurton. Issa Court (8-1), trained by Bob Hess Jr., finished second to Grand Slam Smile in the Betty Grable and was third in the California Distaff.

Grand Slam Smile enters with a sparkling record of 16: 9-6-1 and $753,120 in earnings for owners-breeders Larry Williams and Marianne Williams. When beaten in the California Distaff down the hill, Grand Slam Smile had the lead in deep stretch but got nailed on the wire by Sneaker.

“She kind of snuck up on us a little bit,” McCarthy said. “We were sitting in a good spot crossing the dirt track in first or second. Sneaker was behind us and got to track us. She got up and beat us that day fair and square. But I also think when Sneaker stuck her head in front of us, you look past the wire and Grand Slam Smile jumped back in the bridle. It was a little too late obviously.”

Grand Slam Smile has been working fast for her return to the hillside course. On Jan. 4, the 5-year-old mare by Smiling Tiger sizzled five furlongs on the training track in 59.20 seconds. It was the fastest of 62 works at the distance.

“Grand Slam Smile hasn’t missed a beat. She’s training as well as she’s always trained. She’s just ultra-consistent,” McCarthy said.

The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint goes as the ninth race at approximately 4:30 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Prancingthruparis, Juan Hernandez (7-2); Tequilaandtherapy, Emisael Jaramillo (15-1); Grand Slam Smile, William Antongeorgi III (9-5); Going Deep, Edwin Maldonado (10-1); Sneaker, Mike Smith (6-1); Tina Turner, Armando Ayuso (10-1); Moment’s Pleasure, Mirco Demuro (12-1); Take Another Card, Umberto Rispoli (8-1); Issa Court, Hector Berrios (8-1).

CAL CUP DERBY: LEWIS SEEKS ONE BETTER FROM JOHN METCALFE

When last seen in December, John Metcalfe nearly sprung a 12-1 upset in the one-mile King Glorious Stakes won by Smoovin Saturday at Los Alamitos. On California Cup Day Saturday at Santa Anita, John Metcalfe will get a second crack at Smoovin Saturday as part of an 11-horse field in the California Chrome Cal Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Trained by Craig Lewis, John Metcalfe is a colt by Clubhouse Ride for owner and co-breeder Rainmaker Racing. In the King Glorious, John Metcalfe bid five-wide into the stretch to grab the lead and maintained his advantage to the eighth pole before being outfinished by Smoovin Saturday.

“He ran well,” Lewis said. “He’s a horse that’s very keen and we tried to teach him something that race, to relax back off the leaders. He made a nice run and just got caught. The horse that caught him is very good and, in my opinion, is the horse to beat on Saturday.”

Smoovin Saturday, a colt by I’ll Have Another, is trained by Michael McCarthy for owner-breeder Reddam Racing. He won his debut for McCarthy against statebreds going a mile at Del Mar in August prior to the King Glorious, which came while trained by Jonathan Thomas.

The 5-2 favorite in the Cal Cup Derby is Ocean Bear, who’ll be testing two turns for the first time. Trained by George Papaprodromou for owner-breeder Richard Barton, the ridgling by Bolt d’Oro most recently won the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Also in the lineup is Can’t Help Myself (8-1), who went off the favorite in the King Glorious and finished third. Can’t Help Myself, a colt by Violence, is trained by John Sadler for owner-breeder Legacy Ranch.

The California Chrome Cal Cup Derby goes as the eighth race at approximately 4 p.m. The field in post position order: My Boy Stan, Kazushi Kimura (6-1); Sammy Davis, Hector Berrios (3-1); Start the Ride, Armando Ayuso (30-1); Smoovin Saturday, Tiago Pereira (5-1); Almost There, Abel Lezcano (30-1); Ocean Bear, Umberto Rispoli (5-2); John Metcalfe, Juan Hernandez (12-1); Can’t Help Myself, Kyle Frey (8-1); Pavlovian, Mirco Demuro (15-1); Fionello, Emisael Jaramillo (30-1); Cruise Home, Welfin Orantes (12-1).

DENMAN TO RECEIVE ECLIPSE AWARD FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENT

Trevor Denman, Santa Anita’s legendary track announcer for more than 30 years, will be honored with a Special Eclipse Award for Career Achievement at this year’s Eclipse Awards ceremony on Jan. 22 in Palm Beach, Fla.

Denman made his first call at Santa Anita in 1983 and became the track’s full-time announcer at the start of the 1984-85 season. He held the position until the fall of 2015. Denman made his final race call in September 2024 at Del Mar before announcing his retirement the following March.

“What a wonderful way to end a 53-year career,” Denman said. “I am so honored to receive this award and will treasure it forever. I wish to thank Alan Balch of Santa Anita and Joe Harper of Del Mar for giving an unknown kid a chance to call at such prestigious tracks back in 1983. I also thank all the fans for their tremendous support over the years.”

Denman, 73, now resides on a farm he owns in southern Minnesota.

“What Claude Monet did for water lilies with a brush and canvas, Trevor Denman did for the Thoroughbred with his voice and a microphone over the course of a 40-plus-year career as the race caller at Southern California’s iconic racetracks,” said longtime industry executive Craig Fravel. “Those of us fortunate to have heard him work day-in and day-out at Del Mar, Hollywood Park, Pomona and Santa Anita were treated to the art of storytelling that made the pace, drama and dynamics of a race clear from start to finish even with your eyes closed…This is an award richly deserved.”

FINISH LINES: The CTBA Winter Mixed Sale is this Tuesday at Fairplex in Pomona. It starts at 12 p.m. Catalogs are available online via ctba.com. Online bidding will be available for the one-day sale…The annual charity basketball game between Santa Anita Jockeys and Holy Angels Middle School will be held Thursday, Jan. 30 at La Salle High School. Doors open at 6 p.m. and there will be a jockey autograph session starting at 6:30 p.m. Tip-off is 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 with proceeds going to benefit both the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and Holy Angels…Jockey Umberto Rispoli won four races on Sunday’s 10-race card to move into a tie atop the jockey’s standings with Juan Hernandez. Both have won eight races through the first seven days of the stand. Rispoli’s wins came in the second race aboard Ballyhooligan ($6.20) for trainer George Papaprodromou, the fourth with Yours Sincerely ($4.40) for trainer Phil D’Amato; the sixth on Watsonville ($11.40) for trainer Mark Glatt and the 10th and final on Struck By Her ($7.20), also for D’Amato…A special Holiday card of racing is set for this Monday starting at 12:30 p.m. As part of the festivities, on-track patrons will be treated to $2 beers, $2 hot dogs and $2 sodas…Horseplayer David Nance will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Friday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:20 a.m. PT.

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.