Santa Anita Stakes Previews

By Victor Ryan —-

EL POTENTE BACK TO DEFEND TITLE IN GIII THUNDER ROAD STAKES FOR OLDER HORSES GOING A MILE ON TURF SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 2, 2026)— The winner of last year’s Grade III Thunder Road Stakes, El Potente, looks for a repeat victory in the one-mile turf event for older horses Saturday at Santa Anita.

Trained by Dan Blacker, El Potente most recently finished fourth by 3 ¾ lengths behind winner Gas Me Up in the GII Joe Hernandez Stakes sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course Dec. 29. The 7-year-old full horse by Temple City is winless in two starts since his victory in last year’s Thunder Road. Prior to the Joe Hernandez, El Potente was a narrowly beaten third by a half-length in the GII Seabiscuit going a mile at Del Mar in November. Having never been off the board at the Thunder Road distance, El Potente has an overall record of 16-6-2-3 with $284,796 in earnings for owner My Way Racing. He will have regular rider Hector I. Berrios aboard.

Gas Me Up rallied from last in a field of 10 to win the Joe Hernandez by 1 ¼ lengths for trainer Peter Eurton. The career-best performance earned a lofty 100 Beyer Speed Figure. The 6-year-old Hard Spun gelding last year when trained by Kevin Attard won the GII King Edward Stakes at a mile on turf at Woodbine and then was third the GI Woodbine Mile.

Gas Me Up ended the 2025 campaign with a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar. Owned by Exline Boarder Racing, Michael Jawl, Aaron Kennedy and Tom Zwisler, Gas Me Up is 11-5-1-1 with $490,262 in earnings. He will have Mirco Demuro in the irons.

THE GRADE III THUNDER ROAD WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 5 of 9 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

5. Namaron – Florent Geroux – 124

BREEDERS’ CUP WINNER SPLENDORA TAKES ON 6 RIVALS IN NEWLY NAMED GRADE II D. WAYNE LUKAS STAKES SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

Formerly the Santa Monica, the race was renamed in honor of the legendary trainer who died in June at the age of 89

ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 2, 2026)—Splendora, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner, returns to action for trainer Bob Baffert against six rivals in the Grade II, $200,000 D. Wayne Lukas Stakes for older fillies and mares going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

The D. Wayne Lukas Stakes had been known as the Santa Monica since its inaugural running in 1957. It was renamed this year in honor of the legendary trainer who died in June at the age of 89. In the Lukas field is Lemon Muffin, who made 21 starts for Lukas prior to his passing. She is now trained by Patrick Gallagher.

Splendora won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint by a decisive 4 ¾ lengths on Nov. 1 at Del Mar under Flavien Prat. Last year, Splendora finished fourth in this race behind winner Kopion. A 5-year-old mare by Audible, Splendora is 10: 5-4-0 with $860,800 in earnings for owner By Talla Racing. She’ll be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who piloted Splendora to victory in the Tranquility Lake at Del Mar prior to the Breeders’ Cup.

Among Splendora’s chief rivals are Formula Rossa and Simply Joking, the two-three finishers in the GI La Brea for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 28.

Formula Rossa is trained by Mark Glatt for owner Muir Hut Stable. She was the 2-1 favorite in the La Brea, but proved to be no match for winner Usha when finishing 6 ¼ lengths behind that rival. She previously also finished second behind highly regarded Sweet Azteca when making her stakes debut in the GIII Rancho Bernardo going 6 ½ furlongs at Del Mar. Formula Rossa, by Vekoma, will be ridden by Mike Smith.

Simply Joking in the La Brea finished a neck back of Formula Rossa in third. The daughter of Practical Joke, a $65,000 auction buy as a yearling, is trained by Michael McCarthy for owners Berelks0813, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres and Ryan Conner. Simply Joking will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura, who was also aboard in the La Brea.

Making her first start in California is Me and Molly McGee, a 4-year-old daughter of Vekoma trained by Peter Eurton. She has been off since finishing last in the GI Test at Saratoga in August. A $170,000 auction buy as a yearling, Me and Molly McGee is owned by Burns Racing, Exline-Border Racing, Wiliam Dan Hudock, Aaron Kennedy and Susanna Wilson. She’ll have Hector Berrios aboard for her local unveiling.

THE GRADE II D. WAYNE LUKAS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 9 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

Simply Joking—Kazushi Kimura—120
Lemon Muffin—Antonio Fresu—120
Me and Molly McGee—Hector Berrios—120
Irina’s Charm—Armando Ayuso—120
Splendora—Juan Hernandez—124
No Bad Beats—Emisael Jaramillo—120
Formula Rossa—Mike Smith—120

GRADE I WINNER INTREPIDO, TRIO FOR BAFFERT LEAD SATURDAY’S GRADE III ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS GOING ONE MILE AT SANTA ANITA

The Lewis serves as a stop on the road to the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 4

ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 2, 2026)—Intrepido, Desert Gate and Plutarch—the top three finishers in last year’s Grade I American Pharoah at Santa Anita—will kick off their 3-year-old seasons on Saturday in the Grade III, $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes for sophomores going one mile at Santa Anita.

Intrepido, trained by Jeff Mullins, won the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah by three-quarters of a length over Desert Gate, who is among a trio in the Lewis for trainer Bob Baffert. By Maximus Mischief, Intrepido then tried the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar and finished fifth on Oct. 31 to close out his juvenile campaign Oct. 31.

Intrepido was purchased for $385,000 at last year’s OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training by owners Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. He’ll have regular rider Hector Berrios in the irons.

Desert Gate was making his two-turn debut when narrowly beaten by Intrepido in the American Pharoah. The Omaha Beach colt has not raced since. Prior to the American Pharoah, Desert Gate won the GIII Best Pal and was second in the GI Del Mar Futurity, both sprinting at Del Mar.

Desert Gate is owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. He was bought for $260,000 at last year’s OBS April sale. Regular rider Juan Hernandez has the call on Desert Gate.

Plutarch was also beaten less than a length by Intrepido when third in the American Pharoah. He has since made two starts on turf, which includes a maiden-breaking victory going 1 1/8 miles on the lawn Nov. 30 at Del Mar. By Into Mischief, Plutarch is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Jockey Florent Geroux, who relocated to Santa Anita this week from Fair Grounds, will ride Plutarch.

Robusta and Secured Freedom will step up in the Lewis after recently breaking their maidens at Santa Anita.

Robusta, trained by Doug O’Neill, went gate-to-wire to graduate when stretched out to a mile in his second start Jan.8. A homebred for Calumet Farm, Robusta is a colt by Accelerate. He’ll be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, who was also aboard for his maiden win.

Secured Freedom, trained by Tim Yakteen, will be trying two turns for the first time. By Practical Joke, most recently graduated going 6 ½ furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 28 when making his second start. Secured Freedom, a $110,000 auction buy as a yearling, is owned by Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. and Roger K. Beasley. He’ll have regular rider Kazushi Kimura aboard.

THE GRADE III ROBERT B. LEWIS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Desert Gate—Juan Hernandez—120
Plutarch—Florent Geroux—120
Cherokee Nation—Antonio Fresu—120
Intrepido—Hector Berrios—124
Briggs Armypower—Tyler Baze—120
Robusta—Emisael Jaramillo—120
Secured Freedom—Kazushi Kimura—120

First post Saturday is 12:30 p.m. PT. Full entries for Saturday’s card at Santa Anita are available at santaanita.com.

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