Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

INTREPIDO POSSIBLE FOR GII SAN FELIPE AFTER LEWIS RUNNER-UP
BLACKER EYES KILROE FOR ‘POTENTE; ‘FELIPE FOR START THE RIDE
WORKS: SO HAPPY, GRAND SLAM SMILE AMONG NOTABLES
SPECIAL PRESIDENTS’ DAY CARD PART OF 4-DAY RACE WEEK AHEAD

INTREPIDO POSSIBLE FOR GII SAN FELIPE AFTER LEWIS RUNNER-UP

Trainer Jeff Mullins reported Intrepido was doing well after his game second-place finish behind Plutarch in Saturday’s Grade III Robert B. Lewis for 3-year-olds. He added Intrepido could return in the GII San Felipe on March 7 at Santa Anita to help accrue enough qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, although his current preference would be to wait for the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

“If we could have won, then we could have coasted and wait for the Santa Anita Derby,” Mullins said. “The question is, are you going to dance every dance before you really get down to business (in the Triple Crown)? You don’t want to chase, chase chase, those (Kentucky Derby qualifying) points. Then you get to the Derby and you’re done.”

Intrepido is owned by Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. He currently has 23 Kentucky Derby points.

Intrepido, ridden by Hector Berrios, finished three-quarters of a length back of winner Plutarch in the Lewis going one mile. Intrepido and Plutarch dueled on the front-end for most of the race before throwing down in a stirring stretch duel.

“Hector said if he was on the outside, he probably could have gone by him,” Mullins said.

According to Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free, Plutarch earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for his first dirt victory. Trainer Bob Baffert reported both Plutarch and Splendora, winner of Saturday’s GII D. Wayne Lukas, were “doing great” Sunday morning.

Intrepido earned an 89 Beyer for the Lewis.

BLACKER EYES KILROE FOR EL POTENTE; FELIPE FOR START THE RIDE

El Potente was in good order after his dominating win in the GIII Thunder Road on Saturday and is a candidate to return in the GII Frank E. Kilroe Mile on March 7 at Santa Anita, trainer Dan Blacker said Sunday morning. Additionally, Blacker reported recent California Cup Derby winner Start the Ride is possible to try open company in the GII San Felipe for 3-year-olds, also on March 7.

“El Potente jumped up great this morning,” Blacker said. “The Kilroe is a likely spot, but we always let him dictate when he’s ready.”

El Potente, who also won last year’s Thunder Road, is a 7-year-old horse by Temple City owned by My Way Racing. He earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday’s win.

Start the Ride won the 1 1/16-mile California Cup Derby by 1 ¾ lengths on Jan. 17. It was just the second start for the colt by Upstart, who races as a homebred for Harris Farms.

“We’re looking at the San Felipe,” Blacker said. “He’s still eligible for a non-winners of one, but we could try something a little more ambitious.”

WORKS: SO HAPPY, GRAND SLAM SMILE, MRS. ASTOR AMONG NOTABLES

So Happy on Sunday worked for the second time since his win in the GII San Vicente for 3-year-olds on Jan. 10 at Santa Anita. Other notables on the tab included Bottle of Rouge, Grand Slam Smile, Mrs. Astor, Paradise Lake, Greenwich Village and Om N Joy.

So Happy worked four furlongs in 47.80 seconds for trainer Mark Glatt. In the seven-furlong San Vicente, the Runhappy colt scored by two lengths to stay perfect in two starts. He is a candidate to make his two-turn debut in the GII San Felipe going 1 1/16 miles on March 7.

Bottle of Rouge, winner of last year’s GI Del Mar Debutante, worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 for trainer Bob Baffert. The Vino Rosso filly most recently finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31.

Returning to the tab for Baffert was Greenwich Village, winner of the Baffle Stakes on the hillside turf course Jan. 25. A 3-year-old colt by Quality Road, Greenwich Village worked five furlongs in 1:02.20.

California-bred Grand Slam Smile, winner of the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint Jan. 17, worked four furlongs in 48.80 seconds. Trainer Sean McCarthy Sunday morning said Grand Slam Smile is likely to get a graded stakes opportunity in her next start.

Mrs. Astor worked for the first time since winning the Astra Stakes on Jan. 19. Trained by Jonathan Thomas, Mrs. Astor drilled four furlongs in 49.40 seconds.

Paradise Lake, winner of the GIII Robert J. Frankel Jan. 8, worked four furlongs on the synthetic training track in 47.80 seconds for trainer Peter Eurton.

Om N Joy worked four furlongs in 48.20 for trainer Aggie Ordonez. The California-bred daughter of Om is targeting the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on March 7 for her 4-year-old debut.

SPECIAL PRESIDENTS’ DAY CARD PART OF 4-DAY RACE WEEK AHEAD

Santa Anita will host a four-day race week starting this Friday and ending with a special Presidents’ Day card on Monday, Feb. 16. Next week’s features are the GIII San Marcos at 1 ¼ miles on turf on Saturday and the GIII Palos Verdes going six furlongs on Sunday. Entries for the San Marcos and the rest of Saturday’s card are being taken today.

The action kicks off Friday with a nine-race card starting at 12:30 p.m. On Presidents’ Day, on-track patrons will be treated to $2 hot dogs, $2 beers and $2 sodas. Parking is free through Gate 3 off Huntington Drive.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Antonio Fresu returned to action Saturday after recovering from a broken toe and promptly piloted Light Won Up ($14.80) to a mild upset in Saturday’s Sweet Life Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course…Nominations close today for the Wishing Well Stakes on Feb. 21 and the Pasadena Stakes on Feb. 22. The Wishing Well at six furlongs on turf is restricted to older fillies and mares who have not won a graded stakes since Aug.1. The Pasadena is for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf…

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