Santa Anita: Saturday Stakes Previews

Santa Anita PressBox —

BREEDERS’ CUP WINNER SPLENDORA LOOMS LARGE IN SATURDAY’S GRADE I B. WAYNE HUGHES BEHOLDER MILE FOR FILLIES AND MARES AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (March 2, 2026)—Splendora, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner, looms a likely heavy favorite when she goes for a fifth consecutive victory in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile presented by FanDuel for older fillies and mares going one mile at Santa Anita.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Splendora kicked of the 2026 campaign by winning the GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes going seven furlongs on Feb. 7 at Santa Anita. The 5-year-old mare by Audible enters with a record of 11: 6-4-0 and $980,800 in earnings for owner By Talla Racing. Splendora will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who was aboard in the Lukas.

Baffert also entered Nafisa, a 5-year-old mare by Quality Road. Nafisa exits a dominant victory in the GIII La Canada going 1 1/16 miles when making her stakes debut on Jan. 24 at Santa Anita. She is owned by Zedan Racing Stables and will have regular rider Kazushi Kimura in the irons.

The Beholder also includes a pair of eastern invaders seeking a top-level victory in Bless the Broken for trainer Brad Cox and Dazzling Move for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Bless the Broken most recently returned from a seven-month layoff and won a second-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds on Jan. 9. It was her first start for Cox. Last year, when trained by William Walden, the 4-year-old filly by Laoban won the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park before finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks. Bless the Broken, who is owned by Qatar Racing and Mountmellick Farm, will have Florent Geroux aboard.

Dazzling Move, a 5-year-old mare by Not This Time, most recently was fifth in the GII Inside Information going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24. Her biggest career win came last year in the GIII Royal Delta going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park. Owned by Miller Racing LLC, Bless the Broken will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

Om N Joy, winner of last year’s GIII Torrey Pines at Del Mar, will make her first start since October when finishing fourth in the GII Raven Run at Keeneland. The 4-year-old California-bred filly by Om is trained by Aggie Ordonez for breeders Jerry Baker and Connie Baker and partners Michael Golovko and Terrance J. Scanlan. Om N Joy will have regular rider Kent Desormeaux aboard.

Simply Joking returns for trainer Michael McCarthy after finishing third in the GI La Brea for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on Dec. 28 at Santa Anita. By Practical Joke, Simply Joking last year won the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds and was second in the GII Fantasy at Oaklawn prior finishing off the board in the Kentucky Oaks. She is owned by Berkels0813 LLC, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres and Ryan Conner. She’ll be ridden for the first time by Emisael Jaramillo.

THE GRADE I B. WAYNE HUGHES BEHOLDER MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 11 Approximate post time 1:30 p.m. PT

Om N Joy—Kent Desormeaux—122
Simply Joking—Emisael Jaramillo—120
Dazzling Move—Tyler Gaffalione—120
Splendora—Juan Hernandez—120
Bless the Broken—Florent Geroux—120
Nafisa—Kazushi Kimura—122

BRANT MAKES FIRST START SINCE BREEDERS’ CUP, SO HAPPY GETS TWO-TURN TEST IN THE GRADE II SAN FELIPE STAKES FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS GOING 1 1/16 MILES SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (March 2, 2026)—Grade I winner Brant makes his first start since the Breeders’ Cup and unbeaten So Happy gets his first test around two turns in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. The San Felipe, which awards qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby, is part of a blockbuster 11-race card at Santa Anita that also includes the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, Grade I B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile and Grade II Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Brant finished third in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after setting the early pace on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. It was his first defeat in three starts and first-time racing around two turns. Previously, Brant won his debut at 5 ½ furlongs in August and then won the GI Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs in September.

Brant, by Gun Runner, was purchased for $3 million at last year’s OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training. He is owned by Zedan Racing Stable. Set to ride Brant for the first time is Florent Geroux, who recently moved his tack full time to Santa Anita.

So Happy is a perfect 2-for-2 for trainer Mark Glatt. After a debut win going 6 ½ furlongs in November at Del Mar, So Happy came back to be a clear winner of the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs on Jan. 10 at Santa Anita. He is a son of 2015 champion sprinter Runhappy out of So Cunning, a daughter of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame.

Purchased for $150,000 at last year’s OBS March sale, So Happy is owned by Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. He’ll be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who was also aboard for both previous victories.

Secured Freedom, trained by Tim Yakteen, most recently finished third in the GIII Robert B. Lewis going one mile. The Lewis was his first time facing winners and first time racing around two turns. Previously, Secured Freedom broke his maiden going 6 ½ furlong on Dec. 28 at Santa Anita when making his second start.

By Practical Joke, Secured Freedom was a $110,000 auction buy as a yearling. He is owned by Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. and Roger K. Beasley.

Baffert’s other runner in the field is Potente, who was purchased by owner Speedway Stable for $2.4 million at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. He debuted Jan. 31 at Santa Anita going six furlongs and won by a neck. By Into Mischief, Potente will have Juan Hernandez aboard.

THE GRADE II SAN FELIPE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 11 – Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

Flashy Fritz—Adrian Escobedo—120
Start the Ride—Armando Ayuso—122
Secured Freedom—Kazushi Kimura—120
Brant—Florent Geroux—120
Potente—Juan Hernandez—120
So Happy—Mike Smith—120
Robusta—Emisael Jaramillo—120

SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING RETURNS TO SANTA ANITA, FORMER SHIRREFFS PUPIL WESTWOOD MAKES FIRST START FOR NEW TRAINER IN THE GRADE I SANTA ANITA HANDICAP GOING 1 ¼ MILES SATURDAY

ARCADIA, CA (March 2, 2026)—Veteran Grade I winner Skippylongstocking makes a return trip California and Westwood, who is now trained by Peter Eurtron, makes his first start since the passing of former trainer John Shirreffs in Saturday’s historic Grade I, $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap going 1 ¼ miles at Santa Anita.

Last May, Skippylongstocking shipped to Santa Anita from south Florida and promptly took down the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup, also contested at 1 ¼ miles. Most recently, the 7-year-old horse by Exaggerator earned his first Grade I victory when winning the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owner Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking sports a record of 36: 13-3-7 with $5,461,250 in earnings. He’ll carry highweight of 125 pounds. Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for the Pegasus World Cup victory, again has the call.

In what proved to be his final start for Shirreffs, Westwood on Jan. 31 won the GII San Pasqual going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita for his first graded stakes victory. Thirteen days after the breakout win, Shirreffs passed in his sleep at the age of 80.

Owned by C R K Stable, Westwood is 10: 2-3-3 with $313,900 in earnings. In addition to having horses with Shirreffs, C R K Stable has for years also employed Eurton as trainer of some of their runners. Westwood, a 4-year-old gelding by Authentic, has worked three times since joining the Eurton barn. On Sunday, Westwood signaled his readiness with a bullet four-furlong work in 46.60 seconds. It was the fastest of 79 works at the distance.

Kazushi Kimura, who rode Westwood for the first time in the San Pasqual win, has the call again in the Big ‘Cap.

Getaway Car gets another crack at Westwood after coming up 2 ¾ lengths short of the front-running winner in the San Pasqual. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old colt by Curlin is seeking a first graded stakes win since his 2-year-old season. Getaway Car is 10: 3-3-0 with $656,300 in earnings for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners. He’ll be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

Also coming west for the Big ‘Cap is Just a Touch, a 5-year-old Justify horse trained by Brad Cox. Most recently, Just a Touch returned from a six-month layoff and was beaten a neck in the GIII Louisiana Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds. He is seeking a first stakes win for owners Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampei.

THE GRADE I SANTA ANITA HANDICAP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

Midnight Mammoth—Armando Ayuso—119
Getaway Car—Juan Hernandez—120
Just a Touch—Florent Geroux—121
Vodka Vodka—Kent Desormeaux—116
Skippylongstocking—Tyler Gaffalione—125
British Isles—Diego Herrera—119
Westwood—Kazushi Kiura—121

First post Saturday is 12 p.m. PT.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thorouhbred 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.