Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, March 13, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

GIII SAN SIMEON: FAVORITE SUMTER, SEAL TEAM LOOM FOR MANDELLA

In Saturday’s Grade III San Simeon Stakes, trainer Richard Mandella will send out the formidable duo of Sumter, the 5-2 program favorite; and Seal Team, a Grade II winner who returns from a lengthy layoff in the about 6 ½ furlong sprint on the hillside turf course.

Sumter and Seal Team are both 7-year-old sons of War Front campaigned by breeders Perry R. Bass II and Ramona S. Bass. Sumter, a gelding, nearly won the GII Joe Hernandez on the hillside turf course on Dec. 29. He came from off the pace and had the lead in mid-stretch that day but was overhauled late by Gas Me Up to finish second.

Based off that encouraging effort, Sumter next out was bet down to the odds-on favorite in last month’s restricted Clockers’ Corner going six furlongs on turf. He was never a factor. Sumter raced near the rear of the field before ultimately checking in fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths.

“I haven’t figured that one out,” Mandella said. “I thought that was his race but he kind of hung. He’s come back and is training really well so we’re giving it another try.”

Flavien Prat was aboard Sumter for his two most recent races. In the San Simeon, he’ll be reunited with Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who guided Sumter to victory in the in the one-mile Lure Stakes on turf last fall at Santa Anita.

Seal Team hasn’t started since last May in the GI Shoemaker Mile when finishing sixth, beaten just 1 ½ lengths. Mandella said Seal Team—who won the GII Twilight Derby in 2023–“cracked a bone,” which led the lengthy layoff.

“We put a screw in it and it healed good. He’s training really good,” Mandella said.

In the San Simeon, Seal Team will be sprinting for the first time since his debut effort in November 2022 at Del Mar. He’s been working steadily for his comeback since mid-January.

“I’m insecure about some of my training decisions and so I thought better to go shorter,” Mandella quipped.

“We’ll get him started here.”

Seal Team will be ridden by Hector Berrios for the first time.

The San Simeon is the third race on a nine-race card Saturday. First post is 1 p.m. PT. The San Simeon goes at 2:05 p.m. The field in post position order: Sumter, Mike Smith (5-2); Quereme Pass, Emisael Jaramillo (8-1); Genius Jimmy, Juan Hernandez (3-1); Gran Oriente, Armando Ayuso (9-2); Seal Team, Hector Berrios (4-1); Sorrento Sky, Florent Geroux (3-1).

WORKS: EXPLORA BACK ON TAB; SUBSANADOR DRILLS FOR RETURN

Explora returned to the work tab after her latest stakes victory for Bob Baffert and Grade I winner Subsanador continued to gear up for his comeback with a six-furlong work for trainer Richard Mandella.

Explora worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds. The drill came 12 days after she collected her third stakes win in the GIII Honeybee at Oaklawn. The daughter of Blame is 7: 4-3-0 with $1,053,000 in earnings for owners Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. She also won the Santa Ynez in January and GII Oak Leaf in October, both at Santa Anita.

Subsanador worked six furlongs in 1:13.0. Mandella confirmed Friday that Subsanador—sidelined since winning the GI California Crown in September 2024–would make his return in the GIII San Carlos going seven furlongs on March 29.

Also working for Baffert was Brilliantly, most recently third in the GIII La Canada on Jan. 24. The 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo drilled four furlongs in 48.80 seconds.

Working for trainer Michael McCarthy were 3-year-old stakes winners Stark Contrast and La Ville Lumiere, a filly. Stark Contrast, by Caravaggio, worked five furlongs in 1:00.8. He kicked off the season Jan. 8 with a win in the Eddie Logan Stakes at one mile on turf. Last year, Stark Contrast won the GIII Zuma Beach on turf at Santa Anita and was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. McCarthy said previously that Stark Contrast is possible for next weekend’s GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks on synthetic at Turfway Park.

La Ville Lumiere, by City of Light, won the Blue Norther going one mile on turf in late December, then was never a factor in last month’s Sweet Life sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. She worked five furlongs in 1:02.2.

KY. DERBY/OAKS FUTURE WAGERS: 17 SANTA ANITA HORSES LISTED
This weekend is pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and the one and only future pool for the Kentucky Oaks. Of the combined 78 individual horses listed in the Derby and Oaks future pools, 17 are based at Santa Anita. Wagering In both future pools is available on track at Santa Anita.

Installed as the 5-1 favorite in the Derby pool is Paladin, a Gun Runner colt trained by Chad Brown. Perfect in three starts, Paladin’s wins include the GII Risen Star at Fair Grounds and GII Remsen at Aqueduct, both going 1 1/8 miles.

Listed below are the Santa Anita-based horses in the Derby pool with trainer and morning line odds.

Potente (15-1, Bob Baffert)—High-priced Into Mischief colt won last weekend’s GII San Felipe in his stakes debut to improve to 2-for-2.

Cherokee Nation (20-1, Bob Baffert)—By Not This Time, he earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure with a dazzling maiden win going one mile here on Feb. 27. It’s the second-highest Beyer recorded by a 3-year-old this year. He’s ticketed for the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

Robusta (40-1, Doug O’Neill)—Nearly sprung a 67-1 upset in the San Felipe. Accelerate colt led in deep stretch before being overtaken by Potente. He is expected to return in the Santa Anita Derby.

Brant (40-1, Bob Baffert)—Gun Runner colt set the pace in the San Felipe before weakening to fifth in his 3-year-old debut.

Intrepido (50-1, Jeff Mullins)—Maximus Mischief colt finished second in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Feb. 7. He is awaiting the Santa Anita Derby.

Buetane (50-1, Bob Baffert)—He is entered in Saturday’s Virginia Derby going 1 1/8 miles around one turn at Colonial Downs. In two starts this year, the Tiz the Law Colt was second in the GII San Vicente and third in the GIII Southwest at Oaklawn.

Litmus Test (50-1, Bob Baffert)—Nyquist colt won the GII Los Alamitos Derby and finished third in the GII Rebel at Oaklawn on March 1.

Pavlovian (90-1, Doug O’Neill)—Won last month’s Sunland Derby at Sunland Park. Colt by Pavel is slated to return in next weekend’s GII Louisiana Derby going 1 3/16 miles at Fair Grounds.

So Happy (90-1, Mark Glatt)—Finished third in the San Felipe when making his two-turn debut. He previously won the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs. The colt by Runhappy is expected to return in the Santa Anita Derby.

Secured Freedom (90-1, Tim Yakteen)—Finished fourth in the San Felipe. Yakteen last week said he’d decide on the Santa Anita Derby would be made after the Practical Joke colt returns to the work tab.

Stark Contrast (90-1, Michael McCarthy)—A two-time stakes winner on turf, the colt by Caravaggio is possible to return in next weekend’s GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks on synthetic at Turfway Park.

In the Oaks future pool, Zany is installed as the 3-1 favorite. Trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable, the American Pharoah filly is a perfect 3-for-3 which includes wins in the GII Demoiselle at Aqueduct and Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Listed below are the Santa Anita-based horses listed in the Oaks pool:

Explora (10-1, Bob Baffert)—A three-time stakes winner, daughter of Blame most recently won the GIII Honeybee on March 1 at Oaklawn.

Meaning (15-1, Michael McCarthy)—Won the Las Virgenes in 3-year-old debut Feb. 8. Gun Runner filly pointed to the GII Santa Anita Oaks April 4.

Forced Entry (15-1, Bob Baffert)—Daughter of Charlatan won last weekend’s GIII Santa Ysabel in her first start versus winners.

Bottle of Rouge (20-1, Bob Baffert)—She is entered in Saturday’s Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs. Last year’s GI Del Mar Debutante winner, daughter of Vino Rosso exits a win in the Sunland Oaks on Feb. 14.

Bank Shot (30-1, Ryan Hanson)—Daughter of Game Winner was second in the Santa Ysabel after previously finishing third in the Las Virgenes.

French Blue (50-1, Bob Baffert)—After a debut win here in January, Gun Runner filly returned to finish third in the Santa Ysabel.

FINISH LINES: Free past performances courtesy of Daily Racing Form are available for Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5, which starts at 1:54 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park. They can be accessed at https://promos.drf.com/coast-to-coast-pick5 …Graded stakes winner Iron Man Cal returns in Saturday’s seventh race, a contentious allowance going one mile on turf. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Iron Man Cal (5-1) has been off since July when finishing second in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar…Friday’s $1 Sunset Pick Six starts at 1:23 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park…Jockey Tyler Baze is just five wins shy of career victory No. 3,000. He has 13 mounts booked this weekend at Santa Anita…Zoe Cadman will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m.

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