Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, March 27, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

•     GIII WILSHIRE: RASHMI LOOMS AS HEAVY FAVORITE OFF LAYOFF
•     FRIDAY CARRYOVERS: $58K IN $2 PICK 6; $20K IN $1 SUNSET 6
•     WORKS: NEVADA BEACH, THE PADRE, OM N JOY AMONG NOTABLES
•     STUDY: SANTA ANITA RATES AMONG SAFEST TRACKS IN U.S. IN ‘25
•     LEPAROUX TO RECEIVE 2026 WOOLF AWARD APRIL 19 AT SANTA ANITA

GIII WILSHIRE: RASHMI LOOMS AS HEAVY FAVORITE OFF LAYOFF
      Looming large in a compact field set for Saturday’s Grade III Wilshire is Rashmi, a graded-stakes winning daughter of Oscar Performance trained by Jonathan Thomas for owner-breeder Augustin Stable.
      Rashmi will be making her first start in more than a year in the one-mile Wilshire on turf. When last seen on March 1, 2025, Rashmi was beaten just a neck when third in the GII Buena Vista. Prior to that effort, she earned her biggest win when scoring in the GIII Megahertz also at one mile on turf.
“She had a long year, year and a half of racing, so we decided to give her some time off,” Thomas said of the layoff. “Rather than bringing her back in Kentucky, we decided to wait a couple of months to bring her out here. We’re looking forward to getting her started.”
Rashmi is installed as the 3-5 favorite on the Wilshire morning line. She’ll have Kazushi Kimura aboard for the first time in her comeback.
“She looks great,” Thomas said. “She’s come back very strong. We’re hoping she’s even a better version than before she left.”
Among those looking to upend Rashmi is Miss Artois, the 3-1 the second choice, Hannah Buckle (9-2), and Antifona (5-1).
Miss Artois will be making her stakes debut for trainer Richard Baltas and owner-breeder Pamela Cee Zeibarth. A 4-year-old filly by Mucho Macho Man, Miss Artois exits a rallying victory by a head in a first-level allowance going one mile on turf Feb. 21 at Santa Anita.
      Antifona stretches out in distance for trainer John Sadler. A 5-year-old Recolestos mare bred in France, Antifona most recently closed to be third in the Clockers’ Corners at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course on Feb. 21. Her lone stakes win came in 2024 in the Sweet Life, which was also sprinting down the hill.
      Antifona and Miss Artois were both ridden by Tiago Pereira in their most recent starts. Pereira keeps the mount on Antifona and Juan Hernandez will take over on Miss Artois.
      Hannah Buckle, trained by Leonard Powell, exits a fourth-place finish in the GIII Robert J. Frankel going 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 8. The Frankel was the first stakes start for the 5-year-old Irish-bred mare by Bated Breath.
      The Wilshire goes as the third race on a nine-race program Saturday. First post is 1 p.m. PT and the Wilshire goes at 2:01 p.m. The field in post position order: Rashmi, Kazushi Kimura (3-5); Antifona, Tiago Pereira (5-1); Miss Artois, Juan Hernandez (3-1); Hannah Buckle, Armando Ayuso (9-2); Walk’n the Beach, Ricky Gonzalez (20-1).

FRIDAY CARRYOVERS: $58K IN $2 PICK 6; $20K IN $1 SUNSET PICK 6
      There are carryovers Friday of $58,868 in the $2 Pick Six and $20,078 carryover in the $1 Sunset Pick Six, which links the final three races from Santa Anita Park and Gulfstream. The $2 Pick Six is projected to have a total pool of $400,000.
      First post at Santa Anita is 1 p.m. PT and the $2 Pick Six starts with the fourth race at 2:37 p.m. The Sunset Pick Six begins at 1:23 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park.
      To help bettors make informed selections, Santa Anita has teamed with Daily Racing Form to provide free full-card past performances for Santa Anita’s program. They can be accessed at https://promos.drf.com/santaanita25.

WORKS: NEVADA BEACH, THE PADRE, OM N JOY AMONG NOTABLES
      Grade I winner Nevada Beach, graded stakes winners The Padre and Om N Joy, and GII Santa Anita Oaks nominee Red Cherry were among the notables on the work tab Friday at Santa Anita.
      Nevada Beach worked for the first time since finishing 12th in the GI Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Feb. 14. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old colt by Omaha Beach drilled three furlongs in 38.0 seconds. Also on the tab for Baffert was Grade III winner Cash Call, who 12 days ago returned from 6 ½-month layoff and finished third in an allowance going 6 ½ furlongs. A 4-year-old filly by McKinzie, Cash Call was clocked going two furlongs in 24.4 seconds.
      Red Cherry, trained by John Sadler, was nominated to the Oaks following a maiden win going one mile on turf Feb. 28. A $110,000 auction purchase by Rock Your World, Red Cherry worked five furlongs in 1:00.0. The Santa Anita Oaks runs on Saturday, April 4. Entries will be taken this Monday.
      The Padre, who is on the comeback trail for trainer Phil D’Amato, worked five furlongs on the synthetic training track in 1:00.0. It was his eighth work since Feb. 9. A 4-year-old Irish-bred colt by Ghaiyyath, The Padre last year won both the GII Del Mar Derby and La Jolla at Del Mar before hitting the sidelines.
      Grade III winner Om N Joy returned to the tab after finishing third in the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on March 7. Trained by Aggie Ordonez, Om N Joy worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds last. Last year, the 4-year-old California-bred filly by Om won the GIII Torrey Pines at Del Mar and three other stakes for statebreds.

STUDY: SANTA ANITA RATES AMONG SAFEST TRACKS IN U.S. IN 2025
      The 2025 annual report on equine safety by the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority showed Santa Anita Park remains among the safest tracks in the country while leading the category among tracks with a comparable volume of racing.
      Santa Anita last year had a safety record of 99.985%, or 0.15 fatalities per 1,000 starts. Across 41 HISA-regulated tracks in 19 states last year, the study showed there were 1.04 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts. Both figures represent horses that died or were euthanized within 72 hours of racing. In 2009, when national tracking began, the rate was 2.0 per 1,000 starts.
      “The data contained in this year’s report shows that uniform national safety standards are working,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We are encouraged by the progress and remain deeply committed to building on these gains in collaboration with racetracks, regulatory partners and industry stakeholders.”

LEPAROUX TO RECEIVE 2026 WOOLF AWARD APRIL 19 AT SANTA ANITA
Kentucky-based jockey Julien Leparoux, who this week was announced as the winner of the 2026 George Woolf Memorial Award, will be presented with the Woolf trophy in a winner’s circle ceremony on Sunday, April 19 at Santa Anita.
The George Woolf Award honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and for the sport of Thoroughbred racing. It has been presented annually by Santa Anita Park since 1950. As each year’s winner is selected by a vote of fellow jockeys, it is one of the most cherished honors given to a rider.
“This is a proud moment,” Leparoux said. “This award is so unique and special. To be recognized by my fellow jockeys is really special.”
A 42-year-old native of France, Leparoux has been riding in the U.S. since 2005. In 2006, he won the Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding apprentice jockey. Then in 2009, Leparoux also took home the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in North America. He is one of only four jockeys to win an Eclipse Award as both an apprentice and a journeyman.
Entering Friday, Leparoux had won 3,067 races and tallied purse earnings of more than $206 million. His biggest success has come at the Breeders’ Cup where he’s won seven of the prestigious races. His best Breeders’ Cup performance came in 2009 at Santa Anita. That year he won the Filly & Mare Sprint with Informed Decision, Juvenile Fillies aboard She Be Wild and the Dirt Mile on Furthest Land.
Also in 2009, Leparoux won the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap with Einstein for trainer Helen Pitts. It’s the only time a female trainer has won the Big Cap.
“We beat some nice horses in that race,” Leparoux recalled. “It was a special day, especially to do it for the first woman. He was a big, black horse. People loved him.”
Leparoux lives in Louisville with his wife, Shea, and two sons: Mitchell, age 10; and Vinn, who is eight. Shea is a daughter of late trainer Mike Mitchell, who spent decades training on the Southern California circuit.
“It was my dream as a child to be jockey,” Leparoux said. ”To be able to live your dream for 20 years, and to know that you are respected by your colleagues, it means everything.”

FINISH LINES: Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:54 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park…Longtime owner Samantha Siegel, who races as Jay Em Ess Stable, was named this year’s recipient of the Ed Friendly Industry Service Award presented by the Thoroughbred Owners of California. Also known as the TOC Chairman’s Award, the honor is given annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Thoroughbred racing industry…Sunday’s feature is the GIII San Carlos going seven furlongs. The field includes up-and-coming Cornucopian as well as Grade I winners Subsanador and Stronghold, who both return from layoffs…Pro horseplayer Duke Matties will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m…Santa Anita has added two days of racing next month as makeups for cancellations early in the meet. There will now be live racing this Thursday, April 2 and also on Thursday, April 30.

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.