Nafisa, Simply Joking Lead the Grade III Santa Maria Stakes for Fillies and Mares

By Victor Ryan —-

NAFISA, SIMPLY JOKING LEAD THE GRADE III SANTA MARIA STAKES FOR FILLIES AND MARES GOING 1 1/16 MILES SUNDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (April 14, 2026)—Nafisa and Simply Joking, who each earned minor awards in last month’s GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile, meet again Sunday at Santa Anita Park in the Grade III, $100,000 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles. The Santa Maria headlines a nine-race program that starts at 1 p.m. PT.

Nafisa is a graded stakes winner trained by Bob Baffert for owner Zedan Racing Stables. In January at Santa Anita, Nafisa made her stakes debut in the GIII La Canada at 1 1/16 miles and promptly romped by 4 ¾ lengths. She returned in the Beholder Mile March 7 and finished last of five after stalking the pace. A 5-year-old mare by Quality Road, Nafisa is 16: 3-5-4 with $245,620 in earnings. She’ll be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

Simply Joking, trained by Michael McCarthy, finished fourth in the Beholder Mile while never threatening. Winner of last year’s Silverbulletday Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Fair Grounds when trained by Whit Beckman, Simply Joking prior to the Beholder Mile was third in the GI La Brea at Santa Anita going seven furlongs and second in the 1 1/16-mile GIII Bayakoa at Del Mar. The daughter of Practical Joke is owned by Berkels 0813, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres and Ryan Conner. She’ll have the services of Santa Anita Classic Meet leading rider Emisael Jaramillo, who was also aboard in the Beholder Mile.

THE GRADE III SANTA MARIA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 9 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

Catalina Cocktail—Hector Berrios—120
Lemon Muffin—Antonio Fresu—124
Syntax—Kyle Frey—120
Simply Joking—Emisael Jaramillo—122
Nafisa—Juan Hernandez—124

First post Sunday is 1 p.m. PT.