Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, March 15, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2026

RISPOLI ON THE MEND FROM BROKEN ANKLE; NO RETURN DATE YET
WORKS: INTREPIDO, PAVLOVIAN, USHA AMONG NOTABLES ON TAB
CARRYOVERS INCLUDE $32K IN $2 PICK 6; FREE PP’S AVAILABLE
TOC CONFORMATION CLINIC SET FOR THIS SATURDAY AT 9 A.M.

RISPOLI ON THE MEND FROM BROKEN ANKLE; NO RETURN DATE YET

Jockey Umberto Rispoli, sidelined with a broken right ankle since Jan. 24, is “still a ways away” from returning to the saddle, his agent Matt Nakatani said Sunday morning.

“He started physical therapy two weeks ago,” Nakatani said. “There’s still no timetable for him. Whenever he’s healthy again, he’ll be back.”

Rispoli was injured on Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park. In the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, Rispoli was unseated in the stretch when his mount, Unconquerable Keen, clipped heels. Rispoli suffered a broken fibula, fractured malleolus with a displacement, and a small fracture in the tibia. He had surgery the following day and a second surgery six days later. Rispoli spent 12 days in Florida before returning home to Southern California.

“He’s taking things day by day,” Nakatani said. “He’s finally walking a little bit now. He can take little baby steps. The most important thing is he’s inching forward.”

A 37-year-old native of Italy, Rispoli moved to Southern California in December 2019 after a successful international career. Last year was his best season to date in the U.S. Rispoli won 129 races from 594 mounts (22 percent) and tallied more than $13.4 million in purse earnings. His victories included 19 graded stakes.

Most notably, Rispoli last year teamed with Santa Anita-based Journalism to win the GI Preakness, GI Haskell, GI Santa Anita Derby and GII San Felipe. They also finished second to 3-year-old champion Sovereignty in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Rispoli’s other Grade I wins last year came with Formidable Man in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile and Salamis in the Hollywood Derby.

“Everything will work out,” Nakatani said. “I want him to be 110 percent confident before he returns. Anytime it’s an ankle, there’s a risk of banging it coming out of the gate, hitting the rail, or whatever else. So many things can happen out there. Ankles are key for a jockey’s balance and how sturdy their legs are.”

Nakatani noted things will become clearer once Rispoli completes his physical therapy.

“These guys are athletes and with any kind of injury, if you come back too soon and there’s a setback, then you’ll need even more time,” he said. “Once the therapy process is completed, he’ll be able to get on a horse and that will tell him where he’s at. But that’s still a ways away.”

WORKS: INTREPIDO, PAVLOVIAN, USHA AMONG NOTABLES ON TAB

Top 3-year-olds Intrepido and Pavlovian and GI La Brea winner Usha were among the notable horses on the work tab Sunday at Santa Anita.

Intrepido, trained by Jeff Mullins, worked five furlongs with jockey Hector Berrios aboard in 1:00.40. Most recently second in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Feb. 7, the colt by Maximus Mischief is slated to run in the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

Pavlovian worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.0 for trainer Doug O’Neill. A California-bred son of Pavel, Pavlovian is entered in this Saturday’s GII Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. The Reddam Racing homebred most recently won the Sunland Park Derby on Feb. 15.

Usha, trained by Bob Baffert, worked five furlongs in 1:01.4. In the seven-furlong La Brea for 3-year-old fillies Dec. 28, Usha rallied from off the pace and drew off to win by 5 ½ lengths. It was the first stakes win for the daughter of Tiz the Law.

Graded stakes winner Big City Lights, trained by Richard Mandella, worked six furlongs on the training track in 1:13.0. The 7-year-old horse by Mr. Big has yet to start this season. In mid-January, Big City Lights was entered in the Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint for statebreds but was scratched after grabbing a quarter during training.

Mandella said Big City Lights will return either in next weekend’s Sensational Star for California-breds on the hillside turf course or wait another week for the GIII San Carlos at seven furlongs on dirt on March 29. Mandella is also planning to enter Subsanador in the San Carlos. Subsanador hasn’t started since September 2024 when winning the GI California Crown at Santa Anita.

Working on the comeback trail for trainer Phil D’Amato was The Padre, who last summer at Del Mar won both the La Jolla and GII Del Mar Derby before hitting the sidelines.. A 4-year-old import from Ireland, The Padre drilled five furlongs in 1:01.2. It was his sixth work since Feb. 9.

SUNDAY CARRYOVERS INCLUDE $32K IN $2 PICK 6; FREE PP’S AVAILABLE

Nearly $200,00 worth of combined carryover money is up for grabs Sunday between the $2 Pick 6, $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 and $1 Sunset Pick 6. First post is 1 p.m. for a nine-race card.

Santa Anita’s $2 Pick 6 has a carryover of $32,101 after no one successfully selected all six winners on Saturday. The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5, which incorporates select races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, has a $119,873 carryover. The $1 Sunset Pick 6, which links the final three races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, will start with a two-day carryover of $47,002.

Santa Anita officials project a total pool of $250,000 in the $2 Pick 6. The wager starts at 2:36 p.m. with the fourth race. The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 12:52 p.m. with the seventh race from Gulfstream Park and the Sunset Pick 6 begins at 1:23 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park.

Free Daily Racing Form past performance for Sunday’s full card are available at https://promos.drf.com/santaanita25.

TOC CONFORMATION CLINIC SET FOR THIS SATURDAY AT 9 A.M.

The Thoroughbred Owners of California will host a conformation clinic this Saturday at Santa Anita as part of its ongoing series of owner education seminars. It starts at 9 a.m. in the Baldwin Terrace on the third floor of the grandstand.

The first half of the conformation clinic will feature Craig “Boomer” Rounsefell via livestream from his home base in Australia. As a world-renowned bloodstock agent, Rounsefell will share his insight and experience as well as some of his California success stories which include Grade I winner Hit the Road and GII winner Hong Kong Harry. Rounsefell has traveled to nearly every corner of the racing world and spends each summer at Del Mar with his wife, McCall, who is the daughter of late trainer Mike Mitchell.

Rounsefell, who works with international clientele through his Boomer Bloodstock, will outline many of his key observations when evaluating his short list of prospects.

The second half of the clinic will feature a visit to the Santa Anita backstretch, where attendees will have the opportunity to see horse conformation up close.

The conformation clinic is a great opportunity to ask questions, gain expert insight and connect with key figures that help shape the sport. It is free for licensed owners. Each owner may also bring one guest. A $25 fee will be applied for each additional guest. Reservations are required.

For more information on the clinic, visit https://toconline.com/ and view the ‘Events’ tab, or call the TOC office at 626-574-6620.

FINISH LINES: Sunday’s third race is named in honor of the late John Shirreffs. Those who knew the esteemed trainer are invited to the winner’s circle after the race for a gathering and group picture. A Celebration of Life for Shirreffs is also being held in the Chandelier Room from 1 to 3 p.m…Jockey Antonio Fresu, who missed a portion of the Classic Meet due to a broken toe, won three races Saturday to move back into the top 10 in the jockey’s standings. Fresu won the opener aboard Not a Sinner ($6) for trainer Simon Callaghan, the fourth race on Mighty Kai ($6.60) for trainer Victor Garcia, and the fifth race with Bro Bro ($8.60) for trainer Doug O’Neill…Next weekend’s stakes action includes both the GIII San Luis Rey and Irish O’Brien on Saturday and the Sensational Star on Sunday. The San Luis Rey is for older horses at 1 ½ miles on turf. The Irish O’Brien is for California-bred fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. The Sensational Star is open to all California-breds and is also contested at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside course… Nominations close Sunday for both the GIII Wilshire on March 28 and GIII San Carlos on March 29.

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.