Santa Anita Park is set to feature a special 10-race holiday program this Monday, highlighted by the Swingtime Stakes, a one-mile turf race for fillies and mares. This event is open to female horses that have not won a sweepstakes prize of $60,000 or more at one mile or longer distance, excluding state-bred races, in 2026. The total purse is $80,000, with an extra $24,000 available for California-bred or sired horses.
The Swingtime has drawn a competitive field of eight runners, including several who have recently been competing in open and graded stakes races.
Innovative, trained by Phil D’Amato, enters off a fifth-place finish in the CTT and TOC Stakes over 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar on August 15, and narrowly missed victory in the Possibly Perfect Stakes at a mile and a quarter at Santa Anita in June. This 4-year-old filly by Complexity seeks her first stakes win since last year’s Grade 3 John C. Harris on Santa Anita’s hillside turf. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing and Sterling Stables, she will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario.
Antifona, a 5-year-old French mare bred by Recoletos, is aiming for her first stakes triumph since winning the 2024 Sweet Life sprint on the hillside turf at Santa Anita. Most recently, she finished third behind champion sprinter Sweet Azteca in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar over 6 ½ furlongs on dirt. Trained by Vladimir Cerin for Larry and Holly Wilson, Antifona will carry Juan Hernandez in the irons.
A newcomer to the field is Miracle Beauty, a 4-year-old filly by Sioux Nation making her U.S. debut off a lengthy 11 ½ month layoff. This European import, trained by Michael McCarthy and owned by Mark Dobbin, captured two wins from seven starts in Europe under trainer Joseph O’Brien. Kazushi Kimura is slated to ride her first race on American soil.
Firenze Flavor brings graded stakes experience as last year’s winner of the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes on turf. The 4-year-old daughter of Liam’s Map resumed her campaign on September 7 in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee at Del Mar after more than 10 months away, but finished eighth. Conditioned by Patrick Gallagher for Oda Racing and U.S. Equine, she will have Drayden Van Dyke aboard, who was also her jockey for the Honeymoon victory.
As part of the holiday festivities, fans attending Monday’s card can take advantage of free parking through Gate 3 off Huntington Drive and enjoy $2 hot dogs, beers, and sodas.
The Swingtime Stakes Jockeys & Weights (Post Positions):
- Innovative — Joel Rosario — 122 lbs
- Miracle Beauty — Kazushi Kimura — 122 lbs
- Slick — Umberto Rispoli — 122 lbs
- Antifona — Juan Hernandez — 122 lbs
- Firenze Flavor — Drayden Van Dyke — 126 lbs
- Tirupati — Jamie Spencer — 126 lbs
- Pura Vida Princesa — Emisael Jaramillo — 122 lbs
- Bit’s Tiger Magic — Ramon Vazquez — 122 lbs
The first race on Monday kicks off at 1 p.m. PT.
Fan Take:
This Swingtime Stakes card offers a compelling clash between established graded stakes competitors and fresh talent, potentially shaking up the turf division for female horses. For horse racing enthusiasts, it’s an exciting opportunity to witness emerging stars and international contenders making their mark, which helps keep the sport dynamic and globally relevant.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
