Due to rain predicted in Southern California, Santa Anita’s usual December 26 opening day has been postponed, though the holiday spirit remains strong. The horse racing action continues on December 26 with notable events at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park, including the Rampart Stakes and the Pippin Stakes, both focusing on fillies racing around two turns.
Saturday’s highlight is the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream, a seven-furlong race on the main track. White Avario, the current Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup champion, will make his return following an injury sustained during the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on November 1.
Sunday marks the eagerly awaited opening day at Santa Anita, featuring a card with three Grade 1 races: the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes, the seven-furlong La Brea Stakes, and the 1 1/4-mile American Oaks. Additional stakes include the Grade 2 Lafitte Pincay Jr. at 1⅛ miles, the Grade 3 Matisse Smile for sophomore turf milers, and the Grade 3 San Gabriel covering 1⅛ miles on turf.
Two races initially slated for Sunday—the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes (a downhill turf course) and the Blue Nozer Stakes for two-year-old fillies over a mile on turf—will now take place on Monday.
On Sunday, the Grade 2 Lafitte Pincay Junior Stakes will see a showdown between G1 winners Naissos and Nevada Beach over nine furlongs. While Naissos faces some uncertainty at this distance, Nevada Beach boasts major victories here, including the Grade 1 Goodwood and Grade 3 Native Diver. British Isles and Indispensable, who placed second and fourth in the last Native Diver, respectively, will also compete, along with California’s Vodka Vodka, who is stepping up to stakes competition after two straight wins.
The Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita features 11 three-year-old fillies, with no clear standout. Formula Rossa, who recently finished second in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap against older fillies, is the early favorite. Bob Baffert trains three entrants in this race—Usha, Brilliantly, and Silent Row—with Usha looking to bounce back after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Raven Run. Richard Baltas’s Altima, a consistent performer with five runner-up finishes this year, will wear blinkers for the first time.
The Grade 1 Malibu Stakes includes ten horses over seven furlongs, with Bob Baffert entering five runners led by Perryville Stakes winner Burns. Cornucopian and Madaket Road come off layoffs, while Goal Oriented and Midland Money aim to return to form following recent losses. The competition also features Smooth Like Wien, who finished fourth against seasoned horses in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
Fan Take: This packed weekend of racing, especially the high-stakes moments at Santa Anita, exemplifies the thrilling challenges and star power that keep horse racing fans engaged. With champions like White Avario returning and promising newcomers stepping up, these events could shape the future landscape of the sport, increasing excitement and competition at the highest level.
