Formula Rossa first gained attention in February with a striking win in the sprint at Santa Anita and has since been carefully managed. Now, she’s set to compete in the prestigious seven-furlong Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies this Sunday. Trainer Mark Glatt remarked on Tuesday that if Formula Rossa continued to mature and improve, this race was a key target.
In a competitive field of 11 runners, Formula Rossa is favored at 3-1 odds by Horse Racing Nation’s morning line. The La Brea is one of three Grade 1 races kicking off the 2025-26 Classic season at Santa Anita on Sunday, alongside the seven-furlong G1 Malibu for 3-year-olds and the G1 American Oaks on turf over a mile and a quarter.
Glatt also has high hopes with Take a Breath in the American Oaks, aiming for his first U.S. win. Should both horses claim victory, Glatt, who has been training since 1994, would match his current total of two Grade 1 wins, both achieved at Del Mar in the Bing Crosby Stakes with Collusion Illusion (2020) and Dr. Sibel (2021).
After her debut triumph, Formula Rossa returned at Del Mar in August for a six-furlong race, winning impressively by 6¼ lengths and posting a Beyer Speed Figure of 98—the best among the La Brea contenders. She then made her stakes debut three weeks later in the G3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar, where she kept pace with a fast pace runner but ultimately finished behind Sweet Azteca, the nation’s top female sprinter.
Glatt praised Formula Rossa’s Rancho Bernardo effort, saying although they hoped to win against the heavy favorite, the filly showed promise in just her third career start and did not disappoint. He expressed optimism about her potential to take the next step in the La Brea.
The La Brea is scheduled as the eighth race around 2:30 p.m. PT, featuring runners like Simply Joking, Kazushi Kimura, Five G, Artisma, Usha, Wonderful, Silfried, Her Laugh, Magnificat, and Silent Law, alongside Formula Rossa.
Take a Breath, aiming for a breakthrough win in the US at the Oaks, rebounded from a tough defeat in the G1 Del Mar Oaks and a disappointing September race at Santa Anita. Her most recent outing in the G3 Autumn Miss was lackluster, but Glatt noted she faced significant trouble in that race and showed potential to win under better circumstances. Airad Ortiz Jr., a five-time Eclipse Award winner, will be her new jockey for the Oaks.
The final race on the card is the American Oaks, due to start around 4 p.m. PT, with horses such as A Thousand Miles, Will Zen, Cliffs, Ambaya, Slick, Breathless, Determination, Fully Justified, Achila, and Ribbons scheduled to compete.
Fan Take: This weekend’s Grade 1 races at Santa Anita present exciting opportunities to see rising stars like Formula Rossa and seasoned contenders like Take a Breath showcase their talents. These events not only highlight promising new talent but also contribute to the ongoing excitement and prestige of Thoroughbred racing, keeping fans engaged and the sport vibrant.
