The Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes, initially delayed by a week due to rain, will now feature a larger field of seven fillies competing this Sunday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Among the contenders are Magnificat, Thermal, and Margarita Girl, along with a notable addition, Mau, trained by Bob Baffert. Magnificat, trained by Richard Mandella and owned by Spend Thrift Farm, is set to make her stakes debut after missing the G1 La Brea on December 28. The 4-year-old mare, by Omaha Beach, secured her first win in her second Santa Anita start in October and followed that with a win at Del Mar, with jockey Mirco DeMuro returning to ride her.
Thermal, a 5-year-old daughter of Nyquist, switched back to dirt from turf and synthetic surfaces with an impressive allowance win over six furlongs. Trained and co-owned by John Sadler, Thermal showed a strong performance at Santa Anita on October 17, leading from the start and winning by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:08.99, with Hector Berrios riding.
Margarita Girl, a 4-year-old by Twirling Candy, broke her streak of near wins by capturing her first victory in a six-furlong race at Del Mar in August. Owned by Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Mark Glatt, she will be ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, filling in for the injured Antonio Fres.
Mau, returning after a year for Bob Baffert and owner Baoma Corp, last raced in January 2025 with a 17-1 upset at the Santa Ynez Stakes. This 4-year-old filly by Blame had notable finishes in the G2 Starlet and Desi Arnaz Stakes before that. Kazushi Kimura will be the jockey.
In addition to the Las Flores Stakes, the race card on Sunday will also host the G3 Las Cienegas Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.
Racing lineup for the Grade 3 Las Flores:
- Ooty — Juan Hernandez — 124 lbs
- Thermal — Hector Berrios — 120 lbs
- Margarita Girl — Ricky Gonzalez — 120 lbs
- Public Relations — Contilian Kimura — 120 lbs
- Magnificat — Mirco Demuro — 120 lbs
- No Bad Beats — Emisael Jaramillo — 120 lbs
- Don’t Tell Wife — Diego Herrera — 120 lbs
This report was originally published by Paulick Report on January 7, 2026.
Fan Take: This expanded lineup for the Las Flores Stakes brings exciting competition and showcases rising talent in the filly division, promising thrilling races for fans. It highlights the depth and resilience in the sport, reinforcing why horse racing continues to captivate audiences with its unpredictability and drama.
