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After Near Miss In GI American Oaks Opening Day, Will Then Returns For Thomas In Grade III Megahertz Going One Mile On Turf Saturday At Santa Anita

1/26/2026

AFTER NEAR MISS IN GI AMERICAN OAKS OPENING DAY, WILL THEN RETURNS FOR THOMAS IN GRADE III MEGAHERTZ GOING ONE MILE ON TURF SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 26, 2026)—Will Then, who was beaten just three-quarters of a length when third in the Grade I American Oaks Dec. 28 on opening day of the Santa Anita Classic Meet, will cut back in distance and get class relief Saturday in the Grade III, $100,000 Megahertz Stakes for older fillies and mares at one mile on turf.

Trained by Jonathan Thomas, Will Then in the 1 ¼ mile American Oaks raced up close to the pace and was outfinished to suffer a narrow loss behind winning stablemate Ambaya and runner-up Cliffs. The 4-year-old daughter of War of Will is seeking her second graded win after scoring in the GIII Jimmy Durante as a juvenile. Will Then, a homebred for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable, enters with a record of 10: 3-0-2 and $239,164 in earnings. She’ll have Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard for the first time.

Public Assembly returns for trainer Phil D’Amato after finishing fifth as the odds-on favorite in the GIII Robert J. Frankel at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 8. A 5-year-old mare by More Than Ready, Public Assembly is owned by Abbondanza Racing, McNulty Thoroughbred and Medallion Racing. She is 12: 3-3-0 with $308,166 in earnings and will have new rider Hector Berrios aboard.

Princess Moche stretches out for trainer Doug O’Neill after finishing second by just a half-length to top California turf mare Queen Maxima in the GIII Las Cienegas sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course Jan. 11. Imported from her native Peru last summer, the 6-year-old mare has an overall record of 38: 11-4-5 and $114,416. She is owned by Rancho San Roberto Inc. and will have regular rider Mirco Demuro aboard.

The new face in the lineup is Sigh No More, who makes her local debut for trainer Phil D’Amato and new owner R Unicorn Stable after previously being based in the east with trainer Brendan Walsh. A 4-year-old Irish-bred by Starspangledbanner, Sigh No More last year won the Boiling Springs Stakes at Monmouth Park going 1 1/16 miles on turf. She’ll be seeking a first win at the graded level Saturday.

Sigh No More has been off since September when finishing fourth in the Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park going 1 1/8 miles on turf. She will have Kazushi Kimura aboard for her local unveiling. .

__THE GRADE III MEGAHERTZ WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER __

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

  1. My Perfect Wave—Emisael Jaramillo—120
  2. Public Assembly—Hector Berrios—124
  3. Princess Moche—Mirco Demuro—120
  4. Will Then—Mike Smith—124
  5. Going Lucky—Ricky Gonzalez—120
  6. Violeta M—Victor Espinoza—124
  7. Vibez—Juan Hernandez—122
  8. Sigh No More—Kazushi Kimura—124
  9. Baltic Fire—Cesar Belmont—120

First post Saturday is 12:30 p.m. PT.