Grade I winner Ambaya returns after long layoff for Thomas in Saturday’s Grade III Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares going one mile on turf Saturday at Santa Anita

GRADE I WINNER AMBAYA RETURNS AFTER LONG LAYOFF FOR THOMAS IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III GOLDIKOVA STAKES FOR FILLIES AND MARES GOING ONE MILE ON TURF SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Oct. 26, 2026)—Ambaya, sidelined since winning last year’s Grade I American Oaks in December at Santa Anita, leads a trio of runners entered for trainer Jonathan Thomas in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares going one mile on turf.

Ambaya scored at odds of 12-1 when winning last year’s 1 ¼ American Oaks by a half length. The 4-year-old filly by Ghostzapper, a homebred for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable, enters with a record of 6: 2-2-1 with $245,960 in earnings. She will have Emmanuel Esquivel in the irons.

Thomas’ other entrants are As Catch Can, who also hasn’t started since the American Oaks when finishing ninth at 14-1; and Miss Nightfall.

English-bred Miss Nightfall made 15 starts in her native country before being imported this summer. In her first U.S. start, the 4-year-old filly by Sands of Mali won an allowance going one mile at Saratoga when rallying from off the pace on Sept. 7. Miss Nightfall is owned by Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing and will be ridden by Jamie Spencer.

Returning west from Florida for trainer Jose D’Angelo is Bojaca Blessing. A 4-year-old filly by Cairo Prince, Bojaca Blessing this summer made two starts at the Del Mar meeting. She won a high-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles in July then came back to finish a solid third in the GII John C. Mabee going 1 1/8 miles. Bojaca Blessing is owned by P & G Stables and will have Hector Berrios abord.

THE GRADE III GOLDIKOVA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 10 - Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

1. Miss Nightfall—Jamie Spencer—122
2. As Catch Can—Ricky Gonzalez—124
3. May Day Ready—Drayden Van Dyke—126
4. Little Jamie—Tiago Pereira—124
5. Bojaca Blessing—Hector Berrios—122
6. Raw Ability—Abel Lezcano—122
7. Ambaya—Emmanuel Esquivel—126
8. Princesa Moche—Armando Ayuso—126
9. Mo’ Em Down—Armando Aguilar—118
10. Baltic Fire—Kyle Frey—124
11. Lady In Paris—Victor Espinoza—122

First post Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. PT. Full entries for Santa Anita's 10-race card are available at santaanita.com.