Lilo Lil And Jaramillo Steal It On The Front-End In The Providencia Stakes For 3-Year-Old Fillies Going 1 1/8 Miles On Turf Sunday At Santa Anita Park

LILO LIL AND JARAMILLO STEAL IT ON THE FRONT-END IN THE PROVIDENCIA STAKES FOR 3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES GOING 1 1/8 MILES ON TURF SUNDAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

ARCADIA, CA (April 5, 2026)—Maiden Lilo Lil and jockey Emisael Jaramillo went to the lead in Sunday’s $100,000 Providencia Stakes, were unchallenged while setting a pedestrian pace and then fended off an oncoming Wild Like the West to win by a nose Sunday at Santa Anita.

Sent off at 25-1 in the 1/18-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, Lilo Lil set opening splits of 23.97, 49.11 and 1:14.01 for six furlongs. She reached the eighth pole in 1:37.47 with a half-length advantage over Wild Like the West and had enough left to prevail by the slimmest of margins in a time of 1:48.95.

Lilo Lil, by Caravaggio, is trained by Michael McCarthy for owner-breeder Charles Fox. Jaramillo, who finished Classic Meet as the leading jockey, was riding Lilo Lil for the first time.

“When McCarthy gave me the instructions, he said we have nothing to lose and take the lead if I want. I thought it was a great idea,” Jaramillo said. “I knew she was going easy. At the eighth pole I asked her to pick it up, she took off and they couldn’t catch me.”

Lilo Lil was one of three in the field for McCarthy. He also saddled Victorious Dream (11-1), who finished third, and last-place finisher Tiyara (10-1).

“I thought all three of them would relish the mile and an eighth,” McCarthy said. “This filly has had a little bit of hard luck. Emisael worked her the other day and she worked wonderfully for him. I told him if you are happy enough, go ahead and bounce out of there and if you want the lead go ahead take it. Things worked out well today.”

Lilo Lil was winless in three starts as a 2-year-old before receiving a three-month break. She returned March 8 in a one-mile maiden turf event and finished fifth.

Lilo Lil paid $54.80, $26.80 and $12.80. Wild Like the West, ridden by Juan Hernandez for trainer Richard Baltas, returned $5.00 and $4.60. Victorious Dream, with Victor Espinoza aboard, paid $7.40.

Sunday was closing day of the Classic Meet. Live racing will resume at Santa Anita on Friday, April 17 with the start of the Hollywood Meet, which runs through June 14.

PROVIDENCIA STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

EMISAEL JARAMILLO, LILO LIL, WINNER: “When McCarthy gave me the instructions, he said we have nothing to lose and take the lead if I want. I thought it was a great idea. I knew she was going easy. At the eighth pole I asked her to pick it up, she took off and they couldn’t catch me.”

TRAINER QUOTES

MICHAEL McCARTHY, LILO LIL, WINNER: “They actually had a maiden race earlier today that I thought was a little tougher than this spot. I had two in there that I thought were well meant but neither one of them really showed up and got the job done. Three fillies here we chose to run in this spot. I thought all three of them would relish the mile and an eighth. This filly has had a little bit of hard luck.. Emisael worked her the other day and she worked wonderfully for him. I told him if you are happy enough, go ahead and bounce out of there and if you want the lead go ahead take it. Things worked out well today. After the way she worked the other day, Emisael said she had a lot of pace, just had to give her an opportunity to use it. This was the right spot today”.

NOTES: The winning owner and breeder is Charles Fox.