Mohaven passes two-turn test with a dominant 6-length win in the Melair Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Santa Anita

MOHAVEN PASSES TWO-TURN TEST WITH A DOMINANT 6-LENGTH WIN IN THE MELAIR STAKES FOR CALIFORNIA-BRED 3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES GOING 1 1/16 MILES SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (May 23, 2026)—Making her first start around two turns, Mohaven proved the added distance to be no problem Saturday when earning a dominant victory in the $125,000 Melair Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Mohaven went to the lead under Emisael Jaramillo and faced little resistance on her way to winning by six lengths as the 3-5 favorite. Cecilia Street (14-1) finished a distant second and was followed by Run With Liberty (2-1) and Lino’s Angel (40-1).

Mohaven is trained by John Sadler, who one race earlier also won the Crystal Water Stakes with favorite Flyover. Mohaven won in a time of 1:44.89 after setting fractions of 23.51, 47.40, 1:11.4 and 1:37.91.

Mohaven is owned by Legacy Ranch. By Yaupon, she was purchased for $200,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton California fall yearlings sale.

The Melair was Mohaven’s third stakes win, all against statebreds. In October, she won the Golden State Juvenile Fillies going seven furlongs at Del Mar. Then prior to the Melair on April 4, she rolled to a six-length victory in the Evening Jewel going 6 ½ furlongs at Santa Anita. Mohaven is now 7: 4-2-0 with more than $320,000 in earnings.

Mohaven paid $3.20, $2.10 and $2.10. Cecilia Street, trained by Leonard Powell, returned $7.20 and $3.00. Run With Liberty, ridden by Kyle Frey for trainer Jeff Mullins, paid $2.10.

__MELAIR STAKES QUOTES __

JOCKEY QUOTES

EMISAEL JARAMILLO, MOHAVEN, WINNER: “She broke in front, no problem. She’s just a very classy horse. Very easy. We were in a great flow from start to finish."

TRAINER QUOTES

JOHN SADLER, MOHAVEN, WINNER: “This horse has been so consistent, either first or second except for that turf race (Sweet Life Stakes Feb. 7). I think this horse is more of a sprinter, but she got the job done today. There are just so many of these “x” type of races, so you want to be on this card. I know her next race will be the Fleet Treat at Del Mar.”

OWNER QUOTES

TERRY KNIGHT (LEGACY RANCH), MOHAVEN, WINNER: “It is very important to our program to support the Cal-breds. This was the logical place to try her. A little out of her comfort zone I think, two turns. With the Cal-breds, we thought we would stay involved. I just wanted to get around the first turn then I thought we would be okay.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Legacy Ranch Inc.