Repo Man edges stablemate Maxify to win stakes debut in the Grade III Zuma Beach for 2-year-olds going one mile on turf Sunday at Santa Anita Park

REPO MAN EDGES STABLEMATE MAXIFY TO WIN STAKES DEBUT IN THE GRADE III ZUMA BEACH FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS GOING ONE MILE ON TURF SUNDAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

Both the winner and runner-up are trained by Michael McCarthy and could now be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

ARCADIA, CA (Oct. 4, 2026)—Trainer Michael McCarthy filled the exacta in Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes when Repo Man edged stablemate Maxify by a head at the finish to win the one-mile turf test for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita Park.

Repo Man, the 4-5 favorite ridden by Umberto Rispoli, and Maxify (2-1) with Juan Hernandez aboard, raced side-by-side in the final furlong. The two horses, with Repo Man on the outside, appeared to make contact multiple times on the way to the wire. Jockey Juan Hernandez lodged a jockey’s objection and a steward’s inquiry was also posted. After about eight minutes of deliberation, the stewards ruled there would be no change in the order of finish. Finishing 4 ½ lengths back in third was eastern shipper Duty Bound (2-1), who was ridden by Emisael Jaramillo for trainer Jack Sisterson.

Rispoli said he was not concerned with the inquiry/objection.

“Absolutely not. You watch it head on, at the top of the stretch my horses is lugging in. I tried to stay away from everyone, and he was the first one that came and found me. He contacted me first,” Rispoli said. “So after that, his horse is tired and getting beat, and once we contacted again his horse overreacted because it was tired. There was never one chance he would have come back on me…I passed him by a head and that’s the margin we kept to the wire.”

Repo Man, who was last at the quarter pole in a four-horse field, rallied into a tepid pace to win in a final time of 1:36.05. Fractions for the race were 24.25, 49.02 and 1:12.57 for six furlongs. Just prior to the race, Off in the Corner—who was withdrawn by trainer Peter Miller from Saturday’s five-furlong Speakeasy Stakes to run in the Zuma Beach—was a late scratch.

“The pace was slow. Obviously when Off in the Corner was scratched, we knew it would be a tactical race,” Rispoli said. “I think everybody was happy with where they were at. I had to anticipate a little bit the momentum. I probably had the chance to stay on the inside, but I wanted to teach him something, to put him around horses and pass them.”

Repo Man is a colt by freshman sire and two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal. In his only previous start, a five-furlong turf event for maidens at Del Mar on Aug. 27, Repo Man rallied from to win by 1 ½ lengths.

Maxify, a ridgling by Justify, won his only other start going one mile on turf against maidens on Sept. 4 at Del Mar.

“I think both horses are still learning,” McCarthy said. “Maxify ran wonderfully there in only his second start. This horse (Repo Man), he was a little farther back than I was expecting him to be. Came with a big run. Obviously, with the Breeders’ Cup right out in front of us it is something to think about. We will get him back in the barn, both these horses, and see how we do. But the future is bright for both of them.”

Repo Man was purchased by Amerman Racing earlier this year for $235,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training..

Repo Man paid $3.60 and $2.10. Maxify who is a homebred for Jay W. Bligh returned $2.20.

GRADE III, ZUMA BEACH STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

UMBERTO RISPOLI, REPO MAN, WINNER: “Absolutely not. You watch it head on, at the top of the stretch my horses is lugging in. I tried to stay away from everyone and he was the first one that came and found me. He contacted me first. So after that, his horse is tired and getting beat, when once we contacted again his horse overreacted because it was tired. There was never one chance he would have come back on me. I never rode my horse in the stretch.

“If you watch, I was almost down the whole stretch concerned with keeping my horse straight rather than riding him. I passed him by a head and that’s the margin we kept until the wire. I was more focused on keep him straight than anything else. I was never concerned. I knew I was going to pass him.

“I think he needs to improve from this race. In the morning he’s a very professional horse. I would say first time going a route of ground on the turf, sometimes they look around at things. He was not real focused.

“The pace was slow. Obviously when Off the Corner was scratched we knew it would be a tactical race. I think everybody was happy. I was in position and was happy. I had to anticipate a little bit the momentum. I probably had the chance to stay on the inside but I wanted to teach him something, to put him around horses and pass them.”

TRAINER QUOTES

MICHAEL MCCARTHY, REPO MAN, WINNER: “I think both horses are still learning. Maxify ran wonderfully there in only his second start. This horse (Repo Man), he was a little farther back than I was expecting him to be. Came with a big run. Obviously, with the Breeders’ Cup right out in front of us it is something to think about. We will get him back in the barn, both these horses, and see how we do. But the future is bright for both of them.”

OWNER QUOTES

JOHN AMERMAN, REPO MAN, WINNER: “ Well he is a very awesome talent. He’s got a great name too, Repo Man. That’s named after me because when I got out of college no one would hire me, I was up for the draft ant the only job I could get was at GM, repossessing cars so somebody named him Repo Man.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Amerman Racing, LLC.