Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, April 17, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026

• WORKS: SO HAPPY, MEANING, BROOKLYN BLONDE, EXPLORA ON TAB • D’AMATO HOLDS A STRONG PAIR IN BOTH GIII AMERICAN, JOHN SHEAR • PERMANENTLY DISABLED JOCKEYS FUND TELETHON IS SATURDAY • LEPAROUX TO RECEIVE GEORGE WOOLF AWARD SUNDAY

WORKS: SO HAPPY, MEANING, BROOKLYN BLONDE LEAD TAB

Thirteen days after winning the Grade I Santa Anita Derby So Happy returned to the work tab Thursday at Santa Anita and promptly fired a bullet for trainer Mark Glatt. He was joined on the tab by Meaning and Brooklyn Blonde, the top two finishers in the Grade II Santa Anita Oaks, along with fellow sophomore fillies Explora and Bottle of Rouge.

So Happy worked in company with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard. The colt by Runhappy was timed going five furlongs in 59.6 seconds.

“We were really happy with the work,” Glatt said. “He worked straight and strong all the way through and galloped out well for him. It seems like all systems go right now.”

Meaning and Brooklyn Blonde are both trained by Michael McCarthy. Following the works, McCarthy departed for Oaklawn where on Saturday he’ll saddle last year’s Santa Anita Derby winner, Journalism, in the GII Oaklawn Handicap for his highly anticipated 4-year-old debut.

Meaning worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds, while Brooklyn Blonde was timed going the same distance in 49.0 seconds.

So Happy, Meaning Brooklyn Blonde and others are all scheduled to ship from Santa Anita to Kentucky on Tuesday for stakes engagements at Churchill Downs. So Happy will run in the Kentucky Derby, providing Glatt with his first-ever starter in the 1 ¼-mile classic. Meaning is ticketed for the Kentucky Oaks on May 1. Brooklyn Blonde is also eyeing the Kentucky Oaks but still needs two defections from the prospective field to ultimately make the 14-horse starting gate.

Bob Baffert-trained stablemates Explora and Bottle of Rouge have their tickets punched for the Kentucky Oaks. Explora Thursday worked seven furlongs in 1:25. Bottle of Rouge was clocked going four furlongs in 48.8 seconds.

Also working for Baffert was the unbeaten Crude Velocity, who is slated to make his stakes debut in the GII Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard. The 3-year-old colt by Beau Liam drilled four furlongs in 48.6 seconds.

Other notables on the tab included El Potente and Subsanador. El Potente, who most recently finished second as the favorite in the GII Frank E. Kilroe Mile on March 7, worked five furlongs in 1:00.4. Trained by Dan Blacker, the 6-year-old horse by Temple City is pointed to the GI Shoemaker Mile on May 25.

Grade I winner Subsanador worked six furlongs in 1:14.6. On March 29, Subsanador returned from an 18-month layoff in the GIII San Carlos going seven furlongs. He rallied to be fourth after being far back early in his comeback. Prior to his lengthy layoff, Subsanador’s wins included the GI California Crown in 2024 at Santa Anita.

D’AMATO HOLDS A STRONG PAIR IN BOTH GIII AMERICAN, JOHN SHEAR

Trainer Phil D’Amato holds a strong pair in both of Saturday’s stakes, the GIII American and John Shear.

In the American at one mile on turf, D’Amato will send out 2-1 program favorite Almendares and King of Gosford (7-2), a Grade I winner who’ll be returning from a 7 ½ month layoff. In the John Shear, which is for 3-year-olds at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course, D’Amato will saddle both Later Than Planned (9-5) and Iriseach (2-1).

In two starts this year, Almendares finished third in both the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park and then the GII Frank E. Kilroe Mile on March 7 at Santa Anita. Over three-plus seasons, Almendares has finished in the top three in nine graded stakes but has not found the winner’s circle at the graded level.

“He’s been running against the nuts all over the place,” D’Amato said. “I think this is a little bit easier of a race and should be a really good spot for him.”

Last Saturday, Almendares signaled his readiness when working five furlongs on the training track in a swift 58.0 seconds.

“He did that about as easy as you can do it too, which gives me an indication he’s ready to roll,” D’Amato said.

King of Gosford hasn’t started since Aug. 30 when he finished last of six in the GII Del Mar Mile. Prior to that, King of Gosford finished a close-up second in the American and then won the GI Shoemaker Mile.

“He’s come back like new money. I’m expecting good things,” D’Amato said. “We’re trying to do the same thing as last year with this as a prep for the Shoemaker. The only difference is this year I think he’s coming into the American much fitter. He’s ready to go.” King of Gosford will be ridden for the first time by Emisael Jaramillo, who was the leading jockey at the recent Classic Meet.

“I think he really fits his style,” D’Amato said. “Jaramillo is really good with horses in a tactical position and that’s where this horse likes to be.”

First post Saturday is 1 p.m. for a 10-race card. The American goes as the seventh race at 4:05 p.m. The field in post position order: Twirling Point, Ricky Gonzalez (15-1); Sumter, Mike Smith (5-2); King of Gosford, Emisael Jaramillo (7-2); Captain Choochies, Florent Geroux (10-1); Almendares, Antonio Fresu (2-1); Seal Team, Hector Berrios (5-1); Genius Jimmy, Juan Hernandez (8-1).

Iriseach and Later Than Planned both exit the Pasadena Stakes at one mile on turf on Feb. 22. Iriseach finished third by a neck, while Later Than Planned was a never a factor and checked in fifth. D’Amato noted Later Than Planned is now likely at his preferred trip sprinting. Prior to the Pasadena, Later Than Planned returned from a three-month layoff and finished third by one length in the Baffle sprinting on the hillside turf course in January.

“His first race (the Baffle) I thought he needed and he didn’t disgrace himself,” D’Amato said. “The other day going long, I didn’t like his trip, but it also might have exposed to us he’s better around one turn.”

Iriseach and Later Than Planned both started their careers in their native Ireland before coming stateside in the summer of 2025. Iriseach hasn’t sprinted since his U.S. debut when he finished fifth against maidens going six furlongs.

“We’re trying to win, but we’re using this as a prep for the two-turn stakes,” D’Amato said in reference to the Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile on turf May 17.

The John Shear goes as the third race Saturday at 2:04 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Iriseach, Antonio Fresu (2-1); Caro Buono, Armando Ayuso (8-1); Later Than Planned, Hector Berrios (9-5); Won for Lou, Edwin Maldonado (10-1); Track Tiger, Emisael Jaramillo (8-5).

TELETHON FOR PERMANENTLY DISABLED JOCKEYS FUND IS SATURDAY

Santa Anita Park will team up with FanDuel TV, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), Keeneland, Hall of Fame jockeys and some of the top active riders in the country on Saturday for the eighth annual telethon to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). The telethon is presented by Lane’s End.

This year’s telethon will mark a meaningful milestone as the PDJF celebrates the organization’s 20th anniversary.

“The PDJF telethon has become a special day on Santa Anita Park’s calendar, and it is an honor to host it once again,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita Park General Manager. “Throughout our 90 years, the Santa Anita jockey colony has remained among the finest in the world. We are pleased to be able to support those riders who call Santa Anita home and, through the PDJF, continue to assist those who have dedicated their lives to the sport.”

“As we enter our 20th year, PDJF’s commitment to fallen riders has only strengthened,” said Joe Clabes, PDJF President. “This Telethon is more than just our most important and lucrative annual fundraiser; it’s a reminder that our racing community takes care of its own. "The support we receive ensures that injured jockeys can live with dignity, stability, and hope. We are deeply grateful to our partners, jockeys, and individual donors at every level, who help us continue providing a lifeline to these athletes who have given so much.”

The event will be broadcast on both FanDuel TV and America’s Day at the Races on the FOX Sports family of networks, as well as streamed on tvg.com. Fans can participate in the telethon by calling 1-844-884-7353 on Saturday between 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET or by donating directly at https://pdjf.org/donate/.

The PDJF is a registered 501(c)3 charity that provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered on-track injuries. Since its foundation in 2006, PDJF has disbursed approximately $14 million to support disabled jockeys. The organization is 100% reliant on charitable donations.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Julien Leparoux will be presented with the 2026 George Woolf Memorial Award Sunday in a winner’s circle ceremony following the sixth race…Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:37 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park…The $1 Sunset Pick 6 starts at 1:05 p.m. PT with the seventh race from Gulfstream…Santa Anita’s racing program on Friday, May 1 will have a first post time of 3:15 p.m. PT. The later start is in response to that day’s Kentucky Oaks program at Churchill Downs being pushed back into primetime in the eastern time zone. Local post time for the Kentucky Oaks is 5:40 p.m…Reminder that Santa Anita has also added a day of racing for Thursday, April 30, it is a makeup for weather-related cancellations from early in the Classic Meet, entries will be taken on April 25.