Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, June 12, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026

• GIII DAYTONA: GLATT HAS TOP 2 CHOICES, BOTH IN OFF LAYOFFS
• GIII SUMMERTIME OAKS: ‘CONSISTENT’ BANK SHOT BACK FOR HANSON
• WORKS: PLUTARCH DRILLS FOR 1st TIME SINCE WINNING GIII LEWIS
• BONUS MONDAY CARD ADDED AFTER SHORTENED THURSDAY PROGRAM

GIII DAYTONA: GLATT HAS TOP 2 CHOICES, BOTH IN OFF LAYOFFS

The two shortest prices on the morning line in Saturday’s Grade III Daytona Stakes, 7-2 favorite First Peace and 9-2 second choice Freedom’s Not Free, are both trained by Mark Glatt and each comes in off lengthy layoffs. The stablemates are part of an overflow field of 13 signed on for the about 6 ½ furlong sprint on the hillside turf course. Twelve will run.

First Peace hasn’t started since Sept. 27 in the GII Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita. Sent off the 8-5 favorite that day, First Peace made a middle move from the back of the pack to draw into contention but then flattened out in the stretch to finish seventh.

Of the layoff for the First Peace, Glatt shared that he “had some chronic foot trouble and needed some time off.”

In last year’s Daytona, First Peace finished second by a half-length as the favorite. His overall record on the hillside layout is 7: 3-3-0.

First Peace has been working fast for his return. Last Saturday, the 6-year-old horse by Funtastic signaled his readiness when drilling five furlongs from the gate in 59.3 seconds.

“He’s training really well. As we started getting closer, we thought yeah, this is the spot to bring him back,” Glatt said.

First Peace will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura for the first time in his return.

Freedom’s Not Free hasn’t started since Aug. 31 in the GII Del Mar Derby. The 4-year-old colt by Omaha Beach set the pace under Juan Hernandez that day and finished a stubborn second, one length back of winner The Padre. Prior to the Del Mar Derby, Freedom’s Not Free’s most notably won both the Pasadena and Cinema at one mile on turf at Santa Anita, was runner-up in the La Jolla at Del Mar, and third in both the American Derby at Churchill Downs and Baffle Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

“He had a long campaign and needed some rest,” Glatt said of Freedom’s Not Free’s layoff. “This is a good comeback spot for him. Get a race into him and move down to Del Mar.

While Freedom’s Not Free has mostly ran around two turns, Glatt noted he did break his maiden sprinting on turf at Santa Anita in addition to his effort in the Baffle down the hill.

“I expect him to run well,” Glatt said.

Another of the leading contenders is Later Than Planned (6-1), a 3-year-old who’ll be taking on older horses for the first time. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Later Than Planned most recently won the John Shear Stakes sprinting down the hill against his fellow sophomores on April 18.

“This is a good prep for Del Mar. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if he won,” D’Amato said.

The Daytona goes as the eighth race on a big 12-race card on Saturday. First post is at 1 p.m. PT and the Daytona goes at 4:35 p.m. The field in post position order: Friendly Confines, Armando Ayuso (20-1); Later Than Planned, Hector Berrios (6-1); Nesso’s Lasthurrah, Emisael Jaramillo (7-2); First Peace, Kazushi Kimura (7-2); Irish Royalty, Kyle Frey (15-1); Modus Bestia, Armando Aguilar (30-1); War At Sea, Ricky Gonzalez (30-1); Anmer Hall, Antonio Fresu (8-1); Incanto, Tiago Pereira (20-1); Zio Jo, Joel Rosario (6-1); Freedom’s Not Free, Juan Hernandez (9-2); Sumter, Mike Smith (5-1); AE: The Old Nine, Edwin Maldonado (15-1).

GIII SUMMERTIME OAKS: ‘CONSISTENT’ BANK SHOT BACK FOR HANSON

Three-year-old filly Bank Shot has taken on the best of her generation this season at Santa Anita having finished third in both the GII Santa Anita Oaks and Las Virgenes Stakes and second in the GIII Santa Ysabel. On Saturday, the filly by Game Winner is back for more in the GIII Summertime Oaks going 1 1/16 miles.

Bank Shot, trained by Ryan Hanson, is 8-1 on the morning line. Her key rivals include Bob Baffert-trained favorite Mizumi (4-5) and Grade III turf winner Marjoram (3-1).

“The big thing for her is she’s been able to stay sound and be available, knock on wood,” Hanson said from his stable office Friday morning. “That’s the hardest part, to be able to show up and race. She tries hard every single time. I’m proud of her.”

Hanson and owner WSS Racing had hoped to make last month’s Kentucky Oaks but Bank Shot was just short on qualifying points following the Santa Anita Oaks. As things turned out, due to multiple withdrawals from the field, Bank Shot would have had a spot in the Kentucky Oaks.

“We wanted to make it there our way rather than need to worry about defections,” Hanson said.

WSS Racing is a nationwide operation whose principals are William Simon and Tammy Simon. Since it was launched in 2019, WSS Racing has campaigned such notable horses as Grade I winner Brightwork and Barber Road, who in 2022 finished second in the GI Arkansas Derby and contested both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

“They have a lot of horses throughout the country. We’re fortunate enough to have them sending horses to us out here on the West Coast,” Hanson said.

Bank Shot enters the Summertime Oaks following a bullet work last Saturday, clocking five furlongs in a swift 58.4 seconds. It was the fastest of 40 works at the distance that day.

“I don’t know if I want to say she’s moved forward since the Santa Anita Oaks, but she’s maintained,” Hanson said. “She’s just a consistent horse that I’d say has gotten better each race, but not any big leaps forward really. She’s an easy training horse that takes care of herself pretty good.”

In the Summertime Oaks, Bank Shot will be reunited with jockey Adrian Escobedo, who rode her in her first six starts. In the Santa Anita Oaks, Bank Shot had Edwin Maldonado aboard.

The program favorite, Mizumi, exits a promising debut win going 6 ½ furlongs on May 2 for Baffert. The daughter of Justify, a homebred for Baoma Corp., will break from the rail under Juan Hernandez. Second-choice Marjoram is a dual-surface threat trained by Michael McCarthy for owner-breeder Juddmonte. She won her debut sprinting on a sloppy main track at Churchill Downs in November. Both of her starts as a 3-year-old have been on turf at Santa Anita. Most recently on May 9, the daughter of Quality Road scored in the GIII Senorita sprinting on the hillside course.

The Summertime Oaks goes as the 11th race. Post time is set for 6:05 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Mizumi, Juan Hernandez (4-5); Sugaree, Kyle Frey (30-1); Daring Pursuit, Hector Berrios (20-1); Mo’ Em Down, Joel Rosario (6-1); Wolf Hill, Antonio Fresu (6-1); Marjoram, Emisael Jaramillo (3-1).

WORKS: PLUTARCH DRILLS FOR 1st TIME SINCE WINNING GIII LEWIS

Plutarch worked for the first time Friday since winning the GIII Robert B. Lewis for 3-year-olds on Feb. 7. He was timed going four furlongs 49.6 seconds.

Trained by Bob Baffert, the colt by Into Mischief out of champion Stellar Wind exited the Lewis with ‘body soreness’ that limited him to only light training prior to Friday’s work.

Plutarch won the one-mile Lewis by three-quarters of a length. It was his first stakes victory. As a 2-year-old, Plutarch most notably finished third in the GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita.

Also working on the comeback trail for Baffert was Grade I winner Gaming. The 4-year-old colt by Game Winner drilled five furlongs in 1:00.2. It was his sixth work since May 8. Gaming hasn’t started since October when third in the Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita. Last year, Gaming most notably won the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita. His biggest win came as a 2-year-old when taking down the GI Del Mar Futurity.

BONUS MONDAY CARD ADDED AFTER SHORTENED THURSDAY PROGRAM

The close of Santa Anita Park’s winter-spring season has been extended one additional day as this Monday has been added to the racing schedule. The four races that were canceled Thursday due to power issues, which includes the Affirmed Stakes, were redrawn Friday for Monday’s program. Four more races were added to make an eight race card.

First post time on Monday is at 1 p.m.. Parking and admission are free and there will also be all-day Happy Hour specials. Mandatory payouts will still be offered on all wagers on Sunday, with additional mandatory payouts also in effect for Monday’s program.

FINISH LINES: Antonio Fresu and Armando Ayuso each won one race on Thursday’s abbreviated card and remain tied atop the jockey’s standings with 28 wins each. Fresu won the opener aboard Dakota Country ($8.40) for trainer Steve Sherman and Ayuso came back to win the third race on Will Happen ($3.40) for trainer Richard Baltas…Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:34 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park…The $1 Sunset Pick 6 begins at 1:04 p.m. with the seventh race from Gulfstream…Horseplayer Robbie Rodriguez will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.