Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, May 8, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026

- GIII SENORITA: IMPORT BELLA LYRA MAKES U.S. DEBUT FOR GLATT - CARRYOVERS: $42K IN $2 PICK 6; $21K IN SUPER HI 5; FREE DRF PPS - START THE RIDE BACK IN WITH CAL-BREDS IN FRIDAY ALLOWANCE - WORKS: OM N JOY BACK ON TAB, MIRAHMADI ON COMEBACK TRAIL

GIII SENORITA: IMPORT BELLA LYRA MAKES U.S. DEBUT FOR GLATT Up-and-coming 3-year-old fillies will be in the spotlight Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade III Senorita Stakes going about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. Among a deep and competitive field of 10 signed on is Bella Lyra, an import from Europe who makes her U.S. debut for trainer Mark Glatt.

Bred in Germany, Bella Lyra is a daughter of Oasis Dream who made seven starts in Great Britain before arriving at Santa Anita last month. Most notably, at last summer’s prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, Bella Lyra finished third by one length in the GIII Princess Margaret Stakes going six furlongs on turf. Bella Lyra most recently ran at Lingfield in England 10 weeks ago and finished second in the Spring Cup Stakes on synthetic.

Spearheading Bella Lyra’s move to the U.S. was Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, who Glatt said purchased a percentage of the filly from Jastar Capital. Bella Luna has worked once at Santa Anita for her local unveiling. Last Saturday, she was clocked going a half mile on Santa Anita’s synthetic training track in 48.4 seconds.

“They thought she would do well in the U.S.,” Glatt said of the ownership group. “She hasn’t been here very long, but she seems to be coming into it well. She ran in some quality races overseas.”

Bella Lyra is installed as the 9-2 third choice on the morning line. She’ll break from post 1 with Ricky Gonzalez aboard. Tactically, Glatt said “from my understanding, she’s pretty versatile.

“It can be tough for these Euros first time sprinting here, but they can close well down the hill. We’ll just have to see what kind of trip she works out.”

The 9-5 favorite in the Senorita is Light Won up for trainer Doug O’Neill. By City of Light, Light Won Up in February won the Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course. She most recently shipped to Keeneland and was even fourth in the GIII Limestone going five furlongs on turf on April 10. Regular rider Antonio Fresu has the call on Light Won Up.

The Senorita goes as the ninth and final race Saturday. First post is at 1 p.m. PT. Post time for the Senorita is set for 5:07 p.m. The field in post position order: Bella Lyra, Ricky Gonzalez (9-2); Mo’ Em Down, Hector Berrios (5-2); Surfin’ U.S.A., Armando Ayuso (30-1); Revera, Emisael Jaramillo (20-1); Light Won Up, Antonio Fresu (8-5); Marjoram, Juan Hernandez (10-1); Will Happen, Mike Smith (12-1); Dreaming of Alys, Tiago Pereira (20-1); Still Unworthy, Edwin Maldonado (12-1); Yours Sincerely, Kyle Frey (20-1).

CARRYOVERS: $42K IN $2 PICK 6; $21K IN SUPER HIGH 5; FREE DRF PPS Friday’s program has a $42,057 carryover in the $2 Pick 6 and a $21,413 carryover in the $1 Super High 5. First post is at 1 p.m. PT for an eight-race card. Track officials estimate the Pick 6 will have a total pool of $300,000. It starts with the third race at 2:07 p.m. The Super High 5 will be offered on the eighth race at 4:37 p.m.

The Pick 6 sequence includes three races on dirt and three races on the turf. For the Super High 5, the eighth race is a $50,000 maiden-claiming event for California-breds at six furlongs on turf. It has a field of eight.

To help bettors make informed selections, Santa Anita and Daily Racing Form have teamed to provide free past performances for Friday’s entire card. They can be accessed at https://promos.drf.com/santaanita25.

START THE RIDE BACK IN WITH CAL-BREDS IN FRIDAY ALLOWANCE After having a go on the Triple Crown trail, Start the Ride is back in with California-breds Friday in a one-mile allowance on turf. It will be the Upstart colt’s first-time racing on grass.

Trained by Dan Blacker, Start the Ride is the 6-5 morning line favorite in Friday’s sixth race. He’ll break from the outside post with Emisael Jaramillo riding for the first time.

In January, Start the Ride won the California Cup Derby going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita. He subsequently finished sixth in the GII San Felipe and fifth in the GI Santa Anita Derby.

If Start the Ride takes to the turf Friday, Blacker plans to run him back in two weeks in the Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-old statebreds at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Start the Ride is a homebred for Harris Farms.

Post time for the sixth race is 3:37 p.m. The field in post position order: Beeblebrox, Welfin Orantes (10-1); Uecker, Adrian Escobedo (2-1); Allequin Summer, Hector Berrios (4-1); Southern Melodee, Kazushi Kimura (9-2); Start the Ride, Emisael Jaramillo (6-5).

WORKS: OM N JOY BACK ON TAB, MIRAHMADI ON COMEBACK TRAIL After testing the GI Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 11, California-bred graded stakes winner Om N Joy returned to the work tab Friday at Santa Anita. Other notables included Mirahmadi, who is on the comeback trail for trainer Bob Baffert; and stakes winner Shea Brennan for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Om N Joy, trained by Aggie Ordonez, worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds. A 4-year-old filly by Om, Om N Joy checked in fifth in the Apple Blossom going 1 1/16 miles. In her only other start this year, Om N Joy was third in the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on March 7 at Santa Anita.

Owned by breeders Connie Baker and Jerry Baker along with partners Michael Golovko and Terrence J. Scanlan, Om N Joy is 15: 5-0-5 with $496,203 in earnings. Last year, she won the GIII Torrey Pines at Del Mar in addition to three stakes for statebreds.

Mirahmadi worked three furlongs in 37.8 seconds. It was his third work since April 23. A 5-year-old horse by Into Mischief, Mirahmadi—named for Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi—hasn’t started since finishing second in the GII San Diego on July 26 at Del Mar. He is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners.

Shea Brennan is also working on the comeback trail. A 4-year-old colt by Tough Sunday, Shea Brennan drilled five furlongs in 1:01.2. It was his seventh work since March 9. Shea Brennan, who races as a homebred for Nick Alexander, is a candidate to run in the Thor’s Echo Stakes for statebreds on May 23.

FINISH LINES: Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:26 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park…The $1 Sunset Pick 6 starts at 12:53 p.m. with the seventh race from Gulfstream…Sunday’s feature is the Siren Lure Stakes for older horses at six furlongs on turf. A field of 11 is signed on but only 10 will run. The 5-2 program favorite is Sorrento Sky for trainer Phil D’Amato. The Siren Lure goes as the ninth and final race at approximately 5 p.m…Los Angeles Times sportswriter and owner Eric Sondheimer will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m.