Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, April 4, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2026

- PROVIDENCIA, MANDATORY PAYOUTS HIGHLIGHT CLOSING DAY - BAZE NOW 1 WIN AWAY FROM CAREER VICTORY NO. 3,000 - DERBY DAY 5K RUN & WALK ATTRACTS RECORD 7,500 PARTICIPANTS - O’NEILL CLINCHES CLASSIC MEET TRAINER’S TITLE

PROVIDENCIA, MANDATORY PAYOUTS HIGHLIGHT CLOSING DAY

The 2025-26 Classic Meet closes Sunday with a 10-race card highlighted by the Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf and mandatory payouts in all pari-mutuel pools. First post is 12 p.m. PT.

The Providencia Stakes, contested at 1 1/8 miles on the lawn, attracted a wide-open group of eight sophomore fillies. Installed as the lukewarm 7-2 favorite on the morning line is Abigail, who ships in from South Florida for trainer Miguel Clement. Most recently, the daughter of Constitution made her stakes debut in the GIII Florida Oaks on turf at Tampa Bay Downs and finished fifth in a field of 11 on March 7. She’ll have the services of jockey Hector Berrios for her local unveiling.

The other key principles in the Providencia are 4-1 second choice Wild Like the West for trainer Richard Baltas and Inbox, who is part of a duo entered for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Wild Like the West, a $150,000 daughter of Into Mischief, was beaten just a neck when second in the Blue Norther going one mile on turf on Dec. 29 at Santa Anita. Most recently, she was again narrowly beaten when second by a half-length in a one-mile allowance on Feb. 6. She’ll have regular rider Juan Hernandez aboard.

Inbox will be making her second U.S. start after being imported from Europe. In her domestic debut Jan. 24, the daughter of Ector came from off the pave to graduate by 1 ¼ lengths going this same 1 1/8-mile trip. Jockey Tiago Pereira was aboard for the victory and again has the call.

The Providencia goes as the eighth race Sunday. Post time is 3:40 p.m. The field in post position order: Darya, Antonio Fresu (5-1); Total Val, Mirco Demuro (10-1); Inbox, Tiago Pereira (9-2); Wild Like the West, Juan Hernandez (4-1); Lilo Lil, Emisael Jaramillo (10-1); Victorious Dream, Victor Espinoza (5-1); Tiyara, Kazushi Kimura (6-1); Abigail, Hector Berrios (7-2).

The wagering pools Sunday figure to be large given the mandatory payouts in all pools plus the fact there is no racing in Kentucky and New York due to the Easter holiday. Santa Anita’s $2 Pick 6 starts with the fifth race at 2:08 p.m. PT. The competitive sequence averages 9.5 starters per race before scratches.

Sunday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5, which includes select races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, starts at 12:50 p.m. with the seventh race from Gulfstream. The $1 Sunset Pick 6, which links the final three races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream, starts at 1:20 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream.

Both the Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 and Sunset Pick 6 have a low 15 percent takeout rate and are open to retail players only. Free Daily Racing Form past performances for the Sunset 6 sequence are available to help make informed selections. They can be accessed at https://promos.drf.com/sunset-pick6.

The $1 Super High 5, offered on Santa Anita’s final race each race day, tasks bettors with selecting the top five finishers in exact order. While it usually has a carryover provision, on Sunday the entire pool will be paid out Sunday regardless of the outcome. It will be offered on the 10th and final race at 4:40 p.m. The 10th race, a $25,000 claimer at one mile on turf, has a field of 10 signed on led by 5-2 program favorite Goodfella for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Following closing day of the Classic Meet, Santa Anita will take a one-week break before live racing returns with the start of the Hollywood Meet on Friday, April 24. The Hollywood Meet runs through June 14.

BAZE NOW 1 WIN AWAY FROM CAREER VICTORY NO. 3,000

Jockey Tyler Baze won Saturday’s fifth race and is now one win away from career victory No. 3,000.

Baze, 43, scored Saturday aboard Sand Bagger ($9.40) for trainer Gary Stute in a $50,000 maiden-claimer going one mile on turf. Sent off the 7-2 fourth choice in a field of six, Sand Bagger and Baze saved ground along the rail before surging to the front in mid-stretch and winning comfortably by 1 ¾ lengths.

Baze has four mounts on Saturday and is booked on five rides on Sunday. His Saturday mounts include Jeweled Shillelagh (15-1) in the fifth race for trainer Ryan Hanson; Doing Time (10-1) in the seventh race for trainer Felix Rondan; Too Sassy (6-1) in the Evening Jewel, which goes as the eight race, for trainer Sam Scolamieri; and Greys Over Bays (12-1) for trainer Sean McCarthy in the 12th and final race.

Baze launched his jockey career in the fall of 1999. The following year, he won the Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding apprentice jockey. Baze hails from a family of jockeys.

Most notably, he is the second cousin of Russel Baze, North America’s all-time winningest jockey with 12,842 victories.

DERBY DAY 5K RUN & WALK ATTRACTS RECORD 7,500 PARTICIPANTS

On a crystal clear and sunny day, Santa Anita welcomed a record (and sellout) 7,500 participants for its annual Santa Anita Derby Day 5K Run & Walk.

“Everything fell into place for us this year,” said 5K Race Director and in his real job, Director of Community Services & Special Projects, Pete Siberell. “Great weather, Easter weekend, the infield carnival, the desire for people just to get outside and be healthy and have fun…and hopefully stay for some wonderful four-legged races in the afternoon at The Great Race Place.”

The winning male was the fleet J.J. Timphony, who blazed the 3.1-mile course in 16:42. (Ironically, J.J.’s father was trainer Vincent Timphony, who conditioned the first Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Wild Again, in 1984). Valentina Gonzalez of Redlands captures the women’s overall division in 20:12.

Santa Anita employees, celebrities and athletes also all competed in their own division. Millie Yakteen, one of the noted stable of Santa Anita simulcast hosts, was the fastest, coming across the wire in 22:24. She was followed by cohorts Zoe Cadman (26:06) and Michelle (Yu) Hanson (29:59).

Ignacio Ramirez, 62 years young and Stable Gate worker, won the Santa Anita men’s division in 23:06. He was followed by Jose Ibarra of Operations (25:38) with 1/ST Racing’s Aaron Gryder (25:41) completing the trifecta.

The Derby Day 5K culminated with a post-race party in the infield. Participants 21 and over received two complimentary beers, finisher medal, commemorative shirt and admission to Santa Anita Park to enjoy a full day of racing and entertainment.

FINISH LINES: Doug O’Neill has clinched the Classic Meet trainer’s title. With two days remaining in the stand, O’Neill holds an insurmountable lead with 36 wins from 146 starters (25 percent). Mark Glatt currently ranks second with 25 wins, which is one more than Bob Baffert…Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 2:02 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park…The $1 Sunset Pick 6 starts at 1:31 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream…Santa Anita simulcast host Michelle Yu will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 10:50 a.m. PT.