Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN SATURDAY, JAN 17, 2026

Photo: Zoe Metz

• JOURNALISM BACK HOME AT SANTA ANITA AFTER WINTER BREAK • BIG CITY LIGHTS, OCEAN BEAR, SNEAKER CAL CUP DAY SCRATCHES • WORKS: BAFFERT STARS, INTREPIDO AMONG BIG NAMES ON TAB • $78K DOUBLE CARRYOVER IN $2 PICK 6; $12K CARRY IN $1 SUNSET 6 • SADLER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CALIF. THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS • ASTRA STAKES FEATURED ON SPECIAL HOLIDAY MONDAY CARD

JOURNALISM BACK HOME AT SANTA ANITA AFTER WINTER BREAK

Journalism, last year’s GI Santa Anita Derby and Preakness winner, is back home at Santa Anita after receiving a winter break at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla. He jogged on the main track for the first time Saturday morning.

“It seemed like the ship went fine—he’s full of himself,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Happy he’s back.”

In addition to the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness, Journalism last year also won the GI Haskell at Monmouth Park, GII San Felipe at Santa Anita and was second in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and GI Pacific Classic. The colt by Curlin closed out the campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

As a result of the superlative campaign, Journalism was voted a finalist as North America’s outstanding 3-year-old-male of 2025. The award is expected to go to eastern-based Sovereignty, who won 5-of-6 starts last year including the Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Travers.

McCarthy said Journalism was in light training at Bridlewood before returning to Santa Anita. “He’ll start galloping here in a few days get back in his routine.”

Under consideration as a major goal for Journalism the first half of the season is the GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga, which is usually run in June.

“We’ll see how it goes here over the next couple of months. But yeah, that’s certainly something to think about,” McCarthy said.

Journalism is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Robert V. LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five and Coolmore-affiliated partners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. He enters his 4-year-old season with a record of 11: 6-3-1 and $4,348,880 in earnings.

BIG CITY LIGHTS, SNEAKER SCRATCHED FROM CAL CUP DAY STAKES

Major contenders Big City Lights, Ocean Bear and Sneaker were all scratched from their respective stakes engagements Saturday on California Cup Day at Santa Anita.

Big City Lights, trained by Richard Mandella, was seeking a repeat win in the Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint. Ocean Bear was the 5-2 program favorite in the California Chrome Cal Cup Derby. Sneaker was 6-1 in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint on the hillside turf course. Ocean Bear and Sneaker are both trained by George Papaprodromou. Also scratched from the Cal Cup Derby was John Sadler-trained Can’t Hide Myself (8-1).

Big City Lights was 2-1 on the morning line in the six-furlong Sprint. Assistant trainer Gary Mandella said Big City Lights was injured when he grabbed a quarter during training and “ripped a shoe off,” which tore out a chunk of his foot.

A 6-year-old full horse by Mr. Big, Big City Lights is a five-time stakes winner with a record of 15: 7-4-2 and $598,920 in earnings. He is owned by William R. Peeples.

The Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint goes as the second race at 12:58 p.m. The field in post position order with revised morning line: Book Smart, Mike Smith (5-2); Drop Um, Kyle Frey (20-1); Speedy Wilson, Armando Ayuso (3-1); Man O Rose, Edwin Maldonado (8-5).

Ocean Bear was a stakes scratch and Sneaker was listed as a veterinarian scratch. Ocean Bear, a ridgling by Bolt d’Oro, most recently won the Golden State Juvenile going seven furlongs at Del Mar Oct. 31. The homebred for Richard Barton is 4: 3-1-0 with $200,350 in earnings.

The Cal Cup Derby goes as the eighth race at 3:58 p.m. The field in post position order with original morning line: My Boy Stan, Kazushi Kimura (6-1); Sammy Davis, Hector Berrios (3-1); Start the Ride, Armando Ayuso (30-1); Smoovin Saturday, Tiago Pereira (5-1); Almost There, Abel Lezcano (30-1); Ocean Bear, Umberto Rispoli (SCR); John Metcalfe, Juan Hernandez (12-1); Can’t Help Myself, Kyle Frey (SCR); Pavlovian, Mirco Demuro (15-1); Fionello, Emisael Jaramillo (30-1); Cruise Home, Welfin Orantes (12-1).

Sneaker won the California Distaff Handicap on the hillside course in October and most recently finished off the board when trying dirt in the seven-furlong Betty Grable Stakes at Del Mar in November.

Owned by R L Stables, the 5-year-old mare by Oscar Performance is 18: 4-4-3 with $291,448 in earnings.

The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint goes as the ninth and final race at 4:28 p.m. The field in post position order with original morning line: Prancingthruparis, Juan Hernandez (7-2); Tequilaandtherapy, Emisael Jaramillo (15-1); Grand Slam Smile, William Antongeorgi III (9-5); Going Deep, Edwin Maldonado (10-1); Tina Turner, Armando Ayuso (10-1); Moment’s Pleasure, Mirco Demuro (12-1); Take Another Card, Umberto Rispoli (8-1); Issa Court, Hector Berrios (8-1).

WORKS: BAFFERT STARS, INTREPIDO AMONG BIG NAMES ON TAB

Grade I-winning 3-year-old Intrepido and multiple stars from the Bob Baffert barn were among the notables on Saturday’s work tab at Santa Anita.

Baffert’s workers included Breeders’ Cup winners Splendora (4F, 47.8) and Nysos (6F, 1:12.0); plus Desert Gate (6F, 1:12.20), Nevada Beach (5F, 59.20), Madaket Road (5F 1:01.00) and Cornucopian (5F, 1:00.40).

Intrepido, winner of the GI American Pharoah in the fall at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs in 1:02.00 for trainer Jeff Mullins. The Maximus Mischief colt is targeting the GIII Robert B. Lewis going one mile on Feb. 7 at Santa Anita. Most recently, Intrepido finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Full Serrano worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds for trainer John Sadler. Trainer Mark Glatt’s workers included Formula Rossa (4F, 49.0) and Judge Miller (3F, 37.00).

$78K DOUBLE CARRYOVER IN $2 PICK 6; $12K CARRY IN $1 SUNSET 6

There are double carryovers Saturday in both the $2 Pick Six at Santa Anita and the $1 Sunset Pick Six after no one hit either wager for a second consecutive day Friday. First post at Santa Anita Saturday is 12:30 p.m. for a nine-race card on California Cup Day. The Pick Six starts with the fourth race at 1:58 p.m. PT. The Sunset Pick Six, which combines the final three races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, starts at 1:20 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream.

Santa Anita’s Pick Six carryover was triggered in Friday’s seventh and penultimate race when Atomic Drop, owned and trained by Jesus Uranga, won by a nose under Ricardo Ramirez and paid $40.40. The consolation payout for tickets with 5-of-6 winners was $4,940.20.

The winning horses in Friday’s Santa Anita Pick Six starting with the third race were #3 Saint Mihiel ($12), #4 Malibu Rocks ($7.40), #3 Going Lucky ($7.60), #2 Midnight Mammoth ($21.20), #5 Atomic Drop ($40.40) and #2 Code Duello ($6.60).

Santa Anita officials estimate a total pool of $500,000 in Saturday’s Pick Six.

SADLER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CALIF. THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

John Sadler this week was elected President of the Board of Directors of California Thoroughbred Trainers. He replaces Eoin Harty, who had served in that role since 2019. Harty will remain a director of the CTT.

Sadler has previously served as president or director of the CTT on multiple occasions, most recently from 2010 to 2013. Since launching his career in 1978, the 69-year-old has won 2,906 races and banked nearly $160 million in purse earnings. He has been nominated three times for induction to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga.

“They asked me to come back,” Sadler said from his stable office this week. “I want to promote unity amongst all the stakeholders in California. We know we’re in a bit of a tight spot. I’m just there to do what I can to help the industry at this point.”

California Thoroughbred Trainers represents all licensed Thoroughbred trainers in California. Its duties include negotiating issues with track management related to the backstretch, track safety and backstretch employees, while also representing those interests before the California Horse Racing Board.

Also on the seven-member CTT board are trainers Gloria Haley (First Vice President), Sean McCarthy (Second Vice President), Blaine Wright (Treasurer), Val Brinkerhoff and Ron Ellis.

ASTRA STAKES FEATURED ON SPECIAL HOLIDAY CARD MONDAY

Santa Anta will host a special holiday program on Monday with nine races starting at 12:30 p.m. PT. The feature on the card is the Astra Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 ½ miles on turf. Headlined by multiple graded stakes winner Mrs. Astor, the Astra goes as the seventh race at approximately 3:30 p.m.

As part of the holiday festivities, on-track patrons will be treated to $2 beers, $2 hot dogs and $2 sodas.

Mrs. Astor, trained by Jonathan Thomas for owner-breeder Augustin Stable, is the 4-5 morning line favorite in the Astra. She will have regular rider Umberto Rispoli in the irons.

The Astra goes as the seventh race Monday at approximately 3:30 p.m. The field in post position order: Ima Joker, Hector Berrios (12-1); Mrs. Astor, Umberto Rispoli (4-5); Little Hidden Port, Juan Hernandez (5-1); Thebestisyettobe, Kazushi Kimura (4-1); Sakura Blossom, Armando Ayuso (12-1); Hey Jessie, Mike Smith (9-2).

FINISH LINES: A nine-race card is set for Sunday. First post is 12:30 p.m. PT…Trainer Craig Dollase saddled a pair of winners on Friday’s eighth-race card. He won the sixth race with Midnight Mammoth ($21.20) and the nightcap with favorite Code Duello ($6.60)…Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:48 p.m. PT with the 10th race from Gulfstream Park…Nominations close Sunday for the GII San Pasqual and GIII Megahertz, both on Jan. 31.