Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, JAN 31, 2026

• BAEZA GEARING UP FOR 4-YEAR-OLD CAMPAIGN • WORKS: INTREPIDO, LITMUS TEST AMONG TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS ON TAB • GOLD PHOENIX, THOUGHT PROCESS HAVE STAKES ASSIGNMENTS __• 3-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN HEATS HIGHLIGHT 9-RACE CARD SUNDAY __ • $8K CARYOVER IN SATURDAY’S $1 SUNSET PICK 6; STARTS AT 1:45 P.M. • HALF SISTER TO THE CHOSEN VRON GRADUATES IMPRESSIVELY

BAEZA GEARING UP FOR 4-YEAR-OLD CAMPAIGN

After spending a leisurely few months at trainer John Shirreffs’ Santa Anita barn, Grade I winner Baeza is back in serious training for a 4-year-old campaign. On Wednesday, Baeza worked for the first time since the Breeders’ Cup Classic when drilling three furlongs in 39.0 seconds.

“It was just something to get him going,” Shirreffs said.

Baeza finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to close out the year. Prior to that effort, Baeza earned the biggest win of his career when taking down the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. The son of McKinzie also finished second in both the GI Santa Anita Derby and GII Jim Dandy, and was third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. In nine career starts, Baeza has banked $1.6 million for owners C R K Stable and Grandview Equine.

Shirreffs said it is still too early to know where Baeza might surface for his seasonal bow.

“We’re just going to wait and see what races are available when he’s ready,” he added.

The other high-profile 4-year-old on the grounds, Journalism, returned to Santa Anita two weeks ago from Bridlewood Farm in Florida where he spent most of the winter. The 2025 Santa Anita Derby winner is galloping daily and nearing his first work for trainer Michael McCarthy.

WORKS: INTREPIDO, LITMUS TEST AMONG TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS ON TAB

Top 3-year-olds Intrepido, Litmus Test, Desert Gate, Acknowledgemeplz, Robusta and Secured Freedom all recorded timed workouts Saturday at Santa Anita. Top sophomore fillies on the tab included Santa Ynez third-place finisher Revera and French Blue, a promising debut winner for Bob Baffert earlier this month.

Intrepido, Robusta and Secured Freedom are all expected to meet next Saturday in the GIII Robert B. Lewis going a mile at Santa Anita.

Intrepido worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 for trainer Jeff Mullins. By Maximus Mischief, Intrepido last year won the GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita before finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Acknowledgemeplz and Robusta are both trained by Doug O’Neill. Acknowledgemeplz, most recently third in the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs Jan. 10, worked six furlongs from the gate in a sharp 1:11.60. He is a Florida-bred colt by Bucchero. Robusta exits a maiden win going a mile in his second start Jan. 9 at Santa Anita. By Accelerate, Robusta worked five furlongs in 1:02.60.

Secured Freedom, trained by Tim Yakteen, worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. By Practical Joke, Secured Freedom broke his maiden going a mile in his second start Dec. 28.

Litmus Test and Desert Gate each worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 for Baffert. Desert Gate, by Omaha Beach, has been off since October when second in the GI American Pharoah. Litmus Test, by Nyquist, exits a win in last month’s GII Los Alamitos Futurity.

Revera, trained by John Sadler, won the Desi Arnaz in November at Del Mar before finishing third behind winner Explora in the Santa Ynez going seven furlongs Jan. 10. By Lexitonian, Revera worked five furlongs in 1:01.20.

French Blue, by Gun Runner, worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 for Baffert. French Blue won her debut by 2 ¼ lengths going six furlongs Jan. 8 at Santa Anita. Other notables on the tab included Splendora (4F, 47.60), Nysos (5F, 59.40), Imagination (6F, 1:11.60), Formula Rossa (5F, 59.0), Simply Joking (5F, 1:00.60) and Lovesick Blues (4F, 49.20).

GOLD PHOENIX, THOUGHT PROCESS HAVE STAKES ASSIGNMENTS

Multiple graded stakes winners Gold Phoenix and Thought Process were among trainer Phil D’Amato’s workers Saturday at Santa Anita. Both are targeting graded stakes assignments in February at Santa Anita to kick off their 2025 campaigns.

Gold Phoenix worked five furlongs on the synthetic training track in 59.60 seconds. It was his fourth work since Dec. 31. Off since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 1, D’Amato said Gold Phoenix is slated to make his 8-year-old debut in the GIII San Marcos on Feb. 14 going 1 ¼ miles on turf.

Thought Process fired a bullet Saturday when working five furlongs on the main track in 58.80 seconds. It was the fastest of 67 works at the distance. D’Amato said Thought Process, a 4-year-old filly by Collected, is ticketed for the GII Buena Vista at a mile on turf on Feb. 28 for her seasonal debut.

Gold Phoenix has won 10 of 29 and earned more than $2.3 million over five seasons. Last year, Gold Phoenix won the GII Del Mar Handicap and GII John Henry Turf Championship prior to the Breeders’ Cup. He is owned by Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify.

Thought Process last year won the GII San Clemente at Del Mar prior to a third-place finish in the GI Del Mar Oaks in August, which was her final start of the year. As a 2-year-old, Thought Process won both the GIII Surfer Girl at Santa Anita and Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf. Her overall record is 8: 5-0-2 with $380,200 in earnings for owners Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather and Madaket Stables.

3-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN HEATS HIGHLIGHT 9-RACE CARD SUNDAY

With the Las Virgenes Stakes originally scheduled for Sunday pushed back a week due to rain-related cancellations early in the meet, Sunday’s eight-race card at Santa Anita is without a stakes feature. But the card does include pair of notable maiden events for 3-year-old fillies, one on dirt and the other on turf.

The second race is for maidens at one mile on the main track. Tabbed as the 8-5 favorite on the morning line is Wolf Hill, a daughter of Upstart trained by Leonard Powell. A homebred for the Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Wolf Hill most recently was second by just a head when stretched out to a mile at Santa Anita on Jan. 2. She’ll have regular rider Diego Herrera in the irons.

Banzai Betty, another daughter of Upstart, is the 5-2 second choice. Trained by George Papaprodromou, Banzai Betty finished fourth in last year’s GII Oak Leaf while still a maiden. She has since finished off the board in two similar maiden events with the most recent coming on Jan. 2 at Santa Anita. She’ll have blinkers off and a new rider Sunday as Edwin Maldonado takes over for the injured Umberto Rispoli.

Post time for the second race is 1:03 p.m. The field in post position order: Luckiest, Kazushi Kimura (7-2); Forced Entry, Juan Hernandez (9-2); Wolf Hill, Diego Herrera (8-5); Ethereal Quality, Hector Berrios (4-1); Banzai Betty, Edwin Maldonado (5-2).

The fifth race is for maiden sophomore fillies at 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Pegged as the 5-2 program favorite is European import Silkie Sevei for trainer Phil D’Amato. Silkie Sevei made three starts in her native Ireland which includes a runner-up finish most recently in September at Navan. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo has the call for her U.S. debut.

Also entered for D’Amato is first-time starter Not With a Fox (9-2). By Not This Time, Not With a Fox was a $215,000 auction buy as a yearling. She’ll be ridden by Edwin Maldonado.

Trainer John Sadler has a pair of notable contenders in Red Cherry (4-1) and first-time starter Acoustic Kitty (6-1). Red Cherry, by Rock Your World, switches to turf for her second start. In her debut going six furlongs on the Santa Anita main track Jan. 8, Red Cherry raced on the pace before weakening late to finish eighth in a 10-horse field. She has worked twice since and figures to move forward in her second start. Armando Ayuso has the call.

Acoustic Kitty is an Irish-bred daughter of No Nay Never. Purchased for $270,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale, Acoustic Kitty has worked six times since Dec. 6 for her debut. Jockey Juan Hernandez has the call.

Post time for the fifth race is 2:36 p.m. The field in post position order: Red Cherry, Armando Ayuso (4-1); Lady Detective, Diego Herrera (20-1); Surfin’ U.S.A., Mirco Demuro (8-1); Kizazi, Cesar Belmont (5-1); Not With a Fox, Edwin Maldonado (9-2); Fancy Lady, Juan Hernandez (6-1); Acoustic Kitty, Hector Berrios (6-1); Silkie Sevei, Emisael Jaramillo (5-2).

FINISH LINES: There is a $8,422 carryover in Friday’s $1 Sunset Pick Six. The wager starts at 1:45 PT with the 10th race from Gulfstream Park…Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:15 p.m. with the ninth race from Gulfstream… Goodgollytizmolly, a half-sister to California-bred millionaire The Chosen Vron, earned a good-looking maiden win Friday against statebreds going 5 ½ furlongs on the main track. Making her second start for trainer Ian Kruljac, Goodgollytizmolly stalked the leaders while racing on the inside and split horses in the stretch to win comfortably by 2 ¾ lengths under Hector Berrios. She paid $6.60. Goodgollytizmolly is by Clubhouse Ride out of Tiz Molly, a daughter of Tiz Wonderful…Trainer Doug O’Neill continued his excellent start to the meet with two more winners on Friday, giving him a meet-high 14 victories through the first 16 days of the stand. O’Neill won the second race with Special Flower ($5.20), ridden by Edwin Maldonado; and fourth race with Classico ($10), who was piloted by Kazushi Kimura. O’Neill has won at a 23 percent clip (14-for-61) at the stand entering Saturday…