Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 (1)

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, OCT. 17, 2026

• BREEDERS’ CUP WORKS: NET PAR, D’AMATO QUARTET DRILL • CHARITY AUCTION: ZENYATTA ITEMS FROM SHIRREFFS’ COLLECTION • SANTA ANITA VET BOHANNON RECEIVES JOCKEY CLUB FELLOWSHIP • NOMINATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY FOR 4 STAKES ON CLOSING WEEKEND

BREEDERS’ CUP WORKS: NET PAR, D’AMATO QUARTET DRILL

Working Saturday at Santa Anita towards expected starts in the Breeders’ Cup were Grade I American Pharoah runner-up Net Par and a quartet of runners for trainer Phil D’Amato—Gold Phoenix, Thought Process, Sorrento Sky and Majestic Oops.

Net Par, trained by Antonio Garcia, drilled four furlongs in 1:00.4 with jockey Juan Hernandez aboard. It was his first work since the American Pharoah on Oct. 3.

“He cruised around there pretty easy,” Garcia said. “Juan was pretty happy with the way he did it and galloped out. It will depend on how he’s doing tomorrow, but more than likely we’re going to the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile).”

Making his two-turn debut in the 1 1/16-miile American Pharoah, California-bred Net Par went to the lead under jockey Adrian Escobedo and showed the way down the backstretch while receiving pressure on his outside. Net Par put away his pace rival on the second turn but then had to deal with Hughes, the odds-on favorite trained by Bob Baffert. Hughes ranged up to the outside of Net Par near the quarter pole and spurted away in the stretch to win by six lengths. Net Par, who was 18-1, finished 9 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Imperial Honor. Hughes is expected to be the favorite in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 30 at Keeneland.

“We were trying to see this morning if he came out of that last race well. It was a lot to ask of him and he ran a good race,” Garcia said. “I wanted to get Juan’s opinion and he was pretty happy, so I’ll take his word.”

By Pavel, Net Par is a homebred for Reddam Racing. He would be Garcia’s first Breeders’ Cup starter.

“Pretty cool,” Garcia said.

Prior to the American Pharoah, Net Par had a productive Del Mar meet. He broke his maiden when making his second start in July, then came right back to win the Graduation Stakes against California-breds going 5 ½ furlongs in August. Net Par returned in the six-furlong I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds on Sept. 7. He stumbled badly leaving the starting gate that day but then rallied to be second behind odds-on favorite Early Encore.

D’Amato’s quartet of workers Saturday will be joined at the Breeders’ Cup by stablemate Iron Man Cal, who on Thursday worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 for an expected start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Gold Phoenix worked five furlongs in company on the training track in 59.8 seconds.

“Good drill,” D’Amato said. “This was his heavy-lifting work. He’ll have an easy one next week and then we’ll go to Kentucky.”

Gold Phoenix is ticketed for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf going 1 ½ miles on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. It would be the fifth straight appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf for Gold Phoenix, an 8-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Belardo. Last year, he finished fifth at Del Mar. Gold Phoenix most recently on Aug. 29 at Del Mar finished fourth in the GII Del Mar Handicap.

Sorrento Sky, targeting the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, also worked five furlongs on the training track in 59.8 seconds. It was his second work since winning the GII Eddie D on the hillside turf course on Sept. 26.

“He breezed with (jockey) Umberto Rispoli. It was a tough breeze today and again (like Gold Phoenix), he’ll have any breeze next week before going into Kentucky,” D’Amato said.

Thought Process worked for the first time since winning the GII Rodeo Drive on Oct. 3 at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old filly by Collected was clocked going four furlongs in 48.4 seconds.

“It was just an easy breeze today. She’ll have a tougher one next week going five-eighths and then we’ll put her on the plane,” D’Amato said.

Majestic Oops worked for the second time since finishing second in the GII Zenyatta going 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old mare by Majestic Harbor was timed going five furlongs in 1:01.6. D’Amato said Majestic Oops, who was ninth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and has raced exclusively around two turns this campaign, would be entered in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs.

“It was just an easy five-eighths today. She’ll have a tougher five-eighths next week and then run in the Filly & Mare Sprint,” D’Amato said.

Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup close on Monday at 12 p.m. ET. All North American-based horses competing in the Breeders’ Cup must be on the Keeneland grounds by Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. ET.

CHARITY AUCTION: ZENYATTA ITEMS FROM SHIRREFFS’ COLLECTION

(Press release) Items from the personal collection of late Hall of Fame trainer John Shirreffs will be featured at the inaugural Racing Memorabilia Auction presented by Cross Gate Gallery on Thursday, Dec. 3. The auction will take place both online and live at the Lexington, Kentucky gallery, featuring an exceptional collection of rare trophies, artifacts and memorabilia honoring the history and heritage of Thoroughbred racing.

Zenyatta’s signature victory came at Santa Anita Park in winning the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic, becoming the lone female to win the race in its 43 runnings.

Highlighting the rare and historical treasures in the Shirreffs collection is Zenyatta’s original bridle, bit and reins, worn throughout her racing career. Other important auction pieces in the collection include the champion mare’s race-worn blue and white diamond browband, the original 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic embroidered morning saddlecloth and associated “Champion” winner’s blanket; Zenyatta's original leather halter; training and race-worn shoes; and her Hollywood Park numbered stall plate, interior wooden stall board, as well as the racetrack’s original Zenyatta street sign — each personally collected and saved by Shirreffs just prior to the racetrack closing.

An avid racing history enthusiast, additional artifacts from Shirreffs’ personal collection to be offered include a race-worn Triple Crown winning shoe from Whirlaway’s historic 1941 Belmont Stakes victory and a shoe worn by five-time Horse of the Year Kelso in his 1965 Whitney Stakes victory.

Proceeds from the auction of the Shirreffs collection will benefit Breeders’ Cup Charities and other non-profit organizations that Shirreffs supported including The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, and Old Friends Retirement Farm.

For additional information on the auction, please visit theracingmemorabiliaauction.com.

SANTA ANITA VET BOHANNON RECEIVES JOCKEY CLUB FELLOWSHIP

Dr. Laurie Bohannon, Santa Anita’s senior regulatory veterinarian since September 2019, is this year’s recipient of the Jockey Club’s Racing Regulatory Veterinarian Fellowship, the organization said in a press release.

The fellowship awards up to $25,000 in veterinary school loan repayments to an employed racing regulatory veterinarian.

“I am truly honored and grateful to receive The Jockey Club Racing Regulatory Veterinary Fellowship,” Dr. Bohannon said. “Horses have been at the center of both my personal and professional life and being able to use veterinary medicine to protect their health, safety, and welfare is incredibly meaningful to me. I am thankful to The Jockey Club for recognizing the work of regulatory veterinarians and for supporting those of us committed to the future of the racehorse and the sport.”

Dr. Bohannon’s duties at Santa Anita include supervising a veterinary regulatory team from three tracks, examining horses, performing official veterinary works and monitoring racing and training.

Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for Santa Anita’s parent company 1/ST Racing praised Bohannon for her efforts in horse safety and welfare.

We are incredibly proud that Dr. Bohannon was recognized by The Jockey Club for her outstanding commitment to our horses,” Benson said. “She has worked tirelessly over the past 7 years leading the team at Santa Anita to ensure the safety and welfare of each and every horse on the backside.”

FINISH LINES: Nominations close Sunday for four stakes to be run on closing weekend--the GII Twilight Derby, GIII Goldikova Stakes, Golden State Juvenile and Golden State Juvenile Fillies. The Twilight Derby on closing day Sunday, Nov. 1 is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The Goldikova is for fillies and mares at one mile on turf. Both the Golden State Juvenile and Golden State Juvenile Fillies are for horses bred or sired in California going seven furlongs on the main track. The Goldikova and both Golden State stakes will be run on Saturday, Oct. 31…Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:36 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park. The $1 Sunset Pick 6 begins at 1:04 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream…Trainer Sean McCarthy will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.