Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SUNDAY, SEPT. 27, 2026

__- • CABO SPIRIT, ATILAN, SORRENTO SKY HAVE EYES ON BREEDERS’ CUP __ -• LIAM SMITH, 2YO CAL-BRED FILLY EMBER ROYAL SHINE ON SAT. CARD -• 7 STAKES NEXT WEEK INCLUDE 3 BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE RACES -• $6,878 CARRYOVER IN $1 SUNSET PICK 6 SUNDAY

CABO SPIRIT, ATITLAN, SORRENTO SKY HAVE EYES ON BREEDERS’ CUP

Following their graded stakes wins on Saturday, both Cabo Spirit and Sorrento Sky are likely to move on to the Breeders’ Cup in six weeks at Keeneland, and Atitlan is possible to compete, their respective trainers said Sunday morning.

Cabo Spirit, trained by George Papaprodromou, showed the way in Saturday’s GII City of Hope Mile and gamely held off a late challenge from favorite El Potente to win by a head under Hall of Famer Mike Smith. As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, the City of Hope Mile provided the winner a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile on Oct. 31.

“He’s doing well,” Papaprodromou reported. “We’ll see how things go here the next few days, but yes I think we’ll go.”

A popular 7-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, Cabo Spirit was making his 45th start in the City of Hope Mile. He collected his sixth graded stakes win and seventh stakes win overall. His first stakes win came on Jan. 2 of his 3-year-old year in 2022 when winning the Eddie Logan at Santa Anita. The City of Hope was Cabo Spirit’s first stakes win since December when he took down the GIII San Gabriel going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita. Cabo Spirit has made one previous appearance at the Breeders’ Cup. In 2024, after winning the GII John Henry Turf Championship going 1 ¼ miles at Santa Anita, Cabo Spirit went on to finish 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.

Sorrento Sky, trained by Phil D’Amato, earned his second straight Grade II win Saturday when rallying from off the pace under Umberto Rispoli to win the Eddie D Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. Previously, Sorrento Sky won last month’s GII Green Flash going five furlongs on turf at Del Mar, which was a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Turf Sprint on Oct. 31. Both wins have come since being gelded prior to the Del Mar meet, a move D’Amato noted has been a key to his recent success.

“He came out of the race in really good shape,” D’Amato said. “We’ll kind of weigh our options, but if he continues to do well, we’ll try to get him to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Bred in Ireland, Sorrento Sky is a 5-year-old by Prince of Lir who made two starts in his native country as 2-year-old before being imported and sent to D’Amato. He has an overall record of 22: 6-4-6 with $542,918 in earnings.

Atitlan, trained by Richard Mandella, scored an authoritative 2 ¼-length victory under Rispoli in the GII John Henry Turf Championship. It was his first stakes win since May of 2025 when he prevailed in the GII Charles Whittingam, also going 1 ¼ miles at Santa Anita, when trained by the late John Shirreffs.

Atitlan may now move on to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, Mandella said.

“I thought it was a really good race. We’re going to look at it,” he said of the Turf.

A 5-year-old horse by War Front, Atitlan improved to 15: 5-1-4 with $648,000 in earnings for owner John M.B. O’Connor.

Pre-entries for this year’s Breeders’ Cup are due on Oct. 19.

LIAM SMITH, 2YO CAL-BRED FILLY EMBER ROYAL SHINE ON SAT. CARD

Three-year-old colt Liam Smith and 2-year-old California-bred filly Ember Royal each shined on Saturday’s card when producing eye-catching victories sprinting on the main track.

Liam Smith, trained by Peter Miller, earned a dominant first-level allowance win by 5 ½ lengths when blitzing 6 ½ furlongs in 1:13.90. Liam Smith sped through sizzling fractions of 20.92, 42.86 and 1:07.38 on his way to victory.

By Midshipman, Liam Smith earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, according to Daily Racing Form. That figure equals the Beyer he earned on Aug. 27 at Del Mar when winning a $50,000 claimer by 12 lengths also going 6 ½ furlongs. Liam Smith was claimed out of that race by Miller and owner Altamira Racing Stable from trainer Jeff Mullins.

Liam Smith’s only two losses in six starts were in his debut last December and when he tried sprinting on turf in July at Del Mar.

In the sixth race, six-furlong maiden event for 2-year-old statebred fillies, first-time starter Ember Royale ran away from the field when winning by an eye-catching 17 ½ lengths under jockey Armando Aguilar. She won in a time of 1:09.34 and received an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

By Halladay, Ember Royale is trained by Jeff Bonde. She was purchased for $50,000 by Bonde as agent for owner Rusty Brown at last year’s Fasig-Tipton California fall yearling sale.

7 STAKES NEXT WEEK INCLUDE 3 BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE RACES

Santa Anita next weekend will again host a total of seven stakes, this time with three that are “Win and You’re Ins” for the Breeders’ Cup.

On Saturday, the stakes action is highlighted by the Grade I American Pharoah for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, an automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; GII Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies; and GII Rodeo Drive for fillies and mares at 1 ¼ miles on turf. The winner of the Rodeo Drive earns a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Rounding out Saturday’s stakes slate is the GIII Chillingworth for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track and listed Speakeasy for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf.

Entries for Saturday’s card will be taken on Monday.

Next Sunday’s card will include the GIII Zuma Beach for 2-year-olds and GIII Surfer Girl for 2-year-old fillies. Both are contested at one mile on turf and are also potential launching pads to the Breeders’ Cup. Those races will both be drawn on Tuesday along with the remainder of Sunday’s card.

FINISH LINES: The $1 Sunset Pick 6 Sunday has a carryover of $6,878. The wager, which links the final three races at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park and features a player-friendly 15 percent takeout rate, starts at 12:38 p.m. PT with Gulfstream’s seventh race…Sunday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:11 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream…