Santa Anita Stable Notes Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

THURSDAY, OCT. 2, 2025

• FAVORITES DESERT GATE, EXPLORA GET 2-TURN TESTS FOR BAFFERT • HEAVEN’S BOLT AMONG TRIO OF STAKES RUNNERS FOR BALTAS • $104K CARRYOVER IN $1 SUPER HIGH 5 FOR FRIDAY’S 9th RACE __• OAK TREE DAY: FAN PRIZES, HORSEMEN’S INCENTIVES ON SATURDAY __

FAVORITES DESERT GATE, EXPLORA GET 2-TURN TESTS FOR BAFFERT

The favorites for both Saturday’s GI American Pharoah Stakes for 2-year-olds, Desert Gate, and GII Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, Explora, will both try something Saturday they’ve yet to do for trainer Bob Baffert—race around two turns.

Desert Gate is installed at 3-2 on the morning line for the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah, which serves as a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. He’ll be joined in the lineup by stablemates Kristofferson (9-5) and Balboa (8-1), also making their two-turn debuts for Baffert; and Plutarch (10-1), who returns to dirt after a runner-up effort in the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf going a mile.

In the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf, an automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Explora is 4-5 on the morning line. She’ll be joined in the field by stablemate Himika, the 3-1 second choice who also stretches out in distance.

“It’s always a big test for all of them,” Baffert said of horses going from a sprint to a route. “You never know until they do it. When you send them two turns, that’s when they kind of separate themselves. But they are all doing well.”

Desert Gate, by Omaha Beach out of the Curlin mare Theogony, was purchased for $250,000 at auction earlier this year by owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. He was a debut winner going five furlongs at Santa Anita in June and then came back to air by 8 ¾ lengths in the GIII Best Pal at Del Mar in August.

In the GI Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs Sept. 7, Desert Gate broke poorly but then ran on determinedly along the inside to be beaten just one length by highly regarded prospect Brant.

“He ran really well,” Baffert said Desert Gate. “He sort of stumbled leaving there and missed the break a little bit. But he sat behind the speed and then kept coming. Brant was pretty strong that day.”

Desert Gate will break from the rail under Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard for all three previous starts.

Kristofferson exits an eye-catching debut win going six furlongs on Aug. 31 at Del Mar that earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest in the field. A $1.15 million auction buy as a yearling, he is by Nyquist out of the Quality Road mare Impasse.

“Kristofferson ran a really big race,” Baffert said. “He’s a big horse and two turns will not be a problem. I was actually really surprised he won first out.”

Kristofferson will be ridden by Mike Smith after having Hernandez aboard for his debut.

Plutarch is by Into Mischief out of Stellar Wind, the 2015 champion 3-year-old filly. He is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor.

After finishing second in his debut at a mile on dirt Aug. 23 at Del Mar, Plutarch was switched to grass for a try in the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf going a mile on Sept. 7. He was last after the opening half mile but rallied to be second beaten 1 ½ lengths by winner Hey Nay Nay.

“I wanted to keep him at two turns,” Baffert said of moving Plutarch to the turf last out. “I was debating whether to run him again on the turf but I want to give him a chance. He’s bred to be any kind and has really progressed after that race.”

Plutarch will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura for the first time.

Balboa, an $875,000 colt by Not This Time out of the War Front mare Tap of War, pressed pacesetter Brant in the Del Mar Futurity before fading to fifth. Previously, Balboa romped by 7 ¾ lengths when graduating going six furlongs on Aug. 10 at Del Mar.

In the American Pharoah, Balboa will race without blinkers for the first time.

“He was up on the pace. He doesn’t need to be close to the pace,” Baffert said of Balboa’s Futurity try. “He got a little rank and got tired. That’s why I’m taking the blinkers off.”

Balboa will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli for the first time.

The American Pharoah goes as the third race at 2:03 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Desert Gate, Juan Hernandez (3-2); Intrepido, Hector Berrios (6-1); Plutarch, Kazushi Kimura (10-1); Civil Liberty, Antonio Fresu (5-1); Balboa, Umberto Rispoli (5-1); Kristofferson, Mike Smith (9-5).

In the Oak Leaf, program favorite Explora exits a runner-up finish in the GI Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs Sept. 6. She set the pace that day under Juan Hernandez before being overhauled late by stablemate Bottle of Rouge to lose by one length.

A $350,000 auction buy earlier this year, Explora is by Blame out of the Bernardini mare Collections Choice. She’ll also race without blinkers for the first time Saturday.

“I’ve taken the blinkers off hoping she’ll relax a little bit. She got a little rank (in the Debutante),” Baffert said.

Prior to the Debutante, Explora won her debut by 4 ¾ lengths going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar.

“We’ve always been very high on her. Her maiden race was outstanding,” Baffert said.

In the Debutante, Himika broke in and was bumped early, then moved up to second before weakening to fourth beaten 9 ¼ lengths.

“She’s a free-running filly—a lot of speed,” Baffert said.

The Oak Leaf goes as the ninth race with post time set for 5:08 p.m. The field in post position order: Banzai Betty, Umberto Rispoli (10-1); La Ville Lumiere, Kazushi Kimura (12-1); La Wally, Antonio Fresu (4-1); Himika, Mike Smith (3-1); Heaven’s Bolt, Hector Berrios (5-1); Explora, Juan Hernandez (4-5).

HEAVEN’S BOLT AMONG TRIO OF STAKES RUNNERS FOR BALTAS

At 5-1 on the morning line, Heaven’s Bolt rates among the leading hopes at upsetting the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Explora (4-5) and Himika (3-1) in Saturday’s GII Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles. A win in the Oak Leaf earns a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Heaven’s Bolt will be making just her second start in the Oak Leaf and first around two turns. In her debut going six furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 30, Heaven’s Bolt settled some four lengths off the pace before rallying in the stretch to prevail by a neck.

Baltas believes the added distance of the Oak Leaf should play to her strengths. Heaven’s Bolt is by Bolt d’Oro out of the Bodemeister mare Bodaciousness.

“I was very happy with her performance first out. But I really do think she is a two-turn horse,” Baltas said. “Her body and style and what I’ve seen from her tells me she wants to go the distance.”

After having Flavien Prat aboard for her debut, Heaven’s Bolt will be ridden by Hector Berrios Saturday.

Baltas on Saturday will also saddle Watchtower (8-1) in the GII Rodeo Drive, a 1 ¼-mile turf test for fillies and mares that’s a “win and you’re in” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Then on Sunday, Baltas looms a major stakes threat with Will Happen, the 9-5 program favorite in the GIII Surfer Girl at one mile on turf. The Surfer Girl could lead to a potential start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Fillies.

As for Watchtower, she returns to action at Santa Anita after a trip to Kentucky Downs for a try in the One Dreamer Stakes at one mile and 70 yards on Sept. 4. She was up close to a lively pace that day before weakening late to be beaten just 3 ½ lengths.

“She doesn’t want to be that close,” Baltas said. “She’s come back and has been training really well since. We’ll have to see if she can get the mile and a quarter or not.”

Watchtower will be reunited with jockey Mirco Demuro, who previously guided her to a third-place finish in the GII Yellow Ribbon going 1 1/16 miles Aug. 9 at Del Mar.

Will Happen was an eye-catching debut winner going five furlongs on turf Aug. 24 at Del Mar. The daughter of Vekoma went to the front under jockey Welfin Orantes and kicked clear in the stretch to win by 4 ½ lengths. The effort earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure, which is easily tops the field.

Will Happen has worked four times since her debut, which includes a bullet five-furlong move in 58.80 Sept. 15 and another sharp five-furlong work in 59.80 seconds on Sunday. “She’s a nice filly. Obviously she has to stretch out for the first time Sunday. But she doesn’t need to have the lead like the other day. She can settle behind horses,” Baltas said. Jockey Juan Hernandez has the call on Will Happen.

FINISH LINES: There is a $104,929 carryover in Friday’s $1 Super High 5. It will be offered on the ninth and final race at 5:01 p.m. PT…Gaming, who was scratched from last week’s GI Goodwood, worked four furlongs in 48.40 seconds Thursday at Santa Anita…Saturday is Oak Tree Day at Santa Anita. There will be Oak Tree-related giveaways for 1/ST Rewards members, including a $30,000 Cherry Tree with a $5,000 grand prize. Oak Tree will also present a “Best Turned Out Award” after every race with the groom of each winning horse receiving $500…As part of Oak Tree Day, author Jay Hovdey will be on-site to meet fans and sign his new book “The Oak Tree Story – A History of Racing’s Most Generous Benefactor” from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.…Friday’s $1 Sunset Pick Six starts at 1:35 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park. The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:04 p.m. with the seventh race from Gulfstream…Workout analyst Toby Turrell of The Winner’s Card will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Friday on the Santa Anita simulcast feeds starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.