Stakes winner Early Encore looms in Golden State Juvenile; Runaway maiden winner Ember Royale returns in Golden State Juvenile Fillies Saturday at Santa Anita

__STAKES WINNER EARLY ENCORE LOOMS IN GOLDEN STATE JUVENILE; RUNAWAY MAIDEN WINNER EMBER ROYALE RETURNS IN GOLDEN STATE JUVENILE FILLIES SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA __ * Both races are seven furlongs for horses bred or sired in California*

ARCADIA, CA (Oct. 26, 2026)—Stakes winner Early Encore looms a major threat in the Golden State Juvenile and runaway maiden winner Ember Royale makes her encore performance in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Saturday at Santa Anita Park. Both races are seven furlongs for horses bred or sired in California.

Early Encore, trained by John Sadler, exits a dominant 6 ¼-length victory in the I’m Smokin Stakes going six furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 7. The runner-up that day Net Par, came back be second in the GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita. By Early Voting, Early Encore sold for $80,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale. He is owned by Desert Sun Stables, Saints or Sinners, Tier Racing and partners. Early Encore will be ridden by Armando Ayuso for the first time.

Among Early Encore’s chief rivals is Angel’s Ember. Trained by Antonio Garcia for owner Dana Stevens, Angel’s Ember rolled to a four-length maiden win going six furlongs in his second start on Oct. 3 at Santa Anita. The colt by Smokem will have Victor Espinoza in the irons.

The Golden State Juvenile goes as the third race on a 10-race card Saturday. First post is at 12:30 p.m. PT and the Golden State Juvenile goes as the third race at approximately 1:30 p.m. The field in post position order: __Early Encore, Armando Ayuso; Angel’s Ember, Victor Espinoza; Empire of Ash, Edwin Maldonado; The Moe Show, Kyle Frey; Golden Club, Hector Berrios; Believer, Tyler Baze; Cupid Cowboy, Abel Lezcano; Fumano’s Fire, Cristobal Herrera. __ In the Golden State Juvenile Fillies, Ember Royale makes her stakes debut against 11 rivals. Trained by Jeff Bonde, Ember Royale aired by a whopping 17 ½ lengths in a debut win going six furlongs at Santa Anita on Sept. 29. The daughter of Halladay earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, which towers over the rest of the field. Ember Royale was purchased by Bonde as agent for $50,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale. She is campaigned by Bonde’s longtime client Rusty Brown.

Free Closer moves back in with statebreds after a pair of graded stakes tries. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Free Closer prior to the graded stakes efforts won the CTBA Stakes for statebreds going 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 2 at Del Mar. The daughter of Pavel then finished fourth in both the GI Del Mar Debutante and GII Oak Leaf at Santa Anita. A homebred for Reddam Racing, Free Closer will be ridden by Hector Berrios.

Daytona Diamond is a perfect 2-for-2 for trainer Carla Gaines. The daughter of Tonalist romped in her debut by 5 ¼ lengths going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 6, then came right back to win the Generous Portion Stakes for statebred fillies going six furlongs on Sept. 4, also at Del Mar. Owned by Wiliams Racing, Daytona Diamond will have Armando Ayuso aboard.

The Golden State Juvenile Fillies goes as the ninth race. Post time is approximately 4:30 p.m. The field in post position order: __You Trust Me, Mario Gutierrez; Beautiful Dawn, Drayden Van Dyke; Lihue Princess, Tiago Pereira; Ms Grainger Danger, Kyle Frey; Manee, Tyler Baze; Daytona Diamond, Armando Ayuso; Free Closer, Hector Berrios; Ember Royale, Armando Aguilar; Stay Bossy, Manuel Americano; Tashie, Victor Espinoza; Palo Alto Baby, Emanuel Esquivel; Strident Miss, Welfin Orantes. __

Full entries for Santa Anita's 10-race card are available at santaanita.com.