Star 3-year-old So Happy voted top horse of Santa Anita’s 2025-26 winter-spring season in media poll; Om N Joy, Ordonez earn top achievement for savvy win in Grade II Santa Margarita Stakes

STAR 3-YEAR-OLD SO HAPPY VOTED TOP HORSE OF SANTA ANITA’S 2025-26 WINTER-SPRING SEASON IN MEDIA POLL; OM N JOY, ORDONEZ EARN TOP ACHIEVEMENT FOR SAVVY WIN IN GRADE II SANTA MARGARITA STAKES

Arcadia, CA (June 17, 2026)- So Happy, winner of both the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and GII San Vicente Stakes on his way to a run in this year’s Kentucky Derby, was voted as the top horse of the 2025-26 winter-spring season at Santa Anita Park in a poll of media that regularly covers The Great Race Place. The meet’s top achievement went to California-bred filly Om N Joy and trainer Aggie Ordonez for winning the Grade II Santa Margarita Stakes with a quick seven-day turnaround and switching surfaces.

After a debut win in November at Del Mar, So Happy kicked off his sophomore campaign at Santa Anita in the San Vicente going seven furlongs on Jan. 10. He promptly rolled to a two-length victory under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. In the Santa Anita Derby, the son of 2025 champion sprinter Runhappy was tested at 1 1/8 miles and proved to be of classic caliber, surging to a dominant 2 ¼-length victory with Smith again aboard.

So Happy is trained by Mark Glatt for owners Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. In the Kentucky Derby, he finished ninth in a field of 18 at Churchill Downs. So Happy is currently on vacation at Trifecta Equine Athletic Center in north San Diego County with the plan to return at Del Mar this summer.

OM N JOY

BENOIT PHOTO

Om N Joy and Ordonez scaled new heights on May 30 when beating a top group of fillies and mares on short rest in the Santa Margarita. Just one week prior to the Santa Margarita, Om N Joy was shrewdly given a first spin on turf by Ordonez in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares. Ordonez noted wheeling back in short order and switching surfaces is a move she had success with in the past.

“A race on an unpreferred surface, whether it be mud or turf or whatever, then when they come back on their preferred surface, they can fire big,” Ordonez said. “She won’t run again until August most likely, so we had (the Santa Margarita) in mind when we went in the grass race.”

A 4-year-old daughter of Om, Om N Joy is campaigned by breeders Jerry Baker and Connie Baker along with partners Michael Golovko and Terrence J. Scanlan. Om N Joy is likely to make her next start at Del Mar in the GI Clement L. Hirsch at 1 1/8 miles on dirt on Aug. 1.

The leading vote-getters in the remaining categories voted on in the 2025-26 Santa Anita media poll are listed below.

Live racing will return to Santa Anita with the start of its Autumn Meet on Friday, Sept. 25. There will be live racing every Friday through Sunday, plus a special holiday Monday card on Oct. 12, until closing day on Sunday. Nov. 1.

Top Sprinter: Cornucopian

Trainer: Bob Baffert Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al. Notable: Displayed his high-level talent with a scintillating 2 ½-length victory in the GIII San Carlos going seven furlongs on March 29.

Older Horse: Nysos

Trainer: Bob Baffert; Owner: Baoma Corp. Notable: Won the GII Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes in a thriller over fellow Grade I winner Nevada Beach.

Older Filly/Mare: Splendora

Trainer: Bob Baffert; Owners: Boyd Racing, By Talla Racing Notable: Won the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on March 7 and GII D. Wayne Lukas on Feb. 7.

Turf Horse: Formidable Man

Trainer: Michael McCarthy; Owners: William K. Warren Jr., Suzanne Warren Notable: Won the GI Shoemaker Mile on May 25.

Turf Filly/Mare: Thought Process

Trainer: Phil D’Amato; Owners: Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables Notable: Won both the GI Gamely on May 25 and GII Buena Vista on Feb. 28.

3-Year-Old: So Happy

Trainer: Mark Glatt; Owners: Norman Stables, Saints or Sinners Notable: Won both the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 5 and GIII San Vicente on March 7

3-Year-Old Filly: Meaning

Trainer: Michael McCarthy; Owners: Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners Notable: Won the GI Santa Anita Oaks on April 4 and Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 8.

2-Year-Old: Kennyten

Trainer: Vladimir Cerin; Owners: David Wilson, Holly Wilson Notable: Rolled to a dominant 7 ½-length victory in his debut when sizzling five furlongs in 56.99 seconds, which was the fastest time for a 2-year-old at the distance at Santa Anita since 2015.

2-Year-Old Filly: Pickitupthatsgood

Trainer: Michael McCarthy; Owners: Blue Bird Stables, Estate of Brereton C. Jones, John Christman Notable: Recorded an eye-catching debut win by four lengths when going five furlongs on June 11.

Claiming horse: Ryan’s Girl

Notable: Won four times in eight starts while climbing up the ranks. After being claimed by trainer Genaro Vallejo out of a win for $8,000 on Jan. 15, Ryan’s Girl would go on to win a pair of starter allowances and an allowance/optional claimer for statebreds.

Top Trainer: Phil D’Amato

Notable: Won the Hollywood Meet trainers’ title with 22 wins from 95 starters (23 percent) and tallied $1,455,500 in purse earnings. His seven stakes wins at the Hollywood Meet also led all trainers.

Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo

Notable: In his first season riding at Santa Anita, claimed the Classic Meet riding title when winning 50 races from 229 mounts (22 percent). He also won 12 stakes combined at the Classic and Hollywood meets to lead all jockeys.

Apprentice Jockey: Alfred Bautista

Notable: Won nine races and tallied $251,890 in purse earnings.

Race: Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes

Notable: In a battle of Bob Baffert-trained Grade I winners, Nysos edged stablemate Nevada Beach by a head after thrilling stretch duel on opening day Dec. 28.

Owner: Hronis Racing

Notable: Won 11 races and banked $361,640 in earnings.

Top Achievement: California-bred Om N Joy winning the Grade II Santa Margarita Stakes with just a one-week turnaround for trainer Aggie Ordonez and owners-breeders Jerry Baker and Connie Baker and partners Michael Golovko and Terrence J. Scanlan.