Vanta (1-5) gets up in time under Rispoli to remain perfect in the Grade III Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going one mile on turf Sunday at Santa Anita Park

VANTA (1-5) GETS UP IN TIME UNDER RISPOLI TO REMAIN PERFECT IN THE GRADE III SURFER GIRL STAKES FOR 2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES GOING ONE MILE ON TURF SUNDAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

Trained by Jeff Mullins, the daughter of Greatest Honour is now likely on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

ARCADIA, CA (Oct. 4, 2026)—Vanta and jockey Umberto Rispoli ran down stubborn pacesetter Blockade to win as a heavy 1-5 favorite in the Grade III, $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going one mile on turf Sunday at Santa Anita.

The daughter of Greatest Honour improved to 3-for-3 with two stakes wins for trainer Jeff Mullins and is likely now on to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filli hi es Turf on Oct. 30 at Keeneland.

Vanta settled near the rear of the seven-horse field as Blockade (8-1) and jockey Adrian Escobedo ushered the field through fractions of 23.19, 48.07 and 1:12.31 for six furlongs. Vanta cut into the leader’s margin on the second turn but still had plenty of work to do. Blockade continued to motor, reaching the eighth pole in 1:23.74. But fast-charging was Vanta, who reeled in that foe late and prevailed by three-quarters of a length. It was another two lengths back to Big Blast (20-1)and jockey Joel Rosario in third.

Vanta won in a time of 1:35.17.

Two races earlier, Rispoli also won the GIII Zuma Beach with Repo Man for trainer Michael McCarthy. He noted with Vanta he was trying to keep as much in reserve as possible with the Breeders’ Cup being on the horizon.

“I know her pretty well. Jeff, reasonably, wants to try to get her all the way to the Breeders’ Cup,”” Rispoli said. “I just tried to do the minimum possible with her. Winning without overusing her, that was the key. I knew she was classy, and when I pushed the button, she would respond. She didn’t surprise me. I know how good she is. I’m curious to know once I really start riding her what she’s going to give me. I’ve never really went a 100 percent with her.”

Vanta was purchased by owners Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures for $370,000 at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training. In two previous starts, both at Del Mar this summer, Vanta won her debut sprinting five furlongs on turf in July then came back to win the one-mile Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 6. Blockade, trained by Ryan Hanson, also finished second in that race.

“Same thing (as the two Del Mar races). Not as much trouble,” Mullins said. “I didn’t give any instructions, and I just sat and watched quietly.”

Vanta paid $2.40, $2.10, $2.10. Blockade returned $4.20 and $3.00. Big Blast trained by Tim Yakteen paid $4.20.

GRADE III, SURFER GIRL STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

UMBERTO RISPOLI, VANTA, WINNER: “I know her pretty well. Jeff, reasonably, wants to try to get her all the way to the Breeders’ Cup. I just tried to do the minimum possible with her. Winning without overusing her, that was the key. I knew she was classy, and when I pushed the button, she would respond. She didn’t surprise me. I know how good she is. I’m curious to know once I really start riding her what she’s going to give me. I’ve never really went a 100 percent with her.

“The Breeders’ Cup is going to be a different deal. Different horses. A new place for her. But she’s classy. One thing she has is class. You can sit her wherever you want. That’s the difference that makes good horses and great horses. She will keep improving and be better then what she is now. That’s the next step of becoming a champion.”

TRAINER QUOTES

JEFF MULLINS, VANTA, WINNER: “Same thing (as the two Del Mar races). Not as much trouble. I didn’t give any instructions, I just sat and watched quietly.”

OWNER QUOTES

MICHELE ARTHUR, DUTCH GIRL HOLDINGS, VANTA, WINNER: “ It has been a fabulous ride. We knew that she had a special look about her when Mike (Pender) bought her. To see her put this out on the track it’s phenomenal.”

RUBEN ISLAS, IRVING VENTURES, VANTA, WINNER: “Consistency, that is what it is about and she’s showing up. It has been so much fun watching her compete. We are so lucky and blessed. It’s a good partnership and we agree on just about everything, so it has been fun. It looks like we should be at the Breeders’ Cup and that is really exciting.”

NOTES: The winning owners are Dutch Girl Holdings, LLC and Irving Ventures, LLC.