Vodka Vodka Delivers As The Favorite In Saturday’s Unusual Heat Turf Classic Presented By City National Bank For California-Breds Going 1 1/8 Miles At Santa Anita

VODKA VODKA DELIVERS AS THE FAVORITE IN SATURDAY’S UNUSUAL HEAT TURF CLASSIC PRESENTED BY CITY NATIONAL BANK FOR CALIFORNIA-BREDS GOING 1 1/8 MILES AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 17, 2026)—Vodka Vodka stalked the pace and then pounced under Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux to score as the favorite in Saturday’s $175,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank Saturday at Santa Anita.

Trained by co-owned Aggie Ordonez, Vodka Vodka was back on grass in the Turf Classic going 1 1/8-mile Turf Classic following a solid fourth-place finish in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes on opening day of the Classic Meet Dec. 28. Sent off at 4-5, Vodka Vodka stalked pacesetter Stamp My Passport (14-1) in second, took the lead entering the stretch and held off a late charge from filly Hey Jessie (6-1) to win by a half-length. Stamp My Passport finished a neck back of Hey Jessie in third with Call Me Sir (8-1) completing the superfecta.

“I had a really long hold, and I wanted to shorten my hands up just to get ready for when I needed to encourage him. And he just jumped forward,” Desormeaux said. “Sure enough, when challenged by the horse on the outside, he jumped in the bridle without being asked and he said, ‘Come on all takers.’”

Vodka Vodka won in a time of 1:48.12 following fractions of 23.58, 48.02, 1:12.07 and 1:36.11.

A 5-year-old gelding by Stay Thirsty, Vodka Vodka is co-owned by Ordonez, breeders Connie Baker and Jerry Baker; McLean Racing Stables and partners. He improved to 11: 4-2-0 with nearly $360,000 in earnings.

For Ordonez, 57, Vodka Vodka’s win added to what’s been a career-best 12-plus months for her small stable. Last year, led by Vodka Vodka and his half brother multiple stakes winner Om N Joy, Ordonez more than doubled her previous best in earnings in a season with $645,283. Om N Joy also provided Ordonez with her only graded stakes win when taking last year’s GIII Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar.

“This has been a dream come true, everything I’ve worked for my whole life has been thinking about coming to a place like Santa Anita and winning races like this and having horses like this,” Ordonez said. “There’s nothing in the world I would rather be doing. They bring me the joy in my life. ‘Vodka’ is my man. I am loving life right now.

Vodka Vodka paid $3.80, $3.20 and $2.40. Hey Jessie, ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Sean McCarthy, returned $5.00 and $3.60. Stamp My Passport, with Diego Herrera up for trainer Leonard Powell, paid $5.20.

$175,000 UNUSUAL HEAT TURF CLASSIC STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

KENT DESORMEAUX, VODKA VODKA, WINNER: “I had a really long hold, and I wanted to shorten my hands up just to get ready for when I needed to encourage him. And he just jumped forward. Sure enough, when challenged by the horse on the outside, he jumped in the bridle without being asked and he said, ‘Come on all takers.’ “

TRAINER QUOTES

AGGIE ORDONEZ, VODKA VODKA, WINNER:“This has been a dream come true, everything I’ve worked for my whole life has been thinking about coming to a place like Santa Anita and winning races like this and having horses like this. There’s nothing in the world I would rather be doing. They bring me the joy in my life. ‘Vodka’ is my man. I am loving life right now.
“My dad (Pete Anderson), when I was eighteen years old, I came home from high school and he was sitting in the armchair and he says, ‘They are running the big races up in Maryland and there is this new kid who is just out of site, he can really ride. Kent Desormeaux.’ Who would have guessed that many years later, Kent would be riding. I know my dad is up there smiling. My dad, the late great Pete Anderson, taught me everything I know, but most importantly respect for the horse and love of the game.”

OWNER QUOTES

CONNIE BAKER, VODKA VODKA, WINNER: “Margie’s Minute is a great mom and has produced some great babies and Aggie trains them awesomely.”

NOTES: The winning owners are Mclean Racing Stables, Connie Baker, Jerry Baker, William Gorman, Aggie Ordonez, Anthony Parsons, Rachel Parsons, and Delbert G. Williams. Vodka Vodka was bred by Connie and Jerry Baker.