Photo:

Santa Anita / Benoit Photo

Kopion, who returned from an 8 1/2-month layoff and took down the Grade 1 La Brea for 3-year-old fillies on opening day at Santa Anita, will take on a trio of contenders from the Bob Baffert barn in Saturday’s Santa Monica Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares going seven furlongs.

In the seven-furlong La Brea, Kopion attended the pace and then drew off in the stretch to win impressively by 2 3/4 lengths. Left in her wake that day was runner-up Splendora, who also returns in the Santa Monica. Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, Kopion won the Santa Ynez (G3) last January, also going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

By Omaha Beach, Kopion is 5: 3-1-0 with $314,600 in earning for owner Spendthrift Farm. She will be ridden by Antonio Fresu for the first time.

Baffert entered Richi, winner of the Las Flores (G3) on Jan.4, Splendora and Hope Road, who was fourth in the La Brea.

Richi, a Group 1 winner in her native Chile, won the six-furlong Las Flores by 1 1/2 lengths after a seven-month layoff when making her second U.S. start. In her stateside debut last June, Richi finished second in the six-furlong Desert Stormer.

Richi is a 5-year-old mare by Practical Joke campaigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stud Vendaval Inc. She is 11: 7-3-0 with $178,424 in earnings. Hector Berrios will ride Richi for the first time.

Splendora was second in the La Brea at odds of 25-1. The 4-year-old Audible filly broke her maiden at Santa Anita in October and then won a first-level allowance at Del Mar in November, both going 6 1/2 furlongs. Her record stands at 4: 2-2-0 with $138,400 in earnings for owner By Talla Racing. Splendora will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who previously rode the filly to a second-place finish in her debut in December 2023.

Hope Road disappointed at 5-2 when checking in fourth in the La Brea by 5 1/4 lengths. She previously won the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) in November and Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) in August, both going a mile at Del Mar.

Owned and bred by Cicero Farms, the 4-year-old Quality Road filly is 8: 4-2-0 with $336,020 in earnings. Regular rider Juan Hernandez has the call.

Grade 2 winners Seal Team and Air Force Red headline a field of nine older horses entered in Saturday’s Thunder Road (G3) going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Seal Team, trained by Richard Mandella, most recently finished a solid third in the San Gabriel (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on turf on opening day of the Santa Anita meet Dec. 26. He finished 1 1/4 lengths back of winner Johannes, who was a 2024 finalist for champion turf horse.

Seal Team will seek his first stakes win since the 2023 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita. A homebred for Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass, the 5-year-old horse by War Front is 8: 3-1-2 with $290,776 in earnings. He will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli.

Air Force Red was the morning-line favorite in Sunday’s Clockers’ Corner Stakes but was scratched after the race was moved to the main track because of rain. Trained by Leonard Powell, Air Force Red most recently was a troubled seventh in the Joe Hernandez (G2), sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

A 7-year-old ridgling by Air Force Blue, Air Force Red is 22: 6-3-1 with $639,074 in earnings for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Holly Golightly. He will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

El Potente returns to the stakes ranks in top form for trainer Dan Blacker. At Santa Anita on Jan. 4, El Potente was a clear two-length winner going a mile on turf in a second-level allowance. In his only previous stakes try in October, El Potente was beaten less than a length in the restricted Lure Stakes going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

A 6-year-old horse by Temple City, El Potente is owned by My Way Racing. He has a record of 13: 5-2-2 with $186,796. Jockey Hector Berrios, who was aboard for his most recent allowance win, has the call.

Post	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start / Next Start	HRN
1		Cabo Spirit Pioneerof the Nile	6.60	George Papaprodromou Kent J. Desormeaux	6th, 2024 San Gabriel Stakes G2	20-1
Last Race		6th, 2024 San Gabriel Stakes G2
2		Air Force Red Air Force Blue	6.54	Leonard Powell Juan J. Hernandez	7th, 2024 Joe Hernandez G2	3-1
Last Race		7th, 2024 Joe Hernandez G2
3		Zio Jo Nyquist	3.79	Doug F. O’Neill Tiago J. Pereira	6th, 2024 Seabiscuit Handicap G2	10-1
Last Race		6th, 2024 Seabiscuit Handicap G2
4		Lammas Heeraat	6.06	Manuel Badilla Asa Espinoza	8th, 2024 Laffit Pincay Jr. G2	12-1
Last Race		8th, 2024 Laffit Pincay Jr. G2
5		Astronomer Air Force Blue	6.17	Simon Callaghan Frankie Dettori	7th, 2024 San Gabriel Stakes G2	6-1
Last Race		7th, 2024 San Gabriel Stakes G2
6		Wizard Of Westwood Tu Brutus	5.56	Michael W. McCarthy Kyle Frey	8th, 2024 Essex Handicap G3	15-1
Last Race		8th, 2024 Essex Handicap G3
7		El Potente Temple City	0.00	Dan Blacker Hector I. Berrios	1st, SA AOC (01/04/2025-R10)	7-2
Last Race		1st, SA AOC (01/04/2025-R10)
8		Packs A Wahlop Creative Cause	4.09	John W. Sadler Antonio Fresu	2nd, SA AOC (12/28/2024-R10)	10-1
Last Race		2nd, SA AOC (12/28/2024-R10)
9		Seal Team War Front	6.24	Richard E. Mandella Umberto Rispoli	3rd, 2024 San Gabriel Stakes G2	5-2
Last Race		3rd, 2024 San Gabriel Stakes G2

Megahertz shapes up as a La Cañada rematch

It was not until her 23rd start when Big Hug finally stepped up to graded competition. After finishing third in the 1 1/16-mile La Cañada (G3) on Jan. 19, she’ll wheel right back for trainer Val Brinkerhoff and in the Megahertz (G3), trying for her fourth win in six starts. How tough can it be for this 5-year-old Mr. Big mare? Her last two victories came a week apart in October at Century Downs in Canada.

Cavalieri, winner of the La Cañada, is the morning-line favorite at 8-5, with runner-up Alpha Bella the second choice at 9-5.

Post	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start / Next Start	HRN
1		Liguria War Front	4.45	Michael W. McCarthy Umberto Rispoli	6th, 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup G1	9-2
Last Race		6th, 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup G1
2		Big Hug Mr Big	0.00	Val Brinkerhoff Mike E. Smith	3rd, 2025 La Canada Stakes G3	12-1
Last Race		3rd, 2025 La Canada Stakes G3
3		Sareeha Shamardal	0.00	Mark Glatt Antonio Fresu	1st, SA AOC (01/05/2025-R8)	2-1
Last Race		1st, SA AOC (01/05/2025-R8)
4		Rashmi Oscar Performance	6.12	Jonathan Thomas Frankie Dettori	4th, 2024 American Oaks G1	5-2
Last Race		4th, 2024 American Oaks G1
5		Omaha Girl Omaha Beach	6.06	George Papaprodromou Tyler Baze	4th, 2024 Robert J. Frankel Stakes G3	6-1
Last Race		4th, 2024 Robert J. Frankel Stakes G3
6		Mahina Bolt d’Oro	6.27	Patrick Gallagher Hector I. Berrios	2nd, 2024 Robert J. Frankel Stakes G3	5-1
Last Race		2nd, 2024 Robert J. Frankel Stakes G3
7		Mucho Macho Girl Mucho Macho Man	6.02	Leonard Powell Juan J. Hernandez	2nd, FG AOC (12/22/2024-R5)	12-1
Last Race		2nd, FG AOC (12/22/2024-R5)