Kopion made it consecutive graded-stakes victories Saturday when she drew away late under Antonio Fresu to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for only four fillies and mares going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

The 6-5 favorite, Kopion sat just off pacesetter Hope Road (2-1) through fractions of 22.67 and 45.04 seconds for the opening half-mile. Kopion drew on even terms with the leader near the quarter pole and kicked clear in the stretch to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Hope Road, trained by Bob Baffert, held second over stablemates Richi (5-2) in third and Splendora in (6-1) in fourth.

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“Today was a smaller field, so I just tried to not be in the way,” Fresu said. “I just thought to break well and sit right next to the leader. Just kept it simple. She has a lot of class and is very good.”

Trained by Richard Mandella for owner Spendthrift Farm, Kopion previously won the La Brea (G1) going seven furlongs Dec. 26 at Santa Anita after an 8 1/2-month layoff. The 4-year-old filly by Omaha Beach completed seven furlongs in 1:21.27.

“She has just grown into a beautiful mare, and I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Mandella said.

With no show wagering, Kopion paid $4.40 and $2.40. Hope Road, ridden by Juan Hernandez, returned $3.00.

Kopion is 6: 4-1-1 with $434,600 in earnings. Last year she won the Santa Ynez (G3) in January at Santa Anita then was second in the Las Virgenes (G3) and fourth in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) before hitting the sidelines.

This was the fourth Santa Monica win for Mandella and first since 2005 with Argentina-bred Salt Champ.

El Potente delivers as favorite in Thunder Road

El Potente was bet down to the 3-2 favorite and promptly rolled to a dominant three-length victory under Hector Berrios in the $100,000 Thunder Road (G3) going a mile at Santa Anita.

Trained by Dan Blacker, El Potente tracked pacesetter Air Force Red (7-1) in second, drew on even terms with the leader at the top of stretch and kicked clear late to earn his first stakes win. He won with a final time of 1:32.39 after tracking fractions of 22.63, 46.17 and 1:09.43.

“He responded perfectly,” Berrios said.

Seal Team (5-2), the morning line favorite, rallied for second under Umberto Rispoli for trainer Richard Mandella. Air Force Red held on for third with Zio Jo (11-1) completing the superfecta.

Since arriving at Santa Anita from Oaklawn in January 2023, El Potente has won 6 of 10 starts and has not been worse than third. In his only previous stakes try, the 6-year-old horse by Temple City was third, beaten by just three-quarters of a length in the restricted Lure Stakes going a mile on turf in October at Santa Anita.

“A lot of credit goes to Hector,” Blacker said. “He really gets him to switch off, and he runs for him, too. You can see when he asks him to go, that turn of foot. I think he responds really well for Hector.”

El Potente, who is owned by My Way Racing, improved his record to 14: 6-2-2 with $248,796 in earnings.

“It was just patience,” Blacker said of El Potente’s ascent to being a stakes winner. “He needed time to really mature and reach his peak. We just gave him time when he needed it. (Owner Mike Way) has been so patient and allowed him to do it. Now we are reaping the rewards.”

El Potente paid $5.00, $3.20 and $2.40. Seal Team returned $4.00 and $2.40. Air Force Red, ridden by Hernandez for trainer Leonard Powell, paid $4.00.

Dettori rides Rashmi to Megahertz victory

Rashmi, exiting a fourth in the American Oaks (G1) on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, earned her first stakes win for trainer Jonathan Thomas when getting class relief in the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares going a mile at Santa Anita.

Sent off the 9-5 favorite under Frankie Dettori, Rashmi broke in front but soon was overtaken for the lead by 14-1 long shot Omaha Girl and jockey Tyler Baze. Omaha Girl and Rashmi remained one-two around the oval until they reached the top of the stretch. Rashmi at that point burst past Omaha Girl and received no further challenges on her way to a 2 1/2-length victory.

“I let (Omaha Girl) go in front and relaxed my horse behind where it was nice and comfortable,” Dettori said. “She was breathing nice. It was just a matter of when I was going to press the button. When I did, she shot forward with speed. Simple as that.”

Mahina (7-2), ridden by Berrios, finished second with another half-length back to Ligura (5-1) and Rispoli in third. Sareeha (3-1), with Antonio Fresu up, completed the superfecta.

Rashmi won with a time of 1:34.19 following fractions of 22.95, 46.77, 1:10,82 and 1:22.64.

A 4-year-old Oscar Performance filly, Rashmi is a homebred for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable. She improved to 8: 4-1-1 with the $60,000 winner’s share boosting her earnings to $150,736. In the American Oaks going 1 1/4 miles on turf, Rashmi finished six lengths behind standout winner She Feels Pretty. That effort followed a pair of victories going a mile on turf at Del Mar in the fall.

“She has really taken to California,” Thomas said. “She has gotten stronger, and she had some confidence builders at Del Mar in those starter races. I thought she ran deceptively good in the Grade 1 American Oaks here. We are really excited to get back to the winner’s circle.”

Rashmi paid $5.80, $3.20 and $2.40. Mahina, ridden by Berrios for trainer Patrick Gallagher, returned $4.00 and $3.00. Liguria, with Rispoli up for trainer Michael McCarthy, paid $3.40.