The field for the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park has been set and six older horses will race the 1 1/8 miles over the main track in the Saturday afternoon feature.
This event, which has been carded as the day’s fourth race with a post time of 5:09 p.m. ET is a key early-season test for older horses heading toward bigger spots like the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Saudi Cup (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1). The year’s field features a fairly evenly matched group of proven graded performers, stakes winners, and intriguing recent claimers, and some in the midst of enormous form reversals.
The race is one of the original stakes events inaugurated during the track’s first season in 1935 and was initially contested under handicap conditions. It began at sprint distances before evolving in 1939 to accommodate horses aged 4 and older and around two turns. It has been an allowance weight conditioned event since 2011, with a purse of $200,000 since 2014.
Legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker holds the record with eight wins (1955, 1959, 1963–1965, 1967, 1971, 1974), while trainer Bob Baffert leads with five victories (1999, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2015).
The late Battle of Midway in 2019 set the stakes record at the current 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.95. Several horses have won twice, including recent back-to-back champions like Express Train (2021–2022) and Newgrange (2023–2024).
Among its storied history, the San Pasqual has featured Eclipse Award winners and Hall of Famers. Ack Ack, trained by Charlie Whittingham and ridden by Shoemaker, in 1971 used the San Pasqual as a springboard to Horse of the Year honors that season. He also captured the Santa Anita Handicap and Hollywood Gold Cup en route to a Hall of Fame career.
Fred Hooper’s homebred Precisionist, ridden by Chris McCarron, won as a 5-year-old amid a campaign that earned him Champion sprinter honors.
Criminal Type, who was also piloted regularly by McCarron for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, captured the San Pasqual during his 5-year-old year in 1990, which included wins in the Pimlico Special (G1), Hollywood Gold Cup and Met Mile (G1), culminating in Horse of the Year and champion older male honors.
Alphabet Soup, in the care of the late David Hofmans, triumphed as a 5-year-old in 1996 before defeating the great Cigar in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) later that year, marking one of the most memorable upsets in racing history.
Silver Charm, trained by Baffert and ridden by Gary Stevens, was already a Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner in 1997 and added the San Pasqual to his resume in 1998. He is now a 32-year-old resident at Old Friends and a rare living Hall of Famer.
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner California Chrome made a triumphant comeback as a 5-year-old under Victor Espinoza and for trainer Art Sherman, this fan-favorite and dual Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2016 dominated the San Pasqual by 1 1/2 lengths, setting the stage for his Dubai World Cup (G1) victory and eventual Hall of Fame induction.
Pony Express is the slight favorite coming off a strong second in the Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 25. Back in action after a three-month layoff, he should be fresh and ready for trainer John Sadler and jockey Hector Barrios. He has shown graded-level competitiveness, often stalking the pace and finishing strongly in routes. His pedigree, by top stallion Gun Runner, and recent form make him a top contender for a stalking trip that could exploit any speed duel up front.
Getaway Car has the highest earnings in the field with more than $616,000 and also the appeal of being from Baffert’s barn. He won stakes as a 2-year-old -- the Best Pal Stakes (G3) – and 3-year-old – the Sunland Derby – and after an eight-month layoff in 2025, he returned to finish off the board in a Del Mar allowance. He has been training well and consistently at Santa Anita since, however. Baffert’s latest go-to rider Juan Hernandez is back aboard and this Curlin colt has tactical speed, often pressing or stalking early before spurting late, making him a threat to “spurt away” if the pace suits.
Westwood gets blinkers off here and though the gelded son of Authentic brings graded stakes placings, he is still winless in black-type level events. In 2025, he finished third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), fourth in the Affirmed Stakes, and third in the Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar. He’s consistent in tough company, typically mid-pack to closing style, and could improve with the equipment change and Kazushi Kimura aboard for the first time. A deep closer who benefits from pace. John Shirreffs trains.
Midnight Mammoth is a 7-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute and a veteran with a solid Southern California circuit resume, most successes coming in allowance company, however.
He’s the only horse returning from last year’s San Pasqual where he led early but faded to finish sixth. He is proven on the stretch out having captured the 1 ½-mile Cougar II Stakes (G3) at Del Mar in 2024. Most recently, he won a 7-furlong allowance optional claimer on Jan. 16 at Santa Anita with a career-best speed figure, proving sharp off a layoff and suggesting he’s in good form for this step up. He’s typically a front-runner or stalker who can set or contest the pace. Armando Ayuso rides for trainer Craig Dollase.
Eight-year-old Ghazaaly, who was a $1.05 million yearling but has yet to come close to recouping his purchase price, starts for trainer Doug O’Neill off a $25,000 claiming win 10 days ago, which followed a DNF and ambulance ride back to the barn in late November. Haltered for $40,000 last August by his current connections, he was supplemented this race though he seems mostly competitive in sales tag spots. His running style leans toward mid-pack or closing, but at this level he’s stretching his speed against stronger rivals. Emisael Jaramillo rides.
Bartholdy is multiple graded stakes-placed seeking his first stakes victory. Last year, he finished third in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) and third in the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2) and has only finished worse than third five times in his 20-race career. He also won the aforementioned Del Mar allowance on Nov. 30 where Getaway Car faltered. Consistent in routes, he tends to rally from mid-pack or farther back, closing well when the pace is honest. Tyler Baze rides for trainer Steve Knapp.
Overall, expect a tactical race with potential speed from Midnight Mammoth or Getaway Car, setting up closers like Pony Express, Bartholdy, or Westwood. It’s a competitive renewal with no standout but several live contenders.
The picks: 1 Pony Express 2 Getaway Car 3 Westwood
1 Midnight Mammoth (Armando Ayuso, Craig Dollase), 9-2
2 Ghazaaly (Emisael Jaramillo, Doug O’Neill), 10-1
3 Getaway Car (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 2-1
4 Bartholdy (Tyler Baze, Steve Knapp), 4-1
5 Pony Express (Hector Barrios, John Sadler), 9-5
6 Westwood (Kazushi Kimura, John Shirreffs), 8-1
The Megahertz Stakes (G3), for fillies and mares 4 years old and up at mile on turf, has been carded as the day’s seventh race and drew a strong field of nine turf distaffers. Post time is 6:43 p.m. ET.
This year’s field is filled with a mix of class droppers, recent form players, and some looking for bounce-backs.
Will Then seems standout off a strong third-place finish, beaten just three-quarters of a length in the American Oaks (G1) on Dec. 28. Cutting back to 1 mile and dropping in class should suit this 4-year-old War of Will filly well. She’s already a graded stakes winner -- Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3) as a juvenile -- and carries a lot of positive into this event, especially if she goes off anywhere near her 4-1 morning line.
Public Assembly, trained by Phil D’Amato, gets a prime chance to rebound after a fifth in the Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G2). She’s been competitive in graded turf company and could benefit from the mile distance.
Vibez is another bounce-back candidate coming off recent efforts that suggest she’s ready to fire in this spot. She’s part of a field with tactical speed and stamina.
Other notables in the mix include Princess Moche, Sigh No More (Irish-bred making a local debut), My Perfect Wave, and Violeta M.
The picks: 1 Will Then 2 Public Assembly 3 Vibez
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
