As we begin the countdown to 2026, there was quite a bit of horse-racing news out of South Florida and Southern California.
First, welcome news out of Gulfstream Park that Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty is being prepared to race as a 4-year-old. Second, the delayed opening day at Santa Anita was a smash hit Sunday as more than 40,000 spectators showed up at the track.
On a low note, jockey Antonio Fresu will be “out for some time” after sustaining a broken toe on his left foot during the seventh race at Santa Anita on Sunday.
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The director of bloodstock for owner Godolphin USA said the leading contender for Horse of the Year has been galloping in Lexington, Kentucky, the past few weeks and is headed to trainer Bill Mott’s base at Payson Park in Indiantown, Florida, early in the new year.
"We'll get him with Bill and then roll on,’’ Michael Banahan said in a Sunday TV interview, “and hopefully have as good a year next year as we had this year.’’
Sovereignty remained at Saratoga after his Belmont victory and went on to win the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Travers Stakes (G1), but after being shipped to Del Mar, he scratched days before the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) due to a fever.
Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarez, won five of six races in 2025 – he was second in the Florida Derby (G1) -- for earnings of $5,692,000.
Fresu was aboard 2-1 favorite Anmer Hall in a downhill sprint. They were put in tight quarters, turning into the stretch and hitting the rail. Freu’s agent Ron Anderson said Fresu’s left riding boot was split and was taken to a hospital.
“It’s his ‘inside’ foot, so that can be a little more worrisome. These guys though they are in such good condition, they heal fast,’’ Anderson said.
Earlier this year, Fresu finished as the leading rider at the Santa Anita Hollywood meet.
Opening day at Santa Anita was delayed two days due to heavy rains, but no matter – the Sunday crowd of 41,962 was the largest since 2016 for the meet opener. The track received six inches of rain last week, but Sunday was clear with temperatures in the mid-60s.
The card featured three graded stakes on dirt and three on the turf.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert swept the dirt races – Nysos ($2.40) outdueled stablemate Nevada Beach in the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Stakes; Usha ($13.20) took the La Brea Stakes; and Goal Oriented topped stablemate Midland Money in the Malibu Stakes.
Two other Baffert entries in the Malibu were scratched: Barnes and Cornucopian. Baffert said Monday he had no update on Barnes; Cornucopian was scratched prior to the race after acting up in the saddling enclosure and falling on his hind-end.
“It was unfortunate, but he’s fine,” Baffert said.
Trainer Jonathan Thomas also had a strong day – his turfers won a pair, the Mathis Mile with Hiding in Honduras ($21.40) and the American Oaks with Ambaya ($27.40).
Horseplayers on track and around the world supported the day with an all-sources mutuel handle of more than $18.2 million – the eighth time in the past nine years opening day topped $18 million.
“We appreciate everyone who had to adjust their schedule for the weather, and we are so thankful to everyone who worked so hard to make opening day a success,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s general manager. “It was important to stay on the turf course to present the best racing program possible for the owners, trainers, jockeys and horseplayers. Opening day is very important to create momentum for the season, and today’s large crowd provided terrific energy. It was a nice reminder of why Santa Anita remains ‘The Great Race Place.’”
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.
