The field for Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita is set with a compact yet talented field, including a recent graded stakes winner over this track and last year’s winner returning to defend her title in her first start of 2026.
Inaugurated in 1935, the Santa Margarita is one of California’s oldest stakes and has a rich legacy of standout female runners. It has been a Grade 1 or 2 fixture for many years, highlighting versatile dirt performers over the 9-furlong distance. Hall of Famers and champions like Zenyatta, Bayakoa, Paseana (twice each), Azeri, Lady’s Secret (who set the stakes record of 1:47.00 in 1986), Silver Spoon, Gallant Bloom, Bed O’Roses, Two Lea, and Busher.
More recently, Adare Manor (2023-24) became only the third repeat winner in the modern era, joining Argentine imports Bayakoa and Paseana.
Hall of Famer Ron McAnally owns the record for most winners with six, but Bob Baffert has dominated recently with five, including the last three, two by Adare Manor, the other last year by Seismic Beauty, who is the 2-5 favorite on Saturday.
Three Hall of Famers – Laffit Pincay, Jr., Bill Shoemaker, and Chris McCarron -- each rode three winners during their careers.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Seismic Beauty | Antonio Fresu | 1:48.30 |
| 2024 | Adare Manor | Juan Hernandez | 1:50.86 |
| 2023 | Adare Manor | Juan Hernandez | 1:49.79 |
| 2022 | Blue Stripe (ARG) | Tyler Base | 1:50.52 |
| 2021 | As Time Goes By | Mike E. Smith | 1:49.95 |
Seismic Beauty (2-5) is the class of the field as the lone Grade 1 winner (Clement L. Hirsch last summer) who romped wire-to-wire in last year’s Santa Margarita by five lengths and has recently shown she’s in top-level form coming into the race.
The daughter of Uncle Mo possesses tremendous early speed and the ability to sustain it, making her a dangerous front-runner or pace-presser on her home track. Her layoff since her last-place finish as the 6-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) is the main question, as is her fitness off a seven-month layoff, but Baffert’s barn is adept at producing sharp comebacks in these spots.
She’s the one to beat on talent and proven stakes quality over this track and trip. Juan Hernandez returns as her regular pilot.
Simply Joking (3-1), who hails from trainer Michael McCarthy’s barn, is a talented 4-year-old by Practical Joke who has been on a roll this year. She delivered a dominant gate-to-wire victory in the Santa Maria Stakes (G3) here in April, winning by nearly seven lengths while setting a strong pace. Her running style is speed-based — she likes to control races from the front or just off it — and she has shown sharp improvement in recent starts. Past performances indicate she will be effective at this distance, and she poses the biggest threat to the favorite off the layoff. Expect her to apply early pressure or stalk closely under jockey Emisael Jaramillo.
Om N Joy (5-1) is a California-bred 4-year-old by Om with a solid stakes résumé on the local circuit. She has multiple black-type wins, including the Torrey Pines Stakes (G3), Fleet Treat, Melair, and Evening Jewel Stakes. The Aggie Ordonez trainee has shown versatility, though she often performs best with a target or in stalking roles, and her past performances show consistent placings in tougher company with a good late kick when the pace is honest. At this distance, she may get her preferred trip behind a dueling Simply Joking and Seismic Beauty, showing the way, waiting for them to back up. She is a live longshot under jockey Kent Desormeaux.
Lavender Love (10-1) is a California-bred daughter of Grazen and has been a reliable performer on the Southern California circuit for trainer Richard Baltas. Fresh off a dominant victory in a 1-mile allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita on May 15, the 4-year-old filly will make her stakes debut. While she faces proven performers, her consistent closing kick and familiarity with the Santa Anita surface help her chances. Armando Ayuso will be in the irons.
Lemon Muffin (15-1) is a 5-year-old mare by Collected who serves as the outsider. She has shown some competitiveness in stakes company (e.g., placing behind Simply Joking in the Santa Maria) but generally lacks the top-end talent of the others. Her style tends toward mid-pack or stalking, and past performances suggest she’s better as a supporting player rather than a top contender at this level over 9 furlongs. She could pick up a minor award if the top trio falters.
The Picks: 1 Seismic Beauty, 2 Simply Joking, 3 Om N Joy
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.
