As impressive as Kopion was in her La Brea Stakes (G1) score a month ago, it'll be no walk in the park for the Omaha Beach filly in her 4-year-old debut in the Feb. 1 $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. The Spendthrift Farm colorbearer faces not one, but three talented rivals from Bob Baffert's barn in the seven-furlong contest, led by the speedy Chilean mare Richi.
Kopion, collecting a field-high Equibase Speed Figure of 110 in the La Brea, is a filly "only getting better and better," according to trainer Richard Mandella. Earning the second graded win of her career, Kopion's 2 3/4-length victory in the La Brea at odds of 37-1 vindicated the filly's propensity for sprint distances. Kopion had begun her career 2-for-2 around one turn, including a 5 3/4-length romp in the seven-furlong 2024 Santa Ynez Stakes (G3). It was only when she was stretched out two turns, in an attempt to follow the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail, where the filly's form floundered and her star diminished over the longer route of ground. Her La Brea victory followed an 8 1/2-month layoff.
Antonio Fresu replaces Kazushi Kimura, who is currently sidelined with a leg injury, aboard 7-5 favorite Kopion.
Two of the Baffert runners, Splendora and Hope Road, finished behind Kopion in the La Brea.
The lightly raced Splendora finished a closing second at 25-1 in the La Brea. It was the Audible filly's first start against stakes company after crushing lesser opposition in two straight outings. Frankie Dettori gets the call on the By Talla Racing runner.
Cicero Farms' Hope Road was a disappointing fourth in the La Brea, ending a four-race win streak for the daughter of Quality Road . She had been nearly unbeatable since joining Baffert's stable last year, posting graded wins in the Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) and Bayakoa Stakes (G3) against older fillies.
Hope Road bounced out of her defeat with a series of strong half-mile works. She clocked a bullet half-mile in :46 2/5 Jan. 25. Regular pilot Juan Hernandez rides.
Baffert's best shot of the day, however, comes with the Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stud Vendaval's Richi. A group 1 winner at a classic distance in her native Chile, the daughter of Practical Joke exits a flashy performance in the six-furlong Las Flores Stakes (G3) Jan. 4, where she defeated Pleasant, who ran third in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1).
"She's completely changed since she has been here," Baffert said of Richi. "She was really light, and they ran her really long distances (in Chile). Maybe that was all they had there. We freshened her up and she was training really well."
Richi, the 9-5 second choice on the morning line, will be ridden by Hector Berrios.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, February 1, 2025, Race 3Entries: Santa Monica S. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Richi (CHI) Hector Isaac Berrios 122 Bob Baffert 9/5 2 2Hope Road (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 122 Bob Baffert 2/1 3 3Kopion (KY) Antonio Fresu 124 Richard E. Mandella 7/5 4 4Splendora (MD) Lanfranco Dettori 120 Bob Baffert 5/1
