Aron Wellman and Janie Buss each grew up going to the races in Southern California and witnessing runnings of the historic Santa Anita Handicap (G1). Both are now owners—Wellman as president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Buss as head of Purple Rein Racing—and they will square off in the March 1 edition of the Big 'Cap through their respective runners, Locked and J B Strikes Back.
"It is such an honor to be in this race," said Buss. "I always loved horses—it started when I was about 5."
Locked could go off as the favorite, while J B Strikes Back will be a longer price. But each brings serious credentials to the 1 1/4-mile race, Locked as a horse shipping in and J B Strikes Back as a local runner.
Though Wellman lives in California, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners horses race throughout the world. Eclipse owns Locked with Walmac Farm, and Todd Pletcher trains the 4-year-old son of Gun Runner in the East. Locked won the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) last December at Aqueduct Racetrack and most recently finished second to White Abarrio in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Wellman noted many reasons for sending Locked to California for the Big 'Cap.
"First and foremost, we have to do what's best for the horse," Wellman said. "He ran an enormous race in the Pegasus off of two prior big races, an allowance and the Cigar Mile. The spacing from the Pegasus to the Big 'Cap was conducive."
Wellman added that the Big 'Cap is "a very prestigious and important race on the calendar as a grade 1, and a historical race at that." The decision was made to race Locked in California rather than shipping much farther for the Feb. 22 Saudi Cup (G1).
"We're doing everything in our power to make him as valuable as possible as a stallion prospect when the time comes," Wellman added. "That's the other layer to it."
Wellman said that Locked "is doing awesome" after arriving in California the night of Feb. 25 and training at Santa Anita Park the following morning. Jose Ortiz, who rode four winners at Oaklawn Park Feb. 23, is coming in to ride Locked from post 7.
The Big 'Cap attracted a field of nine that includes one other shipper. Trainer Brad Cox is sending Hit Show. A 5-year-old son of Candy Ride , Hit Show won three consecutive graded stakes in the second half of 2024 and most recently scored in the Jan. 18 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Flavien Prat, last year's Eclipse Award-winning jockey, is set to ride from post 3.
J B Strikes Back is one of two from the barn of trainer Doug O'Neill, who won back-to-back editions of the race with Lava Man in 2006-07. Each of O'Neill's 2025 runners captured a graded stakes during the current Santa Anita meeting. J B Strikes Back, a 4-year-old son of O'Neill-trained Goldencents , won the Dec. 26 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2). Katonah, a 6-year-old son of Klimt, captured the Jan. 25 San Pasqual Stakes (G2) after running sixth in the Pincay. O'Neill named Antonio Fresu on J B Strikes Back from post 4 and Tiago Pereira on Katonah from post 6.
Buss hails from a family best known for its association with the Los Angeles Lakers. Her Purple Rein Racing uses the same purple and gold of the famed basketball team in its silks.
A while back Buss noticed that many other owners' silks use purple and gold. For example, fellow Big 'Cap entrant Express Train's silks are purple and gold because owners Lee and Susan Searing are devoted Lakers fans. Buss asked a silks maker to change the fabric, but not the color, of her silks so they would stand out more. J B Strikes Back has since won all three of his races: two allowance optional claimers and the Pincay.
"His stride is so amazing," Buss said. "Even when he's tired, he still outstrides everybody."
Buss has always believed in J B Strikes Back. After she lost him in a claiming race for $20,000 last July, she insisted on claiming him back for $25,000. He was unplaced in two subsequent starts before the switch in silks and the current win streak began.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the Big 'Cap six times, including last year with Newgate . He has entered Mirahmadi (Juan Hernandez, post 5), named after Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, and New King (Mike Smith, post 2). Both are 4-year-old sons of Into Mischief . Mirahmadi ran second in the 2023 Del Mar Futurity (G1) and is coming off a 4 1/2-length victory in a Jan. 4 allowance optional claiming race. New King is making his stakes debut, having most recently scored at the allowance optional claiming level Feb. 2.
"I've always thought Mirahmadi was a good horse," Baffert said. "He needs to be on the lead. New King comes from a little bit off the pace. It will be exciting."
Express Train, the other entrant with Lakers colors and on the rail with Hector Berrios up, won the 2022 Big 'Cap for the Searings' C R K Stable and trainer John Shirreffs after finishing second in the race in 2021. Now 8, Express Train finished fourth behind J B Strikes Back in the Pincay and second to Katonah in the San Pasqual.
Tarantino (Edwin Maldonado, post 9) also competed in the Pincay and San Pasqual. A $40,000 claim in July 2024 and now trained by Peter Eurton, he ran third in the San Pasqual and second in the Pincay after a second in the Nov. 23 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar.
Midnight Mammoth finished sixth in the San Pasqual, but won the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II Stakes (G3) at Del Mar last July. Craig Dollase trains the 6-year-old, who will be ridden by Armando Ayuso from post 8.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 1, 2025, Race 10Entries: Santa Anita H. presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Express Train (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 120 John A. Shirreffs 10/1 2 2New King (MD) Mike E. Smith 115 Bob Baffert 8/1 3 3Hit Show (KY) Flavien Prat 124 Brad H. Cox 5/2 4 4J B Strikes Back (KY) Antonio Fresu 119 Doug F. O'Neill 30/1 5 5Mirahmadi (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 116 Bob Baffert 6/1 6 6Katonah (KY) Tiago Josue Pereira 121 Doug F. O'Neill 8/1 7 7Locked (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 124 Todd A. Pletcher 3/2 8 8Midnight Mammoth (KY) Armando Ayuso 116 Craig Dollase 30/1 9 9Tarantino (KY) Edwin A. Maldonado 118 Peter Eurton 12/1
