Opportune black type awaits some of the five fillies and mares contesting the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (G3) Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park.
Not one is a stakes winner in North America, though Ooty captured a group 1 in her native Argentina in 2024 before her import to the United States. Of the others, only Thermal, who showed when sent to Woodbine for a stakes race for Ontario-breds in September, has existing North American black type.
Matched against a field that includes two fillies exiting only maiden victories, Thermal is likely to be favored. After her third in the restricted Zadracarta Stakes at Woodbine in a turf sprint, trainer John Sadler returned her to dirt in Southern California, where she smoked first-level allowance optional claimers Oct. 17 at Santa Anita.
Racing over the same distance as the Las Flores, the now 5-year-old Nyquist mare sped 6 furlongs in 1:08.89 under Hector Berrios, earning a career-best 105 Equibase Speed Figure. Increasing her advantage throughout while racing on the lead, she scored by 3 3/4 lengths, improving to 2-0-4 in 11 starts for owners By Talla Racing and John W. Sadler Racing.
Her principal foes are Magnificat, a daughter of Omaha Beach with two wins from three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, and the Bob Baffert-trained Ooty, who was freshened after twice being introduced to United States racing by facing eventual Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Splendora over the summer at Del Mar.
Rain, which caused Santa Anita to cancel racing Dec. 31-Jan. 1, is forecast to continue this weekend and could impact racing or track conditions.
Entries: Las Flores S. (G3)
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, January 4, 2026, Race 6
- Grade III
- 6f
- Dirt
- $100,000
- 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 2:43 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Magnificat (KY) | Mirco Demuro | 120 | Richard E. Mandella | 2/1 |
| 2 | 2Margarita Girl (KY) | Ricardo Gonzalez | 120 | Mark Glatt | 5/2 |
| 3 | 3Nafisa (KY) | Kazushi Kimura | 120 | Bob Baffert | 8/1 |
| 4 | 4Thermal (ON) | Hector Isaac Berrios | 120 | John W. Sadler | 3/2 |
| 5 | 5Ooty (ARG) | Juan J. Hernandez | 124 | Bob Baffert | 6/1 |
