For 90-plus years, the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), known as the "Big 'Cap," has been a marquee stakes race for older dirt males at Santa Anita Park, won by legends like Seabiscuit, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, and John Henry, to name just a few. This year's Santa Anita Handicap drew a field of seven, now reduced to six after the scratch of probable favorite Skippylongstocking following travel difficulties.
Here's a rundown of the field, along with morning-line odds established after the scratch of Skippylongstocking:
1. Midnight Mammoth (8-1 morning-line odds): Last year's fourth-place finisher, Midnight Mammoth was most recently last of five in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2), beaten by 21 1/4 lengths by winner Westwood and 18 1/2 lengths by runner-up Getaway Car. His best stakes efforts have come at 1 1/4 miles or longer, but that's a lot of ground to make up on the top two from the San Pasqual in this spot.
JOCKEY: Armando Ayuso; TRAINER: Craig Dollase
2. Getaway Car (3-1): The 2025 Sunland Park Derby winner returned from an extended layoff in November with a disappointing sixth-place finish in an allowance-optional claiming race. He was much improved in his second start back when runner-up to Westwood in the San Pasqual, beaten by 2 3/4 lengths. He earned a new career-best Equibase Speed Figure and will need to continue to improve to turn the tables on his familiar foe.
JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
3. Just a Touch (3-2): Just a Touch has run second five times in stakes races with six top-three finishes, including a runner-up finish in the 2024 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and a third in the 2025 Metropolitan Handicap (G1), but has yet to earn a stakes victory. That could change Saturday in the Santa Anita Handicap. Just a Touch returned from six months off in January to finish second by a neck in the Louisiana Stakes (G3) and is eligible to improve in his second start off the layoff.
JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Brad Cox
4. Vodka Vodka (6-1): Five-year-old gelding's lone stakes win to date came on turf, but he earned his best Equibase Speed Figure to date in a one-mile dirt race in October at Del Mar. Should be part of what could be a sprightly pace for 1 1/4 miles along with Midnight Mammoth, Getaway Car, Just a Touch, and Westwood.
JOCKEY: Kent Desormeaux; TRAINER: Aggie Ordonez
5. Skippylongstocking (SCRATCHED): Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. told Daily Racing Form that Skippylongstocking acted up boarding the flight to Southern California. He has been scratched.
JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.
6. British Isles (6-1): Ran second in the Native Diver Stakes (G3) in November at Del Mar in his first try on dirt before finishing fifth against much tougher competition in the Jan. 24 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The task here became more manageable with the scratch of Pegasus victor Skippylongstocking and British Isles could benefit from what projects to be a contested early pace.
JOCKEY: Diego Herrera; TRAINER: Richard Baltas
7. Westwood (7-2): Speedy San Pasqual Stakes winner projects to be among the favorites following the scratch of Pegasus World Cup winner Skippylongstocking. Pace looks like the key, as both of his wins have come when dictating matters on the front end. A win here would be a fitting tribute to his former trainer, John Shirreffs, who died Feb. 12, and Westwood is in good hands with Peter Eurton. A feel-good top choice.
JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Peter Eurton
THE PICK: Westwood
LIVE LONGSHOTS: British Isles/Vodka Vodka
TRIFECTA: 7-3-6
