Eastern-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. struck again in a graded stakes at Santa Anita Park with an out-of-state shipper. On Oct. 31, it was with Little Jamie in the $103,000 Goldikova Stakes (G3T) for fillies and mares going 1 mile.
Ridden for the first time by Tiago Pereira, Little Jamie tracked pacesetter Princesa Moche in third, ranged up near the leaders entering the stretch and then finished best of all to prevail by a neck over Lady In Paris. Finishing another length back in third was Baltic Fire.
This was Little Jamie's second stakes win and first at the graded level. Prior to the Goldikova, the 5-year-old mare by Collected won a second-level allowance at Kentucky Downs going 1 mile on turf Sept. 3.
"I just tried to put her in a good spot," Pereira said. "She broke very well and I put her in third. At the 5-furlong (pole), I took her out a little to keep her in the clear on the outside. When I moved at the three-eighths she was the same pace. When I pushed a little harder she responded really well. I want to thank the trainer and the owners for giving me the opportunity. Nice win."
Previously this year at Santa Anita, Joseph shipped in Forged Steel from out of state to win both the Goodwood Stakes (G1) Sept. 26 and Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2) in May. Also on Oct. 3, in the Chillingworth Stakes (G3), Joseph-trained shipper Paradise City crossed the wire first but was disqualified for interference soon after the start.
Little Jamie won in a time of 1:34.09 following fractions of :22.58, :47.01, and 1:10.82. Her previous stakes win came in January 2025 at Tampa Bay Downs in the Wayward Lass Stakes. A homebred for J and J Stables, Little Jamie improved to 4-2-7 from 21 starts with $465,206 in earnings.
Little Jamie paid $21.20 for a $2 win bet.
