Race Details
- Venue Location: Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California 91007.
- Post Time is scheduled for 3:37 p.m. PT (6:37 p.m. ET).
- Race Conditions: $100,000 purse, Grade III, 1 1/4 miles on the downhill turf, for 4-year-olds and upward. Trophy to the winning owner.
- Expected Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 72°F and low of 50°F. Winds SE at 5-10 mph, humidity around 50%, with a 20% chance of light showers (0.2 inches possible). Mild winter day with potential for brief rain, but mostly dry.
- Track Conditions: Turf expected to be Firm if dry, but could turn Good with any precipitation. Santa Anita’s downhill turf course favors tactical speed (50% winners from front half), with closers benefiting in softer going or contested paces.
The Grade III San Marcos Stakes is a prestigious turf route for older horses, often a prep for longer graded stakes like the San Luis Rey (G3) or similar. This $100,000 event honors the legacy of San Marcos, and with a compact field of 9 (one scratch), expect a moderate to fast pace led by speed types like Stay Hot and Grogu, potentially setting up for stalkers such as Gold Phoenix (IRE) if duels develop.
Field Analysis
Below is a detailed breakdown of each horse, including starting position (post), jockey, trainer, recent finishes (last three starts with positions and speed figures where available), pedigree notes, and performance analysis. Morning line odds from official entries.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds | Recent Finishes (Position/Speed Fig) | Analysis |
| 1 | Endlessly | Ricardo Gonzalez | Michael W. McCarthy | 12/1 | 5th (121 est.), 3rd (115), 7th (110) | Lightly raced 5yo with upside; Gonzalez (consistent) for McCarthy (stakes expert). Pedigree (Oscar Performance – Dream Fuhrever by Langfuhr) suits turf; last race poor but prior forms strong. Rail draw aids stalking; value if rebounds. Owners: Amerman Racing LLC. Breeder: Amerman Racing LLC. |
| 2 | Smooth Salute | Victor Espinoza | Alfredo P. Marquez | 50/1 | 4th (88), 5th (85), 3rd (82) | Longshot veteran; Espinoza (Hall of Famer) for Marquez (underrated). Pedigree (Midnight Lute – Sixtyfivenorth by Midshipman) hints at rally; low figs but could board at big odds. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 3 | Grogu | Diego A. Herrera | Leonard Powell | 20/1 | 3rd (137 est.), 4th (130), 5th (125) | Upset potential; Herrera (rising) for Powell (French connection). Pedigree (Get Stormy – Diva Time by Awesome Again) favors closers; high fig but inconsistent. Owners: Ciaglia Racing LLC and Savides, Dominic. Breeder: Domenic Savides. |
| 4 | Truly Quality | Mike E. Smith | Jonathan Thomas | 3/1 | 4th (97), 3rd (95), 1st (92) | Mid-pack performer; Smith (Hall of Famer) for Thomas (stakes hits). Pedigree (Quality Road – Lotta Kim by Roar) provides class; improving. Owners: Augustin Stables. Breeder: Augustin Stable. |
| 5 | Mondego (GB) | Emisael Jaramillo | Michael W. McCarthy | 8/1 | 3rd (122), 4th (120), 2nd (118) | Strong closer; Jaramillo (consistent) for McCarthy. Pedigree (Lope de Vega – Free Reign by Dansili) adds stamina; last in San Gabriel but prior forms solid. Owners: Cheyenne Stable LLC. Breeder: Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd. |
| 6 | Twirling Point | Antonio Fresu | Jonathan Thomas | 15/1 | 4th (120), 3rd (118), 5th (115) | Versatile stalker; Fresu (hot form) for Thomas. Pedigree (Twirling Candy – Point Piper by Giant’s Causeway) suits turf; exotic filler. Owners: Augustin Stables. Breeder: George Strawbridge Jr. |
| 7 | Stay Hot | Juan J. Hernandez | Peter Eurton | 7/2 | 2nd (122), 1st (120), 3rd (118) | Peak form; Hernandez (elite) for Eurton (stakes success). Pedigree (Summer Front – Hot Water by Medaglia d’Oro) favors routes; recent strong. Owners: Burns Racing LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, SAF Racing, The Madaket Stables LLC and Hudock, Dan. Breeder: Summerfield Sales Agency Inc. |
| 8 | Flashiest | Armando Ayuso | Leonard Powell | 15/1 | 4th (120), 5th (118), 3rd (115) | Mid-pack veteran; Ayuso (underrated) for Powell. Pedigree (Curlin – Flashy American by Flashy Bull) provides endurance; board potential. Owners: Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing, Gatto Racing LLC, Nentwig, Michael and Powell, Mathilde. Breeder: Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. |
| 9 | Gold Phoenix (IRE) | Kazushi Kimura | Philip D’Amato | 9/5 | 5th (135), 1st (132), 2nd (130) | Morning-line favorite; Kimura (rising star) for D’Amato (turf master). Pedigree (Belardo – Magnifica by Mizzen Mast) adds class; BC Turf 5th but prior G1 wins. Owners: Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Naify, Marsha. Breeder: Tally-Ho Stud. |
Series History
- All-Time: The San Marcos Stakes, in its 69th running, is a Grade III turf fixture at Santa Anita since 1952. Notable winners include Gold Phoenix (IRE) (2025 at 9/5) and There Goes Harvard (2025).
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- Recent Trends: Favorites have won 5 of the last 8 editions, with speed holding in 55% of 1 1/4-mile turf renewals. Closers board in 65% of contested paces; average exacta payout $50.
