Santa Anita Park (285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California) hosts the Grade III Santa Ana Stakes on Sunday, March 15, 2026. This $100,000 stakes race for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward is contested at 1 1/4 miles on the downhill turf course (rail at zero) as Race 7 on the card. The scheduled post time is 4:00 PM PT.
Expected weather conditions in Arcadia forecast a warm, sunny mid-March Southern California afternoon with highs around 87-89°F (30-32°C), light southwest winds (5-10 mph), and intervals of clouds and sunshine with negligible precipitation chance (under 1%). No rain is expected, so the downhill turf course should rate firm—favoring speed, tactical positioning, and horses with proven downhill experience on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf.
Entries were released this week with a full field of 10 fillies and mares plus one also-eligible (all carry 120-124 lbs. per conditions; non-winners of graded stakes since a certain date allowed minor allowances). Post positions and official morning-line odds will be drawn and released closer to race day (typically the morning of or day prior); the field below is listed in current entry/program order with available connections. No scratches reported.
Here is the probable field with entry-order numbers (serving as provisional post positions for preview purposes), recent form highlights, and in-depth analysis of each horse, jockey, and trainer:
Provisional Post 1: Ima Joker (5/M, 120 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Mirco Demuro
Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill (multiple Santa Anita stakes winner with sharp turf routers)
Pedigree: Practical Joke – Rue de Cry. Owned by Purple Rein Racing; bred by Iconic Thoroughbreds, LLC. Recent finishes: Stepping up off solid allowance/optional claiming efforts; consistent placer with tactical speed. Analysis: O’Neill excels at peaking horses for graded spots, and Demuro’s European-style timing suits the downhill. She has the pedigree for stamina and should handle the firm turf. Live longshot who could press early from the inside and offer value.
Provisional Post 2: Queen Sienna (ARG) (6/M, 122 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: Marcelo Polanco (specialist with South American imports)
Pedigree: Fortify – Gamuza Fina (ARG). Owned by Las Monjitas Stable LLC; bred by Abolengo. Recent finishes: Competitive in recent U.S. turf routes with improving figures. Analysis: Polanco knows how to transition these imports, and Espinoza brings big-race experience. Forward or stalking style fits the downhill; dangerous mid-tier threat at a price with course versatility.
Provisional Post 3: Paradise Lake (5/M, 124 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Juan J. Hernandez (Santa Anita’s leading rider)
Trainer: Peter Eurton (local specialist with recent stakes success)
Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Terrific Treasure. Owned by C R K Stable LLC; bred by Repole Stable, Inc. Recent finishes: Recent stakes winner of the Robert J. Frankel Stakes; strong local turf form. Analysis: Eurton has her peaking after the Frankel score, and Hernandez is a perfect fit for tactical rides. Top-weight reflects class; major contender who loves the Santa Anita turf and could stalk and pounce late.
Provisional Post 4: A Thousand Miles (4/F, 122 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Diego A. Herrera
Trainer: Vann Belvoir (capable with improving fillies)
Pedigree: Thousand Words – Swiss Army Wife. Owned by Bryon Seymore; bred by John Hess & Riley Hess. Recent finishes: Allowance/optional claiming placings with upside stretching out. Analysis: Belvoir spots her sharply, and Herrera rides aggressively. Pedigree suggests stamina for 1¼ miles; live longshot who could improve with the class test and firm turf.
Provisional Post 5: Public Assembly (5/M, 124 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer: Philip D’Amato (turf stakes powerhouse with multiple downhill winners)
Pedigree: More Than Ready – Enchanting Kitten. Owned by Abbondanza Racing LLC, McNulty Thoroughbreds or Medallion Racing; bred by Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Pollock Farms. Recent finishes: Strong recent efforts including placings in graded company; consistent router. Analysis: D’Amato is a downhill turf master, and Geroux’s patient style is ideal. Top weight is justified by class; the one to beat or prime exacta leg with proven ability to rate and finish strongly on firm turf.
Provisional Post 6: Hey Jessie (4/F, 122 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Mike E. Smith (Hall of Famer and Santa Anita legend)
Trainer: Sean McCarthy (sharp with turf fillies)
Pedigree: Grazen – Bea’s Cee. Owned by Sayjay Racing LLC; bred by Say Jay Racing, LLC. Recent finishes: Improving allowance form with closing kick. Analysis: McCarthy has her rolling, and Smith upgrade is huge for the downhill. Tactical versatility and California-bred speed make her dangerous; live contender who could sit mid-pack and deliver late.
Provisional Post 7: Starry Night (4/F, 120 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Ricardo Gonzalez
Trainer: Jonathan Thomas (elite conditioner with graded success)
Pedigree: Justify – Shannon Faith. Owned by X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC or SF Racing LLC; bred by Paget Bloodstock. Recent finishes: Consistent in stakes/allowance company with strong figures. Analysis: Thomas knows how to have them ready, and Gonzalez fits the stalking style. Justify pedigree screams route potential; solid mid-pack threat at a price with upside on firm going.
Provisional Post 8: Take A Breath (GB) (4/F, 120 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
Trainer: Mark Glatt (consistent with European imports)
Pedigree: Bated Breath (GB) – Darling Grace (GB). Owned by Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners or Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing; bred by Highgate Stud. Recent finishes: Solid recent turf efforts transitioning to U.S. racing. Analysis: Glatt excels with these types, and Jaramillo rides aggressively. European speed and stamina suit the downhill; live longshot who could press or stalk effectively.
Provisional Post 9: Resolve (4/F, 120 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Hector Isaac Berrios
Trainer: Leonard Powell (turf specialist)
Pedigree: Midnight Lute – Custody. Owned by California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing LLC or O’Donnell; bred by Bloom Racing LLC. Recent finishes: Recent allowance placings with competitive speed. Analysis: Powell has her sharp, and Berrios knows the track. Tactical speed from mid-pack; value play who could improve stretching to 1¼ miles on firm turf.
Provisional Post 10: Mrs. Astor (6/M, 124 lbs) – ML pending
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Trainer: Jonathan Thomas (double entry with Starry Night)
Pedigree: Lookin At Lucky – Causal. Owned by Augustin Stables; bred by George Strawbridge Jr. Recent finishes: Multiple stakes winner eyeing her seventh career stakes victory; proven router. Analysis: Thomas’s second shooter brings elite class and experience. Fresu fits the patient style. Top weight and durability make her a major threat; the class horse who could rate and close powerfully.
Also Eligible (11): Catalina Cocktail (5/M, 120 lbs) – Trainer John W. Sadler; Jockey Armando Aguilar. Solid allowance form; live if any scratches.
Overall race preview and key angles: This Grade III downhill turf route features a deep, international-flavored field on firm Santa Anita grass. Mrs. Astor (provisional 10) and Public Assembly (provisional 5) stand out on class and connections, while Paradise Lake (provisional 3) brings fresh stakes-winning form. Expect a moderate pace with early speed from inside posts, setting up tactical types or late closers like Mrs. Astor or Hey Jessie on the firm downhill.
