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2025 Year in Review Santa Anita Opening Day Hong Kong Cup Results Hong Kong Jockey Challenge Hong Kong Cup woeks |
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 Kazushi Kimura and Ambaya return after winning the 2025 American Oaks |
There were three graded stakes races run on the turf on opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. The track took almost six inches of rain from Tuesday night through Friday, but the 41,962 fans were treated to a crystal-clear Sunday afternoon with temperatures in the high 60s. The last time Opening Day was postponed was in 2019, when 35,085 were on track.
 Down the stretch in the 2025 American Oaks |
Jockey Mirco Demuro sent 22-1 Ribbons to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.55, 48.30, 1:13.55, and 1:37.75 while pressed by Cliffs and stalked by Will Then. Into the stretch Ribbons tired allowing Cliffs to take over at the 1/8 pole but 12-1 Ambaya, 5th early under Kazushi Kimura, rallied through traffic to win by 1/2 a length over Cliffs in 2:01.02. It was a neck back to Will Then third.
Also on the card: Malibu Stakes (G1), La Brea Stakes (G1), and Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2)
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 4 Ambaya Kimura 27.40 9.20 5.20 3 Cliffs Ortiz 4.60 3.20 2 Will Then Prat 3.60 Winning Time: 2:01.02 $1 Exacta 4-3 43.50 $1 Trifecta 4-3-2 175.20 $1 Superfecta 4-3-2-6 2,054.00 $1 Super Hi-5 4-3-2-6-7 29,839.00 |
Left: Ambaya in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Jonathan Thomas said, "I'm feeling great. This is my first Grade 1 for the Strawbridge's, they were here and they have been such an integral part of our barn. So, to pull that off for them today it was so meaningful. He is a horse lover and we are just so appreciative of the horses we get to train. It is a real privilege to be a trainer and when you have horses like this it is extra special. I may have grilled (Kazushi Kimura). I made him watch replays then I talked to him for five minutes, shook him and said' 'The filly is training fantastic, she can win if you get a good trip.' And he rode her beautiful. He really gave her a great ride."
Right: Ambaya in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Kazushi Kimura, who picked up the ride after original rider Antonio Fresu was injured earlier in the card, said, "She always steps through from the gate, but today was actually smooth right out the gate, so it was quite easy to get a nice position. I didn't need to fight with her or send her too much. I was tracking Flavien (aboard stablemate Will Then), and when he decided to move to the outside, I got the extra room for myself."
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Cliffs in the walking ring before the race. The Cherie DeVaux trainee improved her record to 2 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 6 starts, earning $226,284 for owner Lael Stables.
Right: Third place finisher Will Then returns after the race. The Jonathan Thomas trainee improved her record to 3 wins, 0 seconds, and 2 thirds in 10 starts, earning $239,164 for owner-breeder Augustin Stables (George Strawbridge Jr.)
Jockey Mirco Demuro sent Tempus Volat to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.35, 47.63, and 1:12.31 while pressed by Friendly Confines and stalked by 19-2 fourth choice Hiding in Honduras. Into the land Tempus Volat continued to lead through 7f in 1:23.38 but Hiding in Honduras, 3rd most of the way under Antonio Fresu, rallied to win by a head in 1:35.13. It was a length back to late-running favorite Namaron third.
Results Chart from DRF.
Left: Hiding in Honduras in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Jonathan Thomas said, "We have liked this horse. They actually really liked him on the farm where he was broke. He just has to get it together between his ears. But I'd like to congratulate Mr. La Penta. He has been a big part of our farm since the very beginning. To win a race like this is very special."
Right: Hiding in Honduras in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Antonion Fresu said, "To be fair he was nice in the post parade, just when he saw the gate he acted up a little bit. But I didn't do much. I grabbed him and once he was in the gate he was absolutely fine. I tried to get him to break and follow the instructions like Jonathan had told me. He settled nice and relaxed on the backside. When I got the split, he was still very green. He gave me the input to go and he kind of stood there a little bit then came back on. Thank you to Jonathan and the owner for this opportunity. The horse is talented and he's going to improve again. Today Jonathan brought him great form."
Left: Second place finisher Tempus Volat in the paddock before the race. The Leonard Powell trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds in 8 starts, earning $200,058 for owner Sondereker Racing.
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Namaron in the paddock. Jockey Flavien Prat said, "He gave me a good trip. They kicked home quick. He gave me a good run, but then he went even."
Down the stretch in the Mathis Mile.
The $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2) featured a field of 11 older horses going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) 6th place finisher Stay Hot was sent off as the 9-4 favorite over 3-1 second choice Suchet off an allowance win and 5-1 third choice Astronomer off his close second in the Seabiscuit Handicap.
Jockey Mike Smith sent 6-1 fourth choice Cabo Spirit to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.18, 47.14, and 1:11.21 while pressed by 49-1 longest shot Nesso's Lastharrah and stalked by Astronomer. Turning for home, Cabo Spirit continued to lead through 1 mile in 1:35.44 and pulled away late to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Astronomer in 1:47.34. It was 1/2 a length back to late-running 10-1 Mondego third.
Results Chart from DRF.
Left: Cabo Spirit heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer George Papaprodromou said, "We tried something different last time out, sitting right off the leader and that didn't work out. Today I just told Mike, 'Just get him out there, he likes it out there and gets comfortable.' He goes there and he turns off for a while and he loves it. He loves Santa Anita, he trains well, he ran huge. At the quarter pole when he opened up a length or two I thought he kind of got it but he's one of those horses that is sneaky. He knows when they are coming. Sometimes he wants to wait for them but today he just took off. He always tries and has his ways, I had him as a 2-year-old and I love him."
Right: Cabo Spirit returns after the race. Winning jockey Mike Smith said, "The trip was brilliant. Cabo Spirit was happy. I think he liked the cut in distance. The track is a little on the softer side today, and I think it suited him. He broke well and I was able to get a comfortable lead. He felt confident and positive all the way around."
Left: Second place finisher Astronomer in the paddock before the race. The Simon Callaghan trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 5 seconds, and 2 thirds in 22 starts, earning $406,100 for owner-breeder Alice Bamford and co-owner Michael Tabor.
Right: Third place finisher Mondego in the paddock. The Mike McCarthy trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 1 second, and 3 thirds in 18 starts, earning $347,047 for owner Cheyenne Stable.
Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Stay Hot in the paddock. The Peter Eurton trainee has a record of 6 wins, 5 seconds, and 2 thirds in 19 starts, earning $737,660 for owners Burns Racing, Exline-Border Racing, Estate of Brereton Jones, and William Hudock.
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