CONTACT US

Contact Form

    News Details

    Horse racing: Grand Slam Smile favored at Santa Anita
    • April 23, 2026

    The Royal Heroine Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on Saturday poses tactical challenges for the jockeys of Grand Slam Smile, Take a Breath and May Day Ready.

    The consistent California-bred Grand Slam Smile, the 5-2 morning-line favorite ridden by William Antongeorgi, has front-running speed but drew the outside in a field of nine going 1 mile on turf.

    Take a Breath, with Emisael Jaramillo, likes to come from off the pace and drew post 8. May Day Ready, with Antonio Fresu in her first start since moving west to trainer Richard Mandella, has won from the front and back and has post 5.

    The Royal Heroine Is part of the Friday-Saturday-Sunday second week of Santa Anita‘s Hollywood Meet.

    • Post positions for the top 20 qualifiers for the May 2 Kentucky Derby will be set Saturday. California-trained horses expected to be entered are So Happy, Potente, Intrepido, Pavlovian and Litmus Test.

    SANTA ANITA LEADERS

    (Through Sunday)

    Jockeys / Wins

    Juan Hernandez / 4

    Armando Ayuso / 4

    Hector Berrios / 3

    Kazushi Kimura / 3

    Emisael Jaramillo / 3

    Antonio Fresu / 3

    Trainers / Wins

    Phil D’Amato / 4

    Paul Aguirre / 2

    Carla Gaines / 2

    Ryan Hanson / 2

    Peter Miller / 2

    Steve Knapp / 2

    UPCOMING STAKES

    SANTA ANITA

    Saturday

    • $100,000, Grade III Royal Heroine Stakes, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, 1 mile on turf

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    News