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Meaning leads Santa Anita Oaks exacta for Michael McCarthy

April 5, 2026

ARCADIA — A year after he won the Santa Anita Derby with Journalism, trainer Michael McCarthy didn’t have a chance to win that race Saturday but enjoyed a more than worthwhile consolation prize.

McCarthy’s 3-year-old fillies Meaning, with Juan Hernandez riding, and Brooklyn Blonde, with Kazushi Kimura, finished first and second in the Grade II Santa Anita Oaks, giving the winner enough points to qualify for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks and the runnerup a chance to get in if other horses withdraw.

Meaning, a daughter of Gun Runner owned in part by Journalism partner Eclipse Thoroughbreds, paid $3.80 as a heavy favorite in her third victory in four starts.

“Would have liked to have one in the Santa Anita Derby and gone back-to-back, but this will have to suffice,” McCarthy said. “It’s always good when you can be part of big days like this.”

Forced Entry, who already had enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, was eased before getting to the first turn in the 1-1/16-mile Santa Anita Oaks. Trainer Bob Baffert said jockey Mike Smith told him Forced Entry “bobbled a little bit” a few strides out of the starting gate and Smith pulled her up to be safe. Baffert said the filly “looked OK” after the incident but would be examined.

McCarthy said Journalism, who won the 2025 Santa Anita Derby and Preakness and ran second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, is “coming to hand” in workouts and could start his 2025 season at Keeneland, Churchill Downs or Oaklawn Park.

FATAL FALL

The day got off to a sad start when Cosmic Heat had to be euthanized after falling with jockey Antonio Fresu in the first race.

Santa Anita said the allowance-level 3-year-old filly, trained by Peter Eurton, suffered an “unrecoverable” injury to her left foreleg when she jumped while crossing the main track in a downhill-turf sprint. Fresu was examined and cleared to continue riding.

This was the seventh fatal injury to a horse and eighth death overall in racing and training at Santa Anita in 2026.

IN OTHER ACTION

Fresu bounced back to ride Fionello ($39.80) to one of the upsets of the day, coming from last to catch Thirsty Rebel in the Echo Eddie Stakes, a sprint for California-bred 3-year-olds.

Mike Smith, who rode Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy, came back a half-hour later and rallied Florida shipper Spirited Boss ($38) to victory over Amorita and heavily favored Queen Maxima in the downhill Monrovia Stakes for fillies and mares.

Mohaven ($3.20) and Emisael Jaramillo ran away with the Evening Jewel Stakes, a sprint for Cal-bred 3-year-old fillies, the John Sadler trainee adding a victory on Santa Anita Derby day to her Golden State Juvenile Fillies win on Breeders’ Cup Friday at Del Mar last fall.

ELSEWHERE

Further Ado won the Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths over Ottinho, both horses earning enough points to get into the May 2 Kentucky Derby. Albus beat Right to Party in the Wood Memorial, both going on to the Derby.

CLOSING TIME

Santa Anita has a $97,983 carryover in the pick-six as its Classic Meet concludes Sunday with 10 races starting at noon.

Jaramillo and Doug O’Neill have clinched the Classic Meet jockey and trainer titles.

After a week off, the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet runs April 17-June 14.

Orange County Register

News Details

Meaning leads Santa Anita Oaks exacta for Michael McCarthy

FATAL FALL

IN OTHER ACTION

ELSEWHERE

CLOSING TIME

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