This weekend, the eyes of American racing fans will fall upon places like Ozone Park, Hallandale Beach, and Hot Springs.
The Kentucky Derby 152 preps happening at all those places will be contested over the tracks’ respective dirt courses. Santa Anita, a major part of the road to the Derby, will hold its subsequent Derby Prep, the San Felipe, next weekend.
This weekend belongs to California’s strongest set of horses: its turf horses. With a pair of tracks with terrific turf courses in Santa Anita and Del Mar - and year-round great racing weather - it’s no surprise the grass would play well out west.
The Grade 2 Buena Vista is a mile race for older female horses. For some - including the favored Thought Process - it’s a first try against older horses. For others, this is another try for a graded stakes. I think you could make the case for at least 4 of the starters in here. Let’s meet them, and put together our weekly wager. If you’re wagering on Santa Anita, check out AmWager! They’ve got a 100% deposit match up to $150!
Grade 2 Buena Vista. 1 mile, turf. Fillies & Mares 4+up. $200,000.
1. Thought Process. 9/5. Jockey: Hector Berrios. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Thought Process kicks off her 4-year-old campaign here, and it’s not an easy spot. Her resume speaks for itself: she’s the clear class of the race, as the only multiple graded stakes winner. Both of those stakes wins were at this mile distance, including the Surfer Girl at Santa Anita. The only question mark for her: she’s been off since August. No matter for trainer Phil D’Amato, who wins at 20% off these types of layoffs.
Comment: must include.
2. Grand Slam Smile. 3/1. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Sean McCarthy.
Grand Slam Smile is the kind of horse we adore in Southern California: a Cal-bred who wins whichever kind of race you place her in. In the last 10 months, she’s won a pair of races on the dirt - one a stakes - 2 turf sprints, and a turf route race. All but one of those was in Cal-bred stakes company. This is a step up, for sure, but all of her numbers are legitimate.
Comment: must include.
3. Watchtower. 9/2. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Richard Baltas.
Watchtower is the other graded stakes winner in the field, having won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss in October of 2024. That was also at a mile over the Santa Anita turf course, where she has two lifetime wins. Her best recent effort was last month, in the 9 furlong Frankel, where she just missed on the wire. I have questions about her early speed these days, and with a number of front-running types who can rate well in this field, I think she’s up against it.
Comment: reluctant toss.
4. Princesa Moche. 4/1. Jockey: Mirco Demuro. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Peruvian-bred Princesa Moche enters off a win in the Grade 3 Megahertz, run under the same conditions as today’s Buena Vista. She nosed out Vibez, who will break from the outside. She has a stalking style, and is more than capable of sitting in the pocket of this group as well. Jockey Mirco Demuro got her over the top in 3 of his 4 trips with her - I expect them to do it again today.
Comment: most likely winner.
5. Hannah Buckle. 30/1. Jockey: Armando Ayuso. Trainer: Leonard Powell.
Trainer Leonard Powell had kept Hannah Buckle at the mile distance for 6 races, before trying the 1 ⅛ mile Frankel last out. She showed some good late kick in that one, finishing a respectable 4th. I think she’s a bit outclassed here, but if jockey Armando Ayuso can keep her closer to the pace, she’s a candidate to hit the board.
Comment: outclassed.
6. My Perfect Wave. 20/1. Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Tim Yakteen.
Making only her 6th career start, this will be My Perfect Wave’s 2nd try at graded company, the most recent in the Megahertz where she finished 3 lengths off the winner. Trainer Tim Yakteen has booked Florent Geroux, making me think she’ll be much closer to the pace than she has been previously. Look for her to hit the board today.
Comment: Longshot who hits the board.
7. Vibez. 7/2. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Peter Eurton.
Vibez was a nose from a win in the Megahertz, and given the line here, folks expect the tables to get turned in this one. It’s on the table, of course, as she has won half of her lifetime starts at the distance. I think her inconsistency race to race rears its head, and she finishes out of the money today.
Comment: toss.
The Sporting Tribune Wager
$3 Turf Pick 3 ($36): 1,2 / 1,2,4 / 4,9. Good Luck!
