ARCADIA, Calif. -- Another Saturday, another mile on the turf at Santa Anita Park. The Grade 3 Royal Heroine began its life in 1998, as a listed 1 mile turf stakes at the now defunct Hollywood Park. After 3 runnings it was elevated to a graded stakes; it ran as a Grade 2 from 2007-2023.
Trainer Phil D’Amato, who will send a pair to the gate in this edition on Saturday, has won 4 of the last 5 runnings of the Royal Heroine.
Let’s meet the field, and put together our weekly wager. If you’re wagering on Santa Anita - check out AmWager! They have a $50 deposit match for new customers on their site - no promo codes required.
Grade 3 Royal Heroine. 1 mile, turf. F&M 4+up. $100,000.
1. Innovative. 15/1. Jockey: Ricardo Gonzalez. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Innovative has been off since October, last seen finishing up the track in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss. Trainer Phil D’Amato gave her some time after that race, choosing to drop her into this company: she won the Grade 3 Harris down the hill after winning over the flat mile at Del Mar. She’s 1-for-5 at the distance, so she’ll have to show a new dimension here; I’m skeptical.
Comment: toss.
2. Tirupati. 9/2. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Jonathan Thomas.
Tirupati was a front-running winner of last year’s Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes, setting a quick pace and holding on to best a field of 7. There’s a world in which Tirupati gets the same trip, and wires this group. I think the closers and stalkers in this field are better than in the aforementioned Wilshire, but she’s nonetheless capable of a win here. Trainer Jonathan Thomas doesn’t have a huge barn, but he’s always a threat in turf stakes.
Comment: can win.
3. A Thousand Miles. 15/1. Jockey: Mike Smith. Trainer: Vann Belvoir.
I was surprised to see the same morning line on A Thousand Miles as on Innovative, as A Thousand Miles has yet to win on turf or at a mile. Toss.
Comment: toss.
4. Ripassare. 10/1. Jockey: Armando Ayuso. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Ripassare started her career in Kentucky, winning for the first time on the turf at Churchill Downs. That was all the way back in November of 2024, and she’s run exclusively on the synthetic since then. While Phil D’Amato should make all bettors pause - especially given his recent success in this race - this one feels like a stretch. Is she capable? Sure. But this is a big ask - and she runs without lasix for the first time, too.
Comment: toss.
5. May Day Ready. 9/2. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Richard Mandella.
A Grade 2 winner at age 2 and 3, May Day Ready makes her debut for the Mandella barn today. She won graded stakes at both Saratoga and Keeneland, and brings the most class to this race. She’s been off since October, but I trust trainer Richard Mandella to have her ready. I have her on top in this one.
Comment: most likely winner.
6. Rosie Jeeks. 15/1. Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Neil Drysdale.
Rosie Jeeks won a listed stakes last summer at Monmouth in the Goldwood, a 5 ½ furlong turf sprint. That was in the Chad Brown barn, and the runs since have been less than inspiring, including a head-scratching 2nd in a $30,000 (yes, 30k) stakes at Turf Paradise last out. The speed figures tell a different story, but we’ll lean against on class.
Comment: toss.
7. Watchtower. 6/1. Jockey: Welfin Orantes. Trainer: Richard Baltas.
Watchtower is a fascinating entrant here, having been pulled up last out, after a terrific 3rd by a neck in the Grade 3 Frankel in January. That race was at 9 furlongs, and we’re going 8 today, where Watchtower is 2-for-7 lifetime. No disrespect to jockey Welfin Orantes, but I can’t help but imagine I’d be much more excited about this runner if Juan Hernandez - who for no decent reason has no mounts in this race - were aboard. Orantes makes this one unplayable for me.
Comment: toss.
8. Take A Breath. 4/1. Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo. Trainer: Mark Glatt.
Take a Breath is in the midst of the best stretch of her career, a winner last out in the Grade 3 Santa Ana. That race is contested at 10 furlongs, and while the fractions were reasonable, they were nothing like what today’s race will offer. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo will have to encourage her to be part of the pace earlier than she’s used to, but she’s clearly capable of closing into a group like this one. The good news about Jaramillo? He just won the most recent jockey title at Santa Anita. We’ll include.
Comment: can win.
9. Grand Slam Smile. 5/2. Jockey: Billy Antongeorgi. Trainer: Sean McCarthy.
Grand Slam Smile will try to be the first Cal-bred winner of this race since the Carla Gaines-trained Closing Remarks won this race in 2023. Ironically, the race was demoted to Grade 3 status immediately afterward. I don’t foresee that here, should the morning line-favored Grand Slam Smile win. She won the Cal-bred Irish O’Brien down the hill last out, after a solid 3rd-place finish in the Grade 2 Buena Vista, run under the same conditions at Santa Anita in February. Trainer Sean McCarthy is going back to the well with jockey Billy Antongeorgi, who has been aboard for her last 5 wins. She’s capable, but we’ll play against in this spot.
Comment: can win; toss for value.
The Sporting Tribune Play-
$3 Turf Pick 3, starts race 4 ($24): 4,8 / 5,6 / 5,8. Good Luck!