For Seismic Beauty, 2025 was a story in 3 acts: she started out sprinting, coming up short in lower level races; she moved to route races, picking off back-to-back graded stakes; and the year ended with the thud of thuds after her 7th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The Grade 2 Santa Margarita is up next, the race where Seismic Beauty got her first stakes win last year. A daughter of multiple grade 1 winner Uncle Mo, Seismic Beauty was sold for $2,500,000 in November, and her new connections made the popular decision to keep her in training.
Now a Grade 1 and Grade 2 winner, Seismic Beauty will get her 2026 campaign underway today. She’s in a muddled division - the Distaff Division - where she can absolutely be the best runner. She can become the 7th two-time winner of the race, following up Adare Manor from 2 and 3 years ago; also on the list is the great Bayakoa, a top 100 race horse of the 20th century.
Let’s meet the field, 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 $50 for new customers.
Grade 2 Santa Margarita. 1 ⅛ miles, dirt. Fillies & Mares 3+up. $200,000.
1. Om N Joy. 5/1. Jockey: Kent Desormeaux. Trainer: Aggie Ordonez.
If there were a California-only distaff division, Om N Joy would be the class. She’s one of three graded stakes winners in this group, topping a competitive field in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines at Del Mar last fall. Her 2026 runs have been less compelling, and likely leave her outside looking in versus this group.
Comment: toss.
2. Lemon Muffin. 15/1. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Patrick Gallagher.
Lemon Muffin was the top 2024 3-year-old filly of the late D. Wayne Lukas, and gave bettors a thrill in the Honeybee that year at Oaklawn Park, paying $58 to win on her way to a start in the Kentucky Oaks. She’s won only once since then, and I don’t see her winning here today.
Comment: first toss.
3. Seismic Beauty. 2/5. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
Trainer Bob Baffert can tie Ron McAnally for the most wins in the Santa Margarita - 6 - with a win today. While records are nice, a year-long championship run could begin here today for Seismic Beauty. In a distaff division where no filly or mare has distinguished herself to this point, she can make a statement today. I expect her to do exactly that.
Comment: single.
4. Simply Joking. 3/1. Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo. Trainer: Michael McCarthy.
Simply Joking holds an honor few racehorses ever do: she’s only ever run in stakes company. She began her career in the Whit Beckman barn, and won her first two races at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. After a disappointing run in a sloppy Kentucky Oaks, she was moved to the McCarthy barn, who has since moved her to exclusively west coast races. She was a dominant winner in the Grade 3 Santa Maria last out; she’ll have to repeat that performance, and add some speed if she’s going to keep pace with Seismic Beauty. She’s only 4, so she’s got time to develop, and I believe she will.
Comment: toss.
5. Lavender Love. 10/1. Jockey: Armando Ayuso. Trainer: Richard Baltas.
Speaking of 4-year-olds, Lavender Love has found a new gear this year, moving from exclusively turf racing to a trio of races on the dirt. In her two starts routing, she’s turned in a pair of wins, with both coming at Santa Anita. I don’t think she’s fast enough to win, but I’ve got her in 2nd position.
Comment: will hit the board.
The Sporting Tribune Wagers:
$5 Pick 3, Starts Race 6 ($40): 1,5 / 2,4,8,9 / 3.
$20 Exacta, Race 8 ($20): 3 / 5.