Skippylongstocking Returns West For Santa Anita Handicap

March 2 - Veteran Grade I winner Skippylongstocking makes a return trip California and Westwood, who is now trained by Peter Eurtron, makes his first start since the passing of former trainer John Shirreffs in a historic Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap going 1 ¼ miles at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, March 7.

This will be one of the biggest race days of the 2026 Santa Anita Classic Meet. The racing program that day includes the historic Grade I Santa Anita Handicap featuring some of the nation's top older horses; the Grade I B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile for fillies and mares; Grade II San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds with Kentucky Derby aspirations and Grade II Frank E. Kilroe Mile for leading turf horses. On Sunday, March 8, the program includes the GIII Santa Ysabel for 3-year-old fillies on the Kentucky Oaks trail and China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

Last May, Skippylongstocking shipped to Santa Anita from south Florida and promptly took down the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup, also contested at 1 ¼ miles. Most recently, the 7-year-old horse by Exaggerator earned his first Grade I victory when winning the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owner Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking sports a record of 36: 13-3-7 with $5,461,250 in earnings. He'll carry highweight of 125 pounds. Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for the Pegasus World Cup victory, again has the call.

In what proved to be his final start for Shirreffs, Westwood on Jan. 31 won the GII San Pasqual going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita for his first graded stakes victory. Thirteen days after the breakout win, Shirreffs passed in his sleep at the age of 80.

Owned by C R K Stable, Westwood is 10: 2-3-3 with $313,900 in earnings. In addition to having horses with Shirreffs, C R K Stable has for years also employed Eurton as trainer of some of their runners. Westwood, a 4-year-old gelding by Authentic, has worked three times since joining the Eurton barn. On Sunday, Westwood signaled his readiness with a bullet four-furlong work in 46.60 seconds. It was the fastest of 79 works at the distance.

Kazushi Kimura, who rode Westwood for the first time in the San Pasqual win, has the call again in the Big 'Cap.

Getaway Car gets another crack at Westwood after coming up 2 ¾ lengths short of the front-running winner in the San Pasqual. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old colt by Curlin is seeking a first graded stakes win since his 2-year-old season. Getaway Car is 10: 3-3-0 with $656,300 in earnings for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners. He'll be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

Also coming west for the Big 'Cap is Just a Touch, a 5-year-old Justify horse trained by Brad Cox. Most recently, Just a Touch returned from a six-month layoff and was beaten a neck in the GIII Louisiana Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds. He is seeking a first stakes win for owners Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampei.

BRITISH ISLES CONFIRMED FOR GRADE 1 BIG 'CAP

Feb 28 - The Grade I Santa Anita Handicap next Saturday will include British Isles, trainer Richard Baltas said after the 5-year-old gelding worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds Saturday at Santa Anita. "Looks like that's the plan," Baltas said of the Big 'Cap.

British Isles most recently was fifth in the GI Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Santa Anita. Prior to that effort, British Isles was narrowly beaten by Grade I winner Nevada Beach in the GIII Native Diver in November at Del Mar.

Other notables nominated to the 1 ¼-mile Big 'Cap are Florida-based Skippylongstocking, who won the Pegasus World Cup for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.; GII San Pasqual winner Westwood for trainer Peter Eurton; Getaway Car, who was second in the Westwood for trainer Bob Baffert; and 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano for trainer John Sadler. Last year, Skippylongstocking shipped to Santa Anita and won the GII Hollywood Gold Cup, also at 1 ¼ miles.

VODKA VODKA SET FOR BIG 'CAP

Feb 22 - Vodka Vodka and his younger half-sister Om N Joy are both on target for Grade I assignments on March 7 at Santa Anita after each worked five furlongs Sunday at Santa Anita.

Trained by Aggie Ordonez, Vodka Vodka and Om N Joy each worked with Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard. As for Vodka Vodka, he was timed in 1:00.20. Ordonez was pleased with the drill and said he's set to go in the Santa Anita Handicap in two weeks.

"He's doing so great right now. I could run him tomorrow," Ordonez said. "He's just floating on air, doing everything right. He's fit. It's just a matter of keeping him happy while I hold my breath for the next two weeks."

A 5-year-old California-bred gelding by Stay Thirsty, Vodka Vodka most recently won the Unusual Heat Turf Classic on Jan. 17 at Santa Anita. Prior to that effort, he was fourth in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr. on Dec. 28 in his only stakes try against open company.

Om N Joy worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds. The 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Om hasn't started since finishing fourth in the GII Raven Run in October at Keeneland. "It was exactly what I was looking for," Ordonez said of the drill.

Om N Joy is now confirmed to run in the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on the Big 'Cap card. That hoped-for assignment had been in doubt following what was a lackluster work last Sunday by Om N Joy.

"She needed a serious work and it was a serious work," Ordonez said. "Kent set a target behind two Baffert horses. That's usually a good idea when you need a good work. It played out perfectly. She had a target and picked it up down the lane immensely. Last week, Om N Joy worked five furlongs in 1:02.6.

"I was a little concerned with her work last week, but Kent made a smart move that day and gave her a strong gallop-out. It turned into a stamina work really," Ordonez said. "We discussed that she would need to wake up this week and she did."

Vodka Vodka and Om N Joy were both bred and are co-owned by Jerry Baker and Connie Baker, who were on hand Sunday morning to watch the works.

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