Nysos, Nevada Beach ready for Laffit Pincay Jr. clash

There will be three Class 1 races Santa Anita Park‘s opening day on December 28, but the undercard of the graduated stakes action will add to the fireworks with an expected clash of recent Grade 1 winners in the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2).

Those Grade 1 winners both come from the shed of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, with Nysos with the side of Baoma Corp. and Nevada Beach racing for Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.

Nysos aims to end his four-year-old season with a fourth straight victory. Although sometimes it was difficult to keep the son from him Nyquist on the track his talent has never been in doubt, with six wins from seven starts. He proved himself at the highest level on November 1 with a thrilling victory in a stretch match over the champion Burger Taurus in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

A $550,000 purchase from the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training sale has run the Pincay’s 1 1/16-mile distance only once before, triumphing by 2 3/4 lengths in the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Sea. He is in comfortable territory, as his three starts at Santa Anita have been won by a combined 23 1/2 lengths.

Santa Anita was also a productive track for Nevada Beach, which won the Goodwood Stakes (G1) there in September. Going into this race, the son of Omaha Beach returned from a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to outgame British Isles by half a length in the Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar Nov. 22.

British Isles is one of five rivals entering from outside the Baffert shed in the Pincay, a group that includes the Grade 3 winner Cornishman .

Submissions: Laffit Pincay, Jr.S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday December 28, 2025, race 6

• Grade II
• 1 1/16m
• Filthy
• $200,000
• 3 years and older
• 1:37 PM (local)

Namaron and Maaz meet again in Mathis Mile

Seven 3-year-old runners compete in the $200,000 Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T), covering a mile and a half on grass fields.

from Hronis Racing Namaron is the only contender with success at level, thanks to a Group 3 win in Germany in April. The They loved The gelding’s two American starts for trainer John Sadler have both resulted in a third-place finish against stakes company.

The most recent came in October’s Twilight Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita, where he finished a half-length behind second place maaz . That French-bred runner, trained by Michael McCarthy for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables, Sabby Racing and Michael House, returned in the Hollywood Derby (G1T), finishing seventh and beaten by 4 3/4 lengths after his saddle slipped early in the race.

Submissions: Mathis Mile S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday December 28, 2025, race 5

• Grade IIT
• 1m
• Grass
• $200,000
• 3 years
• 1:05 PM (local)

Endlessly strives to right the ship in San Gabriel

Considered one of the top talents of his generation as a 2-year-old, Endless aims to right the ship and end his four-year-old season with a win in the $100,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G3T).

The Amerman Racing homebred finished third in the American Stakes (G3T) – his season debut this spring and his first start in 8 1/2 months – but has failed to reach the board in three starts since. McCarthy gave the 4-year-old Oscar performance Colt got a bit of a break after the August 30 Del Mar Handicap (G2T), where he was a threat early on but then faded to ninth. McCarthy also removes the blinders he added two starts ago.

McCarthy will also saddle the Class 1 seed Mondeo for Cheyenne Stables.

Also looking to the right is Kretz Racing’s ship Cape Spirit for trainer George Papaprodromou. After beating Endlessly in the American Stakes, he hit the board in four straight attempts. However, the typical pacer had competition in the lead at his most recent start, the November 29 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T), finishing eighth.

Submissions: San Gabriel S. (G3T)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday December 28, 2025, race 9

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/8m
• Grass
• $100,000
• 3 years and older
• 3:16 PM (local)