In North America, however, not one is a stakes winner Ooty captured a Group 1 in her native Argentina in 2024 before importing to the United States. Only from the others Thermal which showed when sent to Woodbine for a stakes race for Ontario-breds in September, has an existing North American black type.
Against a field of two fillies with just the first win, Thermal will likely be favored. After her third-place finish in the limited Zadracarta Stakes at Woodbine in a turf sprint, trainer John Sadler brought her back to the dirt in Southern California, where she smoked the first-level benefit recipients on Oct. 17 at Santa Anita.
Racing over the same distance as the Las Flores, the now 5-year-old Nyquist mare raced 6 furlongs in 1:08.89 under Hector Berrios to earn a career-best 105 Equibase Speed Figure. She extended her lead while racing in the lead, scoring by 3 3/4 lengths, improving to 2-0-4 in 11 starts for owners By Talla Racing and John W. Sadler Racing.
Her main enemies are Magnificat a daughter of Omaha Beach with two wins from three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, and the Bob Baffert-trained Ooty, who was refreshed after twice being introduced to racing in the United States by meeting eventual Breeders’ Cup winner Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Splendor during the summer Sea.
Rain, forcing Santa Anita to cancel the Dec. 31-January race. 1, is expected to continue this weekend and could impact race or track conditions.
Submissions: Las Flores S. (G3)
Santa Anita Park, Sunday January 4, 2026, race 6
- Grade III
- 6f
- Filthy
- $100,000
- Mares and mares from 4 years and older
- 2:43 PM (local)
#Thermal #set #warm #Las #Flores