SANTA ANITA PICKS

ARCADIA, CA — Splendora and Seismic Beauty, both trained by Bob Baffert, and Where’s My Ring, now trained by Peter Miller, headline Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

Splendora will look to do one better after finishing second to stablemate Richi in the GII Santa Maria at 1 1/16 miles on April 19. It was Splendora’s first time racing around two turns. A 4-year-old filly by Audible, Splendora also finished second in the GI La Brea going seven furlongs in December at Santa Anita. She has a record of 6: 2-3-0 with $190,400 in earnings for owner By Talla Racing LLC and will have Juan Hernandez aboard.

Seismic Beauty recently aired by 10 lengths when winning a first-level allowance going a mile April 18 at Santa Anita. It was also her first time racing around two turns. A 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, Seismic Beauty is 5: 2-2-1 with $116,840 in earnings for owners My Racehorse and Peter Leidel. After having Hernandez aboard in all five previous starts, Antonio Fresu takes over in the irons.

Where’s My Ring makes her first start for Miller after previously being trained by Val Brinkerhoff. Most recently, Where’s My Ring finished third behind 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the GI Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 12. Last year, the now 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy won the GIII Gazelle at Aqueduct and was second in the GIII Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita. Where’s My Ring has a record of 14: 2-3-3 and $430,315 in earnings for owner Michael McMillan. She’ll be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith.

Alpha Bella returns to dirt for trainer John Sadler after finishing second in the GIII Wilshire at one mile on turf March 29 at Santa Anita. A 5-year-old mare by Justify, Alpha Bella previously also finished second in three-straight graded stakes on dirt prior to a fifth in the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile in March. A homebred for Don Alberto Stable, Alpha Bella is 21: 3-8-2 with $501, 615 in earnings. She’ll have Umberto Rispoli aboard for the first time.

THE GII SANTA MARGARITA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT

1. Liberal Lady—Assael Espinoza—122
2. Princess of Time—Kazushi Kimura—122
3. Where’s My Ring—Mike Smith—122
4. Splendora—Juan Hernandez—122
5. Alpha Bella—Umberto Rispoli—122
6. Seismic Beauty—Antonio Fresu—122
7. 
   

First post Sunday is 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.