Santa Ysabel Stakes – Grade III
$100.000 For Fillies Three Years Old
1 1/16 Miles – Dirt
Santa Anita Park – March 8, 2026

Monarchy came out of the Santa Ysabel the same way she came in, unbeaten. She reverted to her front running ways and ran the field off their feet cruising home to an impressive win and ensuring herself a spot in the gate for the Kentucky Oaks. She is also TC nominated so it will be interesting to see where she goes next. Not ready to crown her yet but she is first in line right now for the throne early in the season.

Winner: Monarchy (Mo Mentum Farm/V. Espinoza) History/Fastidious (Freddo Cappuccino) Came out of the gate on top and was put on the lead going into the first turn with Breathtaking from her outside seeking to engage. Was never truly challenged for the early lead. Opened up her lead at the top of the stretch and looked like a winner every step of the way. Wicked Angelina was coming late but was she geared down or was she getting leg weary. The win moves her into the top position on the KY Oaks qualifying charts with 70 total points. 

Second: Wicked Angelina (The Sidley Stud/P. Lopez) Techfluence Heat/Sexy Angelina (Dial It In) Was able to use her rail position to bide her time and sit comfortably midpack. Had a dream trip and was able to come slightly off the rail at the top of the stretch to come through an opening in order to make her run. Although she never seriously seemed like she was going to get to the winner she found her best stride late and was eating up ground at the wire. She now moves to ninth for Oaks qualifying with a total of 43 points.

Third: Boardwalk Freak (Noblepark/A. Fresu) Boardwalk Empire/Super Freak (Sinissippi Star) Rated early at the back of the field content to let the leader gain an eight-length advantage on her down the backstretch. Was asked to make her run three furlongs out and responded eagerly. Had to go widest of all in the stretch and was charging home but did not have nearly enough racetrack left to get to challenge the winner. Promising graded stakes debut and has yet to finish off the board. Her third-place finish puts her at twentieth-eighth on the Oaks charts with 15 points.

Fourth: Firewall (Mb Stables/J.R. Velasquez) Prevent/Storm Of Fire (Fire N Fury) Broke well and was able to gain position early. Sat in the catbird seat behind the two leaders down the backstretch. Tried to mount a challenge when they hit the stretch and held her own but never hit the gears that some others did but still hung on well enough for part of the purse and the points. She is currently in seventeenth in Oaks qualifying with 24 points.

Fifth: Breathtaking (Big Gun Stables/M. Franco) Breath Of The Wild/Blue Eyed Baby (Good Authority) Broke sharply and was hustled into position from her outside post. Tried to challenge the pacesetting winner but never managed to get on even terms. Sat behind and it looked like she was giving way going into the final turn, but she showed grit to persevere and hold fifth gaining precious Oaks points putting her at fourteenth with a total of 25.

Preview Pick: Monarchy. Winner.

The win by Monarchy was the first win in the race for Mo Mentum Farm. It was the second win for jockey V. Espinoza who also won the first running of the race in 2005 with Shorlines Hope. The winning time of 1:41.84 was the second fastest behind the stakes record of 1:41.73 set by Sweep The Ash in 2015. This was the third straight stakes win for Monarchy and her first graded victory. She remains unbeaten with four wins in four starts. Her career earnings now stand at $284.250. She is the only stakes winner for both her sire History (31 foals) and her dam Fastidious who has produced three winners from five foals.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES