On March 14, 2026, Santa Anita stages the Grade III San Simeon Stakes in Race 4, a 6 1/2-furlong turf dash for four-year-olds and upward carrying a purse of $100.000. This has long been a sharp West Coast grass sprint. Spankys Barn returns with Clout and Wild Wolf after having won this race previously with Copper Moon in 2013 and Bluesman in 2024. The recent honor roll also includes Crickets in 2025, while Bejarano, Gutierrez Mario, and Flores D. R. are among the jockey names that have appeared multiple times in the stakes history.

1. Our Holiday

Trainer/Owner: Night Rider Stables
Probable Jockey: Valdivia J Jr
Odds: 5-1

Our Holiday comes into this race in sharp current form after a decisive victory at Santa Anita on January 31, 2026, when he won a 6 1/2-furlong turf optional claimer with a 99 figure. That effort fits this race beautifully on both distance and course profile, and it showed he can sit just off the pace before finishing. His overall turf record is solid at 29 starts with 8 wins, and his lifetime earnings of $372.840 reflect a dependable grass campaigner. He did not make much impact in graded turf sprints last summer, but his recent local return suggests he has rediscovered his best stride. From this post he should secure a clean trip, and if he repeats that last effort he is very much a win candidate.

2. Street Sounds

Trainer/Owner: Bigchief Stables
Probable Jockey: Hernandez J J
Odds: 15-1

Street Sounds is an interesting class-and-distance puzzle. His best turf work has come routing, including a victory at 1 1/16 miles and competitive efforts in longer stakes, but he now cuts back dramatically to 6 1/2 furlongs. On form, his most recent run in the Carle Place Handicap showed some tactical ability before flattening late, and his overall turf record of 12 starts with 4 wins is respectable. Still, this race shape looks much sharper and quicker than what he has usually preferred, and although his connections are capable, he appears more likely to be running on late for a minor placing than to out finish the established turf sprinters at this trip.

3. Clout

Trainer/Owner: Spankys Barn
Probable Jockey: Kimura K
Odds: 12-1

Clout enters off a Santa Anita turf sprint where he was within striking range turning for home before weakening to fifth, yet that race earned a 99 figure, which is higher than it might look at first glance. He has been more effective at slightly longer turf distances through much of his career, and although he owns 4 wins from 19 turf starts, his recent sprint form suggests he is still adapting to this sharper niche. Spankys Barn has strong historical credentials in this stakes, and Clout’s work pattern on the local turf has been steady. He would need a pace collapse and a career-best finishing kick to win, but his back class makes him usable as a fringe upset chance.

4. Last Way To The Beac

Trainer/Owner: Maxmillion Farm
Probable Jockey: Maldonado E
Odds: 7-2

Last Way To The Beac is the accomplished veteran of the field with 12 wins from 45 starts and towering lifetime earnings of $4,168.240. He has danced in major turf sprints for a long time and remained competitive last season, including a victory in the Connaught Cup (G2) and a strong third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). His seasonal debut at Santa Anita was merely even, finishing fourth in a 6-furlong claimer, but that looked more like a prep than a true measure of his ability. He is a pure turf specialist, owns proven class over this course configuration, and if he moves forward second off the layoff, he is one of the most dangerous runners in the field.

5. Luttrell

Trainer/Owner: TwinTowersRacing
Probable Jockey: Frey K
Odds: 8-1

Luttrell is a rapidly improving four-year-old who has won both starts in 2026, including a 5-furlong turf optional claimer at Gulfstream on February 14, 2026, where he posted a 99 figure. He did not break through as a turf sprinter immediately last year, but he showed enough promise in maiden company to suggest this development is not accidental. His turf record of 7 starts with 2 wins and 3 additional placings says he has become more reliable on this surface, and his running style gives him enough speed to be involved early. The class hike is real, but he is one of the more progressive horses in the lineup and has a legitimate chance to keep climbing.

6. Bayldonite

Trainer/Owner: The Sidley Stud
Probable Jockey: Jaramillo E
Odds: 9-2

Bayldonite has been facing strong company in turf sprints for some time and fits on established class. He was beaten only a neck in the Colonel Power Stakes at Fair Grounds last month and had previously contested the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, both races against solid open company. His career turf line of 16 starts, 5 wins, 3 seconds is highly credible, and he owns nearly $500.000 in lifetime earnings at $499.590. He has already shown he can compete with graded-quality sprinters, highlighted by his narrow Nearctic (G2) win last fall. The extra half-furlong here should suit him, and he looks like one of the more reliable late runners if the leaders start to soften.

7. Sioux Arrival

Trainer/Owner: High Voltage
Probable Jockey: Rispoli U
Odds: 10-1

Sioux Arrival is the class wild card. Most of his best racing has come in much longer turf events, including a Grade III victory in the San Gabriel at 1 1/8 miles and a Grade II score in the Kentucky Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles. He also ran well enough in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) earlier this year to confirm his current form. The obvious question is whether a proven route horse can be effective in a 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint, even with his excellent local works. He has the back class and conditioning to make things interesting, but the cutback is so severe that he feels more like a talented anomaly than the most likely winner.

8. Inoue

Trainer/Owner: Royalty Stables
Probable Jockey: Demuro M
Odds: 4-1

Inoue is one of the more dangerous runners because he combines dirt form, turf-sprint form, and top-end class. He was a close second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and also runner-up in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile? No, not from the lines; sticking strictly to the pasted performances, he was second in the Simpson Stakes (G1) at 6 1/2 furlongs on soft turf and second by a head in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at 5 furlongs. He followed that by trying the Hooper (G3) on dirt, where he was outkicked late. His turf numbers are strong, his tactical pace is useful, and his class level stacks up well. If he settles properly and gets clear running turning for home, he is one of the main threats.

9. Wild Wolf

Trainer/Owner: Spankys Barn
Probable Jockey: Berrios H I
Odds: 3-1

Wild Wolf looks like the one arriving in the sharpest pure sprint form. He won the Clockers’ Corner Handicap at Santa Anita on February 8, 2026, earning a 99 figure after controlling the race throughout, and that local success at a similar sprint trip is a major positive. Though he has raced mostly on dirt across his career, his turf record is excellent in limited tries, standing at 3 starts with 2 wins and 1 second. He has already proven effective at Santa Anita, he owns tactical speed that can put pressure on the field from the outset, and his current condition appears ideal. Spankys Barn knows how to win this race, and Wild Wolf has the profile of a horse ready to capitalize.

Pace Structure

The pace looks honest rather than reckless. Wild Wolf has the clearest intent to be prominent from the break, while Our Holiday, Last Way To The Beac, and Luttrell all have the speed to keep him company or sit just off his flank. Inoue should not be far away either and may get the first run if the front line starts to bunch. Bayldonite profiles as a stalking finisher who could get the right setup, while Street Sounds and especially Sioux Arrival may be left with too much to do in the lane if the sprint tempo is not overly contested.

Projected Winner

Wild Wolf gets the nod. He owns the strongest combination of recent local form, tactical pace, and suitability to this exact kind of Santa Anita turf sprint. Inoue looks like the principal danger on class, while Last Way To The Beac and Bayldonite are both capable of making this very tight if they deliver their best efforts.

Projected order of preference: Wild Wolf, Inoue, Last Way To The Beac, Bayldonite.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES