Wishing Well Stakes

$100.000 For Filles And Mares Four Years Old And Upwards
6 Furlongs – Turf
Santa Anita Park – February 21, 2026

It took Elegance Of Light every bit on the six furlongs to wear down her stablemate Sweet Dilemma to win the 2026 Wishing Well stakes. In winning she set the new stakes mark of 1:08.61, but this was only the second year the race has been run at six furlongs having previously been run eleven times on the much more exciting (my opinion) and unique downhill course at Santa Anita. She becomes a stakes winner with this win adding to a couple of graded stakes placings where she had previously shown her ability.

Winner: Elegance Of Light (Maxmillion Farm/L. Dettori) Class Edge/Nude Beach (Extended Sunset) Was content to sit back early and stalk the leaders down the backstretch. As her stablemate Sweet Dilemma made her move along the inside at the top of the stretch she was swung wide by jockey Dettori and the stretch long battle ensued between the top three finishers with Elegance Of Light just barely wearing down her barnmate in the very last strides to win by a neck.

Second: Sweet Dilemma (Maxmillion Farm/E. Maldonado) Decima/Above Snow (Winter Warrior) Was just off the flank of pacesetter Sandlot down the backstretch and moved to engage that one going into the far turn. Sandlot did not give way easily and Sweet Dilemma finally put her head in front of that one only to face the late challenge of her stablemate who she could not hold off in the shadow of the wire. Yet another good stakes effort.

Third: Sandlot (Threshold/V. Espinoza)l Proud Chai/Good Enough (Laffin Policeman) Was eager to run from the opening bell and led the field into the stretch. After doing the hard work and setting the pace she had every excuse to spit the bit facing multiple challenges both inside and outside of her in the stretch, but she showed guts in holding on and at one point seemed to re-rally when the winner came up on her outside. Excellent effort for her new barn and in her first stakes try. 

Fourth: Hot Pants (Maxmillion Farm/E. Jamarillo) Moment In Time/Getting Hot In Here (Fire N Fury) Almost provided the 1-2-3 sweep for the Maxmillion barn after trailing the field and making a late run along the rail. Could not quite reach the top three with the 60-1 gutsy Sandlot holding onto the third slot.

Preview Pick: Sweet Dilemma (Second – just missed)

With her win in the Wishing Well Elegance Of Light gains her first stakes win and gives both Maxmillion Farm and jockey L. Dettori their first wins in the race which has seen thirteen runnings at HRP. The win brings her career earnings to $269.250. She is the seventh stakes winner for sire Class Edge who is still active at stud, and she is the first stakes winner produced from her dam the late Nude Beach. 

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded