Santa Ana Stakes (Grade lll)

Purse $100.000 – For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward

1 1/4 Miles – Turf

Santa Anita Park – March 15, 2026

The 22nd running of the Santa Ana Stakes features a field of seven fillies and mares hoping to add their name to the race’s growing list of winners. Smokey Stover stands as the most successful owner in the history of the Santa Ana Stakes with three victories. The race has also featured future stars, including Lady Hilltopper, who appeared in the 2023 running before going on to win 14 graded stakes and earn $5,376.580 in purse money. Collectively, this field has a combined 10 graded stakes victories among them, adding plenty of class and depth to this year’s lineup. Here’s a closer look at the contenders.

1. Rosi – (Paradise Stable, M E. Smith) Broke her maiden on the turf at Fort Erie going seven furlongs, though most of her career has been spent on the dirt. Rosi’s best effort came over the main track in 2024 in The Comely Stakes. She was in last place by a double-digit margin and closed to win by a length. Paradise Stable decided to revisit the turf again in the Grade 3 Waya, setting the pace and fading in the stretch, finishing sixth. Since that performance, she has run fourth and fifth in allowance races on the dirt. This looks like a last resort type of entry before she hits the breeding shed.

2. Enough Class To Pass – (Our Athletes, E. Maldonado) After debuting on the dirt, Enough Class To Pass put herself on the map with an impressive turf victory at Fair Grounds. Our Athletes later tested her stamina at 1⅜ miles on the grass, where she won by a nose. Since then, she has bounced between stakes and allowance company. In her most recent start, she turned in a solid effort, wiring a compact field of three at 1¼ miles on the turf as the heavy favorite. She figures to be close to the early pace here, though it’s worth noting she is the only filly in the field still seeking her first stakes victory.

3. My Princess Em – (Bigchief Stables, U. Rispoli) Purchased for $27.000 at auction and possesses plenty of early speed. My Princess Em has four career victories on the turf, all coming in wire-to-wire fashion. Her most notable performance came on soft ground in the Eatontown Stakes, where she scored by a length. Bigchief Stables stretched her out to 1½ miles on the grass last time out at Gulfstream Park, but she surrendered the lead at the quarter pole. The main question is whether this race is too far. Still, My Princess Em figures to be the likely pace setter, and if allowed to dictate soft fractions, she might go all the way.

4. Rain Rattle – (Bears Stable, A. Fresu) Saying Rain Rattle was a “good claim” would be a massive understatement. Bears Stable claimed the filly for $4.000 in August 2024 and has been super consistent ever since. Since the claim, she has made fourteen starts and recorded eight victories, including four stakes wins. Her triumph in the Santa Anita Oaks earned her enough points to secure a spot in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing a respectable fifth. Rain Rattle later made her turf debut at Del Mar, scoring by a half-length, and followed that effort with back-to-back graded stakes victories. She’s certainly one to keep a close eye on.

5. Happy Dancer – (Nakamura Stables, V. Espinoza) Figures to be one of the favorites. Happy Dancer debuted on turf and then switched to the dirt for the first half of her three-year-old season. She knocked out two allowance conditions before switching to the turf last May. The Pucker Up Stakes at Ellis Park was her coming-out party as she made every pole a winning one. This filly’s most recent race on grass was at Del Mar, where she drew away from the field to win by a comfortable four lengths. My top pick in here.

6. Ruths House – (TwinTowersRacing, J J. Hernandez) This four-year-old filly by Bronx Bomber has been a little camera-shy after getting her second stakes win early last year. Ruths House put together an eventful juvenile campaign, going from a maiden win to taking on the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes. She finished only three-quarters of a length back after setting the pace. That was enough to get into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, where she crossed the wire fourth. Since then, Ruths House has been running some consistent races hitting the board in graded stakes. The distance will be her friend.

7. Categorical Destiny – (Mb Stables, K. Kimura) The most experienced mare in the field with 25 trips to the starting gate. It doesn’t matter if it’s turf, dirt, long, or short; she’s done it all. Her best numbers have come from routing on the grass, which accounts for 6 out of her 9 wins. Categorical Destiny won back-to-back graded stakes at Saratoga in the Ballston Spa and Flower Bowl Stakes. She ended the year in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf but failed to fire. Now in her six-year-old season, the daughter of Categorical is coming off a win in an open allowance race. If she can run back to last year’s races, the others might be in trouble.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES