American Oaks, Mathis Mile, and San Gabriel Stakes

2024 American Oaks, Mathis Mile, and San Gabriel Stakes

Date: 12/26/2024

There were three graded stakes races run on the turf on opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. Conditions were typical for late December, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60’s for the 41,562 fans in attendance at the historic Arcadia oval, with the turf course firm. Santa Anita Park first opened on Christmas Day, 1934, less than 12 months after the newly formed California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) granted the Los Angeles Turf Club a permit to build the racetrack, with the guarantee that it would be in operation by the end of that year. Since 1949, Santa Anita’s opening day has been December 26th, with few exceptions. The season continues through mid-June.

Down the stretch in the 2024 American Oaks

The $300,000 Americans Oaks (G1) featured a field of 11 three-year-old fillies (after 2 scratches) going 1 1/4 miles on the turf out of the downhill chute. She Feels Pretty was sent off as the 3-5 favorite off her 6 length romp in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Keeneland. In to challenge her included 4-1 second choice Kathynmarissa, winner of the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs after finishing 2nd in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G2), and 7-1 third choice Medoro off 2nd place finishes in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and Autumn Miss (G3).

32-1 Vibez and 58-1 Valence dueled for the early lead through fractions of 23.20, 46.25, and 1:11.51 while stalked by She Feels Pretty. Turning for home, the pacesetters tired as She Feels Pretty inherited the lead through 1 mile in 1:36.06. Kept to task by John Velazquez, She Feels Pretty drew off late to win by 2 1/2 lengths over late-running Kathynmarissa in 1:58.69. It was another 1 1/4 length back to Medoro third.

Also on the card: Malibu Stakes (G1), La Brea Stakes (G1), and Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2)

Pgm  Horse              Jockey         Win   Place  Show
 8   She Feels Pretty   Velazquez     3.20    2.20  2.10
 4   Kathynmarissa      Dettori               3.80  2.80
 3   Medoro             Fresu                       2.80

Winning Time:  1.58.69

$1 Exacta 8-4                 4.90
$1 Trifecta 8-4-8            12.80
$1 Superfecta 8-4-3-13      115.90

Results Chart

Left: She Feels Pretty in the winner’s circle. Winning jockey John Velazquez said, “She got a little keen, broke a little slow and then when she passed the dirt she took like a weird step and then she got up and started running up. I wanted to keep her covered up, she is much better covered up, but today she was really keen. I put her right behind the horse in front of me and I held her the best I could. All of a sudden Frankie made a big move in the backstretch and he put the brakes down in front of me so I said, ‘No, I’m not going to play this game, I’ve got a mile, so let’s go.’ And obviously I had a good horse.”

Right: She Feels Pretty in the paddock before the race. Winning trainer Cherie DeVaux said, “It’s very special. She is such a special filly. Johnny has done a great job helping us get her to where she is. It has been a team effort for everybody to get her here. It’s really special. She is a filly that as an early two year old she was kind of like an ugly duckling, she just needed to grow into herself, still she won her first time out going five and a half furlongs and now she is up to a mile and a quarter so it has been quite rewarding to watch the process.”

Left: Second place finisher Kathynmarissa in the walking ring before the race. Jockey Frankie Dettori said, “I was out in back. They were going, so I made a good move around the back. I’m very happy. One minute, I was joined on my inside, I blinked, and it was two legs in front of me on the outside. I mean, (She Feels Pretty) passed me like a rocket but my filly, she was a good second.”

Right: Third place finisher Medoro returns after the race. The Peter Eurton trainee improved her record to 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds in 8 starts, earning $356,600 for owner C R K Stable.

The Santa Anita jockeys pose for a group photo on opening day.

The $200,000 Mathis Mile (G2) featured a field of 7 three-year-olds going 1 mile on the turf. King of Gosford was sent off as the 7-10 favorite off his 2nd place finish in the Hollywood Derby (G1). In to challenge him included 9-4 second choice Stay Hot, 2nd in the Del Mar Derby (G2) and Twilight Derby (G2) before finishing 4th in the Hollywood Derby, and 17-2 third choice Atitlan, winner of the Twilight Derby before finishing 7th in the Hollywood Derby.

Jockey Flavien Prat sent King of Gosford to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.24, 48.04, and 1:11.71 while pressed by Atitlan and stalked by Stay Hot. Into the stretch King of Gosford held on to lead, finishing 1 length ahead of Stay Hot in 1:34.49. It was another 1/2 length back to Atitlan third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: King of Gosford in the winner’s circle. Winning jockey Flavien Prat said, “I’m very pleased. There are a lot of people behind this. Me, my family, Mike and Phil, have been great supporters of me. And Mr. Mandella, who was great support when I first came here. I think there couldn’t be a better place to win it than here at Santa Anita. It is definitely worth all the work when something like this happens.”

Right: King of Gosford returns after the race. Winning trainer Phil D’Amato said, “He just took advantage of a nice, comfortable pace scenario. Flavien did a great job of nursing him along easily up front, and when it was time to kick on at the top of the lane, showed a big turn of foot. I’m going to give him a 30-day break and then we’ll have him ready to go probably April or so, and hopefully campaign towards maybe a Breeders’ Cup Mile.” Owner Michael Nentwig added, “He can do it all! He can run six, six and a half, mile, mile and an eighth. When this horse gets out in front, he sticks out his nose and neck and he doesn’t want to get passed. He’s definitely going to get a breather after this.”

Left: Second place finisher Stay Hot in the paddock before the race. Jockey Juan Hernandez said, “There was no excuse. It was my first time on him and he is a very classy horse. I was in a good spot behind the speed but there wasn’t really a good speed advantage. The winner just got away. I am happy with his performance.”

Right: Third place finisher Atitlan in the paddock. The John Shirreffs trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 0 seconds, and 3 thirds in 7 starts, earning $238,000 for owner John O’Connor.

Shortly after the start of the Mathis Mile.

The $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2) featured a field of 9 older horses going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. City of Hope Mile (G2) winner Johannes was sent off as the 3-10 favorite off his 2nd place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). In to challenge him included 7-1 second choice Seal Team, 5th in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2), and 19-2 third choice Mi Hermano Ramon.

Jockey Frankie Dettori sent 34-1 Cabo Spirit to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.49, 47.07, and 1:11.14 while pressed by 36-1 Nineeleventurbo and stalked by Seal Team and Johannes. Turning for home Cabo Spirit tired as Mi Hermano Ramon, 5th early, gained a short lead through 1 mile in 1:34.91. Johannes came out for room under Umberto Rispoli and outkicked Mi Hermano Ramon late to win by 3/4 length in 1:46.50. It was another 3/4 length back to Seal Team third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Johannes heads to the winner’s circle. Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said, “With a horse like him, it’s not possible to panic, you press the button and in three strides, you’re right up there. You just have to manage how to get the wire because once you get the lead, you try to wait for other horses. But you never panic with him. Once you see the daylight, he goes. It doesn’t matter. Obviously, it wasn’t the best scenario, but, you know, that’s horse racing, where you know absolutely nothing. He loves the track. He gives you everything. I love that he got the job done.”

Right: Johannes in the post parade. Winning trainer Tim Yakteen said, “We originally thought about giving the horse a breather. He had such a strong campaign and he came out of the Breeders’ Cup so well. I talked to Joe and Debby (the owners) and we said we would play it by ear and maybe head to the San Gabriel. Everything was near perfect in his last outing, so we came to the San Gabriel and now we will head to the Pegasus. In my heart, he is a true champion. I hope others view it that way.”Co-owner Joe McCloskey added, “The horse means everything to us. He’s our first foal from our broodmare Cuyathy, so it has been a heck of a ride. Hopefully, if he comes out of this race in great shape we will be heading to Gulfstream Park for the Pegasus.”

Left: Second place finisher Mi Hermano Ramon in the paddock before the race. The Mark Glatt trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 10 starts, earning $361,480 for owner-breeder Red Baron’s Barn and co-owner Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners.

Right: Third place finisher Seal Team in the paddock. The Richard Mandella trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 1 second, and 2 thirds in 8 starts, earning $290,776 for owner-breeders Perry and Ramona Bass.

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