Thursday racing was added to the Santa Anita ledger this week as part of a series of makeup days from early season cancellations. The stakes co-features will add weekday intrigue with the Eddie Logan for 3-year-olds and the Grade 3 $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes for elder fillies and mares. The Frankel is part of the Sunset 6 wager between Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, comprising the final 3 races on each card.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Frankel Stakes (Race 7):
#1-PUBLIC ASSEMBLY: Last year’s Grade 3 Royal Heroine winner over this course at a furlong shorter, she also was second in the Yellow Ribbon and Red Carpet at Del Mar on the campaign. First of 2 Phil D’Amato trainees in the field for a conditioner who won this race in 2019. Umberto Rispoli takes the mount for the first time.
#2-WILLA T: Stakes debut for the field’s hottest runner, who rides a 3-race winning streak into the Frankel. Maiden claiming graduate at Del Mar lost her first 6 starts, but has found success since dropping in class. Big test here for trainer Tim Yakteen, who won this race in 2020 with Mucho Unusual. Hector Berrios takes the mount on the lightly raced 5-year-old.
#3-IMA JOKER: Practical Joke mare seeks her first stakes victory and first score at 1-1/8 miles after 5 unsuccessful tries at the trip. Doug O’Neill charge did win over the Santa Anita course 2 starts back at a mile and returns to the stakes ranks for the first time since running fifth in the November 2024 Red Carpet at Del Mar.
#4-HANNAH BUCKLE: Stakes debut for Leonard Powell’s Irish export. She made just 4 starts in 2024 and 3 in 2025; hero trio last year all at Del Mar, including an allowance win at a mile. She’s yet to run beyond a mile in 9 starts to date. Regular rider Armando Ayuso returns to the saddle.
#5-PARADISE LAKE: Consistent finisher rallied for third in the Red Carpet at Del Mar to finish on the heels of Frankel return rival Public Assembly last out. It was the Uncle Mo filly’s first stakes try after winning 2 of 3 allowance races in the lead-in. Juan Hernandez piloted her to a 9-furlong Santa Anita turf allowance win 2 starts back and returns for the same assignment.
#6-SUN OF HILL: Brazilian export has lost all 11 starts since arriving in California in 2024, but was second in the Royal Heroine in April over this course. Exits a fourth at Del Mar in the Red Carpet behind a couple of Frankel returnees. Second of 2 Phil D’Amato trainees in the field for a conditioner who won this race in 2019. Kazushi Kimura will be back aboard the 6-year-old.
#7-STARRY NIGHT: Trainer Jonathan Thomas looks for back-to-back Frankel Stakes wins as a follow up to Mrs. Astor. This Justify filly has won both starts since moving from Kevin Attard’s barn in Canada, Thomas finishing the winner’s circle twice at Colonial in maiden claiming and starter allowance races at the Frankel’s 9-furlong trip. Ricardo Gonzalez will ride in her stakes and SoCal debut.
#8-WATCHTOWER: Santa Anita’s 2024 Autumn Miss Stakes winner has lost 6 straight since then and exits a sixth-place finish in the Swingtime Stakes in October. The Richard Baltas barn is a 3-time winner of the Frankel (2016, 2017, 2022). Mirco Demuro piloted her to a third-place Yellow Ribbon finish this summer at Del Mar and returns.
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