Well travelled Just A Touch making his first start at Santa Anita, Keeneland Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA (March 2, 2026)—Veteran Grade I winner Skippylongstocking makes a return trip to California and Westwood, who is now trained by Peter Eurtron, makes his first start since the passing of former trainer John Shirreffs in Saturday’s historic Grade I, $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap going 1 ¼ miles at Santa Anita.
Last May, Skippylongstocking shipped to Santa Anita from south Florida and promptly took down the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup, also contested at 1 ¼ miles. Most recently, the 7-year-old horse by Exaggerator earned his first Grade I victory when winning the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owner Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking sports a record of 36: 13-3-7 with $5,461,250 in earnings. He’ll carry highweight of 125 pounds. Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for the Pegasus World Cup victory, again has the call.
In what proved to be his final start for Shirreffs, Westwood on Jan. 31 won the GII San Pasqual going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita for his first graded stakes victory. Thirteen days after the breakout win, Shirreffs passed in his sleep at the age of 80.
Owned by C R K Stable, Westwood is 10: 2-3-3 with $313,900 in earnings. In addition to having horses with Shirreffs, C R K Stable has for years also employed Eurton as trainer of some of their runners. Westwood, a 4-year-old gelding by Authentic, has worked three times since joining the Eurton barn. On Sunday, Westwood signaled his readiness with a bullet four-furlong work in 46.60 seconds. It was the fastest of 79 works at the distance.
Kazushi Kimura, who rode Westwood for the first time in the San Pasqual win, has the call again in the Big ‘Cap.
Getaway Car gets another crack at Westwood after coming up 2 ¾ lengths short of the front-running winner in the San Pasqual. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old colt by Curlin is seeking a first graded stakes win since his 2-year-old season. Getaway Car is 10: 3-3-0 with $656,300 in earnings for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners. He’ll be ridden by Juan Hernandez.
Also coming west for the Big ‘Cap is Just a Touch, a 5-year-old Justify horse trained by Brad Cox. Most recently, Just a Touch returned from a six-month layoff and was beaten a neck in the GIII Louisiana Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds. He is seeking a first stakes win for owners Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampei.
THE GRADE I SANTA ANITA HANDICAP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 10 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT
- Midnight Mammoth—Armando Ayuso—119
- Getaway Car—Juan Hernandez—120
- Just a Touch—Florent Geroux—121
- Vodka Vodka—Kent Desormeaux—116
- Skippylongstocking—Tyler Gaffalione—125
- British Isles—Diego Herrera—119
- Westwood—Kazushi Kiura—121
First post Saturday is 12 p.m. PT.
