Rashmi spurts clear to win the Megahertz (G3) Feb. 1 at Santa Anita (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — No fewer than six stakes winners—including four at the graded level—are set to do battle in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes for older fillies and mares going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
The four graded winners in the lineup are Rashmi, winner of the GIII Megahertz going a mile on turf earlier this month at Santa Anita; Liguria, who was third in the Megahertz following a 14 ½-month layoff; Uncorked, who will be making her seasonal debut; and Alpha Bella, who returns to turf after three runner-up finishes in graded stakes on dirt.
Rashmi, trained by Jonathan Thomas, stalked the pace and spurted clear to win the one-mile Megahertz comfortably by 2 ½ lengths on Feb. 1. Prior to that effort, the 4-year-old Oscar Performance filly was stretched out to 1 ¼ miles for the GI American Oaks and checked in fourth on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.
A homebred for Augustin Stable, Rashmi is 8: 4-1-1 with $150,736 in earnings. She will be reunited with Umberto Rispoli.
Liguria, trained by Michael McCarthy, was near the back of the pack in the Megahertz before rallying to be third. It was her first start since October 2023 when trained by Chad Brown. While Rispoli was aboard in the Megahertz, on Saturday she’ll have the services of Flavien Prat, last year’s Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s outstanding jockey.
A 5-year-old mare by War Front, Liguria is 9: 3-1-1 with $254,200 in earnings. She is owned by Alpha Delta Stables LLC.
Uncorked was last seen in November finishing second in the GIII Goldikova going a mile on turf at Del Mar. Trained by Phil D’Amato, the 6-year-old Australia-bred by Pierro earned her biggest win last April when taking down the GIII Royal Heroine going a mile at Santa Anita.
Uncorked is owned by The Elkstone Group and has a record of 21: 4-6-2 with $327,990 in earnings. She will have Antonio Fresu in the irons.
Alpha Bella joined trainer John Sadler’s barn at the end of last summer after making her first 16 starts in the east, mostly on the turf, while with trainer Todd Pletcher. She has raced exclusively in dirt graded stakes since moving to California, finishing second in all. Alpha Bella’s three local runner-up finishes came in the GII Zenyatta in September at Santa Anita, GIII Bayakoa at Del Mar in November, and GIII La Canada at Santa Anita on Jan. 19.
While with Pletcher, Alpha Bella won the GIII La Prevoyante on turf at Gulfstream Park in January 2024. A 5-year-old mare by Justify, Alpha Bella is 19: 3-7-2 with $476,615 in earnings. She will be ridden by Hector Berrios.
The Buena Vista is one of four graded stakes on a blockbuster program at Santa Anita. It will be joined by the GI Santa Anita Handicap for older horses, GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf and the GII San Felipe for 3-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby trail.
THE GII BUENA VISTA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 3 of 11 Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT
- Tirupati—Jose Oritz—120
- Uncorked—Antonio Fresu—122
- Liguria—Flavien Prat—120
- Big Hug—Mike Smith—120
- Rashmi—Umberto Rispoli—122
- Alpha Bella—Hector Berrios—120
- Omaha Girl—Tyler Baze—120
First post Saturday is 12 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.
