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Justify’s British Isles Wins Santa Anita’s Big ‘Cap

| 8:03 pm

Slam Dunk Racing, Deborah Baltas, and Cynthia McClanahan’s British Isles (g, 5, Justify–Purely Hot, by Pure Prize), a private purchase by the team from Coolmore connections two years ago, has spent the majority of his 24-race career in allowance company, but took full advantage of the scratched-down field of five in Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Handicap in Arcadia to emerge a winner at the elite level. It was not just the big blazed-faced chestnut’s first Grade I win, but also his first black-type victory.

Leaving from the outermost post, British Isles settled in third just outside of favored MGISP Just a Touch (Justify) through the :22.86 and :46.63 fractions set by last year’s GII Hollywood Gold Cup runner-up Midnight Mammoth (Midnight Lute). He inched closer entering the far turn, swept to the front with a flourish, and opened up with authority down the lane to win by 4 1/2 lengths in a powerhouse performance. Last out Turf Classic Stakes winner Vodka Vodka (Stay Thirsty) and ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Getaway Car (Curlin)–a Grade I-placed graded winner–picked up the pieces in second and third, respectively.

The “Big ‘Cap,” as it’s been affectionately known for decades, also marked the first Grade I win for young jockey Diego Herrera, who was an accomplished Quarter Horse jockey before making the switch to Thoroughbreds.

“I don’t even have any words, it is just such a blessing,” said Herrera. “Thank God that everything came together today.”

British Isles placed in the GIII Native Diver Stakes in November at Del Mar, then shipped across the country to run out of the barn of David Fawkes for a fifth-place finish in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes in January. While his first six career starts were for trainer Bob Baffert when racing for part of the Coolmore team, he’s been with Richard Baltas since changing hands privately in the spring of 2024. British Isles broke his maiden in his second start for Baltas and went on to place in both the Cinema Stakes and Let It Ride Stakes in 2024. His Native Diver placing last November was his first try in stakes company in 12 months.

“I feel great. I was a little worried around the turn,” said Baltas after Saturday’s win, his second in the Santa Anita Handicap following Idol’s victory in 2021. “Diego did a great job with this horse. I thought around the turn he was asking him and I didn’t know if we had anything left, then suddenly, he burst away. I was ecstatic. It meant a lot to the owners and it meant a lot to Diego, his first Grade I win.”

Pedigree Notes:

British Isles is the 30th worldwide graded or group winner for Triple Crown winner Justify, an Ashford Stud stallion who also sports 58 black-type winners. Bred by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, Justify’s Santa Anita Handicap winner is out of Purely Hot (Pure Prize), the 2014 GIII Whimsical Stakes victress who sold to Hugo Merry Bloodstock for $1.2 million at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. British Isles is the mare’s second Grade I winner as a producer following the 2019 GI American Pharoah Stakes score by Eight Rings (Empire Maker).

Purely Hot has a 2-year-old filly by Gun Runner, a yearling colt by Epicenter, and was bred back to Justify for this term. The juvenile filly sold at last year’s Keeneland September sale for $400,000 to Bowen Thoroughbreds.

Saturday, Santa Anita
SANTA ANITA H. PRESENTED BY YAAMAVA’ RESORT & CASINO AT SAN MANUEL-GI, $300,000, Santa Anita, 3-7, 4yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:05.17, ft.
1–BRITISH ISLES, 119, g, 5, by Justify
              1st Dam: Purely Hot (GSW-Can, SW & GSP-USA,
              $426,905), by Pure Prize
              2nd Dam: Wood Not, by Kissin Kris
              3rd Dam: Wood So, by Baederwood
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST
GRADE I WIN. O-Slam Dunk Racing, Deborah A. Baltas, and
Cynthia McClanahan; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY);
T-Richard Baltas; J-Diego A. Herrera. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 24-4-6-4, $551,826. *1/2 to Eight Rings (Empire
Maker), GISW, $474,451. Werk Nick Rating: D+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Vodka Vodka, 118, g, 5, Stay Thirsty–Margie’s Minute, by
Hard Spun. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
O-Mclean Racing Stables, Connie Baker, Jerry Baker, William
Gorman, Aggie Ordonez, Anthony Parsons, Rachel Parsons,
and Delbert G. Williams; B-Jerry Baker & Connie Baker (CA);
T-Aggie Ordonez. $60,000.
3–Getaway Car, 120, c, 4, Curlin–Surrender Now, by Morning
Line. ($300,000 Wlg ’22 KEENOV; $700,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP).
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC,
Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Determined
Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge
Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Blue Heaven Farm &
Curlin Syndicate (KY); T-Bob Baffert. ‘TDN Rising Star,
presented by Hagyard’ $36,000.
Margins: 4HF, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 7.20, 6.80, 3.20.
Also Ran: Just a Touch, Midnight Mammoth. Scratched: Skippylongstocking, Westwood.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.