Closing Remarks Nears Millionaire Status in Megahertz

Closing Remarks  looks to become racing's newest millionaire in the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) when she leads a field of seven older fillies and mares going one mile on the grass at Santa Anita Park Feb. 3.

The 6-year-old daughter of Vronsky has won four graded stakes and is $180 shy of millionaire status for Harris Farms and trainer Carla Gaines. Any finish in the top five on Saturday would push her past the seven-figure threshold.

In her last start Dec. 3, she was sixth, beaten two lengths in the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar under Juan Hernandez. He returns aboard Closing Remarks in the Megahertz.

Augustin Stables' Mouffy  will make her West Coast debut for trainer Jonathan Thomas after a runner-up finish in the My Charmer Stakes at Turfway Park Dec. 9. The 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo   will reunite with jockey Kazushi Kimura, who rode the mare in her only graded stakes appearance, a fourth-place one-length defeat in the Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) at Woodbine Oct. 14.

In all three of her turf starts, C R K Stable's Justique  has faced graded stakes winner Ruby Nell , who was subsequently third in the Jan. 27 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park. Justique, a 4-year-old Justify   filly, was second, beaten 4 1/2 lengths in their last meeting, the listed Lady of Shamrock Stakes at Santa Anita Dec. 31, but posted a career-high Equibase Speed Figure of 105.

The Megahertz is the fourth race, the first of four stakes races Saturday at Santa Anita, with a scheduled post time of 1:52 p.m. PT.

D'Amato Runs Three In Thunder Road Stakes

Four races later on the card, trainer Phil D'Amato sends out a strong trio in the $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes (G3T), a one-mile turf contest for older horses.

Leading the way for D'Amato is Michael House's multiple graded stakes winner Prince Abama . The 6-year-old Tamayuz  gelding returns from a year-long layoff after winning the San Marcos Stakes (G3T) by a neck last February. Current meet-leading rider Juan Hernandez has the mount.

Video: San Marcos S. (G3T)

D'Amato also sends out Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, and Old Bones Racing Stable's 5-year-old gelding Balnikhov . The multiple graded stakes-winning son of Adaay  has not reached the winner's circle since the April 29 San Francisco Mile Stakes (G3T) at Golden Gate Fields but sports a 4-for-9 record with two seconds at the mile distance.

Rounding out D'Amato's team is Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm's Tio Magico . The 6-year-old Uncle Mo   gelding made his graded stakes debut in his last start, finishing a solid third to stablemate Easter  in the San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Dec. 26.

Presenting a challenge to the D'Amato trio is Amo Racing's Great King , who will jump into graded stakes for the first time since coming to the United States in 2022. The 6-year-old Shamardal  gelding closed from more than nine lengths back to finish second by a half-length in his West Coast debut for Simon Callaghan Jan. 7. Beating him that day was front-running Goliad , who returns in the Thunder Road for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and owners Perry Bass and Ramona Bass.