Connections Hope Thermal Heats Up in Las Flores Stakes

Opportune black type awaits some of the seven fillies and mares contesting the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (G3) Jan. 11 at Santa Anita Park.

Not one of the entered runners is a stakes winner in North America, though Ooty  captured a group 1 in her native Argentina in 2024 before her import to the United States. Of the others, only Thermal , who showed when sent to Woodbine for a stakes race for Ontario-breds in September, and Mawu , who showed in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar in 2024, have existing North American black type.

Thermal is likely to be favored. After her third in the restricted Zadracarta Stakes at Woodbine in a turf sprint, trainer John Sadler returned her to dirt in Southern California, where she smoked first-level allowance optional claimers Oct. 17 at Santa Anita.

Racing over the same distance as the Las Flores, the now 5-year-old Nyquist   mare sped 6 furlongs in 1:08.89 under Hector Berrios, earning a career-best 105 Equibase Speed Figure. Increasing her advantage throughout while racing on the lead, she scored by 3 3/4 lengths, improving to 2-0-4 in 11 starts for owners By Talla Racing and John W. Sadler Racing.

Her principal foes are Magnificat , a daughter of Omaha Beach   with two wins from three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, and the Bob Baffert-trained Ooty, who was freshened after twice being introduced to United States racing by facing eventual Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Splendora  over the summer at Del Mar.