He's a Knockout Ready to Strike Hard in Snow Chief

Looking to remain undefeated, He's a Knockout enters stakes company for the first time in the $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes, one of five stakes for California-bred or -sired runners May 23 at Santa Anita Park. 

The Carla Gaines trainee broke his maiden in August last year before going on a lengthy layoff. The 3-year-old son of Smiling Tiger returned in style April 19, winning an allowance optional claiming race over fellow Snow Chief entrant Trump Era. As the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, He's a Knockout will be stretching out to two turns for the first time in his career. 

Big City Lights Leads Thor's Echo

Big City Lights, the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the $100,000 Thor's Echo Stakes, looks for his sixth stakes win for owner William R. Peeples and fifth for trainer Richard Mandella. The 7-year-old son of Mr. Big won his first start of the year in a May 2 allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita, which he won at 7 furlongs. He will be cutting back to 6 furlongs in the Thor's Echo, a distance at which he was successful in the 2025 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes and 2024 Palos Verdes Stakes (G3).

Grand Slam Smile back to Cal-Bred Company

Grand Slam Smile, the even-money morning-line favorite in the $100,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes at a mile on the turf, gets back into state-bred company after finishing third in the Royal Heroine Stakes (G3T). Trained by Sean McCarthy and a homebred for Larry and Marianne Williams, the 5-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger has won 11 of her 20 starts. Om N Joy comes into the race off a fifth-place finish in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1). Last year, the Aggie Ordonez-trained Om filly won the Torrey Pines Stakes (G3). Owned by Baker Stables, Michael Golovko, and Terrence Scanlan, she's listed at 5-1 on the morning line.

Flyover looks to make it two in a row

Coming off a win in the Sensational Star Stakes, Flyover looks to score again in the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes. Stretching out to a mile for the first time since last July, the 5-year-old son of Om won the Sensational Star on the downhill turf course by 3 1/4 lengths. Trained by John Sadler and owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, ITR, The Ellwood Johnston Trust, and Kenneth Tevelde, he is the morning-line, even-money favorite for the turf race.

All eyes on Mohaven in Melair

Trained by Sadler and owned by Legacy Ranch, the Yaupon  filly Mohaven aims for back-to-back stakes scores in the $125,000 Melair Stakes. At 3-5 on the morning line, she will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles off her stakes victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Evening Jewel Stakes.

Entries: Crystal Water S.

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, May 23, 2026, Race 6

• STK
• 1m
• Turf
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:37 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Santa Barbarian (CA)	Armando Ayuso	126	Ryan Hanson	10/1
2	2On the Whim (CA)	Tiago Josue Pereira	126	Dean Pederson	5/1
3	3Cali Cat (CA)	Joel Rosario	122	John W. Sadler	6/1
4	4Prince Dolce (CA)	Ricardo Gonzalez	122	Steve R. Knapp	8/1
5	5Stamp My Passport (CA)	Victor Espinoza	124	Leonard Powell	20/1
6	6Canani (CA)	Kyle Frey	124	Librado Barocio	15/1
7	7Flyover (CA)	Antonio Fresu	122	John W. Sadler	1/1
8	8Curlin's Kaos (CA)	Edwin A. Maldonado	122	Antonio C. Garcia	30/1
9	9Call Me Sir (CA)	Kazushi Kimura	122	Mark Glatt	8/1