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, 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 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 favorite in the $100,000 Thor's Echo Stakes, looks for his fifth stakes win for trainer Richard Mandella and owner William R. Peeples. 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 favorite in the $100,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes over a mile on 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 J. Scanlan, she's listed at morning-line odds of 5-1.
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 odds of 3-5, she will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles off her stakes victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Evening Jewel Stakes.
