Exotics Plays for the Royal Heroine Stakes

A cast of nine fillies and mares will run one mile on the Santa Anita sod in Saturday’s feature, the $100,000 Royal Heroine (G3). Mark Glatt’s #8 Take A Breath (4-1) flashed potential on multiple occasions since coming to the states without recording a victory before breaking through last time out in the Santa Ana (G3) on the surface. 

The Bated Breath import is essentially a one-run closing type who will be cutting back from 1 1/4 miles in the headliner, and I feel that the move will only enhance her late burst. The four-year-old bay landed in a spot where the pace is expected to be a healthy one, and the filly will be moving best of all late with any kind of improvement in her second run off the short layoff. Emisael Jaramillo will guide the top pick once again. 

Royal Heroine Exotics

• $4 exacta 8 with 2,5,9 ($12)
• $2 trifecta key 8 with 2,5,9 ($12)
• $2 trifecta 2,5,9 with 8 with 2,5,9 ($12)
• $.50-cent superfecta box 2,5,8,9 ($12)

#2 Tirupati (9-2) is a Grade 3 victress at the trip and on the surface, and she was well backed in the race in 2025 while facing a tougher group. Trained by Jonathan Thomas, the former claimer had a sprint prep for this, which will have her more fit second time off the 12-month absence, and the tactical daughter of Mitole figures to be forwardly placed from the early stages of the contest, too. Kimura will pilot the dangerous mare.

Dual Grade 2 queen #5 May Day Ready (9-2) comes in fresh for her first appearance since arriving in the barn of Richard Mandella. The Tapit four-year-old is very good on her best day, and she also has some versatility in her running style. The Kentucky-bred bay will face her elders for the first time in this endeavor, and if she improves off the break, combined with the barn switch, then she will be a menacing foe in the lane under Antonio Fresu. 

#9 Grand Slam Smile (5-2) is consistently very good for Sean McCarthy and has to be used in the exotics. The Smiling Tiger mare has compiled an 8-5-2-1 lifetime mark on the green, as well as a 6-4-1-1 line at Santa Anita, and she will be dictating things from the outside post with William Antongeorgi in the irons.