Thought Process returns with good win at Santa Anita

ARCADIA — Thought Process had been dominating fellow 3-year-old fillies on the Southern California turf courses and appeared on her way to big races in the autumn before she threw in a disappointing third-place finish as a heavy favorite in the Del Mar Oaks last summer. Her owners and trainer had a decision to make. Try to salvage her 2025 season or rest her for ’26?

“After that race, we said, ‘You know what, let’s make her a really good 4-year-old,’” said Bill Koch, managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing, which owns Thought Process in a partnership with the estate of Brereton C. Jones and Madaket Stables.

So far, so good. Back from a six-month layoff and back in form, Thought Process followed a patient ride by Hector Berrios to a two-length victory over a strong field in the $200,000, Grade II Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Now 6 for 9 in her career, with four stakes victories at 1 mile on turf, Thought Process encouraged high hopes for this season with this performance.

Koch said the owners’ goal for their latest successful offspring of the sire Collected is the Gamely Stakes on May 25 at Santa Anita, a race that could be the filly’s first Grade I victory but would require her to stretch back out to 1-1/8 miles, the distance of her Del Mar Oaks setback.

She certainly looked capable of going farther Saturday, catching Grand Slam Smile turning into the stretch and pulling away as Vibez caught the front-runner for second. My Perfect Wave finished far back in fourth, and Princess Moche was fifth. Watchtower was eased to the wire and walked off the course.

Thought Process ran the mile in a fast 1:34.20 and paid $4.60.

“She’s a special filly,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I just had to get her close to fit and keep her happy in the paddock, and she did the rest.”

D’Amato said Thought Process was “90, 95%” fit for her comeback race.

“But this was the way you want to win off the layoff,” D’Amato said. “Going into the next, this is good, positive reinforcement.”

ON TO THE DERBY

Two lightly raced 3-year-olds locked up spots in the May 2 Kentucky Derby by earning 50 qualifying points for winning races in Florida and New York on Saturday.

At Gulfstream Park, Commandment ($6.80) and Irad Ortiz Jr. found an opening at the rail to edge Chief Wallabee and leave Solitude Dude third in the 1-1/16-mile Fountain of Youth Stakes. Napoleon Solo finished fifth.

At Aqueduct, Iron Honor ($3.88) improved to 2 for 2 for trainer Chad Brown, stretching out to 1 mile and out-gaming 9-1 Crown the Buckeye in the Gotham Stakes. They finished well ahead of the rest of the field

Sunday, Litmus Test, Bob Baffert’s Los Alamitos Futurity winner, is 7-2 on the morning line behind 8-5 Blackout Time in the 1-1/16-mile Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

LOOKING AHEAD

Nominations for the Saturday, March 7 Santa Anita Handicap include Westwood, the sharp 4-year-old trained by Peter Eurton since the death of John Shirreffs, and major stakes winners Skippylongstocking and Full Serrano.

Noms for the same day’s San Felipe Stakes, the last steppingstone to the April 4 Santa Anita Derby, are headed by Intrepido, So Happy, Secured Freedom, and Bob Baffert-trained Brant, Boyd, Buetane, Desert Gate and Potente.

Lineups will be set Monday.

MOVING UP

Emisael Jaramillo has gone from third to a tie for first in the Santa Anita jockey standings after four wins Friday and one, with Scene by Me ($7) on Saturday.

Juan Hernandez, completing a seven-day suspension Sunday, and Jaramillo have 27 wins. Kazushi Kimura has 26.

Jaramillo, 49, is riding his first full meet at Santa Anita after moving here from Florida.