ARCADIA, Calif. - A top-three finish for British Isles in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap was considered a reasonable goal by jockey Diego Herrera - at least until the final turn.
British Isles was second as the field approached the stretch, suddenly very much in contention in the 89th running of a race first run in 1935. The momentum carried British Isles to the lead. British Isles led by three lengths with a furlong remaining, and widened his advantage to 4 1/2 lengths at the finish.
For the 21-year-old Herrera, the $300,000 Big Cap was his first career win in a Grade 1 race for Thoroughbreds. He began riding at Los Alamitos in 2021.
But as British Isles swept to a clear lead, Herrera had to postpone his celebration. British Isles, he said, is the sort of mount that can test a rider.
“I was trying to keep my horse in a nice rhythm and keep his attention,” Herrera said. “He likes to look around a little bit sometimes.
“Even though we were in front by more than a length, he was trying to wander around.”
When the race ended, Herrera had a milestone win.
“It’s a lot of emotions,” he said as he walked back to the jockey’s room.
“I’m very excited.”
Herrera has ridden British Isles nine times since fall 2024. He was aboard the gelding for a win in an allowance race at Santa Anita last October, a second in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar in November, and a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.
British Isles was the 7-1 fourth choice in a field of five in the Big Cap.
Herrera said he hoped for “a clear trip and maybe finish in the top three."
“A win was obviously the cherry on top,” he said. “This is more than I can ask for.”
British Isles was third for the first six furlongs, stalking 8-1 Midnight Mammoth, who led narrowly over 3-1 Getaway Car through a solid early pace of 22.86 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and a half-mile in 46.63.
British Isles was third in a three-wide position on the backstretch with 6-1 Vodka Vodka racing to his outside. Vodka Vodka, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, was last on the turn, and moved forward on the backstretch to race within two lengths of the lead.
“Desormeaux forced me to move a little earlier than I wanted to,” Herrera said. “At the same time, it helped my horse jump into the bridle. He was very relaxed on the backstretch.
“Coming to the three-eighths, he hopped on the bridle and gave me a lot of confidence in him.”
British Isles ($16.40) ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.17, the slowest running of the Big Cap since Prince Dantan was timed in 2:03 and three-fifths in 1974. On Saturday, British Isles earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.
British Isles races for the partnership of Slam Dunk Racing, Debbi Baltas and Cynthia McClanahan and is trained by Debbi's husband, Richard. British Isles was the second Big Cap winner for Baltas, who won the race in 2021 with Idol.
Vodka Vodka, winner of the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for statebreds at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 17, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Getaway Car, who was followed by the 3-5 favorite Just a Touch and Midnight Mammoth.
There were two notable absences from the Big Cap. Skippylongstocking, winner of the Pegasus World Cup, was withdrawn after he became upset after being loaded on a plane in Florida on Tuesday. Skippylongstocking was removed from the plane.
On Thursday, Westwood, winner of the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita, was withdrawn in favor of the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic at 1 1/8 miles at Fair Grounds on March 22.
Just a Touch, second in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17 in his first start of the year, was well placed on the final turn on Saturday, but failed to pose a threat in the stretch.
“It’s disappointing,” jockey Florent Geroux said. “He’s run races like this more than once.
“Diego was traveling better than me all the way around.”
The win by British Isles, who has won 4 of 24 starts and earned $551,826, was worth $180,000. He won at the highest level for the first time on Saturday, giving his young jockey a landmark victory.
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