A five-furlong workout at Santa Anita on Sunday will help to determine a March race schedule for Om N Joy, a four-time stakes winner in 2025.
Om N Joy is considered a candidate for the Grade 1 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on March 7, but she needs a fast workout to remain on schedule, trainer Aggie Ordonez said on Friday.
“She’s going to have a big workout on Sunday,” Ordonez said. “I really think she needs to work in 59 and change to keep us on track.”
Om N Joy worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 at Santa Anita last Friday, which was not quick enough from Ordonez’s perspective.
“Her last work was a little slow,” she said. “Sometimes, she floats around there in la-la land. She’s going to have to earn her way.”
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Om N Joy has not raced since she finished fourth by two lengths in the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Keeneland in October. If she starts in the $300,000 Beholder Mile, Om N Joy will have her Grade 1 debut against a top-class field expected to include Splendora, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar in November. Splendora, trained by Bob Baffert, won the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 7 for her fourth consecutive win.
Ordonez said the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on March 21 is an alternative plan for Om N Joy. Regular rider Kent Desormeaux supports the option, although Ordonez said she is reluctant to race Om N Joy on turf, considering the filly is winless in four starts on the surface earlier in her career.
“Kent is certain she would be okay on the grass,” Ordonez said. “I would consider it if we miss the Beholder. Against Cal-breds in a first race back, I’d consider it. I would like to avoid it. I like the way she moves on dirt better.”
Om N Joy is one of three finalists for the award of 2025 California-bred Horse of the Year, along with the males Lovesick Blues and Man O Rose. The winner will be announced at a dinner on March 2. Om N Joy races for the partnership of Jerry and Connie Baker, Michael Golovko and Terrence Scanlan.
Ordonez, 58, has trained since 2004. She had her first stakes win when Om N Joy won the Evening Jewel Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs for statebred fillies at Santa Anita last April, and her first graded stakes win when Om N Joy won the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at a mile at Del Mar last August for her fourth consecutive win.
In 2025, Ordonez’s runners earned a career-best $645,823. The figure is in jeopardy this year.
Aside from Om N Joy, Ordonez's stable includes Vodka Vodka, a 5-year-old half-brother to Om N Joy who won his first start of 2026 in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for statebreds at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 17. Vodka Vodka will have his Grade 1 debut in the $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on dirt on March 7.
“I’m barely holding him on the ground between works,” Ordonez said.
Vodka Vodka is booked to work this weekend.
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In Saturday’s first race, Ordonez starts Dark Omen in a one-mile allowance on turf for 3-year-old California-breds. The race was scheduled for this past Monday, but it was postponed after inclement weather led to the cancellation of the program.
Dark Omen won his debut in a maiden race at six furlongs on turf on Jan. 10, prevailing by a nose over Romantic Ride after leading by 2 1/2 lengths in the stretch. Romantic Ride returned to win a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf on Feb. 8.
Dark Omen is part of a field of nine.
“He’s showing me every sign that he’s a nice horse,” Ordonez said. “I’m very optimistic about him. He’ll lead the way on what he becomes. We still have the question whether he wants to go two turns.”
The allowance field includes Can’t Help Myself, third as the 11-10 favorite in the King Glorious Stakes for statebred 2-year-old milers at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14; Third Beer, who was third in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in October; and Dark Blue, who won his first start of 2026 by leading throughout a maiden race at a mile on turf on Jan. 15.
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