Picture: Santa Anita/Benoit Pictures
After making his main award debut, which one He received the G1 race on Sunday by half a size, ridden by jockey Kazushi Kimura, and received $300,000 in prize cash. american oaks Proceed for 1 1/4 miles on the Santa Anita garden.
Ambaya is educated by Jonathan Thomas, who additionally received Honduras’ Matisse Miles (G2) by hiding on the opening day card.
Click on right here for Santa Anita entries and outcomes.
Kimura was scheduled to journey in Ambaya after scheduled rider Antonio Fres injured his leg early in this system. Ambaya (12-1) settled in the midst of the pack and saved locations general as he raced alongside the rail. He then separated the horses across the eighth pole and received with a time of two:01.02 on a well-regarded course.
Ambaya ($27.40) beats his rival to win the $300,000 American Oaks (G1). @Santa Anita Park. @Kazushi0096 Provides the coach an ideal journey @tomasstable.
Racing returns to nice racetracks tomorrow! You’ll want to tune in to FanDuel TV. pic.twitter.com/WYRjiNh7a2
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 29, 2025
Japanese invaders and 5-2 favourite Cliffs completed in second place beneath coach Jose Ortiz. Will Zen (7-2) took third place and Take A Breath (9-1) took fourth place.
The fractions had been 23.55, 48.30, 1:13.35, and 1:37.75.
Ambaya is the daughter of Ghost Zapper. She is produced and owned by George Strawbridge’s Augustine Stables. It was the third Group 1 win of the 45-year-old Thomas’ profession. In 2018, he received the Travers Invitational (G1) and Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) with Catholic Boy.
“I really feel nice,” Thomas stated. “That is the primary Group 1 win for the Strawbridge household. They have been right here and been such an integral a part of our barn, so it meant loads to them to get it performed right now.”
Ambaya’s solely earlier stakes try was a 3rd place within the 1 1/8-mile Christiana Stakes on the turf at Delaware Park in September. Most not too long ago, Ambaya received secondary awards in two allowance occasions in the course of the Del Mar Fall Match. Sunday’s win improved her to six:2-2-1 and earned $245,960.
Ambaya paid $27.40, $9.20, and $5.20. Cliffs, educated by Cherie DeVaux, returned $4.60 and $3.20. Will Sen, additionally educated by Thomas and ridden by Flavien Prat, paid $3.60.
Flesch injured his left leg in the course of the seventh race when his boot turned wedged between the horse and the rail, and he ended his day at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California.
