Amorita gets some class relief in Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes

For a filly who is winless in five starts on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course, Amorita has certainly delivered a few exceptional performances.

She was second by a head in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the course in April 2025, and third by 1 1/4 lengths against males in the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes on Sept. 26.

Amorita led in the stretch of the Eddie D Stakes, and that narrow loss makes her the favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

“I was pretty proud of her,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “I thought she was going to win it.”

Amorita was beaten by Sorrento Sky, who has been pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Oct. 31 at Keeneland, and stablemate Sumter, a five-time stakes winner.

There are no runners with those credentials in the Maddy Stakes, which drew a field of nine.

Amorita, who will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura for Augustin Stable and Stone Farm, drew post 2. She is capable of leading, as she did in the Eddie D, but also is effective as a stalker. In July at Del Mar, Amorita closed from fifth of eight to win the Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf by a nose, her only stakes win in 14 starts.

“She’s quick and can be on the lead,” Mandella said. “She can sometimes sit back.”

In between the Daisycutter and Eddie D Stakes, Amorita finished a well-beaten fourth in the Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on dirt at Del Mar, the only appearance of her career in a stakes on the main track.

“She always trained great on the dirt,” Mandella said. “I didn’t believe she didn’t want do it. I believe now.”

In the Maddy, Amorita’s main rival is Tahini, who was third in the Daisycutter and later second by a nose in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf Sept. 3 at Del Mar. Trained by George Papaprodromou, Tahini is quick enough to lead but also can stalk the pace, giving jockey Umberto Rispoli options as the race develops.

Tokyo City Cup

For an $85,000 race, Saturday’s Tokyo City Cup at a mile has drawn an accomplished field.

Arrowthegreat has won his last two starts, including the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs. Malarchuk was second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup in May. Mr. A. P. was second in the BC Juvenile at Del Mar last October.

They meet for the first time in the Tokyo City, which drew a field of six, including Vodka Vodka, who beat Malarchuk in the $250,000 Sunland Park Stakes in New Mexico in April but has struggled in recent starts.

Arrowthegreat, trained by Dan Blacker, did not race again in 2025 after the Longacres Mile in August of that year. Arrowthegreat returned to racing Aug. 30 at Del Mar, winning an allowance race at a mile by a half-length over Privman, who won the 2025 Tokyo City Cup but is not part of Saturday’s field.

Arrowthegreat, a 6-year-old gelding who has won 5 of 19 starts, closed from fifth of nine to win his lone start this year.

“If you look at his form, he used to be a front-runner,” Blacker said. “As he’s gotten older, he’s more of a stalker.

“He’ll probably be close. He’s a tough horse. He likes a battle and getting into it and being competitive.

“We’ve been pointing to this race for the last few weeks.”

Arrowthegreat, who races for a large partnership that includes Double L Racing, Brian Malarkey, and Dave Odmark, will likely find plenty of competition in the Tokyo City.

Mr. A. P. and Malarchuk started in Grade 1 races in their last appearances.

Mr. A. P., trained by Vladimir Cerin, was fourth by 4 1/2 lengths in the Goodwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 26, racing as close as third in early stretch. The Goodwood was Mr. A. P.’s first appearance against older horses.

At Del Mar, Mr. A. P. was third in the Oceanside Handicap in July and won an allowance in August. Both races were for 3-year-olds on turf.

Malarchuk was sixth of 11 in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 22 at Del Mar after a wide trip. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Malarchuk is quick enough to race near the front or as a stalker.