In midst of best year, Ordonez has more stakes in her sights

With an 8-year-old gelding recently claimed for $50,000 and two springtime stakes winners, trainer Aggie Ordonez has three runners for stakes at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita over the next two weekends.

First up is None Above the Law in Saturday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds at a mile at Los Alamitos. On Sept. 26, the multiple stakes winner Vodka Vodka starts in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, a day before Om N Joy, the stable’s leading filly, is set to run in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares.

Vodka Vodka and Om N Joy have been part of a career-best season for Ordonez. Through Thursday, her stable has earned a personal high of $864,450 in 2026. The stable will almost certainly surpass the $1 million mark this year.

None Above the Law was claimed for owner Anthony Armstong at Del Mar on Sept. 5, the day the veteran finished third by five lengths in an allowance/optional claimer at 1 3/8 miles on turf, his 51st start.

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None Above the Law won the Bertrando Stakes for statebred milers at Los Alamitos in June 2024 when trained by Jorge Periban. The memory of that win gives Ordonez hope for a surprise result on Saturday in a race led by the six-time stakes winner Man O Rose, who has won the last two runnings of the Johnston Stakes.

“The best race of his life is perhaps at Los Al,” Ordonez said on Thursday.

“He is such a warrior. He is the coolest cat and he fits right in” at the barn.

Ordonez expressed apprehension about a two-week turnaround for None Above the Law.

“My only concern is that it’s quick back, but he seems to be thriving,” Ordonez said.

“I’m thrilled with everything he has showed me to this point. He has settled in so nicely.”

On two occasions earlier in his career, None Above the Law had a two-week gap between starts, and had a better result in the second of the two races.

In March 2021 at Santa Anita, None Above the Law was sixth as a longshot in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds, and two weeks later won a starter allowance. In October 2022 at Santa Anita, None Above the Law was fourth by a length in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, and was second in the California Flag Stakes for statebred turf sprinters 15 days later.

Peter Miller trained None Above the Law in those years, lost him via claim in February 2024 and claimed him in March 2025. None Above the Law was with Miller through the Sept. 5 race.

Vodka Vodka has had mixed form this year. He won the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for statebreds at Santa Anita in January, and the $250,000 Sunland Park Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in New Mexico in April. Vodka Vodka emerged from the latter race with a foot injury that kept him out of training for the rest of his spring.

In his only start of the summer, Vodka Vodka finished seventh of 10 in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 29 after a troubled start.

Last Sunday, Vodka Vodka stood in the starting gate at Santa Anita. Ordonez said instead of breaking from the gate in a manner simulating the start of a race that the gate was opened by hand by an assistant starter before Vodka Vodka began a six-furlong workout.

Ordonez timed Vodka Vodka finishing the final three furlongs of the workout in 34.40 seconds.

The gate schooling was designed to be a quieter experience for a gelding who Ordonez said has tried too hard at the start at times.

“He fumbled the break at the start of the Pat O’Brien from being too intense,” she said.

The $300,000 Goodwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles is the leading race of the autumn for older horses on dirt in California. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

The winner of the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes at 1 1/16 earns a berth to the BC Distaff at Keeneland on Oct. 31, a race that has been a target with Om N Joy for months.

Om No Joy won the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita in May. She was beaten in two starts at Del Mar, finishing second by a half-length to Eunomia in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares on Aug. 1, and fourth by nine lengths behind Knightsbridge in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles, her first career start against males.

Om N Joy has won 6 of 19 starts, including five stakes.

“She continues to thrive and stay sound and be a big powerful filly,” Ordonez said. “I think she continues to improve. I’m not sure we’ve seen the best of Om N Joy yet. It’s been a dream.”

If Om N Joy starts in the Zenyatta and BC Distaff, she will have a rest later this year.

“She’s coming to the point where we’ll take a break,” Ordonez said. “I think after two big races she has earned a turnout and some time at the farm.

“If everything goes well that would be after the Breeders’ Cup. As always, Joy leads the way. Right now, she’s thriving and she’s happy.”

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