Spencer rides Tirupati to first California win in Swingtime Stakes

Tirupati provided former British and Irish champion jockey Jamie Spencer with a milestone in Monday’s $95,900 Swingtime Stakes at Santa Anita – his first career win in California.

Tirupati ($8) had a troubled start in the Swingtime Stakes but rallied wide through the stretch to finish a half-length ahead of 13-1 Miracle Beauty in the field of eight fillies and mares. Tirupati was seventh for the first six furlongs of the one-mile turf race.

“It’s nice to get the first win on the board,” Spencer said in a winner’s circle interview.

“I had to ride her patiently. We wanted to be in the first three.”

Tirupati, the second betting choice, leapt in the air and was away awkwardly. She rallied wide on the turn and into the stretch and caught the eye with an impressive rally.

“I thought in the straight she would grind it out,” Spencer said. “I didn’t need to use the whip. She was giving her heart and soul as it was.”

Tirupati was timed in 1:34.46.

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Miracle Beauty, an Irish import who had her first start in the United States on Monday, finished a neck in front of 10-1 Antifona. Innovative finished fourth, followed by Firenze Flavor, Pura Vida Princesa, Slick, and Bit’s Tiger Magic.

Slick, the 5-2 favorite, raced behind the leaders to early stretch but was not a factor late.

Bit’s Tiger Magic, who was withdrawn from Sunday’s California Distaff Handicap, set the early pace of 23.57 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.59 for a half-mile before fading from contention.

The Swingtime was restricted to nonwinners of a stakes worth $60,000 or more to the winner at a mile or longer, other than statebred races, this year.

Tirupati, a 5-year-old mare by Mitole, races for George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable and trainer Jonathan Thomas. Tirupati ended a six-race losing streak since the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at Santa Anita in March 2025 in the Swingtime. In the summer, Tirupati was second or third in three allowance races at Ellis Park, Saratoga, and Kentucky Downs.

Tirupati has won 5 of 20 starts and earned $346,749.

Spencer, 46, plans to ride at Santa Anita into early 2027. This is the first time he has ridden on a full-time basis in the United States. Spencer is booked to ride the Group 1 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday before returning to Santa Anita for the weekend of Oct. 23-25.

Spencer was the champion jockey in Ireland in 2004 and champion jockey in Britain in 2005 and 2007. In 2007, he tied for first with Seb Sanders with 190 wins. He rode 18 winners in Britain earlier this year.

Tirupati was Spencer’s fourth stakes win in North America in the last six weeks and his 20th career win on this continent.

Spencer won the Grade 1 Canadian International aboard Arabian Crown on Oct. 3 at Woodbine.

On Sept. 7, Spencer rode two winners at Kentucky Downs – Take Charge Star in the Grade 2, $1.04 million Franklin-Simpson Stakes and Haatem in the Grade 3, $1.36 million Mint Millions Invitational.

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