How to bet the Santa Ysabel Stakes

A compact field of six three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Santa Anita dirt in Saturday’s $100,000 Santa Ysabel S. (G3). Conditioner Bob Baffert has three of the contenders in the group and I feel that the race will go through one of his trio of fillies. 

Santa Ysabel Wagers

• $30 win #4 Cipriani ($30)
• $5 exacta box 3-4 ($10)
• $3 trifecta key 4 with 3,5 ($6)

#4 Cipriani had little chance with the impressive Tenma in the Las Virgenes S. (G3) in her second career showing, but the daughter of Bernardini did improve with the added ground in that tilt and I think she has a really bright future as the distances increase. The bay was an $875,000 juvenile purchase and was unveiled on October 27 on the strip in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight dash, where she drew off to a commanding debut score as the 3-10 favorite. 

The Kentucky-bred proved that she can handle a route of ground in her latest endeavor, and her recent four-furlong drill from the gate indicates that she could show more early foot on this occasion. Mike Smith will take the reins atop the bay and likely have her within range from the outset while tracking the tempo from third to the top of the lane. 

John Sadler’s #3 Supa Speed is the wildcard in the field trying the dirt for the initial time. By Justify, the $460,000 yearling purchase is twice stakes-placed on the lawn leading up to Saturday and comes off a solid allowance victory on the local green in her 2025 debut. The Louisiana-bred chestnut has displayed some tactical presence, as well as a solid turn of foot, and her morning works on the main oval have been good, too. I expect the sophomore to handle the surface transition with ease and to be in the hunt late with Flavien Prat accepting the call. 

#5 Maysam looked the part when drawing off to a daylight score at first asking before flopping at 1-10 odds in the Sunland Park Oaks most recently. This $500,000 daughter of Game Winner gets a pass for her setback last time out and comes in with blinkers off for the initial time for a trainer who has endured success with the tactic on multiple occasions in the past. The bay is an obvious contender if she runs to her debut showing beneath Juan Hernandez.