Powell sends out quartet in opening day turf stakes
At 0h02, on December 28, 2025 • By Santa Anita Park
Trainer Leonard Powell enters the Classic Meet having already set career-highs for both wins (38) and purse earnings ($2,393,471). On Opening Day Sunday at Santa Anita, the 49-year-old Frenchman will look to add his successful season with starters in all three graded stakes scheduled for the lawn.
Powell’s best hope on the day comes with Tempus Volat in the Grade II Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds. The Not This Time colt is 9-2 on the morning line in a field of seven. Two starts back in the Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar going a mile on turf, Tempus Volat beat multiple horses entered in the Mathis Mile when scoring by three-quarters of a length at 10-1. He then stepped up in the Grade I Hollywood Derby going 1 1/18 miles on Nov. 29 at Del Mar. Tempus Volat stalked the pace in second before crossing the wire fourth, 1 ¾ lengths behind winner Salamis.
“He ran a good race that day—just got beat by the three horses who shipped in from back east,” Powell said. “We finished ahead of all the Californians. Hopefully that’s the case again on Sunday.”
After starting his career with Steve Asmussen, Tempus Volat was entered in the Fasig-Tipton May Digital sale and sold for $180,000 to owner Sondereker Racing. He enters the Mathis Mile 7: 2-1-2 with $160,058 in earnings. He’ll have regular rider Mirco Demuro in the irons.
