Take A Breath Leads A Deep Cast Set For The Grade III Royal Heroine Stakes
At 0h03, on April 25, 2026 • By Santa Anita Park
Take A Breath, winner of last month’s GIII Santa Ana Stakes, and graded stakes winner May Day Ready—a new arrival to California for trainer Richard Mandella—headline a competitive cast set to go Saturday in the Grade III, $100,000 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita. The Royal Heroine is for fillies and mares at one mile on turf.
In the Santa Ana, also at one mile on turf, Take A Breath rallied to win by a nose to earn her first stakes victory. Trained by Mark Glatt, Take A Breath is a 4-year-old filly by Bated Breath who spent her first two seasons racing in her native England. Prior to the Santa Ana, Take A Breath was fourth in the GI American Oaks. She is owned by Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners. She’ll be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, who was also aboard in the Santa Ana.
May Day Ready joined the Mandella barn after previously being based in the east with trainer Joseph Lee. The 4-year-old filly by Tapit hasn’t started since October when finishing off the board in the GII Valley View at Keeneland. Previously in 2025, May Day Ready won the GII Lake Placid going one mile on turf at and was fourth in the GI Belmont Oaks, both at Saratoga.
