Om N Joy returns in 7 days, back on dirt
At 0h02, on May 30, 2026 • By Santa Anita Park
After a lackluster performance when trying turf last Saturday in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes, Om N Joy wheels back in seven days and returns to dirt in the Grade II Santa Margarita Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on Saturday.
In the one-mile Fran’s Valentine, Om N Joy made her first turf start since the beginning of her carrer in late 2024. She stalked the leaders in mid-pack early before fading to last in a seven-horse field. Trainer Aggie Ordonez noted Om N Joy “didn’t expend a lot of energy in that race. She came back bouncing to the barn.
“I thought this was a perfect opportunity to do it,” Ordonez said of the quick return. “She’s a big strong filly, sound. And I like the way the race could potentially set up for her with a lot of speed.”
Ordonez noted she has rarely made this move in her 30-plus years as a trainer. She recalled a time at Remington Park she experimented running a horse on turf, then came back in four days on dirt and won.
“When I was handicapping, that was one of my favorite angles,” Ordonez said. “A race on an unpreferred surface, whether it be mud or turf or whatever. Then when they come back on their preferred surface and can fire big. This filly won’t run again until August most likely and we had this in mind going into the grass race.”
Om N Joy is installed as the 5-1 third choice in the Santa Margarita. Looming as the heavy 2-5 favorite on the morning line is Seismic Beauty, last year’s winner who makes her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Om N Joy, a 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Om, will break from the rail under regular rider Kent Desormeaux.
In two starts this year prior to the Fran’s Valentine, Om N Joy was third in the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile in March at Santa Anita and fifth in the GI Apple Blossom last month at Oaklawn Park. This will be her first time going 1 1/8 miles.
“I don’t have much concern at the distance. That’s probably my least concern,” Ordonez said. “She has that big, long easy stride. And the way she galloped out on grass the other day, she went by the whole field, and Kent had a hard time pulling her up. She really gets into her rhythm late. Maybe we’ll find that’s one of the things she likes most about the race. The one thing she’ll probably like least is Seismic Beauty. She’s obviously been working like a champion and is an incredible filly. I know I’m swinging big here.”
Om N Joy is campaigned by breeders Jerry Baker and Connie Baker and partners Michael Golovko and Terrence J. Scanlan. Last year, she won five of seven starts with four stakes wins including the GIII Torrey Pines going one mile at Del Mar.
First post Saturday for a nine-race card is at 4 p.m. PT. The Santa Margarita goes as the eighth race at 7:37 p.m. The field in post position order: Om N Joy, Kent Desormeaux (5-1); Lemon Muffin, Kazushi Kimura (15-1); Seismic Beauty, Juan Hernandez (2-5); Simply Joking, Emisael Jaramillo (3-1); Lavender Love, Armando Ayuso (10-1).
