People Pleaser So Happy gave his connections something to smile about after confidently capturing the $200,000 San Vicente (G2) – a seven-furlong dirt dash for 3-year-olds – on Saturday at Santa Anita. Making his stakes debut for owners Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners, the sophomore Runhappy colt looked the part of a seasoned veteran, allowing the race to develop before striking late and edging away by two lengths. The professional effort kept So Happy perfect through two career starts and elevated his earnings total to $156,000. As the 5-2 second choice, he paid $7.80. No Panic While Saturday’s $125,000 Likely Exchange Stakes didn’t start as planned for 7-5 favourite Literate, the graded stakes winning mare displayed great resolve to write a satisfying conclusion. Operating out of post two, at Turfway Park, Literate endured early contact and found herself second-to-last after the half. Despite the rocky opening act, the Oscar Performance bay found her rhythm with plenty of time to spare en route to a hard-earned half-length tally. Literate’s first victory since last July’s Grade 3 Trillium Stakes (five starts ago) was her sixth overall from 20 starts (6-3-2; $371,357) for owners C2 Racing Stable and BAG Racing Stables. She paid $4.90. On a Roll After missing the money in five straight starts between December 14, 2024 and May 14, 2025, El Dinero has now finished inside the top three in six straight, highlighted by a $100,000 Gary P. Palmisano Sr. Memorial Stakes score this past Saturday at Fair Grounds. In his first appearance since a runner-up result in the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint Stakes on December 13, El Dinero took a patient approach with rider Jareth Loveberry aboard. The controlled strategy ultimately paid dividends, as the pair saved enough ground to get up past 7-2 rival Hay Jude by three-quarters-of-a-length. Now a member of the $500,000 club ($540,640; 26: 7-8-4), El Dinero paid $4.80. In the Black Tessellate, a $170,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, officially exceeded her retail price with a resilient showing in Saturday’s $125,000 Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Competing for owners Magic Cap Stables, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, Castle Gate Farm, BAG Racing Stables, John Reinhardt and Turf Express Racing, Tessellate shook off an uneven start to claim the lead at the stretch and pull away for the 2 ¾-length score. The bay, bred in Florida by Castle Gate Farm, is up to 3-1-1 with $171,010 banked from five starts. As the 4-5 choice Saturday, Tessellate paid $3.80. Victory Margs A zesty effort in Sunday afternoon’s $100,000 Las Flores (G3) at Santa Anita made Margarita Girl’s (4-1) first stakes appearance one her connections will never forget. Testing the stakes waters, graded or otherwise, following a 1-4-1 run between six starts at the allowance and maiden levels, Margarita Girl exhibited great poise as Thermal (9-5) and No Bad Beats (14-1) held the advantage into the turn for home. Not wavering, Margarita Girl and rider Ricardo Gonzalez remained firm in their pursuit, overtaking the pair late to reach the wire 1 ¾-lengths clear. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
