The 1.10-1 favorite led throughout and held off the late charge of Kopion, the 1.90-1 second choice.

Sweet Azteca showed no signs of rust returning from a nine-month layoff in Saturday's $200,000 Great Lady M. (G2) at Los Alamitos.

It's far too soon to anoint Kopion as a Hall of Fame-quality runner, but the daughter of Omaha Beach has displayed the potential to be a very special sprinter.

Kopion was making her first career start both outside of California and on a track other than fast.

Unraced since his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), last year’s divisional champion Citizen Bull picked up right where he left off in Saturday’s Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.

Seven weeks out from the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, bettors are having trouble landing on a clear favorite, as evidenced by the results of Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5.

Michael Lund Petersen’s Kinza and Santa Ynez (G3) winner Kopion brought similar profiles into Saturday’s Las Virgenes (G3).

With highly regarded stablemate Tamara essentially out of Kentucky Oaks (G1) contention as she heals from an injury, Kopion might yet take trainer Richard Mandella to Churchill Downs in early May.

The bettors who pounded Kopion to 1-5 favoritism in Sunday’s $98,000 Santa Ynez S. (G3) at Santa Anita never had to take a deep breath. The chestnut filly brought her career tally to 2-for-2 with a decisive victory.

Kopion will attempt to become the fourth stakes winner produced by her dam, Galloping Ami, when she faces four rivals in the $100,000 Santa Ynez (G3) at Santa Anita on Sunday.