Repo Man, Vanta charge late to win Zuma Beach, Surfer Girl

Some of California’s top turf two-year-olds prepped for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup in Sunday’s $98,000 Zuma Beach (G3) and $101,000 Surfer Girl (G3) at Santa Anita.

Zuma Beach (G3)

The Zuma Beach, a one-mile grass contest serving as a steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), ended in a thrilling finish between 4-5 favorite Repo Man and 2-1 second choice Maxify. By a narrow margin, Repo Man proved best over his stablemate; both are trained by Michael McCarthy.

Coming off a debut win dashing five furlongs at Del Mar, Repo Man trailed the Zuma Beach field as longshot A P Oxbow set fractions of :24.25, :49.02, and 1:12.57 while pursued by Duty Bound and Maxify.

In the homestretch, Maxify launched a bid to take the lead, but Repo Man loomed large on the outside under jockey Umberto Rispoli. The stablemates reached even terms and exchanged bumps as the finish line approached, and in the final strides, Repo Man put his head in front to prevail by a head in 1:36.05.

Juan Hernandez, the rider of Maxify, filed an objection alleging interference, but the stewards ruled that the bumping was mutual and let the result stand. 

Duty Bound finished 4 1/2 lengths behind the top pair in third place, while A P Oxbow trailed. Off in the Corner scratched.

“I think both horses are still learning,” said McCarthy of the top two finishers. “Maxify ran wonderfully there in only his second start. This horse (Repo Man), he was a little farther back than I was expecting him to be. Came with a big run. Obviously, with the Breeders’ Cup right out in front of us it is something to think about. We will get him back in the barn, both these horses, and see how we do. But the future is bright for both of them.”

Bred in Kentucky by Granpollo Stable, Repo Man is owned by Amerman Racing and has earned $108,000.

Surfer Girl (G3)

The Surfer Girl for two-year-old fillies racing one mile produced a slightly more decisive outcome as 1-5 favorite Vanta reeled in a loose leader to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Entering off a win in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S., Vanta brought her career tally to 3-for-3 with an eye-catching performance. Under Rispoli, she rated as many as nine lengths behind splits of :23.19, :48.07, and 1:12.31 set by Blockade, then blazed her final quarter-mile in :22.45 per the Equibase GPS result chart to secure the win.

Blockade pulled three lengths clear of third-place finisher Big Blast, followed by Less Please, River In Paradise, Dash, and Dee Snook.

Vanta is trained by Jeff Mullins, who intends to point the unbeaten filly toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

“I know her pretty well. Jeff, reasonably, wants to try to get her all the way to the Breeders’ Cup. I just tried to do the minimum possible with her,” said Rispoli. “Winning without overusing her, that was the key. I knew she was classy, and when I pushed the button, she would respond. She didn’t surprise me. I know how good she is. I’m curious to know once I really start riding her what she’s going to give me. I’ve never really went a 100 percent with her.

“The Breeders’ Cup is going to be a different deal. Different horses. A new place for her. But she’s classy. One thing she has is class. You can sit her wherever you want. That’s the difference that makes good horses and great horses. She will keep improving and be better than what she is now. That’s the next step of becoming a champion.”

Vanta is owned by the partnership of Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. She was bred in New York by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm, and Truly Thoroughbreds and has accumulated $168,000 in earnings.

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