Inaugural Grade III John C. Harris Stakes on September 27 at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, CA (September 22, 2025) – Wink and a Grin, bred by the stake’s namesake, and fellow California-bred Miso Phansy, are entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III John C. Harris Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

Wink and a Grin is by Smiling Tiger, out of the Acclamation mare Style Award, was bred by owner Harris Farms and is trained by Carla Gaines. She has two wins in six starts, earnings of $90,358 and is coming off fourth in the Aug. 17 Solana Beach.

Miso Phansy is by Karakontie, out of the Souvenir Copy mare Sandy Cheeks, was bred by Ciaglia Racing, is owned by Ciaglia Racing and Robin Christensen and is trained by Leonard Powell. She has two wins in eight starts, earnings of $160,270 and is coming off a third in an Aug. 21 optional claimer.

For 3-year-old fillies at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course, this race was renamed the John C. Harris in honor of the late titan of California racing and breeding who died in July at the age of 81. It was previously the Unzip Me Stakes, named after the multiple graded stakes winner and hillside turf course specialist who Harris co-bred and campaigned with partners.

The first-ever John C. Harris Stakes has attracted a wide-open field of 13 with any number of contenders. The lineup includes Casalu, who is the only stakes winner on grass in the lineup. Trained by Bob Baffert, Casalu won the Sweet Life Stakes in February in her only previous try on the unique hillside turf course.

Wink and a Grin drew post 11 and she will be ridden by Hector Berrios.