Om N Joy Wows ‘Em in $125,500 Melair Stakes Victory

ARCADIA, CA (May 24, 2025)— After breaking poorly, Om N Joy soon lost touch with the field in the $125,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies bred or sired in California going 1 1/16 miles. It would not matter. With Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux at the controls, Om N Joy uncorked a furious rally inside the final three furlongs and got up just in time to score by a half-length Saturday at Santa Anita.

While Om N Joy (2-1) was toiling at the rear, Fibonaccis Ride (9-2) with pressure from 15-1 longshot Going Deep set a pace of 23.48, 48.12 and 1:12.44 for six furlongs. Inside the quarter pole, Going Deep had put away Fibonaccis Ride, was clear by 2 ½ lengths at the eighth pole and appeared poised to spring the upset. But she could not hold off an oncoming Om N Joy, who surged through on the inside to make it back-to-back stakes wins after previously taking the Evening Jewel at 6 ½ furlongs on April 5 at Santa Anita. Going Deep finished second by 2 ¼ lengths over third-place finisher Lady Mendelssohn (5-1).

“When she came out of the gate like that, I had words with the starter,” Desormeaux said jokingly. “It was her fault, she threw her head right at the start and I’m telling you it was nerve-wracking down the backstretch, I was too far back. She proved to be a lot better than I thought she was because she had no right to win today, and she did it anyway. She is a tremendous athlete, well trained by Ms. Aggie.”

Desormeaux also rode Om N Joy in the Evening Jewel.

By California-based stallion Om, Om N Joy is trained by Aggie Ordonez and campaigned by breeders Jerry Baker and Connie S. Baker along with partners Michael Golovko and Terrence J. Scanlan. She won in a time of 1:45.68.

“First of all that is why you ride Kent Desormeaux. After that, she has just been the biggest pleasure to train and it is such an honor to train for Connie and Jerry Baker, winning owner and breeders. I love this filly and we all knew. Kent used to get on her at Del Mar and ride her around the barn area and he knew from the start that she was good. I’m so glad it all worked out and I can’t wait for the new things to come.”

The winning owner/breeders, Connie and Jerry Baker, were no less overjoyed. “When she broke bad I just said, ‘Well let’s see. She likes to come from behind. Does she have anything left?,” said Jerry. “When Kent started moving down the rail I said, ‘Oh my gosh, she has a shot.’ What a tremendous ride, he was patient and he did it. It is just a great team and we are so excited and so proud. I am so proud of that horse. What a horse, just amazing.”

Om N Joy improved to 10: 3-0-4 with $225,640 in earnings.

Om N Joy paid $6.00, $3.60 and $2.80. Going Deep, ridden by Edwin Maldonado for trainer Doug O’Neill, returned $14.00 and $8.20. Lady Mendelssohn, with Hector Berrios up for trainer Carla Gaines, paid $5.00.