Hold onto your hats, racing fans, because Margarita Girl just pulled off a stunning upset at Santa Anita! After a five-month hiatus, this Twirling Candy filly burst onto the scene, dominating the GIII Las Flores Stakes and leaving her rivals in the dust. But here's where it gets even more intriguing: this wasn't just any victory—it marked her transformation from a maiden winner to a graded stakes champion, all in one fell swoop. Could this be the start of a legendary career? Only time will tell.
Updated: January 11, 2026, at 6:08 pm
Margarita Girl’s triumphant return to the track was nothing short of spectacular. Under the guidance of jockey Ricky Gonzalez, who stepped in for the injured Antonio Fresu, she delivered a performance that had the crowd roaring. Breaking smoothly, she settled into a comfortable rhythm as Thermal set the early pace. With a quarter-mile clocked at :21.74 and a half-mile at :44.11, Margarita Girl bided her time along the rail, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
As the field rounded the bend, No Bad Beats surged to the front, but Margarita Girl was far from finished. And this is the part most people miss: she unleashed a powerful rally down the center of the track, seizing the lead inside the final furlong and pulling away with ease. “I had a lot of horse,” Gonzalez remarked post-race. “She sat perfectly, and when I asked her to go, she responded beautifully.”
This victory was a long time coming for Margarita Girl, who had placed second in four of her first five starts, with one third-place finish. Her breakthrough finally came in her sixth outing, a six-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar on August 21. Yet, after that win, she mysteriously disappeared from the racing scene—until now.
Trainer Mark Glatt shed some light on her journey. “We always believed she had the talent to win from the start,” he explained. “Early on, she was a bit too eager, but we’ve worked hard to get her to relax. Today, she was a couple of lengths off the pace, and it made all the difference. She’s a class act, no doubt.”
Co-owner Hans Maron couldn’t contain his excitement, celebrating two graded wins in as many days. “She’s always been my favorite,” he gushed. “She’s not just a racehorse; she’s a beauty. I’m thrilled to see her back and better than ever.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Margarita Girl’s success a testament to her natural talent, or does it highlight the strategic brilliance of her team? Some might argue that her five-month break was a risky move, while others see it as a masterstroke in managing her development. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Pedigree-wise, Margarita Girl continues to bolster the legacy of her sire, Twirling Candy, who now boasts 29 graded stakes winners. Her broodmare sire, Uncle Mo, also adds another graded winner to his impressive tally with 19. Interestingly, her third dam, Tempo West, is the producer of notable horses like Declaration of War and War Correspondent.
For the record books, Margarita Girl, a 4-year-old filly by Twirling Candy out of My Day by Uncle Mo, stopped the clock at 1:09.19 for the six furlongs, earning $60,000 for her efforts. Her lifetime record now stands at 7-2-4-1, with earnings of $181,680. With a Werk Nick Rating of A+++, she’s undoubtedly one to watch.
As the racing world buzzes with excitement over Margarita Girl’s return, one question lingers: Can she sustain this momentum and become a dominant force in the sport? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—this filly has the heart of a champion and the talent to match. What’s your take on her future? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation!
