From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2026)—Thought Process, a Kentucky-bred daughter of new California stallion Collected, rolled to a dominant two-length victory in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares going one mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Making her first start in more than six months, Thought Process (6-5), ridden by Hector Berrios, saved ground along the rail while stalking pacesetter Grand Slam Smile (9-2) through fractions of 23.35, 46.85 and 1:10.87 for six furlongs. Thought Process then passed Grand Slam Smile to her outside when entering the stretch and was never challenged on her way to a second graded stakes win and third stakes victory overall. Vibez, (9-2), also sired by Collected and ridden by Juan Hernandez for trainer Peter Eurton, rallied to be second by a neck over Grand Slam Smile.
“I tried to wait and wait and when I asked her, she passed them easily,” Berrios said.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, Thought Process won in a time of 1:34.20.
“She’s a special filly,” D’Amato said. “I just had to get her close to fit and keep her happy in the paddock.”
A 4-year-old, Thought Process hadn’t started since August when finishing third as the favorite in the GI Del Mar Oaks. Prior to that effort, she won the GII San Clemente also at Del Mar. As a 2-year-old, Thought Process won the GIII Surfer Girl at Santa Anita and Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf. She is owned by The Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stables. With her latest win, Thought Process improved to 9: 6-0-2 with more than $500,000 in earnings.
D’Amato said a Grade I try could be forthcoming for Thought Process.
“I think she’s deserving of those opportunities,” D’Amato.
Billy Koch of Little Red Feather noted the GI Gamely going 1 1/8 miles on May 25 at Santa Anita is a likely target for Thought Process.
“Hopefully we can get there,” he added.
Thought Process paid $4.60, $3.00 and $2.10. Vibez returned $4.60 and $2.60. Grand Slam Smile, with Kazushi Kimura aboard for trainer Sean McCarthy, paid $2.10.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 12:30 p.m. PT.
GRADE II, BUENA VISTA STAKE QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
HECTOR I. BERRIOS, THOUGHT PROCESS, WINNER: “D’Amato told me maybe the #2 (Grand Slam Smile) would go to the lead. I tried to just wait and wait and when I asked her, she passed them easily.”
TRAINER QUOTES
PHILIP D’AMATO, THOUGHT PROCESS, WINNER: “She’s a special filly. I just had to get her close to fit and happy in the paddock. I thought she was maybe 90, 95 percent. We might shoot for Grade I’s. I think she’s deserving of those opportunities.”
OWNER QUOTES
BILLY KOCH, LITTLE RED FEATHER RACING, THOUGHT PROCESS, WINNER: “It’s nice to be right every once in a while. We were on a 1 for 29 streak right there so getting a victory is really special. Especially for all of our partners, all the Little Red Feather partners, Madaket and Brereton Jones, I know all those guys are watching right now so I know everybody is excited on the way she came back.
“A great job to Phil D’Amato and his team. They are so good at what they do. This filly coming off a six-month layoff and being able to run against what I thought was a really good field today. I’m just really impressed and really happy.
“We will discuss it. Ultimately, our goal has always been the Gamely (Grade I, May 25 going 1 1/8 miles) which is here at home, hopefully we can get there.”
NOTES: The winning owners are Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing, and Madaket Stables, LLC.