Jockey Kazushi Kimura stepped in last-minute to ride Ambaya in the Dec. 28 American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita Park after the original jockey, Antonio Fresu, was injured. Under trainer Jonathan Thomas, who prepared Kimura with race replays and advice, Ambaya raced strategically from fifth position and surged between horses to win by half a length in 2:01.02. This victory marked Thomas’s first Grade 1 win for owner George Strawbridge’s Augustin stable, which also bred Ambaya. The filly, sired by Ghostzapper and out of Kundray, had shown promise despite some bad luck in previous starts.

Ambaya’s pedigree is notable, with her dam Kundray being a successful New York-bred mare trained by Thomas, and her lineage includes graded stakes winner J’ray. Ambaya is among eight black-type winners sired by Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year, who was recently pensioned. The win was part of a strong day for Thomas and Kimura at Santa Anita, with both achieving multiple victories on the card. Ambaya’s performance demonstrated her steady improvement and strong training, fulfilling the potential seen in her breeding and morning workouts.