Ghostzapper’s Ambaya Lifts Late, Holds Them All Off to Win American Oaks

[Wandering Eyes]

Her owners made a special trip out to Santa Anita Park for the GI American Oaks and Ambaya (Ghostzapper) made sure they'd go home with the hardware. The chestnut held all potential challengers at bay late to score her first elite-level win in the nightcap of the record Classic Meet opening card.

The Jonathan Thomas-trainee spent most of her season on the board, running second or third three times after breaking her maiden at first asking June 12 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Her placings included a third in the Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park in late September. She shipped to California two back Oct. 30 to take on optional claimers at Del Mar, and missed to familiar face Ribbons (Liams Map) on the wire by the slimmest of margins. After a rough start left her as the caboose in her most recent jump Nov. 24 at that venue, she closed furiously in the lane to run fourth against allowance optional claimers.

Supported here to the tune of 12-1 odds, Ambaya set up in fifth along the fence as Ribbons stepped out from the far outside gate to lead the procession through an opening quarter in :23.55 and a half in :48.30. Facing pressure as they swung through the far turn, that long-time leader eventually yielded after six panels in 1:13.55 and the running began as the field entered the homestretch with no overwhelming leader. Locked onto Cliffs (Omaha Beach) as that one fought to hold off the Thomas stablemate Will Then (War of Will), Ambaya overhauled that pair inside the final furlong and kept them to within a half-length on the line. Cliffs managed to keep second over Will Then in third. Owner/breeder George Strawbridge claimed two of the top three spots with his fillies running first and third.

 

 

AMBAYA ($27.40) bursts though rivals to take the $300,000 American Oaks (G1) at @santaanitapark. @kazushi0096 gave a flawless ride for trainer @ThomasStables.

Racing returns to the great RIP TOMORROW! Makes sure to tune in to FanDuel TV! pic.twitter.com/WYRjiNh7a2

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 29, 2025

 

Pedigree Notes:

Ambaya is the third winner from as many to the races for her dam Kundray, but is by far the most accomplished of the trio as the first Grade I winner for the mare. The victress has a yearling filly by Liam's Map to her credit as the last registered. She was sent to Gamble's Exchange for 2026 after she did not catch in her 2025 trip to Collusion Illusion.

Sunday, Santa Anita Park
AMERICAN OAKS PRESENTED BY CYGAMES-GI, $303,000, Santa Anita, 12-28, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:01.02, gd.
1–AMBAYA, 124, f, 3, by Ghostzapper
                1st Dam: Kundray, by Distorted Humor
                2nd Dam: J'ray, by Distant View
                3rd Dam: Bubbling Heights (Fr), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Augustin Stables; B-George Strawbridge (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas; J-Kazushi Kimura. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-1, $245,960. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cliffs, 124, f, 3, by Omaha Beach
                1st Dam: Perfect View, by Arch
                2nd Dam: Visual Mind, by Kingmambo
                3rd Dam: Visions of Clarity (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 RNA Wlg '22 KEENOV; $77,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN; $175,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG; $430,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Lael Stables; B-Four Pillars Holdings LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $60,000.
3–Will Then, 124, f, 3, by War of Will
                1st Dam: Remember Then, by Pulpit
                2nd Dam: Owsley, by Harlan
                3rd Dam: Insipid, by Sham
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Augustin Stables; B-George Strawbridge (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas. $36,000.
Margins: HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 12.70, 2.80, 3.50.
Also Ran: Take A Breath (GB), Resolve, Totally Justified, A Thousand Miles, Ribbons, As Catch Can, Slick (Ire), Atsila (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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