SAF G2 winner, Egyptian Mau returns to the Santa Anita hillside on Sunday for her toughest assignment yet, lining up in the Grade III Las Cienegas Stakes, a $100,000 sprint run over about 6½ furlongs down the famous downhill turf course.

Drawn in gate two, she will take on eight rivals in a compact but competitive nine-horse field. The inside draw can be demanding on the hillside layout, particularly into the early right-hand bend, but her ability to settle and finish strongly gives her every chance if she breaks cleanly.

The Team Valor runner comes into the race in top form, having won her most recent start over track and trip. That victory confirmed her affinity for the downhill configuration and earned her a deserved step up into graded company.

A significant positive is the presence of Mike Smith in the saddle again. One of the most accomplished jockeys of his generation, Smith is well remembered by South African racing fans as the rider of Horse Chestnut, who powered to victory in the Broward Handicap at Gulfstream Park in his only international start.

Egyptian Mau’s earlier U.S. form suggested she was knocking on the door. At Del Mar in August 2025, she finished second in an Allowance Optional Claimer after a difficult passage, breaking slowly, steadying early, and circling widest of all before unleashing a powerful late run that fell just short. In January 2025, she finished third in similar company after being short of room entering the stretch and staying on once clear.

Those efforts, combined with her latest hillside success, point to a filly on the rise. While Sunday’s Las Cienegas Stakes represents a clear step up in class, her proven course form, upward trajectory, and the booking of an elite rider make her a legitimate contender despite the challenge of the draw.

The Wilgerbosdrift bred daughter of Fire Away is the flag bearer for the family. Savannah Cat, the mare, is not longer, passed away last year.

Image: JC Photos