| Class: | Ungraded |
| Horse Race: | California Derby |
| Location: | Golden Gate Fields Berkeley, California |
| Inaugurated: | 1876 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website: | www.goldengatefields.com |
| Distance: | 1 1/16 Miles (8.5 Furlongs) |
| Track: | Synthetic, left-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-year-olds |
| Weight: | Assigned |
| Purse: | $100,000 |
The California Derby is a race for Thoroughbred horses held early in the year at Golden Gate Fields. An ungraded stakes, it is open to three-year-olds at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on a Tapeta surface. The Derby offers a purse of $100,000.
Northern California's first major test for horses hoping to run for the Triple Crown, the California Derby is also the main local prep race for the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby also run at Golden Gate.
The California Derby has been run since 1873. At that time it was set at twelve furlongs or a mile and a half and was won by Camilla Urso. Mollie McCarty won the 1876 edition and in 1909, African-American jockey James Lee won the race aboard High Private. Royal Orbit, who ran third in the California Derby, won the 1959 Preakness, and in 1909 Joe Madden, who ran second in the California Derby to High Private, won the Belmont Stakes. The 1996 winner, Pike Place Dancer won the Kentucky Oaks.
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| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | |
| 2022 | Il Bellator | 3 | Alejandro Gomez | Jose Bautista | Edward & Theresa DeNike | 1:44.27 | |
| 2021 | Stalking Shadow | 3 | Evin Roman | Jonathan Wong | Tommy Town Thoroughbreds | 1:45.22 | |
| 2020 | No Race | align=center | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | 0:00.00 |
| 2019 | Kingly | 3 | Mario Gutierrez | Bob Baffert | Clearview Stable LLC | 1:42.73 | |
| 2018 | Choo Choo | 3 | Juan J. Hernandez | Jerry Hollendorfer | Calumet Farm | 1:44.50 | |
| 2017 | So Conflated | 3 | Mario Gutierrez | Doug F. O'Neill | Reddam Racing | 1:44.71 | |
| 2016 | Frank Conversation | 3 | Mario Gutierrez | Doug F. O'Neill | Reddam Racing | 1:43.37 | |
| 2015 | Cross the Line | 3 | Juan J. Hernandez | Jerry Hollendorfer | Hollendorfer/Todaro,Live Your Dream Racing et al. | 1:44.79 | |
| 2014 | Exit Stage Left | 3 | Russell Baze | Jerry Hollendorfer | Hollendorfer/Dedomenico | 1:44.07 | |
| 2013 | Zeewat | 3 | Russell Baze | Jerry Hollendorfer | Hollendorfer/Todaro | 1:46.50 | |
| 2012 | Russian Greek | 3 | Aaron Gryder | Jerry Hollendorfer | Olympia Star, Inc. | 1:45.07 | |
| 2011 | Positive Response | 3 | Julien Couton | William E. Morey | Gevertz/Morey/ Newman/Pagano | 1:44.56 | |
| 2010 | Ranger Heartley | 3 | Julio Garcia | John W. Sadler | David Alpert/Herb Alpert | 1:45.40 | |
| 2009 | Chocolate Candy | 3 | Russell Baze | Jerry Hollendorfer | Craig Family Trust | 1:43.98 | |
| 2008 | Yankee Bravo | 3 | Alex Solis | Patrick Gallagher | Harlequin Ranches et al. | 1:44.57 | |
| 2007 | Bwana Bull | 3 | David Lopez | Jerry Hollendorfer | Mark De Domenico et al. | 1:44.70 | |
| 2006 | Cause to Believe | 3 | Russell Baze | Jerry Hollendorfer | Peter Redekop/Peter Abruzzo | 1:41.07 | |
| 2005 | No Race | align=center | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | 0:00.00 |
| 2004 | Trieste's Honor | 3 | Russell Baze | Mike Puype | Cobra Farm | 1:47.95 | |
| 2003 | Mr. Technique | 3 | Roberto M. Gonzalez | Jeff Bonde | James Vreeland | 1:47.65 | |
| 2002 | Tracemark | 3 | Jason Lumpkins | Craig Dollase | Edward T. McGrath | 1:47.93 | |
| 2001 | Takin It Deep | 3 | Jose Arriaga | Gil Matos | M. A. Douzas | 1:49.25 | |
| 2000 | Bet On Red | 3 | Ron Warren Jr. | Brent Sumja | James Egide/Barry Thiriot | 1:48.00 | |
| 1999 | Red Sky's | 3 | Russell Baze | Jeff Bonde | Barton D. Heller | 1:47.16 | |
| 1998 | Prime Meridian | 3 | Rafael Meza | Brent Surnja | Kenwood Racing | 1:48.64 | |
| 1997 | I'm a Jewel | 3 | Agapito Delgadillo | William Delia | Will.Delia & E.Garrison | 1:52.55 | |
| 1996 | Pike Place Dancer | 3 | Corey Nakatani | Jerry Hollendorfer | Hollendorfer & Todaro | 1.50.33 | |
| 1995 | Fine n' Majestic | 3 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Bill Shoemaker | Bienstock & Papiano | 1:42.49 | |
| 1994 | Screaming Don | 3 | Adalberto Lopez | Lanny Sharp | Heim, Said & Sharp | 1:48.31 | |
| 1993 | Denmars Dream | 3 | Alex Solis | Ian Jory | Terry Dennis Deering | 1:49.96 | |
| 1992 | Treekster | 3 | Gary Boulanger | Vladimir Cerin | Mary Ann Racing Stable | 1:48.19 | |
| 1991 | Green Alligator | 3 | Corey Nakatani | Murray Johnson | Anderson Fowler | 1:47.90 | |