Californian Stakes Explained

Class:Grade II
Horse Race:Californian Stakes
Location:Santa Anita Park
Arcadia, California, USArelocated after the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack
Inglewood, California, United States
Inaugurated:1954
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance: miles (9 furlongs)
Surface:Dirt
Track:left-handed
Qualification:Three-years-old & up
Weight:Assigned
Purse:$250,000

The Californian Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California (relocated from the now closed Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California). The Grade II event is open to horses age three and up willing to race one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt. This race serves as a key prep to the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Inaugurated in 1954, winner Imbros set a new track record of 1:41.00 which also equaled the then world record for a mile and sixteenth on dirt.

Since inception the race has been contested at three different distances:

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of miles)

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwner
Time
2023Defunded5Juan J. HernandezBob BaffertKarl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman1:48.07
2022Stilleto Boy4Juan J. HernandezEd Moger JrSteve Moger1:48.07
2021Royal Ship4Mike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaFox Hill Farm & Siena Farm1:48.47
2020
2019
2018Dr. Dorr5Joe TalamoBob BaffertNatalie J. Baffert1:49.84
2017Collected4Martin GarciaBob BaffertSpeedway Stable LLC1:47.73
2016Second Summer4Mario GutierrezPeter EurtonAlesia/Ciaglia Racing/Ferrell/Slam Dunk Racing1:48.29
2015Catch a Flight (ARG)5Gary StevensRichard E. MandellaHaras Santa Maria de Araras1:47.73
2014Clubhouse Ride6Joe TalamoCraig Anthony LewisSix-S Racing/Petralia1:48.74
2013Clubhouse Ride5Garrett GomezCraig Anthony LewisSix-S Racing/Petralia1:51.02
2012Game On Dude5Chantal SutherlandBob BaffertDiamond Pride, Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, Bernard Schiappa1:48.01
2011Twirling Candy4Joel RosarioJohn W. SadlerCraig Family Trust1:50.00
2010Rail Trip5Rafael BejaranoRon EllisJay Em Ess Stable1:48.49
2009Informed5Tyler BazeDouglas F. O'NeillW.C. Racing, et al.1:48.37
2008Heatseeker5Rafael BejaranoJerry HollendorferWilliam de Burgh1:47.06
2007Buzzards Bay5Jose Valdivia Jr.Ronald W. EllisGary Broad1:49.72
2006Dixie Meister4David FloresJulio C. CananiGary A. Tanaka1:49.53
2005Lava Man4Pat ValenzuelaDouglas F. O'NeillSTD racing & Jason Wood1:47.83
2004Even the Score4David FloresVladimir CerinRosendo G. Parra1:47.64
2003Kudos6Alex SolisRichard MandellaAnn & Jerry Moss1:47.91
2002Milwaukee Brew5Kent DesormeauxRobert J. FrankelStronach Stable1:48.06
2001Skimming5Garrett GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1:48.12
2000Big Ten5Alex SolisRichard MandellaStud Old Dog Stable (Francisco Bertin et al.)1:49.22
1999Old Trieste4Chris McCarronMike PuypeGary Biszantz1:46.55
1998Mud Route5Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJanis R. Whitham1:48.15
1997River Keen5Kent DesormeauxRobert B. Hess Jr.Hugo Reynolds1:47.38
1996Tinners Way6Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelPrince Khalid Abdullah1:46.60
1995Concern4Mike E. SmithRichard W. SmallRobert E. Meyerhoff1:47.74
1994The Wicked North5Kent DesormeauxDavid BernsteinPhil & Sophie Hersh Trust1:46.68
1993Latin American5Gary StevensRobert MarshallRobert Marshall1:46.92
1992Another Review4Kent DesormeauxChris SpeckertThomas Mellon Evans1:48.11
1991Roanoke4Eddie DelahoussayeNeil D. DrysdaleNedlaw Stable1:48.30
1990Sunday Silence4Pat ValenzuelaCharlie WhittinghamHancock/Whittingham/Gaillard1:48.00
1989Sabona7Chris McCarronNeil D. DrysdaleSir Ernest Harrison & Audrey Reed1:46.80
1988Cutlass Reality6Chris McCarronCraig A. LewisHoward Crash & Jim Hankoff1:47.60
1987Judge Angelucci4Gary BazeCharlie WhittinghamOlin B. Gentry1:48.20
1986Precisionist5Chris McCarronL. Ross FenstermakerFred W. Hooper1:33.60
1985Greinton4Laffit Pincay Jr.Charlie WhittinghamMary Jones Bradley, C. Whittingham, Howell Wynne1:32.60
1984Desert Wine4Eddie DelahoussayeJerry M. FanningDan J. Agnew & Fred Sahadi1:47.60
1983The Wonder5Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamAlain du Breil1:48.40
1982Erins Isle4Laffit Pincay Jr.Charlie WhittinghamBrian Sweeney1:48.00
1981Eleven Stitches4Sandy HawleyDonn LubyMorey & Claudia Mirkin1:48.40
1980Spectacular Bid4Bill ShoemakerBud DelpHawksworth Farm (Harry Meyerhoff)1:45.80
1979Affirmed4Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm1:41.20
1978J.O. Tobin4Steve CauthenLaz BarreraGeorge A. Pope Jr.1:41.00
1977Crystal Water4Laffit Pincay Jr.Roger ClappConnie M. Ring1:41.00
1976Ancient Title6Sandy HawleyKeith L. Stucki Sr.Kirkland Stable (Ethel Kirkland)1:41.20
1975Ancient Title5Laffit Pincay Jr.Keith L. Stucki Sr.Kirkland Stable (Ethel Kirkland)1:40.20
1974Quack5Donald PierceCharlie WhittinghamBwamazon Farm 1:40.20
1973Quack4Donald PierceCharlie WhittinghamBwamazon Farm 1:41.40
1972Cougar II6Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamMary F. Jones1:39.20
1971Cougar II5Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamMary F. Jones1:41.20
1970Baffle5Jerry LambertJohnny LongdenFrank M. McMahon1:40.20
1969Nodouble4Eddie BelmonteJ. Bert SonnierGene Goff1:40.40
1968Dr. Fager4Braulio BaezaJohn A. NerudWilliam L. McKnight1:40.80
1967Biggs7William HarmatzFarrell W. JonesE. F. Gould1:41.60
1966Travel Orb4 William HarmatzLeonard DorfmanFloyd Hughes1:41.80
1965Viking Spirit5Kenneth ChurchJames I. NazworthyThomas E. Brittingham III1:40.80
1964Mustard Plaster5 Jack LeonardWilliam A. PetersonMrs. Fraser Morrison1:41.60
1963Winonly6Jack LeonardJulius E. TinsleyFred W. Hooper1:41.80
1962Cadiz6William HarmatzRobert L. WheelerVicgray Farm1:41.60
1961First Balcony4Edward BurnsMelvin F. StuteM/M. Robert O. Schulze1:40.40
1960Fleet Nasrullah5 Johnny LongdenM/M. Ellwood B. Johnston1:40.60
1959Hillsdale4Tommy BarrowMartin L. Fallon Jr.Clarence Whitted Smith1:40.80
1958Seaneen4Johnny LongdenWilliam B. Finnegan1:41.00
1957Social Climber4Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamLlangollen Farm1:40.40
1956Porterhouse5 Ismael ValenzuelaLlangollen Farm1:40.80
1955Swaps3David ErbMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1:40.40
1954Imbros4Johnny LongdenWilliam MolterAndrew J. Crevolin1:41.00

References