Santa Anita Oaks
Grade II race
LocationSanta Anita Park
Arcadia, California, USA
Inaugurated1935
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.santaanita.com
Race information
Distance8.5 furlongs (1+1⁄16 miles)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
Weight122 lbs.
Purse$200,000 (2020)

Santa Anita Oaks is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies willing to race 8.5 furlongs (1+1⁄16 miles) on the dirt. The race is a Grade II event with a current purse of $200,000 and has been a prep race to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, including the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes.

Inaugurated in 1935 as a race for two-year-olds, it originated as the Santa Susana Stakes. In 1952 the race became the Santa Susana Handicap then in 1958 reverted to the Santa Susana Stakes. In 1986 it was given its current designation as the Santa Anita Oaks. In 2020 the event was downgraded to Grade II.

Since inception, the race has been set at various distances:

Records

Stakes Record

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners of the Santa Anita Oaks since 1975

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Grade
2023 Faiza 3 Flavien Prat Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.27 II
2022 Desert Dawn 3 Umberto Rispoli Philip D'Amato H & E Ranch 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.50 II
2021 Soothsay 3 Flavien Prat Richard Mandella Claiborne Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.35 II
2020 Swiss Skydiver 3 Mike Smith Kenneth McPeek Peter J. Callahan 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.20 II
2019 Bellafina 3 Flavien Prat Simon Callaghan Kaleem Shah 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.47 I
2018 Midnight Bisou 3 Mike E. Smith William Spawr Allen Racing LLC and Bloom Racing Stable LLC 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.79 I
2017 Paradise Woods 3 Flavien Prat Richard Mandella Sarkowsky, Steven, Wygod, Martin J. and Wygod, Pam 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.53 I
2016 Songbird 3 Mike E. Smith Jerry Hollendorfer Fox Hill Farms 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.14 I
2015 Stellar Wind 3 Victor Espinoza John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.26 I
2014 Fashion Plate 3 Gary Stevens Simon Callaghan Zetcher/Tabor 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.97 I
2013 Beholder 3 Garrett K. Gomez Richard E. Mandella Spendthrift Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.16 I
2012 Willa B Awesome 3 Martin Pedroza Walther Solis Phil Daniels 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.47 I
2011 Turbulent Descent 3 David Flores Mike Puype Blinkers On Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.05 I
2010 Crisp 3 Joel Rosario John W. Sadler Michael Talla 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.50 I
2009 Stardom Bound 3 Mike E. Smith Robert J. Frankel IEAH Stables 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.62 I
2008 Ariege 3 Corey Nakatani Robert J. Frankel IEAH Stables/Pegasus Group 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.73 I
2007 Rags to Riches 3 Garrett Gomez Todd Pletcher M.Tabor & D. Smith 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.84 I
2006 Balance 3 Victor Espinoza David Hofmans Amerman Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.99 I
2005 Sweet Catomine 3 Corey Nakatani Julio C. Canani Pam & Martin Wygod 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.44 I
2004 Silent Sighs 3 David R. Flores Julio C. Canani Pam & Martin Wygod 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.84 I
2003 Composure 3 Jerry Bailey Bob Baffert Robert & Beverly Lewis 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.34 I
2002 You 3 Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.70 I
2001 Golden Ballet 3 Chris McCarron Jenine Sahadi Team Valor/Heiligbrodt Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.83 I
2000 Surfside 3 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.03 I
1999 Excellent Meeting 3 David R. Flores Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.26 I
1998 Hedonist 3 Kent Desormeaux Randy Bradshaw Siegel family 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.14 I
1997 Sharp Cat 3 Corey Nakatani D. Wayne Lukas The Thoroughbred Corp. 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.22 I
1996 Antespend 3 Chris Antley Ronald McAnally Jack Kent Cooke 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.04 I
1995 Serena's Song 3 Corey Nakatani D. Wayne Lukas Robert & Beverly Lewis 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.71 I
1994 Lakeway 3 Kent Desormeaux Gary F. Jones Michael G. Rutherford 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.66 I
1993 Eliza 3 Pat Valenzuela Alex Hassinger, Jr. Allen E. Paulson 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.97 I
1992 Golden Treat 3 Kent Desormeaux Richard Mandella Golden Eagle Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.37 I
1991 Lite Light 3 Corey Nakatani Henry Moreno Oaktown Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.40 I
1990 Hail Atlantis 3 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Tayhill Stables 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.00 I
1989 Imaginary Lady 3 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas French, Jr. & Lukas 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.40 I
1988 Winning Colors 3 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.00 I
1987 Timely Assertion 3 Gary Stevens Henry Moreno Wichita Equine, Inc. 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.60 I
1986 Hidden Light 3 Bill Shoemaker Charlie Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.40 I
1985 Fran's Valentine 3 Pat Valenzuela Joseph Manzi Green Thumb Farm Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.40 I
1984 Althea 3 Laffit Pincay, Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Aykroyd, Alexander & Groves 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.60 I
1983 Fabulous Notion 3 Donald R. Pierce James Jordan Pine Meadow Thoroughbreds 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.60 I
1982 Blush With Pride 3 Bill Shoemaker D. Wayne Lukas Stonereath Farms 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.80 I
1981 Nell's Briquette 3 Bill Shoemaker Jack Van Berg Triple L. Stables 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.80 I
1980 Bold 'n Determined 3 Eddie Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Saron Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.20 I
1979 Caline 3 Bill Shoemaker Laz Barrera Oatlands Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.60 I
1978 Grenzen 3 Darrel McHargue Lorren Rettele Woolsey,Schaffer & Delaplaine 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.80 II
1977 Sound of Summer 3 Fernando Toro Tom Pratt Busching & Bernstein 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.20 II
1976 Girl in Love 3 Fernando Toro Vincent Clyne Elmendorf Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.20 II
1975 Sarsar 3 Bill Shoemaker David A. Whiteley William H. Perry 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.80 II

Earlier winners

† In 1951, Sweet Talk won the race but was disqualified and placed third.

See also

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