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Pick Pony | Nov. 25, 2024, 1:18 p.m.
Santa Anita Park will kick off its 90th year of premier Thoroughbred racing on Thursday, Dec. 26. The opening day will feature a stakes program that includes a race dedicated to Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. and a total of six graded stakes, highlighting three Grade I events.
The Grade II San Antonio Stakes, which Pincay won five times over three decades, will be renamed in honor of the legendary Panamanian jockey, considered one of the greatest riders in history. Pincay's first victory in San Antonio came in 1968 on Rising Market, during his inaugural full season at Santa Anita, and his final win occurred in 1989 with Super Diamond. He retired in 2003, holding a record of 9,530 wins, five Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey, and a Special Eclipse Award for his achievements achievements.
The Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes is part of an opening day card that features three Grade 1 races: the Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, the La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies also at seven furlongs, and the American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies covering 1 ¼ miles on turf. Additionally, there are two Grade II turf races: the San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles and the Mathis Mile.
Santa Anita’s Classic Meet kicks off on December 26, marking the beginning of 78 days of live racing at The Great Race Place. This Classic Meet spans 49 days and lasts until April 6, followed by the 29-day Hollywood Meet, which starts on April 18 and concludes on June 15. As part of an extensive stakes schedule totaling over $12 million, Santa Anita will present 79 added-money events across both the Classic and Hollywood Meets. Among these are 47 graded stakes, including nine Grade I events, with 21 hosted on Santa Anita’s esteemed Camino Real Turf Course.
The highlight of the Classic Meet is the 88th edition of the GI Santa Anita Derby and the GI Santa Anita Handicap. Scheduled for Saturday, April 5, the Santa Anita Derby boasts a purse of $500,000. Supporting stakes on Santa Anita Derby Day include the GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks, the GIII Monrovia Stakes, and the Echo Eddie and Evening Jewel, which are both for 3-year-old California-breds competing over a distance of 6 ½ furlongs dirt.
The 2025 Santa Anita Handicap, boasting a purse of $300,000, is scheduled for Saturday, March 1. Alongside this historic Big Cap, that day will also feature the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf, the G2 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, and the G2 Buena Vista for fillies and mares at a mile turf.
Although the purses for the track’s two main races were reduced, the purses for overnight races are higher than those offered last spring and autumn. In fact, four allowance and maiden races have seen increases of over 10% percent.
Recognizing the importance of California-bred and sired runners to the Southern California racing scene, Santa Anita will host 14 stakes exclusively for these horses. Five of these will take place on California Cup Day, January 11, and again on California Gold Rush Day on May 24.
The centerpiece of the Hollywood Meet comes on Memorial Day, May 26. On this day, Santa Anita will feature the GI Shoemaker Mile on turf, the GI Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the GII Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 ¼ miles dirt.
Putting a bow on the Hollywood Meet on June 15 will be Santa Anita’s longstanding closing-day feature, the GIII San Juan Capistrano Stakes. This will be the 86th running of the about 1 ¾-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up.
Santa Anita’s complete 2024-25 Classic Meet and Hollywood Meet Stakes Schedule is available at https://www.santaanita.com/racing-information/stakes/2024-12-26/. In addition to the track’s website, fans can get additional information by calling (626) 574-RACE.
Malibu Stakes (Gr.I), 3 YO, 7 F - $300,000
La Brea Stakes presented by Don Julio (Gr.I), F, 3 YO, 7 F - $300,000
American Oaks Stakes (Gr I) , F, 3 YO, 10 F (T) - $300,000
San Gabriel Stakes (Gr II), 3 & UP, 9 F (T) - $200,000
Laffit Pincay, Jr. Stakes (Gr II), 3 & UP, 8 1/2 F - $200,000
Mathis Mile (Gr II), 3 YO, 8 F (T) - $200,000
Robert J. Frankel Stakes (Gr III), F/M, 3 & UP, 9 F (T) - $100,000
Joe Hernandez Stakes (Gr II), 3 & UP, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $200,000
Blue Norther Stakes (L), F, 2 YO, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Eddie Logan Stakes (L), 2 YO, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Las Flores Stakes (Gr III), F/M, 4 & UP, 6 F - $100,000
San Vincente Stakes (Gr II), 3 YO, 7 F - $200,000
Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez Stakes (Gr III), F, 3 YO, 7 F - $100,000
California Cup Derby (CA), 3 YO, 8 1/2 F - $175,000
Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks (CA), F, 3 YO, 8 F (T) - $175,000
Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint (CA), 4 & UP, 6 F - $125,000
Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank (CA), 4 & UP, 9 F (T) - $175,000
Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint presented by John Deere (CA), F/M, 4 & UP, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $125,000
Las Cienegas Stakes (Gr III), F/M, 4 & UP, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
La Canada Stakes (Gr III), F/M, 4 & UP, 8 1/2 F - $100,000
San Pasqual Stakes (Gr II), 4 & UP, 9 F - $200,000
Clocker's Corner Stakes (R), 4 & UP, 6 F (T) - $100,000
Santa Monica Stakes (Gr II), F/M, 4 & UP, 7 F - $200,000
Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Gr III), 3 YO, 8 F - $200,000
Thunder Road Stakes (Gr III), 4 & UP, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Megahertz Stakes (Gr III), F/M, 4 & UP, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes (Gr III), F, 3 YO, 8 F - $100,000
San Marcos Stakes (Gr III), 4 & UP, 10 F (T) - $100,000
Sweet Life Stakes (L), F, 3 YO, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
Palos Verdes Stakes (Gr III), 4 & UP, 6 F - $100,000
Baffle Stakes, 3 YO, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
Wishing Well Stakes (R), F/M, 4 & UP, 6 F (T) - $100,000
Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (Gr I), 4 & UP, 10 F - $300,000
Frank E. Kilroe Mile (Gr 1), 4 & UP, 8 F (T) - $300,000
DK Horse San Felipe (Gr II), 3 YO, 8 1/2 F - $300,000
Buena Vista Stakes (Gr II), F/M, 4 & UP, 8 F (T) - $200,000
Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel Stakes (Gr III), F, 3 YO, 8 1/2 F - $100,000
B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile (Gr I), F/M, 4 & UP, 8 F - $300,000
San Simeon Stakes (Gr III), 4 & UP, *6 1/2 F (T) - $100,000
Pasadena Stakes, 3 YO, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Santa Ana Stakes (Gr III), F/M, 4 & UP, 10 F (T) - $100,000
Irish O'Brien Stakes (CA), F/M, 4 & UP, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
San Luis Rey Stakes (Gr III), 4 & UP, 12 F (T) - $100,000
China Doll Stakes (L), F, 3 YO, 8 F (T) - $100,000
San Carlos Stakes (Gr III), 4 & UP, 7 F - $100,000
Wilshire Stakes (Gr III), F/M, 4 & UP, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Sensational Star Stakes (CA), 4 & UP, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
Santa Anita Derby (Gr I), 3 YO, 9 F - $500,000
Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks (Gr II), F, 3 YO, 8 1/2 F - $200,000
Monrovia Stakes presented by Ketel One (Gr III), F/M, 4 & UP, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
Echo Eddie Stakes (CA), 3 YO, 6 1/2 F - $125,000
Evening Jewel Stakes (CA), F, 3 YO, 6 1/2 F - $125,000
John Shear Stakes, 3 YO, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
Santa Maria Stakes (Gr II), F/M, 4 & UP, 8 1/2 F - $200,000
American Stakes (Gr III), 4 & UP, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Royal Heroine Stakes (Gr III), F/M, 4 & UP, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Senorita Stakes (Gr III), F, 3 YO, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
Charles Whittingham Stakes (Gr II), 4 & UP, 10 F (T) - $200,000
Santa Barbara Stakes (L), F/M, 4 & UP, 12 F (T) - $100,000
Siren Lure Stakes (L), 4 & UP, 6 F (T) - $100,000
Cinema Stakes, 3 YO, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Mizdirection Stakes (L), F/M, 4 & UP, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
Honeymoon Stakes (Gr III), F, 3 YO, 9 F (T) - $100,000
Snow Chief Stakes presented by City National Bank (CA), 3 YO, 9 F (T) - $125,000
Melair Stakes (CA), F, 3 YO, 8 1/2 F - $125,000
Thor's Echo Stakes (CA), 3 & UP, 6 F - $100,000
Crystal Water Stakes (CA), 3 & UP, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Fran's Valentine Stakes (CA), F/M, 3 & UP, 8 F (T) - $100,000
Santa Margarita Stakes (Gr II), F/M, 3 & UP, 9 F - $200,000
Shoemaker Mile (Gr I), 3 & UP, 8 F (T) - $300,000
Gamely Stakes (Gr I), F/M, 3 & UP, 9 F (T) - $300,000
Hollywood Gold Cup (Gr II), 3 & UP, 10 F - $200,000
Triple Bend Stakes (Gr II), 3 & UP, 7 F - $200,000
Desert Stormer Stakes (L), F/M, 3 & UP, 6 F - $100,000
Summertime Oaks Stakes (Gr II), F, 3 YO, 8 1/2 F - $200,000
Affirmed Stakes (L), 3 YO, 8 1/2 F - $100,000
Daytona Stakes (Gr III), 3 & UP, *6 1/2 F (TH) - $100,000
Possibly Perfect Stakes (L), F/M, 3 & UP, 10 F (T) - $100,000
San Juan Capistrano Stakes (Gr III), 3 & UP, *14 F(T) - $100,000