The Rancho Bernardo Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

History

The event named after the master-planned community community Rancho Bernardo, San Diego located about 25 miles from Del Mar, was inaugurated on 14 October 1967 during the then Del Mar Fall meeting and held in split divisions for three-year-olds and older, and was run over a distance of one mile on the dirt track. The event was idle for five years and was resurrected in 1973 again in split divisions for three-year-olds and older, but this time on the grass track over miles.

In 1974 the event was shortened to 6 furlongs and conditions were for fillies and mares three-years-old and older.

In 1986 the distance for the event was increased to furlongs which is the current distance.

In 1988 the event was classified as a Grade III race.

In 1997 the John W. Sadler trained Track Gal won the event for the third time straight.

Between 1990 and 1995 the race had Breeders' Cup incentives which reflected in the name of the event. As of 2008, it is a Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" event, qualifying the winner to run in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The event has showcased some female sprinters that have gone on to capture Breeders' Cup events. Of these mares, the 1995 winner Desert Stormer went onto win the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Belmont Park defeating males. The 2014 winner Judy the Beauty went on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and was crowned US Champion Female Sprint Horse that year.

Records Speed record: furlongs: 1:14.20 - Track Gal (1995) 6 furlongs: 1:08.60 - Impressive Style (1974), Great Lady M. (1980), Lucky Lady Ellen (1982), Pleasure Cay (1984)

Margins: 7 lengths - Sweet Azteca (2024)

Most wins: 3 - Track Gal (1995, 1996, 1997) 3 - Sweet Azteca (2024, 2025, 2026)

Most wins by a jockey: 9 - Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000) 8 - Chris McCarron (1978, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)

Most wins by a trainer: 7 - John W. Sadler (1995, 1996, 1997, 2008, 2018, 2021, 2022)

Most wins by an owner: 3 - William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps (1995, 1996, 1997) 3 - Hronis Racing (2018, 2021, 2022) 3 - Pamela C. Ziebarth (2024, 2025, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Sweet Azteca6Juan J. HernandezRichard BaltasPamela C. Ziebarth furlongs1:16.51$100,000III2025Sweet Azteca 5Juan J. Hernandez Richard Baltas Pamela C. Ziebarth furlongs1:15.44$98,000III2024Sweet Azteca 4Flavien Prat Pamela C. Ziebarth furlongs1:15.60$100,500III2023Eda 4Juan J. HernandezBob Baffert Baoma Corp furlongs1:16.49$126,000III2022Edgeway 5Juan J. HernandezJohn W. Sadler Hronis Racing furlongs1:15.97$150,000III2021Edgeway 4Joe BravoJohn W. Sadler Hronis Racing furlongs1:16.80$98,000III2020Sneaking Out 4Umberto RispoliJerry Hollendorfer KMN Racing furlongs1:15.57$101,500III2019Danuska's My Girl 5Geovanni FrancoJerry Hollendorfer Bad Boy Racing furlongs1:17.13$101,404III2018Yuvetsi 4Tyler BazeJohn W. Sadler Hronis Racing furlongs1:17.22$98,000III2017Skye Diamonds 4William Spawr Allen Racing, Bloom Racing Stables, Tom Acker & John Lindo furlongs1:16.35$100,000III2016Tara's Tango 4Martin GarciaJerry Hollendorfer Stonestreet Stables furlongs1:15.60$100,345III2015Taris 4Gary L. StevensSimon Callaghan Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith furlongs1:15.31$100,500III2014Judy the Beauty 5Mike E. SmithWesley A. WardWesley A. Ward furlongs1:15.63$147,000III2013Reneesgotzip 4Garrett K. GomezPeter L. Miller Lanni Family Trust furlongs1:14.48$150,000III2012Winding Way 3Rafael BejaranoCarla Gaines Spendthrift Farm furlongs1:15.93$150,000III2011Tanda 4Joseph TalamoMike R. Mitchell Tommy Hutton's Dream Stable furlongs1:15.34$147,000III2010 5Victor EspinozaBrian J. Koriner Legacy Ranch & Team MacPherson furlongs1:16.40$150,000III2009Carlsbad 3Tyler BazeJeff Mullins Dennis E. Weir furlongs1:14.93$200,000III2008Dearest Trickski 4Mike E. SmithJohn W. Sadler Tom Mankiewicz furlongs1:15.17$200,000III2007River's Prayer 4Clinton L. PottsPaula S. Capestro Bantry Farms, Paula S. Capestro & Martin Racing Stable furlongs1:17.85$200,000III2006Behaving Badly 5Victor EspinozaBob BaffertPatti & Hal J. Earnhardt III furlongs1:15.04$200,000III2005Behaving Badly 4Victor EspinozaBob BaffertPatti & Hal J. Earnhardt III furlongs1:15.32$150,000III2004Dream of Summer 5Mike E. SmithJuan J. Garcia James Weigel furlongs1:15.85$150,000III2003Secret Liaison 5Corey NakataniTed H. West Desperado Stables furlongs1:15.53$150,000III2002Kalookan Queen 6Alex O. SolisBruce Headley Luis A. Asistio furlongs1:16.40$150,000III2001Kalookan Queen 5Alex O. SolisBruce Headley Luis A. Asistio furlongs1:15.52$150,000III2000Theresa's Tizzy 6Laffit Pincay Jr.Noble Threewitt Bellestri, Johnson, Leach, et al furlongs1:16.23$150,000III1999Enjoy the Moment 4David R. FloresWilliam Spawr Farfellow Farm furlongs1:15.97$150,000III1998Advancing Star 5Chris McCarron Golden Eagle Farm furlongs1:14.64$106,900III1997Track Gal 6Gary L. StevensJohn W. Sadler William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps furlongs1:15.64$109,125III1996Track Gal 5Chris McCarronJohn W. Sadler William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps furlongs1:14.64$103,550III1995Track Gal 4Chris McCarronJohn W. Sadler William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps furlongs1:14.28$103,025III1994Desert Stormer 4Fabio Nor Joanne H. Nor furlongs1:14.81$107,800III1993Knight Prospector 4Kent J. Desormeaux Gaswirth & Mirage Stable furlongs1:16.40$88,800 III1992Bountiful Native 4Pat ValenzuelaDan L. Hendricks Mr. & Mrs. Martin J. Wygod furlongs1:15.30$106,525III1991Cascading Gold 5Laffit Pincay Jr.Neil D. Drysdale Morven Stud Farm furlongs1:15.42$94,475III1990Hot Novel 4Kent J. DesormeauxFabio Nor Joanne H. Nor furlongs1:14.60$107,875III1989Kool Arrival 3Laffit Pincay Jr.Melvin F. Stute Pete Valenti, John Coelho, & Philip Fields furlongs1:15.20$81,375III1988Clabber Girl 5Laffit Pincay Jr.D. Wayne Lukas John A. Nerud furlongs1:14.60$65,750III1987Julie the Flapper 3Chris McCarronD. Wayne Lukas Calumet Farm furlongs1:15.00$55,700 1986Bold N Special 3Chris McCarronD. Wayne Lukas Patricia A. & Cleber J. Massey furlongs1:14.60$53,350 1985Take My Picture 3Frank OlivaresGary J. Lewis L. G. & Helen Rhodes6 furlongs1:09.20$55,700 1984Pleasure Cay 4Laffit Pincay Jr.Neil D. Drysdale William S. Kilroy6 furlongs1:08.60$54,750 1983Bara Lass 4Chris McCarronD. Wayne Lukas Sam Edward Stevens6 furlongs1:09.40$54,300 1982Lucky Lady Ellen 3Laffit Pincay Jr.D. Wayne Lukas Cloyce Box6 furlongs1:08.60$54,350 1981Forluvofiv 4Eddie DelahoussayeKarl Pew Amy’s Racing Stable, Karl Pew & Tom Stadel 6 furlongs1:09.40$53,900 1980Great Lady M. 5Laffit Pincay Jr.D. Wayne Lukas Robert H. Spreen6 furlongs1:08.60$43,800 1979Fantastic Girl 3Bill ShoemakerGary F. Jones Golden Eagle Farm6 furlongs1:09.20$38,500 1978Happy Holme 4Chris McCarronWarren Stute Indian Hill Stable6 furlongs1:13.00$31,700 1977Lullaby Song 4Laffit Pincay Jr.Roger E. Clapp Mrs. Connie M. Ring6 furlongs1:09.00$27,800 1976Mama Kali 5Laffit Pincay Jr.David E. Hofmans Pearson’s Barn6 furlongs1:09.20$27,650 1975Mama Kali 4Jerry LambertDavid E. Hofmans Pearson’s Barn6 furlongs1:09.20$28,300 1974Impressive Style 4Rudy RosalesBill McCormick Johnston & Johnston6 furlongs1:08.60$27,550 1973Fairly Certain 4Steve ValdezTheodore SaladinAda L. Martin miles1:42.80$17,150Dollar Discount 4Steve ValdezTheodore SaladinAda L. Martin miles1:43.20$16,550D. B. Carm 4Fernando ToroSid MartinMr. & Mrs. S. N. Simmons1968–1972Race not held1967Sharp Decline 5Raymond BiancoCurt N. SundlieW. H. Cook1 mile1:33.80$13,250 Quicken Tree 4Bill HartackClyde TurkLouis R. Rowan & Wheelock Whitney, Jr.1:35.20$13,325

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2020 Del Mar Media Guide

References