San Francisco Mile Stakes

The San Francisco Mile Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the turf held annually in April at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, California.

History

The race was inaugurated on 2 October 1948 as the Golden Gate Mile and held on the dirt track. The event was won by Prevaricator who was entered as an entry with the 1948 American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse Shannon II in equal world record time of 1:34 equaling Equipoise record from 1932.

Two years later in 1950, Triple Crown champion Citation confirmed his greatness with a world record performance in winning the event by of a length over Bolero in 1:33 breaking stablemate Coaltown's world record from the previous year. The 1955 event was won by the 1954 Kentucky Derby winner Determine, who won by a neck defeating Santa Anita Handicap winners Rejected and Irish bred Poona II who finished second in a dead heat. The brilliant Californian horse Native Diver raced in the event four times winning it twice in 1963 and 1967 as an eight-year-old.

In 1956, the event was renamed to the San Francisco Mile Handicap

The event was run on the turf in 1953 but was not regularly scheduled again until 1972.

The event was classified as a Grade III in 1987 and a Grade II between 1994–2010.

The only mare to win this event was the French-bred mare Tuzla in 1999.

Between 2001 and 2005 the event was held at Bay Meadows Racetrack. Since the 2006 the event has been run as San Francisco Mile Stakes. Between 1999 and 2006 the event had additional Breeders' Cup incentives.

The event has been split into divisions four times - 1964, 1966, 1972, 1984.

Records

Speed record: 1 mile (turf) – 1:33.40 Don Alberto (1980) 1 mile (dirt) – 1:33.60 Citation (1950)

Margin 6 lengths Gamin (ARG) (1966)

Most wins 2 – Battle Ground (1957, 1958) 2 – Native Diver (1963, 1967) 2 – Alert Bay (2016, 2017)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Ralph Neves (1952, 1956, 1964) 3 – Bill Shoemaker (1953, 1960, 1963)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Julio C. Canani (1989, 1990, 1999, 2000, 2006)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Golden Gate Fields – San Francisco Mile Stakes2024Lammas (GB)7Irving OrozcoManuel BadillaRonald L. Charles & Samuel Gordon 1 mile1:34.30$177,700III2023Balnikhov (IRE)5Umberto RispoliPhilip D'AmatoLittle Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables & Old Bones Racing Stable 1 mile1:36.21$251,800III2022Evening Sun (GB)5Brice BlancJeff MullinsRed Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal 1 mile1:35.36$254,050III2021Whisper Not (GB)4Geovanni GeovanniRichard BaltasElectric City Racing, Madaket Stables, Christopher T. Dunn & Jeremy Peskoff1 mile1:35.94$251,350III2020Neptune's Storm 4Richard BaltasCYBT, Saul Gevertz, Lynn Gitomer, Mike Goetz, Michael Nentwig, Daniel Weiner 1 mile1:35.50$251,350III2019Blitzkrieg4Rafael BejaranoDoug F. O'NeillR3 Racing, Calara Farms & Steve Rothblum1 mile1:35.56$251,500III2018Flamboyant (FR)7Julien CoutonPatrick GallagherDavid Bienstock & Charles Winner 1 mile1:36.15$201,575III2017Alert Bay6Juan J. HernandezBlaine D. WrightPeter Redekop1 mile1:35.12$100,225III2016Alert Bay5Tyler BazeBlaine D. WrightPeter Redekop1 mile1:36.39$101,800III2015G. G. Ryder4Ricardo GonzalezJerry HollendorferJerry Hollendorfer & George Todaro1 mile1:37.87$100,315III2014Pepper Crown4Abel CedilloAlex PaszkeiczAlexander A. Paszkeicz Living Trust1 mile1:36.90$100,315III2013Tigah (GB)5Alonso QuinonezJohn W. SadlerKarnel Jawl1 mile1:36.64$100,000III2012Hudson Landing5Juan J. HernandezBlaine D. WrightChappell Alpine Farms1 mile1:37.29$150,000III2011Our Nautique (NZ)6Kevin KriggerJerry HollendorferJerry Hollendorfer & Rob Tunnicliffe 1 mile1:35.70$100,000III2010Bold Chieftain7Russell BazeWilliam J. Morey Jr.Dwaine Hall, Langbein Trust, W. J. Morey Jr., Trust UTA et al.1 mile1:35.21$150,000II20095Julio A. GarciaJack CaravaLa Canada Stables1 mile1:36.07$300,000II2008Race not held2007Chinese Dragon5Mike E. SmithRobert B. Hess Jr.Michael Carter, Richard T. Hale Jr., Roncelli Family Trust, et al.1 mile1:35.81$300,000II2006Charmo (FR)5Martin A. PedrozaJulio C. CananiDavid S. Milch1 mile1:34.28$330,000IIAt Bay Meadows – San Francisco Mile Handicap2005Castledale (IRE)4René R. DouglasJeff MullinsFrank Lyons & Greg Knee1 mile1:37.40$111,250II2004Singletary4Jose Valdivia Jr.Don ChatlosLittle Red Feather Racing1 mile1:35.16$148,750II2003Ninebanks5Ronald J. Warren Jr.Jerry HollendorferPeter Abruzzo1 mile1:37.20$177,500II2002Suances (GB)5David R. FloresDarrell ViennaJed Cohen1 mile1:35.19$216,250II2001Redattore (BRZ)6Jason P. LumpkinsRichard E. MandellaLuis Alfredo Taunay1 mile1:35.14$263,750IIAt Golden Gate Fields2000Ladies Din5Kent J. DesormeauxJulio C. CananiJ. Terrance Lanni & Bernard C. Schiappa 1 mile1:35.04$270,000II1999† Tuzla (FR)5Brice BlancJulio C. CananiDavid S. Milch1 mile1:35.46$294,000 II1998Hawksley Hill (IRE)5Gary L. StevensNeil D. DrysdaleDavid & Jill Heerensperger1 mile1:34.20$200,000II1997Wavy Run (IRE)6Brice BlancDarrell ViennaRed Baron's Barn, No Problem Stable, Cohen et al.1 mile1:37.11$200,000II1996Gold and Steel (FR)4Alex O. SolisBen D. A. CecilGary A. Tanaka1 mile1:35.07$200,000II1995Unfinished Symph4Chris AntleyWesley A. WardNancy Rice, Terry Hatcher & Joe Johnston1 mile1:34.14$200,000II1994Gothland (FR)5Corey NakataniWallace DollaseHorizon Stable, Kadin & Webber1 mile1:35.46$200,000II1993Norwich (GB)6Kent J. DesormeauxGary F. JonesDarley Stud1 mile1:35.57$250,000III1992Tight Spot5Laffit Pincay Jr.Ron McAnallyVerne Winchell, Anderson, Whitham et al.1 mile1:35.57$200,000III1991Forty Niner Days4Timothy T. DoocyRoger M. SteinSidney Field1 mile1:38.80$200,000III1990Colway Rally (GB)6Corey BlackJulio C. CananiClover Racing Stable, Alexander, Brittan et al.1 mile1:35.80$200,000III1989Patchy Groundfog6Frank OlivaresJulio C. CananiDavid Sofre1 mile1:38.20$150,000III1988Ifrad6Sidney L. Port & Charles E. Whittingham1 mile1:36.40$150,000III1987Dormello (ARG)4Antonio L. DiazRon McAnallyAllen E. Paulson1 mile1:36.20$150,000III 1986Hail Bold King5Marco CastanedaCharles E. WhittinghamDue Process Stable 1 mile1:36.40$117,200Listed1985Truce Maker7Julio A. GarciaGreer Garson & Buddy Fogelson1 mile1:35.20$114,500 Listed1984Drumalis (IRE)4Darrell ViennaW. Gumpert, Duggan & Kennedy1 mile1:35.60$65,775 Listed§ Icehot4Marco CastanedaRon McAnallyAllen E. Paulson1 mile1:35.40$56,755 Listed1983King's County (IRE)4Enrique MunozJohn SullivanRalph Williams1 mile1:37.60$80,450 Listed1982Silveyville4Debbie WinickEmmett L. CampbellKjell Qvale1 mile1:36.80$84,800Listed1981Opus Dei (FR)6Frank OlivaresRichard E. MandellaHastings Harcourt & Murty Farm 1 mile1:34.80$68,850 1980Don Alberto5Roberto M. GonzalezDoug UtleyGrinzewitsch & Lera 1 mile1:33.40$55,800 1979Struttin' George5Thomas M. ChapmanC. B. HixonAlmaden Ranch 1 mile1:37.40$55,450 1978Jumping Hill6Jerry LambertJohn H. AdamsEl Peco Ranch (George A. Pope Jr.)1 mile1:38.40$55,000 1977Crafty Native4M. JamesRichard M. FullerRobert L. Mead 1 mile1:38.40$40,000 1976Race not held1975Whoa Boy4Gary BazeKathy WalshPasky Dedominico 1 mile1:39.00$31,600 1974Visualizer4Francisco MenaJack PhillipsFred W. Hooper1 mile1:38.00$35,900 1973New Prospect4Johnny SellersFarrell W. JonesFarrell W. Jones, Albert Sultan et al.1 mile1:43.20$36,150 1972Imaginative6William MahorneyEarl BryantMr. & Mrs. Brian Johnston1 mile1:36.40$21,850 Panzer Chief (NZ)5Victor TejadaWayne B. StuckiJ. Kel Housells Sr.1 mile1:36.20$21,725 1971Figonero (ARG)6Álvaro PinedaWarren R. StuteClement L. Hirsch1 mile1:34.60$25,000 1970Field Master6Mario ValenzuelaJ. BattiesJ. Harold Seley1 mile1:37.80$27,950 1969Wingover6Raul CespedesHurst PhilpotHelen L. Kenaston1 mile1:37.80$27,200 1968Bi G.6Ricardo PenicheWayne BranchReginald Dillabogh1 mile1:37.00$27,300 1967Native Diver8Jerry LambertBuster MillerickMr. & Mrs Louis K. Shapiro1 mile1:35.20$16,250 1966Lush Life6Estiban MedinaCecil JollyDouble HJ Stable1 mile1:34.20$10,650 Gamin (ARG)6Álvaro PinedaWarren R. StuteKerr Stable1 mile1:34.40$10,4501965Viking Spirit5Kenneth ChurchJames I. NazworthyThomas E. Brittingham III Estate1 mile1:36.80$15,875 1964Switchback 5Ralph NevesCharles A. ComiskeySky Blue Stables1 mile1:35.40$12,500 Mustard Plaster5 Dean HallWilliam A. PetersonMr. & Mrs. Fraser Morrison1 mile1:34.80$12,5001963Native Diver4Bill ShoemakerBuster MillerickMr. & Mrs Louis K. Shapiro1 mile1:35.20$15,950 1962Chase Eddie5Johnny LongdenRoy J. SwensonMrs. Roy Swenson1 mile1:36:20$10,750 1961Sea Orbit4 Angel ValenzuelaBuster MillerickWonder Y Ranch1 mile1:36.60$10,850 1960Race not held1959The Searcher5Bill ShoemakerTheodore B. SaladinMr. & Mrs. Bert W. Martin1 mile1:35.20$16,350 1958Battle Dance6Henry MorenoJoe BoyceFrankie & W. Hughes1 mile1:37.40$26,850 1957Battle Dance5Henry MorenoJoe BoyceFrankie & W. Hughes1 mile1:35.00$16,025 1956Arrogate4Ralph NevesReggie CornellMr. & Mrs. Richard Griegorian1 mile1:34.80$26,750 Golden Gate Mile1955§ Determine4 Raymond York William Molter Andrew J. Crevolin1 mile1:38.00$52,325 1954Golden Abbey4Jack WestropeReggie CornellWilliam W. Naylor & Owl Stables1 mile1:35.00$16,300 1953‡ Goose Khal4Bill ShoemakerWilliam F. AlvaradoHarry Brown1 mile1:36.40$28,100 1952Lights Up4Ralph NevesHack RossClifton H. Jones & Sons1 mile1:35.60$29,450 1951 Pension Plan4Ray YorkGeorge MayberryConnie M. Ring1 mile1:38:20$11,425 1950 Citation5Steve BrooksHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1 mile1:33.60$22,950 1949 Dinner Gong4Jack WestropeFrank E. ChildsAbe Hirschberg1 mile1:36.00$17,940 1948§ Prevaricator5Johnny LongdenWilliam MolterEarl O. Stice & Sons1 mile1:34.40$17,640

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as part of an entry

† Filly or Mare

‡ Fleet Bird was disqualified and placed 3rd for interference. Goose Khan was promoted to first place.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References