The Cecil B. DeMille Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf track scheduled annually in November at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 11 November 1982 as the Hoist The Flag Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack and was won by Fifth Division who was trained by A. Thomas Doyle and ridden by the US Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. in a time of 1:35. The event was named in honor of Hoist The Flag, the 1970 US Champion Two-Year-Old Colt whose career was cut short due to injury as a three-year-old. Hoist The Flag was successful as a sire and as a broodmare sire, he was the leading juvenile sire in North America in 1981 and the leading broodmare sire in 1987.

In 1986 the event was classified as Grade III and in 1988 the event was upgraded to Grade II. However, the event that year was moved off the turf course and both divisions were held on the muddy dirt course. After one more running the event was downgraded back to Grade III in 1990.

In 1993 the event was renamed to the Generous Stakes after the Irish bred Generous who in a period of seven weeks in 1991 won the Epsom Derby by five lengths, the Irish Derby by three lengths and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes by a record seven lengths. In 2005 the event was not held because the newly planted Hollywood Park's turf course had failed to root properly.

The event has been run in split divisions six times, the last of which was in 2006.

With the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event was renamed in 2014 to the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes and moved to Del Mar Racetrack. The movie producer Cecil B. DeMille and movie stars often frequented Del Mar Racetrack in the 1930s and ’40s. His grandson, Joseph Harper has been in a management position at Del Mar since 1978 and became CEO of the track in 1990.

Records

Speed record: 1 mile: 1:34.28 - The Leopard (2007)

Margins: 9 lengths – Incurable Optimist (1998)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Henry Pabst (1991, 1992) 2 - Budget Stable (1997, 2015) 2 - Gary Barber (2010, 2011) 2 - Calumet Farm (2016, 2017)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Chris McCarron (1983, 1984, 1987, 1996, 1997)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 - Bob Baffert (2001, 2012, 2022)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Del Mar – Cecil B. DeMille Stakes2025Unrivaled Time Diego A. HerreraLeonard PowellInnergy Racing & Alfred Pais1 mile1:36.42$101,000III2024Clock Tower John R. Velazquez Wesley A. WardMrs. Fitriani Hay1 mile1:36.78$101,000III2023Stay Hot Antonio FresuPeter EurtonBurns Racing, Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing, The Estate of Brereton C. Jones & William Dan Hudock1 mile1:35.89$102,000III2022Speed Boat Beach Flavien PratBob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman 1 mile1:35.38$101,500III2021Verbal Jose OrtizChad BrownJuddmonte1 mile1:36.16$100,000III2020Beer Can Man Juan HernandezMark GlattLittle Red Feather Racing & Sterling Stable1 mile1:34.75$103,000III2019Smooth Like StraitGeovanni FrancoMichael W. McCarthyCannon Thoroughbreds1 mile1:36.02$102,808III2018Flying ScotsmanFlavien PratJerry HollendorferCalumet Farm1 mile1:34.44$100,000III2017Analyze ItJose L. OrtizChad BrownWilliam H. Lawrence1 mile1:35.05$102,070III2016Term of ArtJoseph TalamoDoug F. O'NeillCalumet Farm1 mile1:41.69$100,690III2015Dressed in HermesMike E. SmithJanet ArmstrongBudget Stable1 mile1:36.13$101,750III2014Conquest TyphoonMike E. SmithMark E. CasseConquest Stables1 mile1:36.25$150,750IIIAt Hollywood Park – Generous Stakes2013Global ViewJoseph TalamoThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm1 mile1:36.25$100,250III2012Den's LegacyGarrett K. GomezBob BaffertWestrock Stables1 mile1:36.32$100,000III2011Stoney FleeceJoel RosarioJohn W. SadlerCecil & Gary Barber 1 mile1:34.77$100,000III2010Comma to the TopCorey NakataniPeter L. MillerGary Barber, Roger Birnbaum & Kevin Tsujihara1 mile1:34.77$100,000III2009Who's UpVictor EspinozaKathy WalshM Racing1 mile1:34.39$100,000III2008Mr. RodChantal SutherlandDan L. Hendricks Cecil N. Peacock 1 mile1:35.04$109,300III2007The LeopardGarrett K. GomezTodd A. PletcherDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor 1 mile1:34.28$111,800III2006Warning ZoneCorey NakataniJohn W. SadlerRising Sun Racing Stable 1 mile1:36.59$75,000IIIIsaias D. EnriquezManuel F. MarquesTommy Town Thoroughbreds 1:36.04$75,0002005Race not held2004DubleoCorey NakataniTodd A. PletcherJames T. Scatuorchio, Jake Pletcher & Pete Wetterman1 mile1:37.21$100,000III2003Castledale (IRE)Julie KroneJeff MullinsFrank Lyons & Greg Knee 1 mile 1:35.43$100,000III2002§ Peace RulesVictor EspinozaRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann1 mile1:35.49$200,000III2001Mountain RageDavid R. FloresBob BaffertJacobs & Natalie Moss1 mile1:40.31$200,000III2000StartacAlex O. SolisSimon BrayAllen E. Paulson Trust1 mile1:34.76$200,000III1999JokermanPat DayNeil D. DrysdaleDavid & Jill Heerensperger1 mile1:35.23$200,000III1998Incurable OptimistJohn R. VelazquezDavid G. DonkJohn & Theresa Behrendt1 mile1:37.72$250,000III1997Mantles Star (GB)Chris McCarronKathy WalshBudget Stable1 mile1:36.73$250,000III1996Hello (IRE)Chris McCarronRon McAnallyAl & Saundra S. Kirkwood1 mile1:34.77$250,000III1995Old ChapelGary L. StevensJohn C. KimmelSherwood Stable & December Hill Farm1 mile1:35.11$250,000III1994Native RegentDave PennaDavid R. BellJohn A. Franks1 mile1:37.15$250,000III1993DelineatorRussell BazeFordell FierceRon Crockett1 mile1:34.73$250,000IIIHoist the Flag Stakes1992Alex O. SolisRichard J. CrossHenry Pabst1 mile1:34.73$250,000III1991Silver RayMartin A. PedrozaBrian A. MayberryAnn & Jerry Moss1 mile1:35.00$125,400IIIContested BidCorey NakataniMaurice ZilberHenry Pabst1:34.41$122,4001990Satis (FR)Corey BlackChristian DoumenLonimar Stables1 mile1:35.20$112,800III1989Single DawnAlex O. SolisRon McAnallyJack Kent Cooke 1 mile1:35.60$114,600II1988Music MerciGary L. StevensCraig Anthony LewisPendleton & Royal T Stable 1 mile1:36.40$98,450II Shipping TimeCorey BlackMelvin F. StuteI. S. Longo 1:37.20$98,4501987Purdue KingChris McCarronIrv GuineyJohn Valpredo 1 mile1:36.00$94,750III White MischiefJose A. SantosLeRoy JolleyPeter Brant1:35.80$112,6251986PerseveredGary L. StevensLaz BarreraEthel D. Jacobs miles1:41.80$113,050IIIƒ SweettucGary L. StevensNelson Bunker Hunt1:41.60$143,0501985Darby FairMelvin F. StuteGolden Eagle Farm 1 mile1:37.00$191,400 1984OvertrumpChris McCarronJerry M. FanningSinger & T 90 Ranch miles1:41.80$146,350 1983ArtichokeBill ShoemakerJerry M. FanningTom E. Gentry 1 mile1:38.80$93,800 PrecisionistChris McCarronFred W. Hooper1:37.60$83,9501982Fifth DivisionLaffit Pincay Jr.A. Thomas DoyleMr. & Mrs. Felty J. Yoder 1 mile1:35.60$53,450

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

ƒ Filly or Mare

† Off turf

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2020 Del Mar Media Guide

References