The Sweet Life Stakes is a listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old fillies over the distance of about six and one-half furlongs on the downhill turf course scheduled annually in February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History The race was inaugurated in 2010 and was raced on the downhill turf course over the about furlongs distance.
The event is named in honor of the 2009 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Sweet Life. Sweet Life was the dam of 2004 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Sweet Catomine and 2009 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Life Is Sweet. Also Sweet Life was victorious in the 1999 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
In 2019 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event but was run on the dirt track due to inclement weather.
In 2020 the event was run at a distance of furlongs on turf, using the backstretch start and in 2021 the distance was increased to six furlongs. In 2022 the event was scheduled on the original downhill turf course at the about six and one-half furlongs distance.
In 2023 the American Graded Stakes Committee downgraded the event to a Listed race.
Records Speed record: about furlongs – 1:12.00 – Rose Catherine (2010)
Margins: lengths – Rose Catherine (2010)
Most wins by a jockey 2 – Rafael Bejarano (2013, 2014)
Most wins by a trainer 3 – Peter L. Miller (2014, 2018, 2020)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - Gary Barber (2018, 2020)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2025 Casalu Flavien Prat Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman abt. furlongs1:12.90$102,000Listed2024 Antifona (FR) Hector Berrios John W. SadlerHronis Racing abt. furlongs1:12.91$103,000Listed2023 Frankie Dettori Michael McCarthyEclipse Thoroughbred Partners abt. furlongs1:14.08$102,500Listed2022 Ouraika (FR) Juan Hernandez H. Graham Motion Madaket Stables & Michael Dubb abt. furlongs 1:13.98$102,500III2021 Going Global (IRE) Flavien Prat Philip D'Amato CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano 6 furlongs 1:07.68$103,500III2020 Laura's Light Abel Cedillo Peter L. Miller Gary Barber furlongs 1:02.90$101,000III2019 Apache Princess Kent J. Desormeaux KMN Racing furlongs 1:16.82$100,000III2018 War Heroine Tyler Baze Peter L. Miller Gary Barber abt. furlongs 1:12.86$83,415 Listed 2017 Miss Sunset Jeffrey L. Bonde Alan P. Klein & Phillip Lebherz abt. furlongs 1:13.09$91,935 Listed 2016 Swift Lady Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Baoma Corporation abt. furlongs 1:13.04$79,080 2015 She's a Big Winner Brice Blanc Peter Eurton Sharon Alesia, Ciaglia Racing, Rob Dyrdek & Robin Christianson 1:12.42$79,800 2014 On the Backstreets Rafael Bejarano Peter L. Miller Brewer Racing, Lanzman Racing, Rockingham Ranch, J. Wood abt. furlongs 1:12.44$81,650 2013 Rafael Bejarano Simon Callaghan Eclipse Thoroughbred Partner abt. furlongs 1:12.25$81,850 2012 Indigo River (IRE) Joel Rosario Jeff Mullins Michael House abt. furlongs 1:13.36$73,950 2011 Bloemer Girl Victor Espinoza Jedd B. Josephson Andrew & Christa Arthur abt. furlongs 1:13.75$94,150 Listed 2010 Rose Catherine Garrett K. Gomez Todd A. Pletcher Paul P. Pompa Jr. abt. furlongs 1:12.00$66,150
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races References