The Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf track scheduled annually in September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History
The inaugural running of the event was on September 5, 2012, as the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes. Del Mar added two new juvenile turf stakes to its schedule in conjunction with the Oak Tree Racing Association during their 2012 meeting. The Oak Tree Racing Association had been idle since 2010. The races, meant as stepping stones toward the two Breeders’ Cup's juvenile grass offerings, also expand the track's emphasis on its 2-year-old program.
In 2015 Del Mar administration renamed the event to the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes after Oak Tree Racing Association moved their meeting to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.
In 2022 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the classification of the event to Grade III.
The best performance by a winner of this event in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf was in 2021 when Mackinnon finished third.
Records Speed record: 1 mile: 1:34.36 – Diamond Bachelor (2013)
Margins: lengths – Packs A Wahlop (2022)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Juan J. Hernandez (2021, 2023, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Jeff Mullins (2012, 2022, 2024) 3 – John W. Sadler (2014, 2019, 2025)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Hronis Racing (2014, 2019, 2025)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefDel Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes2026ObservedJuan J. HernandezJonathan ThomasBridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert V. LaPenta1 mile1:36.40$100,000III2025 Hector Berrios John W. Sadler Hronis Racing & Iapetus Racing 1 mile1:35.57$104,000III2024Artislas Reylu GutierrezJeff Mullins Irving Ventures, Michelle Arthur, William Meathe, Jeanne Tumanjan1 mile1:36.53$104,000III2023Endlessly Amerman Racing 1 mile1:35.28$101,500III2022Packs A WahlopMike E. SmithJeff MullinsRed Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal1 mile1:35.96$104,500III2021MackinnonJuan J. HernandezDoug F. O'NeillERJ Racing & Dave Kenney1 mile1:36.24$102,000Listed2020Big FishVictor Espinoza David HofmansLegacy Ranch 1 mile1:38.21$102,500Listed2019EncoderFlavien Prat John W. SadlerHronis Racing 1 mile1:35.31$100,000Listed2018King of SpeedGary L. Stevens Jeffrey L. BondeDel Secco DCS Racing1 mile1:36.77$101,725Listed2017EncumberedMario Gutierrez Simon CallaghanReddam Racing 1 mile1:35.90$103,105Listed2016Bowie's HeroRafael BejaranoPhilip D'AmatoPope, Pope Jr. & Marc McLean1 mile1:36.40$102,760Listed2015Hollywood DonBrice BlancPeter L. MillerRockingham Ranch1 mile1:35.46$101,500ListedOak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes2014Daddy D TCorey NakataniJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing 1 mile1:36.35$101,000 2013Diamond BachelorJulien LeparouxPatrick BianconeDiamond 100 Racing Club 1 mile1:34.36$100,750 2012Dry SummerJoseph TalamoJeff MullinsSam Britt & Michael House 1 mile1:35.16$100,000Listed
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References