The John C. Harris Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of about furlongs on the Downhill turf course scheduled annually late September or early October at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History
The event was inaugurated on 29 September 2012 as the Unzip Me Stakes at Santa Anita Park as the eleventh race on the racecard. Unzip Me was a California-bred mare who won graded events in California and Canada winning 10 stakes in her career and $959,228 in stakes winnings.
The inaugural event was won by the British-bred filly Byrama, who started as the 13/5 favorite and was ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano gained the upper hand in the stretch run and won by a half-length in a time of 1:12.53. Later in her career Byrama won the Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.
The 2016 winner, British-bred Belvoir Bay had a fine career culminating in winning the 2019 Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.
In 2019 the event was moved to the turf course proper after a series of catastrophic breakdowns occurred on the Downhill turf course. The event was held over the shortened distance of furlongs. The winner Don't Sell set a new track record for the distance of 1:01.58.
In 2020 the event was held once again on the main turf course and the winner Bulletproof One broke the track record for the furlongs distance in a time of 1:01.12. In 2021 the event returned back to the Downhill Turf track.
In 2025 the event was upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Prior to releasing the Fall 2025 Santa Anita Park Stakes schedule the track administration announced that the event would be renamed to the John C. Harris Stakes in honor of John C. Harris, the late California owner/breeder who served on the boards of numerous California and national racing organizations, and in accepting accolades for his high-quality runners. John C. Harris was co-owner and bred Unzip Me in partnership.
Records Speed record: furlongs: 1:01.12 – Bulletproof One (2020) (New Track Record) abt. furlongs: 1:11.35 – Ruby Nell (2018)
Margins: 3 lengths – Pontchatrain (2013)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Rafael Bejarano (2012, 2015, 2018)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Peter L. Miller (2016, 2017, 2020, 2021)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Gary Barber (2016, 2017, 2020)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefJohn C. Harris Stakes2026Little OpalEmisael JaramilloDoug F. O'NeillDonald R. Dizneyabt. furlongs1:12.76$100,000III2025 Innovative Ricardo Gonzalez Philip D'Amato Little Red Feather Racing & Sterling Stables, LLCabt. furlongs 1:12.98 $103,500III Unzip Me Stakes2024Toupie Flavien Prat H. Graham MotionWertheimer et Frère 1:11.94 $102,500Listed 2023Ruby Nell Edwin MaldonadoSpendthrift Farmabt. furlongs1:11.35$102,500 Listed 2022Connie SwingleKyle FreyPhilip D'Amato Nicholas B. Alexanderabt. furlongs1:11.87$115,040Listed2021Zero ToleranceFlavien PratPeter L. MillerCustom Truck Accessories, Jason Hall, Joe Kelly & Michael Riordanabt. furlongs1:11.67$82,000 Listed2020Bulletproof One Ricardo GonzalezPeter L. MillerEclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Wachtel Stable, Cecil and Gary Barberabt. furlongs1:01.12 $94,000 Listed2019Don't Sell Evin RomanDoug F. O'NeillReddam Racing furlongs1:01.58$100,205 2018TraviezaRafael BejaranoDoug F. O'NeillW.C. Racing & Greg Lewis abt. furlongs1:12.42 $86,115 2017Storm the HillCorey NakataniPeter L. MillerGary Barber, Silver Ranch Stable & Wachtel Stableabt. furlongs1:12:21$82,435 2016Peter L. Miller Team Valor International & Gary Barber abt. furlongs1:12.26$78,835 2015Singing Kitty Rafael Bejarano Matthew Chew Chris Aulds & Peter Jeongabt. furlongs1:13.34$86,170 2014Alexis Tangier Victor EspinozaRichard E. MandellaRan Jan Racing abt. furlongs1:12.50$78,700 2013PontchatrainGary L. StevensThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farmabt. furlongs1:11.86$82,670 2012Byrama (GB)Rafael Bejarano Simon Callaghan Eclipse Thoroughbred Partnersabt. furlongs1:12.53$76,720
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References