The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is currently run at a distance of miles on the dirt and carries a purse of . It is one of the final prep races on the official Road to the Kentucky Derby.
History Inaugurated in 1935, the Santa Anita Derby has long been considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby. Since 2013, it has been part of the official Road to the Kentucky Derby, offering the winner 100 points and thus assuring a position in the starting gate. Since its inception, ten Santa Anita Derby winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby (shown in bold in the Winners section below), plus seven horses who lost at Santa Anita went on to triumph in Kentucky. In 1988, Winning Colors became the first and to date only filly to win both Derbies. Santa Anita Derby winners have also been successful in other Triple Crown races, with Affirmed sweeping the series in 1978.
Now run at a distance of miles (9 Furlongs), for the first three years it was run at miles, and at miles in 1947. Until 2008, the race had been run on a natural dirt surface. The race has been contested on Cushion Track (2008) and Pro-Ride (2009 & 2010) artificial surfaces. In 2011, the race returned to dirt.
In 1938, Stagehand became the only colt to win both the Santa Anita Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap in the same year, defeating eventual Horse of the Year Seabiscuit in the latter.
Prep races leading to the Santa Anita Derby include the San Rafael Stakes, San Miguel Stakes, Sham Stakes, San Vicente Stakes, San Pedro Stakes, the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and the San Felipe Stakes, all run at Santa Anita Park. The Sham, Robert Lewis and San Felipe are also on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
As a result of World War II, there were no races held from 1942 to 1944. The 2020 race was held on Saturday June 6 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Records At age 17, Pat Valenzuela became the youngest jockey to win the Santa Anita Derby when he rode Codex to victory in the 1980 race. In 2000, Jenine Sahadi became the first woman trainer to win the Santa Anita Derby. In 2005, Jeff Mullins became the first trainer to win three consecutive editions of the Santa Anita Derby.
Speed Record: Three horses share the record for the fastest winning time of 1:47 flat: Lucky Debonair (1965) Sham (1973) Indian Charlie (1998)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Rex Ellsworth (1955, 1956, 1963)
Most wins by a jockey: 9 – Gary Stevens (1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003)
Most wins by a Trainer: 9 – Bob Baffert (1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance (Miles) Time Grade2026So Happy Mike E. SmithMark GlattNorman Stabl & Saints or Sinners 1:49.01 I2025JournalismUmberto RispoilMichael W. McCarthyBridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert V. LePenta, Mrs. John Magnier Lessee, Derrick Smith Lessee & Michael Tabor Lessee 1:49.56 I2024 StrongholdAntonio FresuPhilip D’AmatoEric M. Waller & Sharon Waller 1:49.98 I2023Practical MoveRamon A. VazquezTim YakteenLeslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. & Roger K. Beasley1:48.69I2022TaibaMike E. SmithTim YakteenZedan Racing Stables1:48.46I2021 Rock Your World Umberto Rispoli John W. Sadler Hronis Racing LLC and David Michael Talla1:49.17I2020 Honor A. P. Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs C R K Stable LLC1:48.97I2019 Roadster Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Speedway Stable LLC1:51.28I2018 Justify* Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Winstar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Racing LLC1:49.72I2017 Gormley Victor Espinoza John Shirreffs Jerry Moss & Ann Moss1:51.16I2016 Exaggerator Kent J. Desormeaux J. Keith Desormeaux Big Chief Racing, Rocker O Ranch, Head Of Plain Parthers & J. Keith Desormeaux 1:49.66 I2015 Dortmund Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Kaleem Shah 1:48.73 I2014 California Chrome Victor Espinoza Art Sherman Martin Perry & Steve Coburn 1:47.52 I2013 Goldencents Kevin Krigger Doug O'Neill W. C. Racing, D. Kenney, RAP Racing1:48.78 I2012 I'll Have Another Mario Gutierrez Doug O'Neill J. Paul Reddam1:47.88 I2011 Midnight Interlude Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Arnold Zetcher1:48.56 I2010 Sidney's Candy Joe Talamo John W. Sadler Sid & Jenny Craig1:48.00 I2009 Pioneerof the Nile Garrett Gomez Bob Baffert Zayat Stables1:49.17 I2008 Colonel John Corey Nakatani Eoin G. Harty WinStar Farm1:48.16 I2007 Tiago Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Jerry & Ann Moss1:49.51 I2006 Brother Derek Alex Solis Dan Hendricks Cecil Peacock1:48.00 I2005 Buzzards Bay Mark Guidry Jeff Mullins Fog City Stable1:49.18 I2004 Castledale Jose Valdivia Jr. Jeff Mullins Frank Lyons & Greg Knee1:49.24 I2003 Buddy Gil Gary Stevens Jeff Mullins Desperado Stables, Donnie McFadden & Merrill Stables1:49.36 I2002 Came Home Chris McCarron Paco J. Gonzalez John Toffan, Trudy McCaffery, William S. Farish III & John B. Goodman1:50.02 I2001 Point Given Gary Stevens Bob Baffert The Thoroughbred Corp.1:47.77 I2000 The Deputy Chris McCarron Jenine Sahadi Team Valor & Gary Barber1:49.08 I1999 General Challenge Gary Stevens Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm1:48.92 I1998 Indian Charlie Gary Stevens Bob Baffert Hal Earnhardt & John R. Gaines 1:47.00 I1997 Free House Kent Desormeaux J. Paco Gonzalez John Toffan & Trudy McCaffery1:47.60 I1996 Cavonnier Chris McCarron Bob Baffert Walter Family Trust1:48.91 I1995 Larry the Legend Gary Stevens Craig A. Lewis Craig A. Lewis1:47.99 I1994 Brocco Gary Stevens Randy Winick Albert R. Broccoli1:48.33 I1993 Personal Hope Gary Stevens Mark A. Hennig Lee & Debi Lewis1:49.03 I1992 A.P. Indy Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Tomonori Tsurumaki1:49.25 I1991 Dinard Chris McCarron Richard J. Lundy Allen E. Paulson1:48.00 I1990 Mister Frisky Gary Stevens Laz Barrera Solymar Stable1:49.00 I1989 Sunday Silence Pat Valenzuela Charlie Whittingham H-G-W Partners1:47.60 I1988 Winning Colors† Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein1:47.80 I1987 Temperate Sil Bill Shoemaker Charlie Whittingham Frankfurt Stables & Charlie Whittingham1:49.00 I1986 Snow Chief Alex Solis Melvin F. Stute Grinstead & Rochelle1:48.60 I1985 Skywalker Laffit Pincay Jr. Michael Whittingham Oak Cliff Stable1:48.40 I1984 Mighty Adversary Ed Delahoussaye Tommy Doyle M/M Felty J. Yoder1:49.00 I1983 Marfa Jorge Velásquez D. Wayne Lukas French, Beal, D. Wayne Lukas1:49.40 I1982 Muttering Laffit Pincay Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Tartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger)1:47.60 I1981 Splendid Spruce Darrel McHargue Chay R. Knight Surf and Turf Stable1:49.00 I1980 Codex Pat Valenzuela D. Wayne Lukas Tartan Stable1:47.60 I1979 Flying Paster Donald Pierce Gordon C. Campbell Bernard J. Ridder1:48.00 I1978 Affirmed Laffit Pincay Jr. Laz Barrera Harbor View Farm1:48.00 I1977 Habitony Bill Shoemaker Tommy Doyle Anthony W. Pejsa1:48.20 I1976 An Act Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Katz RobertBrun Roberts1:48.00 I1975 Avatar Jorge Tejeira Tommy Doyle Arthur A. Seeligson Jr.1:47.60 I1974 Destroyer Ismael Valenzuela Monti C. Sims Kenneth Opstein1:48.80 I1973 Sham Laffit Pincay Jr. Frank "Pancho" Martin Sigmund Sommer1:47.00 I1972 Solar Salute Laffit Pincay Jr. Louis Glauburg M/M John J. Elmore1:47.601971 Jim French Ángel Cordero Jr. John P. Campo Frank Caldwell1:48.201970 Terlago Bill Shoemaker Jerry M. Fanning Samuel J. Agnew1:48.401969 Majestic Prince Bill Hartack Johnny Longden Frank M. McMahon1:49.201968 Alley Fighter Laffit Pincay Jr. James W. Maloney Cragwood Stables1:49.001967 Ruken Fernando Alvarez Clyde Turk Louis R. Rowan1:49.801966 Boldnesian Walter Blum James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry1:48.401965 Lucky Debonair Bill Shoemaker Frank Catrone Ada L. Rice1:47.001964 Hill Rise Donald Pierce William B. Finnegan El Peco Ranch1:47.401963 Candy Spots Bill Shoemaker Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth1:50.201962 Royal Attack Edward Burns William J. Hirsch Neil S. McCarthy1:49.601961 Four-and-Twenty Johnny Longden Vance Longden Alberta Ranches, Ltd.1:48.001960 Tompion Bill Shoemaker Robert L. Wheeler Cornelius V. Whitney1:47.801959 Silver Spoon† Raymond York Robert L. Wheeler Cornelius V. Whitney1:49.001958 Silky Sullivan Bill Shoemaker Reggie Cornell Tom Ross & Phil Klipstein1:49.401957 Sir William Henry E. Moreno Cecil Jolly Louella & Herbert Armstrong1:54.201956 Terrang Bill Shoemaker Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth1:51.001955 Swaps Johnny Longden Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth1:50.001954 Determine Raymond York William Molter Andrew J. Crevolin1:48.801953 Chanlea Eddie Arcaro Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1:49.801952 Hill Gail Ted Atkinson Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1:50.001951 Rough'n Tumble Eddie Arcaro Melvin Calvert Frances Genter1:50.401950 Your Host Johnny Longden Harry L. Daniels William Goetz1:48.801949 Old Rockport Gordon Glisson Phil Reilly Clifford Mooers1:50.201948 Salmagundi Johnny Longden William M. Booth William G. Helis1:51.201947 On Trust Johnny Longden William Molter Earl O. Stice & Sons2:03.201946 Knockdown Robert Permane James W. Smith Maine Chance Farm1:50.601945 Bymeabond George Woolf Wayne B. Stucki J. Kel Houssels1:50.001941 Porter's Cap Leon Haas Tom Smith Charles S. Howard1:54.401940 Sweepida Ralph Neves L. Roy Staples H. C. "Dutch" Hill1:51.601939 Ciencia† Carroll Bierman William J. Hirsch King Ranch1:50.601938 Stagehand Jack Westrope Earl Sande Maxwell Howard1:50.401937 Fairy Hill Maurice Peters Richard E. Handlen William du Pont Jr.1 1/161:45.801936 He Did Wayne D. Wright J. Thomas Taylor Suzanne Mason1 1/161:49.401935 Gillie Silvio Coucci William Brennan Greentree Stable1 1/161:44.60 † Indicates filly
Bold typeface indicates Kentucky Derby winner
See also
Santa Anita Derby "top three finishers" and starters Road to the Kentucky Derby
References
External links Ten Things You Should Know About the Santa Anita Derby at Hello Race Fans!