The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old or older over the distance of six furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History

The race was originally named in honor of the California-bred horse Ancient Title, a two-time California Horse of the Year and a National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee. The inaugural running of the event was at Hollywood Park as an overnight stakes event for three year olds on 23 December 1983 over a distance of miles. The following year the distance of the event was shortened to 1 mile. In 1985 the event was moved to the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park as a sprint for horses three-year-olds and older over six furlongs.

In 1990 the event was classified by the American Graded Stakes Committee as Grade III and was upgraded to Grade II status in 1999. In 2001 the event was upgraded to Grade I.

In 2012 the event was renamed to the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

Between 1990 and 2006, the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event. The event is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the race automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

As of 2020 the race was downgraded to Grade II.

Records Time record: 1:07.53 - Cost of Freedom (2008)

Margins: lengths – Straight No Chaser (2024)

Most wins: 2 - Roy H (2017, 2018) 2 - Dr Schivel (2021, 2023)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - J. Paul Reddam (2001, 2004)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Ed Delahoussaye (1990, 1993, 1996, 2001) 4 - Kent J. Desormeaux (1992, 1998, 1999, 2017) 4 - Mike E. Smith (2011, 2013, 2019, 2022)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - John W. Sadler (1988, 1991, 1995, 2008)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefSanta Anita Sprint Championship Stakes 2026 Listenupshance 4 Emisael Jaramillo Doug O'Neill Great Friends Stables and Run Fast Racing6 furlongs1:08.70 $200,000II2025Imagination 4Juan J. HernandezBob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan6 furlongs1:09.00$201,500II2024Straight No Chaser 5John R. VelazquezDan BlackerMyRacehorse6 furlongs1:08.54$201,000II2023Dr Schivel 5Juan J. HernandezMark GlattRed Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and William Branch6 furlongs1:08.49$202,000II2022Howbeit 5Mike E. Smith Mark GlattIt Pays to Dream Racing Stable, Saints or Sinners, Danny Haramoto, Sheldon Kawahara & Gregory Yamamoto 6 furlongs1:10.15$200,500II2021Dr Schivel 3Flavien Prat Mark GlattRed Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and William Branch6 furlongs1:09.44$200,500II2020C Z Rocket 6 Luis SaezPeter L. MillerGary Barber, Tom Kagele, Madaket Stables6 furlongs1:09.14$200,000II2019Omaha Beach3Mike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaFox Hill Farm Inc6 furlongs1:08.79$300,351I2018Roy H6Paco LopezPeter L. MillerRockingham Ranch & David Bernsen6 furlongs1:09.09$300,000I2017Roy H5Kent J. DesormeauxPeter L. MillerRockingham Ranch & David Bernsen6 furlongs1:08.68$300,345I2016Lord Nelson4Flavien PratBob BaffertSpendthrift Farm6 furlongs1:08.80$300,000I2015Wild Dude5Rafael BejaranoJerry HollendorferJerry Hollendorfer & Green Smith6 furlongs 1:09.45$300,000I20146Olivier DoleuzeC. W. ChangSilas Yang Siu Shun, Wong Tak Wai, Ho Chi Keung & Cheung Yuk Tak6 furlongs1:07.59$300,000I2013Points Offthebench4Mike E. SmithTim YakteenDonnie Crevier & Charles V. Martin 6 furlongs1:08.00$250,500I2012Coil4Martin GarciaBob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman 6 furlongs1:09.89$250,000IAncient Title Stakes2011Amazombie5Mike E. SmithWilliam SpawrWilliam Spawr & Thomas C. Sanford6 furlongs1:08.24$250,000IAt Hollywood Park – Ancient Title Stakes2010Smiling Tiger3Russell BazeJeffrey L. BondeAlan Phillip Klein & Philip Lebherz 6 furlongs1:09.37$245,000IAt Santa Anita Park – Ancient Title Stakes2009Gayego4Garrett K. GomezSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing6 furlongs1:08.28$300,000I2008Cost of Freedom5Tyler BazeJohn W. SadlerGary & Cecil Barber6 furlongs1:07.53$250,000I2007Idiot Proof3David R. FloresClifford W. Sise Jr.Pam & Martin Wygod6 furlongs1:07.57$300,000I2006Bordonaro5Pat ValenzuelaWilliam SpawrFred Carrillo & Daniel A. Cassella6 furlongs1:07.93$220,000I2005Captain Squire6Alex O. SolisJeff MullinsRobert D. Bone & Jeffrey S. Diener6 furlongs1:08.85$236,000IAncient Title Handicap 2004Pt's Grey Eagle3Alex BisonoCraig DollaseJ. Paul Reddam6 furlongs1:08.84$213,000I2003Avanzado (ARG)6Tyler BazeDoug F. O'NeillCees Stable (Cecilia Straub-Rubens & Michael Cooper) 6 furlongs1:08.12$156,625I2002Kalookan Queen6Alex O. SolisBruce HeadleyLouis A. Asistio6 furlongs1:08.26$207,875I2001Swept Overboard4Eddie DelahoussayeCraig DollaseJ. Paul Reddam6 furlongs1:07.67$207,100I2000Kona Gold6Alex O. SolisBruce HeadleyBruce Headley & Irwin and Andrew Molasky6 furlongs1:08.11$196,498II1999Lexicon4Kent J. DesormeauxRichard E. MandellaJerry & Ann Moss6 furlongs1:07.84$207,500II1998Gold Land7Kent J. DesormeauxNeil D. DrysdalePrince Fahd Salman6 furlongs1:08.50$156,700III1997Elmhurst7Corey NakataniJenine Sahadi Evergreen Farm & Jenine Sahadi 6 furlongs1:08.82$155,000III1996Lakota Brave7Bruce Headley505 Farms, Bruce Headley, Mizrahie, et al6 furlongs1:08.16$149,200III1995Track Gal4Gary L. StevensJohn W. Sadler William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps 6 furlongs1:08.32$99,150III1994Saratoga Gambler6Martin A. PedrozaWilliam SpawrKen Porter6 furlongs1:08.87$107,500III1993Cardmania7Eddie DelahoussayeDerek MeredithJean Couvercelle6 furlongs1:08.04$106,975III1992Gray Slewpy4Kent J. DesormeauxDan L. HendricksEd Friendly6 furlongs1:08.48$106,360III1991Frost Free6Chris McCarronJohn W. SadlerTriple Dot Dash Stable & Jim Vandervoort 6 furlongs1:08.66$97,775III1990Corwyn Bay (IRE)4Eddie DelahoussayeRichard E. Mandella Randall D. Hubbard 6 furlongs1:08.40$97,000III1989Sam Who4Laffit Pincay Jr.Henry M. MorenoSam Stevens & Nita Brooks6 furlongs1:08.00$75,000 1988Olympic Prospect4Laffit Pincay Jr.John W. SadlerGregg Alsdorf, Lawrence Opas & Frank Sinatra 6 furlongs1:09.00$95,500 1987Zany Tactics6Jack L. KaenelBlake R. HeapVera C. Brunette6 furlongs1:09.00$63,700 1986Groovy3Jose A. SantosJose A. Martin Theodore V. Kruckel & John A. Ballis6 furlongs1:08.20$85,650 1985Temerity Prince5Wesley A. WardJ. R. Querbes III (Lessee)6 furlongs1:09.20$64,150 At Hollywood Park – Ancient Title Stakes1984§ Party Leader3Chris McCarronGary F. JonesElmendorf Farm1 mile1:35.60$45,375 1983Video Kid3Rafael MezaPedro Marti Burt Bacharach miles1:40.80$45,250

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References