The Santa Margarita Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California for fillies and mares age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one and one-eighths miles.
A Grade I event for most of its history, in 2019 it was downgraded to Grade II.
Inaugurated in 1935, the race was open to all horses age three and older until 1938 when it was restricted to fillies and mares.
Since inception, the Santa Margarita Handicap has been raced at various distances: 7 furlongs : 1935–1936 6 furlongs : 1937 8.5 furlongs ( miles) 1938–1941, 1945–1948, 1953–1954. 9 furlongs ( miles) : 1949–1952, 1955 present
There was no race from 1942 through 1944 as a result of World War II.
The Santa Margarita Handicap was run in two divisions in 1964. The first time it was run as an invitational event was in 1968.
Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles) 1:47.00 – Lady's Secret (1986)
Most wins: 2 – Our Betters (1956, 1957) 2 – Curious Clover (1964, 1965) 2 – Tizna – (1974, 1975) 2 – Bayakoa (1989, 1990) 2 – Paseana (1992, 1994) 2 - Adare Manor (2023, 2024)
Most wins by a jockey: 6 – Bill Shoemaker (1951, 1952, 1954, 1966, 1972, 1979) 6 – Laffit Pincay Jr. (1967, 1971, 1973, 1981, 1982, 1989) 6 – Chris McCarron (1980, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Ron McAnally (1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – C. V. Whitney (1947, 1959, 1960) 3 – Ethel D. Jacobs (1961, 1966, 1984) 3 – William Haggin Perry (1964, 1968, 1969)
Winners of the Santa Margarita Stakes since 1935 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026 Om N Joy4 Kent Desormeaux Aggie Ordonez Baker Stables, LLC1:50:372025 Seismic Beauty4 Antonio Fresu Bob Baffert MyRacehorse1:48.302024 Adare Manor5 Juan Hernandez Bob Baffert Michael Lund Peterson1:50.862023 Adare Manor4 Juan Hernandez Bob Baffert Michael Lund Peterson1:49.792022 Blue Stripe (ARG)5 Tyler Base Marcelo Polanco Pozo de Luna1:50.522021 As Time Goes By4 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick1:49.952019 Paradise Woods5 Mike E. Smith John A. Shirreffs Steven Sarkowsky, Martin J. Wygod, and Pam Wygod1:51.952018 Fault4 Geovanni Franco Philip D'Amato Agave Racing Stable & Little Red Feather Racing1:50.582017 Vale Dori5 Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Sheikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum1:48.812016 Tara's Tango4 Rafael Bejarano Jerry Hollendorfer Stonestreet Stables1:50.442015 Warren's Veneda5 Tyler Baze Craig Anthony Lewis Benjamin C. Warren1:48.732014 Let Faith Arise4 Corey Nakatani Jerry Hollendorfer Tommy Town Thoroughbreds1:48.702013 Joyful Victory5 Rosie Napravnik J. Larry Jones Fox Hill Farms1:49.532012 Include Me Out4 Joe Talamo Ron Ellis Jay Em Ess Stable1:47.622011 Miss Match (ARG)6 Garrett Gomez Neil Drysdale Matthew Cloros1:47.332010 Zenyatta6 Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Jerry & Ann Moss1:48.202009 Life Is Sweet4 Garrett Gomez John Shirreffs Pam & Martin Wygod 1:48.712008 Nashoba's Key5 Joe Talamo Carla Gaines Warren B. Williamson1:48.822007 Balance4 Victor Espinoza David Hofmans Amerman Racing1:49.252006 Healthy Addiction5 Jon Court John W. Sadler Pamela C. Ziebarth1:48.182005 Tarlow4 Pat Valenzuela John Shirreffs Ann & Jerry Moss1:49.412004 Adoration5 Mike E. Smith David Hofmans Amerman Racing1:48.862003 Starrer5 Pat Valenzuela John Shirreffs George Krikorian1:48.202002 Azeri4 Mike E. Smith Laura de Seroux Allen E. Paulson Trust1:49.012001 Lazy Slusan6 David Flores John K. Dolan Dolan & Longo1:48.592000 Riboletta5 Corey Nakatani Eduardo Inda Aaron & Marie Jones1:50.401999 Manistique4 Gary Stevens John Shirreffs 505 Farms1:48.311998 Toda Una Dama5 Goncalino Almeida Ron McAnally Janis R. Whitham1:48.871997 Jewel Princess5 Corey Nakatani Wallace Dollase Stephen & Stephen / TTC1:49.301996 Twice The Vice5 Chris McCarron Ronald W. Ellis Pam & Martin Wygod1:49.531995 Queens Court Queen6 Corey Nakatani Ron McAnally Alex G. Campbell Jr.1:48.811994 Paseana (ARG)7 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Sidney H. Craig 1:49.121993 Southern Truce5 Corey Nakatani Roger Stein Regal Rose Stable1:49.461992 Paseana (ARG)5 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Sidney H. Craig1:47.481991 Little Brianne6 Julio A. Garcia Jack Van Berg Robert Alick1:48.401990 Bayakoa (ARG)6 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally M/M Frank Whitham1:48.401989 Bayakoa (ARG)5 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally M/M Frank Whitham 1:48.401988 Flying Julia5 Frank Olivares Donn Luby James Marino1:50.401987 North Sider5 Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas D. Wayne Lukas & Paul Paternostro1:48.801986 Lady's Secret4 Jorge Velásquez D. Wayne Lukas M/M Eugene Klein1:47.001985 Lovlier Linda5 Chris McCarron Willard L. Proctor William R. Hawn1:48.001984 Adored 4 Fernando Toro Laz Barrera Ethel D. Jacobs1:48.601983 Marimbula5 Sandy Hawley Michael Whittingham Oak Cliff Stable1:48.201982 Ack's Secret6 Laffit Pincay Jr. Michael Whittingham Oak Cliff Stable1:47.601981 Princess Karenda4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Gene Cleveland Farish & Jones1:47.201980 Glorious Song4 Chris McCarron Gerry Belanger Nelson Bunker Hunt & Frank Stronach1:48.401979 Sanedtki5 Bill Shoemaker Charlie Whittingham Serge Fradkoff1:47.801978 Taisez Vous4 Don Pierce Robert L. Wheeler Vernon D. & Ann Eachus1:49.001977 Lucie Manet4 Darrel McHargue Jaime Villagomez Valpredo & Valpredo1:48.401976 Fascinating Girl4 Fernando Toro Tommy Doyle Golden Eagle Farm1:49.401975 Tizna6 Don Pierce Henry M. Moreno Nile Financial Corp.1:48.601974 Tizna5 Fernando Toro Henry M. Moreno Nile Financial Corp.1:50.801973 Susan's Girl4 Laffit Pincay Jr. John W. Russell Fred W. Hooper1:47.801972 Turkish Trousers4 Bill Shoemaker Charlie Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck1:47.801971 Manta5 Laffit Pincay Jr. Farrell W. Jones Elmendorf1:48.801970 Gallant Bloom4 John L. Rotz William J. Hirsch King Ranch1:50.601969 Princessnesian5 Don Pierce James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry1:53.001968 Gamely4 Manuel Ycaza James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry1:49.001967 Miss Moona4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Steve Ippolito Jacnot Stable1:50.201966 Straight Deal II4 Bill Shoemaker Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs1:48.601965 Curious Clover5 Kenneth Church Clyde Turk Louis R. Rowan1:49.601964 Curious Clover4 Kenneth Church Clyde Turk Louis R. Rowan1:48.801964 Batteur4 Manuel Ycaza James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry1:49.001963 Pixie Erin4 Peter Moreno Joseph S. Dunn Howard B. Keck1:54.201962 Queen America6 George Taniguchi Clyde Turk Beaty & Dorney1:49.401961 Sister Antoine4 William Harmatz Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs1:49.601960 Silver Spoon4 Eddie Arcaro Robert L. Wheeler C. V. Whitney1:48.801959 Bug Brush4 Angel Valenzuela Robert L. Wheeler C. V. Whitney1:48.201958 Born Rich5 Manuel Ycaza Carl A. Roles Poltex Stable1:50.601957 Our Betters5 Johnny Longden William Molter C. H. Jones & Sons1:49.001956 Our Betters4 Eddie Arcaro William Molter C. H. Jones & Sons1:49.201955 Blue Butterfly6 Johnny Longden Vance Longden Alberta Ranches, Ltd.1:48.601954 Cerise Reine4 Bill Shoemaker Noble Threewitt Ada L. Rice1:47.001953 Spanish Cream5 Eric Guerin Allen Drumheller H. W. Collins Stable1:44.801952 Bed O' Roses5 Bill Shoemaker William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II1:51.401951 Special Touch4 Bill Shoemaker Allen Drumheller James N. Crofton1:48.601950 Two Lea4 Steve Brooks Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1:52.801949 Lurline B.4 Walter Litzenberg Darrell Cannon Elobee Farm1:53.001948 Miss Doreen6 Johnny Longden Hurst Philpot Charles S. Howard1:46.001947 Monsoon5 Ralph Neves Lydell T. Ruff C. V. Whitney1:43.001946 Canina5 Johnny Longden Bob R. Roberts Aaron Hirschberg1:43.401945 Busher3 Johnny Longden George M. Odom Louis B. Mayer1:43.001941 Omelet5 Jack Westrope George Adams Vegas Stock Farm1:47.201940 Fairy Chant3 Douglas Dodson Richard E. Handlen William duPont Jr.1:46.801939 Flying Lee4 Sam Renick Duval A. Headley Hal Price Headley1:47.201938 Primulus5 Lester Balaski Thomas Griffin Frank Smith1:49.001937 Stand Pat6 Willie Saunders Frank Gilpin Edward F. Seagram1:13.001936 Singing Wood5 Robert Jones William J. Norton Liz Whitney1:23.001935 Ted Clark5 Clyde Turk Charles A. Marone C. N. Mooney1:26.40
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