The Honeymoon Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf course scheduled annually in late May or early June at Santa Anita Park. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

History The event was inaugurated on 18 May 1952 as the Sea Breeze Stakes and was run at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California before a crowd of 41,369. The event was run over 6 furlongs on the dirt and was won by Tonga in an upset starting at 51-1 defeating Princess Lygia and A Gleam.

The event honors the outstanding California bred mare, Honeymoon who won several races at Hollywood Park including the inaugural running of the Hollywood Oaks in 1946. Honeymoon was also successful at Santa Anita Park winning the 1948 Santa Maria Handicap.

The event was changed to the Honeymoon Stakes in 1956 then the Honeymoon Handicap in 1975.

The event was run in divisions in 1957 and 1965. The event was first run on the turf track in 1973.

The event was a Grade II from 1998 to 2018.

After the closure of the Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event has been held at Santa Anita Park.

The Honeymoon is a major leading prep race for the Grade I American Oaks run during the first part of July.

In 2026 the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association downgraded the event from Grade III to Listed.

Distance Since inception, the race has been contested at a variety of distances: miles : 1996–1999, 2002–present miles : 2001 miles : 1971–1995 1 mile : 1955–1967, 1970 7 furlongs : 1954 6 furlongs : 1952–1953

Records

Speed record: mile – 1:46.37 Going Global (IRE) (2021) mile – 1:40.20 Hot Option (1989)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Eddie Delahoussaye (1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Charles E. Whittingham (1967, 1971, 1972, 1982)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Santa Anita Park – Honeymoon Stakes2024Circle of Trust Antonio Fresu Philip D'AmatoJames E. Downey miles1:48.40$101,000III2023SelenaiaJoe BravoJonathan ThomasEclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Madaket Stables miles1:48.18$101,500III2022Cairo MemoriesMike E. SmithRobert B. Hess Jr.David A. Bernsen & Schroeder Farms miles1:48.67$100,500III2021Going Global (IRE)Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoCYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano miles1:46.37$101,000III2020Laura's LightAbel CedilloPeter MillerGary Barber miles1:49.02$101,500III2019Joseph TalamoRichard BaltasJ. & M. Iavarone, C. & J. Arntz, J. McClanahan & D. Durando miles1:49.08$150,702III2018PavedGary L. StevensMichael W. McCarthyCiaglia Racing & Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners miles1:48.57$200,690II2017Sircat SallyMike E. SmithJerry HollendorferJoe Turner miles1:46.92$200,345II2016CheekabooMike E. SmithPeter EurtonSharon Alesia, Mike Burns & Ciaglia Racing miles1:46.86$201,380II2015Spanish QueenBrice BlancRichard BaltasH. Nakkashian, H. Bederian, H. Kamberian miles1:47.24$201,000II2014Nashoba's GoldJoseph TalamoCarla GainesWarren B. Williamson miles1:48.61$200,250IIAt Hollywood Park – Honeymoon Handicap2013SarachMartin GarciaRichard E. MandellaWertheimer et Frère miles1:48.73$150,750II2012My Gi GiRafael BejaranoPeter EurtonDennis Conner, Lloyd DeBruycker & Wade Jacobsen miles1:49.22$150,000II2011Sarah's SecretRafael BejaranoKathy WalshJoan Hadley Thoroughbreds & Al & Sandy Kirkwood miles1:50.04$150,000II2010Evening JewelVictor EspinozaJames M. CassidyTom & Marilyn Braly miles1:48.87$150,000II2009Well MoniedJoel RosarioHoward L. ZuckerCarl T. Grether miles1:48.35$150,000II2008Misty OceanJoel RosarioJerry HollendorferJim H. Plemmons miles1:47.56$173,250IIHoneymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap2007Valbenny (IRE)Alex O. SolisPatrick GallagherRita DiPietro, LGL Racing, Michael Rosenmayer et al. miles1:48.17$154,750II2006Attima (GB)Victor EspinozaJulio C. CananiAnthony Fantcola & Joseph Scardino miles1:47.36$137,150II2005Three Degrees (IRE)Gary L. StevensPatrick GallagherHarlequin Ranches, Mary Rita DePietro, Aaron Wellman et al. miles1:46.84$163,125II2004Lovely RafaelaVictor EspinozaPaulo H. LoboTNT Stud miles1:49.96$184,925II2003Quero QueroTyler BazePaulo H. LoboOld Friends Inc. miles1:49.34$215,950II2002Megahertz (GB)Pat ValenzuelaRobert J. FrankelMichael Bello miles1:51.97$167,050II2001Innit (IRE)Chris McCarronRon McAnallyRichard Duchossois miles2:01.28$217,000IIHoneymoon Handicap2000Classy CaraIgnacio PuglisiDoug F. O'NeillDamos Stathatos & John J. Zamora miles1:48.05$150,000II1999Sweet Ludy (IRE)Gary L. StevensJenine SahadiTeam Valor, Heiligbrodt Racing Stables, King, et al. miles1:48.05$108,600II1998Country Garden (GB)Kent J. DesormeauxWalter R. GreenmanEdward T. McGrath miles1:48.74$106,800II1997Famous DiggerBrice BlancBarry AbramsLet It Ride Stable et al. miles1:47.68$109,100III1996AntespendChris AntleyRon McAnallyJack Kent Cooke miles1:47.50$137,350III1995Auriette (IRE)Eddie DelahoussayeGary F. JonesRick Barnes & Prestonwood Farm miles1:41.68$107,100III1994Work the CrowdChris McCarronGreg GilchristHarris Farms & Maddy miles1:39.68$109,700III‡1993Likeable StyleEddie DelahoussayeRichard E. MandellaGolden Eagle Farm miles1:46.29$107,200III1992Pacific SquallKent J. DesormeauxJ. Paco GonzalezTrudy McCaffery & Joohn Toffan miles1:41.02$112,100III1991MasakeMartin A. PedrozaBrian SweeneyAustin G. E. Taylor miles1:42.10$102,900III1990MatercoEddie DelahoussayeMark MacDonaldWilliam R. Hawn miles1:41.40$110,800III1989Hot OptionEddie DelahoussayeNeil D. DrysdaleClover Racing Stable, Luke et al. miles1:40.20$107,600III1988Do SoAlex O. SolisRon McAnallyJack Kent Cooke miles1:41.80$131,100III1987Pen Bal Lady (GB)Eddie DelahoussayeHector O. PalmaDeCarlo, LaTorre, Rubenstein et al. miles1:41.20$127,550III 1986An EmpressPat ValenzuelaLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm miles1:41.80$111,900III 1985Sharp AscentEddie DelahoussayeJohn GosdenRobert E. Sangster miles1:41.40$111,900III 1984Vagabond GalJerry M. FanningCraig B. Singer miles1:41.40$110,100III 1983Stage Door CanteenChris McCarronLaz BarreraC. Peter Beler miles1:42.00$110,200III 1982CastillaRay SibilleCharles E. WhittinghamMary Jones Bradley miles1:40.60$106,400II 1981Amber EverChris McCarronJohn W. RussellMr. & Mrs. Hastings Harcourt miles1:41.60$84,700II1980†Lady RobertaSandy HawleyBud DelpWindfields Farm miles1:40.60$105,050III 1979Variety QueenRudy RosalesBruce HeadleyKjell Qvale miles1:41.60$55,050III 1978Country QueenMarco CastanedaRandy Winick Maribel G. Blum miles1:43.20$55,200III 1977Joyous WaysLaffit Pincay Jr.Julius E. Tinsley Jr.Fred W. Hooper miles1:43.00$44,150III 1976CascapediaBill ShoemakerGordon C. CampbellBernard J. Ridder miles1:42.20$44,750III 1975Katonka Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraHappy Valley Farm miles1:42.20$55,650III Honeymoon Stakes1974BedknobÁlvaro PinedaJerry M. FanningSamuel J. "Jay" Agnew miles1:42.20$34,250Listed 1973MeilleurDonald PierceJohn H. AdamsEl Peco Ranch (George A. Pope) miles1:42.40$33,850Listed 1972†Le Cle Laffit Pincay Jr.Charles E. WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck miles1:42.40$33,700 1971Turkish TrousersBill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck miles1:42.40$33,5001970Street DancerRudy RosalesJohn G. CantyWilliam T. Brady 1 mile 1:34.60$27,8001969Marjorie's ThemeJerry LambertGordon C. CampbellMr. & Mrs. Norman Alperson miles1:41.60$28,050 1968Miss RibotJohn SellersFrank E. ChildsPerne L. & Charles T. Grissom miles1:42.20$27,950 1967Spinning AroundMilo ValenzuelaOxford Stable1 mile 1:36.60$28,550 1966April DawnDean HallHarold C. McBrideHemacinto (Phillip Stein) & Billrick Stable (Allan Lazaroff)1 mile 1:36.40$33,800 1965 Rullahline Dave GormanJohn G. CantyNeil S. McCarthy1 mile 1:35.80$32,825 Mine LovelyIsmael ValenzuelaRobert L. WheelerPeter McBean1 mile 1:35.40$33,325 1964Gim MahEddie BurnsFrank Colcord Mr. & Mrs. Frank Colcord 1 mile 1:37.20$27,500 1963Molly O'MalleyRaymond YorkRobert Wingfield William Radkovich & Raymond Wilson1 mile 1:37.40$28,800 1962RefanuteRudy CampasHarold C. McBrideHorace L. Miller1 mile 1:36.60$28,900 1961Bushel-N-PeckBill Shoemaker Mesh TenneyRex Ellsworth 1 mile 1:34.80$21,800 1960Solid ThoughtDonald Pierce J. Lee MosbacherMosbacher & Leach 1 mile 1:36.20$22,850 1959Cellyar (GB)Alex Maese Charles A. ComiskeyRobert S. Le Sage 1 mile 1:36.60$27,350 1958ForeverettJohn Longden Dale LandersHelbush Farms 1 mile 1:37.60$22,800 1957†Great PrideBill ShoemakerJames P. ConwayAda L. Rice1 mile 1:36.60$21,650 Fanciful MissJohn LongdenWally DunnJoseph W. Brown1 mile 1:36.00$21,6501956Triple JayAlex Maese Samuel SechrestCardinal & Gold Ranch 1 mile 1:36.40$22,700 Sea Breeze Stakes1955Madam JetJohn LongdenJohn CraigmyleAlberta Ranches Ltd.1 mile 1:36.60$22,650 1954Miz ClementineIsmael ValenzuelaHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm7 furlongs1:23.20$22,150 1953Fleet KhalJohn BurtonMesh TenneyRex Ellsworth 7 furlongs1:23.20$24,150 1952TongaGordon GlissonWarren StuteYolo Stable6 furlongs1:09.40$22,700

Legend:

Notes:

† Ran as an entry

‡ In 1993, the race was run off the turf, but retained its GIII status.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Santa Anita Media Guide for 2019 Winter Meet

References