The El Encino Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run between 1954 and 2011 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to four-year-old fillies, it was raced over a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs) on the synthetic Cushion Track surface. A Grade 2 event, it last offered a purse of $150,000
Part of Santa Anita Park's La Cañada Series of races, the El Encino Stakes was open to newly turning/turned 4-year-old fillies. Run at an increasing distance, the series began with the Grade I La Brea Stakes at 7 furlongs at the end of December followed by the El Encino Stakes at miles (8.5 furlongs) in mid January, then the Grade 2 La Cañada Stakes at miles (9 furlongs) in mid February. Created in 1975, only three fillies have ever won the series: Taisez Vous (1978), Mitterand (1985), and Got Koko (2003). The Santa Anita Park counterpart for male horses is the Strub Series.
Prior to 1976, the race was open to horses of either sex aged four and up.
The El Encino was inaugurated in 1954 as a handicap race on dirt at miles. From 1955 through 1957 it was raced on turf at a distance of miles after which it was suspended until 1968 when it returned as a miles claiming stakes. There was no race in 1970 but returned the following year. In 1974 and 1975 it was modified to a distance miles before being changed permanently in 1976 to miles and restricted to four-year-old fillies.
Records Speed record 1:40.61 @ miles): Zenyatta (2008)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Chris McCarron (1983, 1986, 1991, 2000)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 – John Shirreffs (1999, 2006, 2008, 2009)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Golden Eagle Farm (1976, 1983, 1998)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Win $ Gr.2011Always a Princess4Rafael BejaranoBob BaffertArnold Zetcher1-1/16 m1:41.47$90,000G22010Pretty Unusual4Chantal SutherlandBarry AbramsM. Auerbach, LLC, Marie Goda, Jack Klugman 1-1/16 m1:43.72$90,000G22009Life Is Sweet4Garrett K. GomezJohn ShirreffsPam & Martin Wygod1-1/16 m1:41.30$90,000G22008Zenyatta4David FloresJohn ShirreffsAnn & Jerry Moss1-1/16 m1:40.61$90,000G22007Sugar Shake4David R. FloresRobert J. FrankelStronach Stables1-1/16 m1:43.70$90,000G22006Proposed4Pat ValenzuelaJohn ShirreffsPam & Martin Wygod1-1/16 m1:44.32$90,000G22005Girl Warrior4Victor EspinozaNeil D. DrysdaleAnthony Speelman1-1/16 m1:42.76$90,000G22004Victory Encounter4Mike E. SmithJohn W. SadlerTom Mankiewicz1-1/16 m1:42.52$90,000G22003Got Koko4Alex SolisBruce HeadleyAase Headley & Paul Leung1-1/16 m1:42.25$90,000G22002Affluent4Ed DelahoussayeRon McAnallyJanis R. Whitham 1-1/16 m1:42.60$90,000G22001Chilukki4Gary StevensBob BaffertStonerside Stable1-1/16 m1:42.55$90,000G22000Olympic Charmer4Chris McCarronRon McAnallyDeborah McAnally1-1/16 m1:42.71$97,470G21999Manistique4Gary StevensJohn Shirreffs505 Farms1-1/16 m1:43.10$90,000G21998Fleet Lady4Garrett K. GomezJerry HollendorferGolden Eagle Farm1-1/16 m1:43.04$96,840G21997Belle's Flag4Corey NakataniDarrell ViennaErnest Auerbach1-1/16 m1:41.61$82,650G21996Jewel Princess4Alex SolisWallace DollaseMartha J. & Richard J. Stephen1-1/16 m1:41.94$78,800G21995Klassy Kim4Kent DesormeauxMelvin F. StuteBill M. Thomas1-1/16 m1:42.43$61,400G21994Supah Gem4Corey NakataniWallace DollaseMartha Perez & Richard Stephen1-1/16 m1:41.33$64,500G21993Pacific Squall4Chris McCarronJ. Paco GonzalezMcCaffery & Toffan1-1/16 m1:45.67$63,900G21992Exchange4Laffit Pincay Jr.William SpawrSidney H. Craig1-1/16 m1:43.32$67,000G21991A Wild Ride4Chris McCarronD. Wayne LukasCalumet Farm1-1/16 m1:42.40$63,500G21990Akinemod4Gary StevensJerry M. FanningEl Rancho de Jaklin1-1/16 m1:41.20$62,900G21989Goodbye Halo4Pat DayCharles WhittinghamAlex Campbell Jr. & Arthur B. Hancock III1-1/16 m1:41.80$60,200G31988By Land By Sea4Fernando ToroGary F. JonesJayeff "B" Stable & Gary F. Jones1-1/16 m1:41.60$64,300G31987Seldom Seen Sue4Bill ShoemakerGary F. JonesChristopher Drakos, Issac F. Fredrick, John D. Howard1-1/16 m1:43.00$61,850G31986Lady's Secret4Chris McCarronD. Wayne LukasJoyce F. Klein1-1/16 m1:41.80$65,850G31985Mitterand4Ed DelahoussayeRandy WinickSilver Star Stable & Randy Winick1-1/16 m1:42.00$61,600G31984Lovlier Linda4Bill ShoemakerWillard L. ProctorWilliam R. Hawn1-1/16 m1:42.00$51,250G31983Beautiful Glass4Chris McCarronGary F. JonesGolden Eagle Farm1-1/16 m1:41.20$50,550G31982Edge4Cash AsmussenWillard L. ProctorWilliam Haggin Perry1-1/16 m1:41.20$68,000G31981Princess Karenda4Ed DelahoussayeGene ClevelandWilliam S. Farish III & Warner L. Jones Jr.1-1/16 m1:42.00$49,650G31980It's In The Air4Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm1-1/16 m1:41.20$38,750G31979B. Thoughtful4Donald PierceRobert L. WheelerMrs. Walter Haefner1-1/16 m1:41.60$38,2501978Taisez Vous4Donald PierceRobert L. WheelerVernon D. & Ann Eachus1-1/16 m1:41.80$30,2001977Woodsome4Mark SellersStephen A. DiMauroRobert E. Sangster1-1/16 m1:42.20$27,4501976Fascinating Girl4Sandy HawleyA. Thomas DoyleGolden Eagle Farm1-1/16 m1:42.40$18,8501975Triggairo6Donald PierceJohn CoffeeRoy Rogers1-1/8 m1:49.40$19,7001974Wild World5Bill ShoemakerRobert J. FrankelMarion R. Frankel1-1/8 m1:49.80$18,1501973Class A5Dennis TierneyFarrell W. JonesCossack Farm1-1/16 m1:44.60$18,9501972Thorn4Johnny SellersPancho MartinSigmund Sommer1-1/16 m1:42.00$19,5501971Efa5Donald PierceGordon C. CampbellR. G. "Bob" Shaw1-1/16 m1:41.80$16,9001970 Race not held1969Gene's Dancer4Earlie FiresJ. Bert SonnierVerna Lea Farm (Gene Goff)1-1/16 m1:43.40$15,2001968Hill Shine4Álvaro PinedaWilliam B. FinneganEl Peco Ranch1-1/16 m1:42.60$14,6501958 - 1967 Race not held1957Blue Volt8Bill ShoemakerEdward D. CoxAltandor Stable (Albert Yank) & Edward D. Cox1-1/4 m (t)2:07.40$14,1501956Free Stride4Rogelio TrejosC. Ralph West M/M Bert W. Martin1-1/4 m (t)2:00.40$14,3501955Surgente6Rogelio TrejosG. M. SmallArgentine Turf Stable1-1/4 m (t)2:04.00$15,4001954Dixie Lad5Eddie ArcaroHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1-1/16 m1:43.40$10,950
*In 1998, I Ain't Bluffing won the race but was disqualified and set back to third.
External links El Encino Stakes at Pedigree Query