The Twilight Derby is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds over the distance of one-and-one-eighth miles on the turf scheduled annually in late October at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 18 October 1969 as the Volante Handicap at the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park and was won by the Mrs. Howard B. Keck's entry Tell who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker carrying the imposing weight of 130 pounds by of a length over Noholme Jr. in a time of 1:46. The event was named for Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin's 1885 American Derby winner, Volante, who was ridden to victory by jockey Isaac Burns Murphy. Lucky Baldwin had built the original Santa Anita Racetrack Track in 1907 and Volante was buried at the track.

When the grading of races began as a Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association project in 1973 the event was classified as Grade III, however, the event was not held that year due to a strike by pari-mutual clerks.

In 1988 and 1989 the event was upgraded to Grade II before returning to Grade III. In 1996 the event was once again upgraded to Grade II.

In 1997 the event was renamed to the Oak Tree Derby after the Oak Tree Racing Association. In 2012 with the Oak Tree Racing Association abandoning the Santa Anita Track the event was renamed to the Twilight Derby.

The event has been held on the undercard of the Saturday Breeders' Cup card in 2008, 2009, 2016, 2019 and 2023.

Records Time record: 1:44.48 – The Usual Q.T. (2009)

Margins: lengths - Daytona (IRE) (2007)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Charles E. Whittingham (1977, 1979)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 – Gary Stevens (1986, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2015, 2017)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Charles E. Whittingham (1969, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1989)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Santa Anita Park – Twilight Derby2025Test Score Juan J. HernandezH. Graham MotionAmerman Racing miles1:47.66$200,000II2024Atitlan Hector BerriosJohn A. ShirreffsJohn M. B. O'Connor miles1:49.12$201,000II2023Seal Team (GB)Umberto RispoliRichard E. MandellaPerry R. & Ramona S. Bass miles1:47.29$254,000II2022Cabo Spirit Joe BravoKretz Racing miles1:49.46$201,500II2021Subconscious Juan HernandezRichard E. MandellaLNJ Foxwoods miles1:47.00$202,500II2020Smooth Like Strait Umberto RispoliMichael W. McCarthyCannon Thoroughbreds miles1:46.89$202,000II2019Mo ForzaJoel RosarioPeter L. MillerBardy Farm & OG Boss miles1:46.18$202,106II2018River Boyne (IRE)Flavien PratJeff MullinsRed Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal miles1:45.36$201,380II2017Sharp SamuraiGary L. StevensMark Glatt Mark Glatt, Red Barron's Barn & Rancho Temescal miles1:45.36$201,380II2016Frank ConversationMario GutierrezDoug F. O'NeillReddam Racing miles1:46.81$201,725II2015OmGary L. StevensDan L. Hendricks Sareen Family Trust miles1:45.90$200,750II2014Long On ValueRosie NapravnikWilliam I. Mott Watchtel Stables & George J. Kerr miles1:46.82$201,500II2013Rookie SensationVictor EspinozaJohn ShirreffsStronach Stables miles1:46.54$152,000II2012Grandeur (IRE)William T. BuickJeremy Noseda Yvonne Jacques miles1:46.78$150,000IIOak Tree Derby2011Ultimate EagleMartin A. PedrozaMichael Pender B. J. Wright miles1:47.03$150,000IIAt Hollywood Park2010Fantastic Pick (GB)Corey NakataniJames LloydJim Ford, Robert Maycock & Ken Smole miles1:48.51$150,000IIAt Santa Anita Park2009The Usual Q. T.Victor EspinozaJames M. Cassidy Don Van Racing, Michael Nentwig, George Saadeh, Thomas H. Braden miles1:44.48$150,000II2008MunyDavid R. FloresMike PuypeRobert Bone, Don Johnson, Richard S. Trontz, Brewer Racing Stable & Robinson miles1:47.69$150,000II2007Daytona (IRE)Mike E. SmithDan L. HendricksJeff Davenport, Tom Lenner, Jess Ravich & Thomas W. Murray miles1:46.40$150,000II2006Dark Islander (IRE)Jose Valdivia Jr.John W. HillsDonald M. Kerr miles1:46.21$150,000II2005Aragorn (IRE)Pat ValenzuelaNeil D. Drysdale Ballygallon Stud miles1:46.48$150,000II2004Greek SunEdgar S. PradoRobert J. FrankelPeter G. Angelos miles1:48.08$150,000II2003Devious Boy (GB)Julie KroneKathy Walsh James R. Vreeland miles1:48.92$150,000II2002JoharAlex O. SolisRichard E. MandellaThe Thoroughbred Corporation miles1:46.00$150,000II2001No Slip (FR)Robert J. Frankel Amerman Racing Stables miles1:46.56$150,000II2000Sign of Hope (GB)Alex O. SolisNeil D. Drysdale Relatively Stable miles1:47.71$250,000II1999Mula GulaGary L. StevensJerry Hollendorfer Steven J. Gula miles1:46.67$250,000II1998Ladies DinGary L. StevensJulio C. CananiJ. Terrence Lanni, Bernard Schiappa & Mike Sloan miles1:50.24$250,000II1997Lasting ApprovalAlex O. SolisDiane L. Perkins Wimborne Farm miles1:50.84$250,000IIVolante Handicap1996OdyleChris McCarronJ. Paco GonzalezRon Brimacombe, Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan miles1:46.83$130,250II1995HelmsmanChris McCarronWallace Dollase Horizon Stable, Jarvis & Taber, et al. miles1:48.98$131,900III1994Run SoftlyLaffit Pincay Jr.Robert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles1:49.96$109,800III1993Jerry D. BaileyMark A. HennigTeam Valor, Amerman & Stibor miles1:48.00$111,800III1992BlacksburgAlex O. SolisD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm miles1:48.00$112,700III1991General MeetingKent J. DesormeauxDavid E. HofmansGolden Eagle Farm miles1:46.78$114,500III1990In Excess (IRE)Gary L. StevensBruce L. Jackson Jack J. Munari miles1:46.60$110,300III 1989Seven RiversRobbie DavisCharles E. Whittingham Enemy Stable & Mandysland Farm miles1:45.80 $111,100II 1988Coax Me ClydePat ValenzuelaBarry Knight Vistas Stables miles1:48.40$135,000II1987The MedicSandy HawleyGary F. Jones Dr. Edward Giammarino miles1:47.80$84,050III1986Air DisplayGary L. StevensDarrell Vienna Apple, Forgnone, Levy, et al. miles1:48.00$107,450III1985JustoneoftheboysAlex O. SolisRon McAnallyMorris Cohen & Dion Recachina miles1:47.60$110,000III 1984TightsChris McCarronLaz BarreraMill House Stable miles1:46.60$110,500III 1983MamaisonChris McCarronRichard E. MandellaSam Bretzfield & Hal Oliver miles1:49.80$108,900III 1982LamerokLaffit Pincay Jr.LeRoy JolleyPeter M. Brant miles1:46.20$111,300III1981SeafoodMarco CastanedaRon McAnallyElmendorf Farm miles1:49.00$85,450IIIWaterway DriveJerry D. BaileyRobin Frank Eric Frank 1980Pocketful in VailFernando ToroJerry M. FanningKahn, Morcus & Rosburg miles1:47.80$66,400III 1979Hyannis PortBill Shoemaker Bell Bloodstock & Charles E. Whittingham miles1:47.60$54,800III1978Wayside StationLaffit Pincay Jr.John H. Adams El Peco Ranch miles1:47.80$57,100III1977KulakBill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamMary Jones Bradley, Charles E. Whittingham & Buck Wynne Jr. miles1:46.80$33,300III 1976Today 'n TomorrowLaffit Pincay Jr.Roger E. Clapp Connie M. Ring miles1:46.80$32,950III1975§ Messenger of Song Jerry LambertGordon C. Campbell Bernard J. Ridder miles1:46.80$43,450III 1974 Within Hail Bill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamBwamazon Farm miles1:48.40$45,250III 1973‡ Race not held1972 Bicker Glen Brogan Robert Wingfield Green Thumb Farm Stable miles1:48.20$33,150 1971 Vegas Vic Howard Grant Randy Sechrest Betty Sechrest & Charles Fritz miles1:48.20$33,550 1970 Mickey McGuire Bill Shoemaker Paul K. Parker Vanguard Stable (Suzanne Reagan) & Anita Madden miles1:47.40$25,4501969 § Tell Bill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck miles1:46.80$57,500

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

‡ In 1973 the Volante Handicap was scheduled to be held on Saturday, 7 October 1973, opening day of the Oak Tree Racing Association's meeting at Santa Anita but was cancelled due to a three-day strike by the pari-mutuel clerks.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References