The Las Cienegas Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age four and up over a distance of about six and one-half furlongs on the Hillside Turf Course held annually in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, USA. The event currently offers a purse of US$100,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 17 February 1974 as the Las Cienegas Handicap, a sprint over the Downhill turf course over a distance of about furlongs for horses that were four-years-old or older. The event was won by Woodland Pines who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Donald Pierce in a time of 1:13 flat.

The following year the event was not held.

In 1976 the event was run with conditions for three-year-olds only on the dirt track over a distance of six furlongs. The event was won by Life's Hope who later that year would win the Grade 1 Jersey Derby. In 1977 the event was scheduled in April as with handicap conditions for fillies and mares age four and up over a distance of six and one-half furlongs on the Downhill turf course. The event continued to be scheduled usually in April until 2017 when it was moved to January.

The event was upgraded in 1992 by the American Graded Stakes Committee to Grade III race. In 2013 the event's conditions were changes to a stakes allowance race and the name modified to Las Cienegas Stakes.

The event has been moved to the dirt due to weather conditions in 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

In 2012 the event was moved to the dirt track and was won by Mizdirection. Mizdirection later that year would return to Santa Anita and win the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Mizdirection would repeat the unique double in 2013 again winning both events. Mizdirection is the only dual winner of the event.

Due to poor state of the Downhill turf course in 2020 and 2021 the event was held on the proper turf course at a shorter distance. On 11 January 2020, the Las Cienegas Stakes was run for the first time at a distance of furlongs on turf. Brazilian import Jolie Olimpica, making her first start in the United States, set a new Santa Anita Park course record of 1:01 flat for that distance.

In the 2021 running of the event Charmaine's Mia set a new course record for the 6 furlong distance.

Records

Speed record: about furlongs on turf: 1:11.66 – Elusive Diva (2005) furlongs on dirt: 1:14.40 – Excitable Lady (1982)

Margins: lengths – Watch This Cat (2015)

Most wins: 2 - Mizdirection (2012, 2013)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Kent Desormeaux (1998, 2002, 2005, 2018)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Gary F. Jones (1981, 1987, 1992, 1996) 4 - Robert J. Frankel (1989, 2002, 2003, 2004) 4 - Richard E. Mandella (1997, 1999, 2016, 2020)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Golden Eagle Farm (1992, 1997) 2 - Juddmonte Farms (2003, 2004) 2 - Jungle Racing and partners (2012, 2013)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefLas Cienegas Stakes2026Queen Maxima 5Juan J. HernandezJeff MullinsDutch Girl Holdings & Irving Ventures abt. furlongs1:11.69$102,000III2025 Toupie 4Flavien Prat H. Graham MotionWertheimer et Frère abt. furlongs1:12.97$101,500III2024Honey Pants 6Frankie Dettori Philip D'AmatoBakster Farm & Gerald Isbister abt. furlongs1:12.40$103,000III2023Amy C (GB)5Umberto Rispoli Philip D'AmatoMadaket Stables, Michael Dubb & Robert V. LaPentaabt. furlongs1:12.76$101,500III2022Zero Tolerance4Flavien PratRuben AlvaradoCustom Truck Accessories, Jason Hall, Joe Kelly & Michael Riordanabt. furlongs1:13.26$101,000III2021Charmaine's Mia4Drayden Van DykePhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable6 furlongs1:07.81$99,000III2020Jolie Olimpica (BRZ)4Mike E. SmithFox Hill Farms furlongs1:01.00$100,000III2019Belvoir Bay (GB)6Flavien PratPeter L. MillerGary Barber furlongs1:15.06$98,000 Listed 2018Coniah5Kent J. DesormeauxWilliam E. MoreyJames W. & Tammy M. McKenneyabt. furlongs1:12.17$100,690III2017Watch This Cat5Corey NakataniRichard BaltasHarry Bederian, Harout Kamberian & Hagop Nakkashian furlongs1:16.41 $98,000 Listed 2016Dreamologist4Flavien PratRichard E. MandellaLNJ Foxwoods furlongs1:15.56$100,690III2015Home Journey5Rafael BejaranoMike PuypeGGG Stables & Russell J. Sarnoabt. furlongs1:13.09$100,750III2014Tribal Spy4Joseph TalamoAdam KitchingmanTriple B Farmsabt. furlongs1:12.12$100,500III2013Mizdirection5David R. FloresMike PuypeJungle Racing, Danny Grohs, William Strauss, Borris Beljak, KMN Racing et al.1:12.61$100,000IIILas Cienegas Handicap 2012Mizdirection4David R. FloresMike PuypeJungle Racing, William Strauss, Danny Gohs, Borris Beljak, & Kevin Nish furlongs1:16.50$98,000Listed 2011Separate Forest4Pat ValenzuelaDoug F. O'NeillSuarez Racing, Westside Rentals.com & Darin Tsukashima abt. furlongs1:12.64$100,000III2010Unzip Me4Joseph TalamoMartin F. JonesHarris Farms, Per Antonsen, Marin Jones & Donald Valpredoabt. furlongs1:12.80$100,000III2009Gotta Have Her5Tyler BazeJenine SahadiGreen Lantern Stables abt. furlongs1:11.92$100,000III2008† Lightmyfirebaby5Alex O. SolisBarry AbramsRichard O'Neill Trustabt. furlongs1:13.25$112,700III2007River's Prayer4Clinton L. PottsPaula S. CapestroBantry Farms, Paula Capestro & Martin Racing Stableabt. furlongs1:12.99$108,700III2006Cambiocorsa4Jon CourtDoug F. O'NeillLeatherman Racing & Ran Jan Racingabt. furlongs1:12.60$112,900III2005Elusive Diva4Pat ValenzuelaMark GlattAllen & Susan Branch, John Konecny et al.abt. furlongs1:11.66$111,100III2004Etoile Montante4Javier SantiagoRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farmsabt. furlongs1:13.32$112,800III2003Heat Haze (GB)4Jose Valdivia Jr.Robert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farmsabt. furlongs1:13.11$110,000III2002Rolly Polly (IRE)4Kent J. DesormeauxRobert J. FrankelWildenstein Stableabt. furlongs1:12.55$108,500III2001Go Go4Eddie DelahoussayeWarren StuteAlan B. & Paula Thomas abt. furlongs1:13.54$109,500III20004Danny SorensonKathy WalshRichard Duggan & James R. Vreelandabt. furlongs1:13.66$106,400III1999§ Desert Lady (IRE)4Corey NakataniRichard E. MandellaThe Thoroughbred Corporationabt. furlongs1:13.65$109,400III1998Dance Parade4Kent J. DesormeauxNeil D. DrysdaleH.R.H. Prince Fahd bin Salmanabt. furlongs1:13.60$108,000III1997Advancing Star4Gary L. StevensRichard E. MandellaGolden Eagle Farmabt. furlongs1:12.50$156,550III1996Ski Dancer4Gary L. StevensGary F. JonesKallenberg Thoroughbredsabt. furlongs1:14.59$104,300III1995Marina Park (GB)5Alex O. SolisIan P. D. JoryGreenland Park abt. furlongs1:13.77$103,175III1994Mamselle Bebette4Chris McCarronJack Van BergBig Train Farmabt. furlongs1:13.05 $87,225III1993Glen Kate (IRE)6Corey BlackBill ShoemakerWayne Gretzky & Bruce McNallabt. furlongs1:12.71$104,350III1992Heart of Joy5Chris McCarronGary F. JonesGolden Eagle Farmabt. furlongs1:12.72$103,475III1991Flower Girl (GB)4Hector O. PalmaWilliam J. Gredleyabt. furlongs1:13.20$83,400Listed 1990Stylish Star4Chris McCarronDan L. HendricksMr. & Mrs. Thomas Cavanaghabt. furlongs1:13.00$80,850 1989Imperial Star (GB)5Robbie DavisRobert J. FrankelRobert B. Trussel Jr. furlongs1:15.60$84,200 1988Hairless Heiress5Gary L. StevensNoble ThreewittJawl Brothers furlongs1:15.00$85,500 1987Lichi (CHI)7Gary BazeGary F. JonesPreston Farm furlongs1:14.40$65,150 1986 Shywing4Laffit Pincay Jr.Jerry M. FanningCardiff Stud Farm furlongs1:18.00$64,550 1985Danzadar4Dario A. LozoyaHector O. PalmaGranja Vista Del Rio Stable furlongs1:14.00$64,250 1984Tangent (NZ)4Gustavo BarreraWayne MurtyBacchus, Harrison, McGee, Murty Farm & Stewart furlongs1:15.00$66,600 1983Faneuil Lass4Laffit Pincay Jr.D. Wayne LukasSam E. Stevens furlongs1:17.40$68,200 1982Excitable Lady4Eddie DelahoussayeRon McAnallyThomas E. Gentry furlongs1:14.40$67,650 1981Wishing Well6Fernando ToroGary F. JonesMr. & Mrs. Michael Lima furlongs1:13.40$56,750 1980Great Lady M.5Pat ValenzuelaD. Wayne LukasRobert H. Spreen furlongs1:14.80$46,100 1979Pressing Date5Angel Cordero Jr.William J. Hirsch Jr.King Ranch furlongs1:16.40$45,500 1978Drama Critic4Darrel G. McHargueRon McAnallyElmendorf furlongs1:14.00$45,800 1977Dancing Femme4Bill ShoemakerA. Thomas DoyleJack L. Finley furlongs1:13.60$42,600 1976Life's Hope3Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm6 furlongs1:09.40$34,500 3YOs1975Race not held1974Woodland Pines5Donald Pierce Cecil Jolly Linda Briggs Smith furlongs1:13.00$29,900

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

† In 2002, Bahama Mama (IRE) won the race but was disqualified and place fourth after stewards ruled she had drifted in the straight. Lightmyfirebaby was declared the winner, Wake Up Maggie (IRE) moved to second and Super Freaky to third.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2020 Santa Anita Media Guide

References