The Sham Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old over the distance of one mile on the dirt scheduled annually in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History
The event was inaugurated on 9 February 2001 over a distance of miles and was won by the US Hall of Fame trained Bob Baffert's Wild and Wise who was entered as an entry with Special Times. He was ridden by the entry with Special Times. He was ridden by the US Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza winning by half a length in a time of 1:50.51.
The event is named in honor for the racehorse Sham, winner of the 1973 Santa Anita Derby and remembered for his battles with Secretariat in that year's U.S. Triple Crown Races.
The event was upgraded to Grade III in 2006.
In 2011 distance for the event was decreased to miles and once again the following year was decreased to 1 mile. Since 2011 the event has been held early in January.
An official prep race for the Kentucky Derby with qualification points. Records Speed record: 1 mile – 1:34.56 - Out of Bounds (2012) mile – 1:47.86 - The Pamplemousse (2009)
Margins: lengths – Authentic (2020)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Alex Solis (2003, 2004, 2009, 2010) 4 - Garrett Gomez (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012) 4 - Victor Espinoza (2001, 2005, 2006, 2017) 4 - Mike E. Smith (2014, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Most wins by a trainer: 9 - Bob Baffert (2001, 2006, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Most wins by an owner: 3 - Golconda Stable (2020, 2022, 2023) 3 - Madaket Stables (2020, 2022, 2023) 3 - SF Racing (2020, 2022, 2023) 3 - Starlight Racing (2020, 2022, 2023)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2024Race Not Held2023ReincarnateJuan J. Hernandez Bob BaffertGolconda Stable, Madaket Stables, SF Racing, Siena Farm, Starlight Racing, Stonestreet Stables, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Robert E. Masterson & Jay A. Schoenfarber 1 mile1:35.87$100,000III2022NewgrangeJohn VelazquezBob BaffertGolconda Stable, Madaket Stables, SF Racing, Siena Farm, Starlight Racing, Stonestreet Stables, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Robert E. Masterson & Jay A. Schoenfarber 1 mile1:38.32$100,000III2021 Life Is GoodMike E. SmithBob BaffertChina Horse Club & WinStar Farm1 mile1:36.63$100,000III2020 AuthenticBob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, F. Hertrich III, J.D. Fielding & Golconda Stables1 mile1:37.57$100,500III2019Gunmetal GrayMike E. SmithJerry HollendorferJerry Hollendorfer, Pearl Racing & West Point Thoroughbreds1 mile1:38.96$100,702III2018McKinzieMike E. SmithBob BaffertKarl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman1 mile1:36.58$100,345III2017 Gormley Victor EspinozaJohn ShirreffsMr. & Mrs. Jerome Moss1 mile1:35.89$100,690III2016CollectedMartin GarciaBob BaffertSpeedway Stable1 mile1:38.00$100,750III2015CalculatorElvis TrujilloPeter L. MillerRichard C. Pell1 mile1:34.88$100,750III2014Midnight HawkMike E. SmithBob BaffertHill 'n' Dale Farms, Mike Kitchen, Michael E. Pegram, Mike Tice & Joel Quenneville1 mile1:36.48$98,000III2013GoldencentsKevin KriggerDoug F. O'NeillW.C. Racing, Dave Kenney & RAP Racing1 mile1:36.50$100,000III2012Out of BoundsGarrett K. GomezEoin G. HartyDarley Stud1 mile1:34.56$100,000III2011TapizarGarrett K. GomezWinchell Thoroughbreds miles1:40.38$100,000III2010Alphie's BetAlex O. SolisAlexis BarbaTeresa McWilliams & Peter O. Johnson Sr. miles1:48.72$150,000III2009Alex O. SolisJulio C. CananiJeffrey Strauss, Bienstock and Winner Stables, Alex Solis II, Tom Lenner & Skyline Stables miles1:47.86$200,000III2008Colonel JohnGarrett K. GomezEoin G. HartyWinStar Farm miles1:50.15$200,000III2007RavelGarrett K. GomezMichael W. McCarthyMichael Tabor & Derrick Smith miles1:48.91$101,500III2006Bob and JohnVictor EspinozaBob BaffertStonerside Stable miles1:49.15$102,500III2005Going WildVictor EspinozaD. Wayne LukasRobert & Beverly Lewis miles1:50.18$102,300 Listed 2004Master DavidAlex O. SolisRobert J. FrankelGeorgica Stable, Stephen Mack & Andrew Rosen miles1:49.20$81,400 Listed 2003Man Among MenAlex O. SolisGary MandellaRandell D. Hubbard & Constance Sczesny miles1:48.39$81,000 Listed 2002U S S TinosaJerry HollendorferPeter Abruzzo & Barry Thiriot miles1:49.11$78,650 Listed 2001§ Wild and WiseVictor EspinozaBob BaffertGolden Eagle Farm miles1:50.51$96,750
Legend:
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races Road to the Kentucky Derby
References