San Felipe Stakes

The San Felipe Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade II event open to three-year-old horses. Normally held in early -March, it is raced at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles (8+1⁄2 furlongs) on dirt and currently offers a purse of $400,000. It is listed as an official prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

San Felipe Stakes

Class	Grade II
Location	Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated	1935[1]
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	www.santaanita.com
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄16 miles (8+1⁄2 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	124 lbs. with allowances[2]
Purse	$400,000 (since 2015)[3]

Race history

Inaugurated as the San Felipe Handicap in 1935, due to World War II there was no race run in 1942, 1943, and 1944. From 1935 through 1940 the race was open to colts and geldings, three years of age and older. Since 1941 it has been restricted to three-year-olds and in 1952 was made open to all three-year-olds irrespective of their sex. It was raced as a handicap event from 1935 through 1941 and again from 1952 through 1990.

As a prep for both the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies, the San Felipe has featured many of California's top three-year-olds over the years, including Derby winners California Chrome, Fusaichi Pegasus, Sunday Silence and Triple Crown winner Affirmed.

The 2019 San Felipe was cancelled due to Santa Anita's safety-related suspension of live racing.^[4]

Since inception, it has been competed over a variety of distances:

• 6 furlongs: 1938–1940, 1945–1946
• 7 furlongs: 1937, 1941, 1947–1951
• 1 mile: 1935–1936
• 1+1⁄16 miles: since 1952

The San Felipe Stakes was run in two divisions in 1968 and 1970.

Race records

Speed record:

• 1:40.11 - Consolidator (2005) (at current distance of 1+1⁄16 miles)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 7 - Chris McCarron (1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1998)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 9 - Bob Baffert (1999, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2024)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Fred W. Hooper (1949, 1982)
• 2 - Andrew J. Crevolin (1953, 1954)
• 2 - William Haggin Perry (1965, 1968)
• 2 - Burt Bacharach (1994, 1995)
• 2 - Starlight Racing (2020, 2024)
• 2 - SF Racing (2020, 2024)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2025	Journalism	Umberto Rispoli	Michael W. McCarthy	Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC & Robert V. LePenta	1:42.24
2024	Imagination	Frankie Dettori	Bob Baffert	SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Donovan, Catherine & Tom J. Ryan	1:44.55
2023	Practical Move	Ramon A. Vazquez	Tim Yakteen	Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, & Roger K. Beasley	1:42.01
2022	Forbidden Kingdom	Juan J. Hernandez	Richard Mandella	Spendthrift Farm & MyRacehorse	1:43.96
2021	Life Is Good	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	WinStar Farm & China Horse Club	1:42.18
2020	Authentic	Drayden Van Dyke	Bob Baffert	SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing	1:43.56
2019	no race[4]
2018	Bolt d'Oro	Javier Castellano	Mick Ruis	Ruis Racing LLC	1:42.71
2017	Mastery	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	Cheyenne Stables	1:42.28
2016	Danzing Candy	Mike E. Smith	Clifford W. Sise Jr.	Halo Farms/Bashor	1:43.04
2015	Dortmund	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Kaleem Shah, Inc.	1:41.65
2014	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	Art Sherman	Coburn/Martin	1:40.59
2013	Hear the Ghost	Corey Nakatani	Jerry Hollendorfer	Halo Farms/Hollendorfer	1:42.34
2012	Creative Cause	Joel Rosario	Michael Harrington	Heinz Steinmann	1:41.84
2011	Premier Pegasus	Alonso Quinonez	Myung Kwon Cho	Myung Kwon Cho	1:41.23
2010	Sidney's Candy	Joe Talamo	John W. Sadler	Sid & Jenny Craig Trust	1:42.30
2009	Pioneerof the Nile	Garrett Gomez	Bob Baffert	Zayat Stables	1:43.35
2008	Georgie Boy	Michael Baze	Kathy Walsh	George Schwary	1:42.35
2007	Cobalt Blue	Victor Espinoza	Doug O'Neill	Merv Griffin Ranch	1:42.46
2006	A. P. Warrior	Corey Nakatani	John Shirreffs	Stanley E. Fulton	1:42.40
2005	Consolidator	Rafael Bejarano	D. Wayne Lukas	Robert & Beverly Lewis	1:40.11
2004	Preachinatthebar	Javier Santiago	Bob Baffert	Michael E. Pegram	1:42.87
2003	Buddy Gil	Gary Stevens	Jeff Mullins	Desperado Stables et al.	1:43.64
2002	Medaglia d'Oro	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Robert J. Frankel	Edmund A. Gann	1:41.95
2001	Point Given	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	The Thoroughbred Corp.	1:41.94
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	Kent Desormeaux	Neil D. Drysdale	Fusao Sekiguchi	1:42.66
1999	Prime Timber	David R. Flores	Bob Baffert	Aaron & Marie Jones	1:42.16
1998	Artax	Chris McCarron	Randy Bradshaw	Paraneck Stable	1:41.73
1997	Free House	David R. Flores	J. Paco Gonzalez	McCaffery & Toffan	1:42.49
1996	Odyle	Corey Nakatani	J. Paco Gonzalez	Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan	1:42.43
1995	Afternoon Deelites	Kent Desormeaux	Richard Mandella	Burt Bacharach	1:42.11
1994	Soul of the Matter	Kent Desormeaux	Richard Mandella	Burt Bacharach	1:44.68
1993	Corby	Chris McCarron	John W. Sadler	Allen E. Paulson	1:42.11
1992	Bertrando	Alex Solis	Bruce Headley	Headley/Nahem/505 Farms	1:42.76
1991	Sea Cadet	Chris McCarron	Ron McAnally	VHW Stables (Lessee)	1:41.80
1990	Real Cash	Alex Solis	D. Wayne Lukas	Lukas & Overbrook Farm	1:42.00
1989	Sunday Silence	Pat Valenzuela	Charlie Whittingham	H-G-W Partners	1:42.60
1988	Mi Preferido	Chris McCarron	Laz S. Barrera	Barrera & Saiden	1:42.20
1987	Chart the Stars	Ed Delahoussaye	Richard Mulhall	Arnold, Clearman et al.	1:43.00
1986	Variety Road	Chris McCarron	Bruce Headley	Kjell Qvale	1:45.40
1985	Image of Greatness	Laffit Pincay Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Kinsman Stable	1:43.20
1984	Fali Time	Sandy Hawley	Gary F. Jones	Mamakos & Stubrin	1:42.60
1983	Desert Wine	Chris McCarron	Jerry M. Fanning	Cardiff Stud/T90 Ranch	1:41.60
1982	Advance Man	Chris McCarron	Ross Fenstermaker	Fred W. Hooper	1:42.20
1981	Stancharry	Fernando Toro	Melvin F. Stute	Cole, Freeman & Gold	1:42.00
1980	Raise a Man	Bill Shoemaker	Chay R. Knight	Northwest Farms	1:41.60
1979	Pole Position	Sandy Hawley	George E. Goodwin	Eldorado Stables	1:41.20
1978	Affirmed	Steve Cauthen	Laz Barrera	Harbor View Farm	1:42.60
1977	Smasher	Sandy Hawley	Jay M. Robbins	Robbins & Rogers	1:42.60
1976	Crystal Water	Bill Shoemaker	Roger Clapp	Connie M. Ring	1:42.60
1975	Fleet Velvet	Fernando Toro	Tom Pratt	Leone J. Peters	1:42.40
1974	Aloha Mood	Don Pierce	Cecil Jolly	Joan Winchell	1:42.40
1973	Linda's Chief	Braulio Baeza	Robert J. Frankel	Neil Hellman	1:41.80
1972	Solar Salute	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Lou Glauburg	M/M John J. Elmore	1:41.80
1971	Unconscious	Laffit Pincay Jr.	John G. Canty	Arthur A. Seeligson Jr.	1:42.60
1970	Cool Hand	Jerry Lambert	Gene Cleveland	M/M John C. Mabee	1:41.80
1970	Terlago	Bill Shoemaker	Jerry M. Fanning	Samuel J. Agnew	1:41.80
1969	Elect the Ruler	Eddie Belmonte	Steve Ippolito	Mrs. Gerry Dreier	1:44.20
1968	Prince Pablo	Johnny Sellers	Linwood J. Brooks	Kratz-Thayer	1:42.40
1968	Dewan	Jerry Lambert	James W. Maloney	William H. Perry	1:42.40
1967	Rising Market	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Ted Saladin	M/M Bert W. Martin	1:42.80
1966	Saber Mountain	Bill Shoemaker	Charlie Whittingham	Howard B. Keck	1:42.40
1965	Jacinto	Manuel Ycaza	James W. Maloney	William H. Perry	1:41.80
1964	Hill Rise	Don Pierce	William B. Finnegan	El Peco Ranch	1:41.40
1963	Denodado	Rudy Campas	Charlie Whittingham	Flying M Stable	1:45.00
1962	Doc Jocoy	William Harmatz	L. C. Sternberger	M/M L. C. Sternberger	1:44.20
1961	Flutterby	Johnny Longden	Vance Longden	Alberta Ranches, Ltd.	1:42.20
1960	Flow Line	William Boland	Willie H. Wyndle	C. M. Crawford Jr.	1:42.40
1959	Finnegan	William Harmatz	William B. Finnegan	Neil S. McCarthy	1:43.40
1958	Carrier X	George Taniguchi	Robert L. Wheeler	Mrs. John L. McMahon	1:45.60
1957	Joe Price	Gordon Glisson	William Molter	M/M. Geo. Lewis Stable	1:43.40
1956	Social Climber	Larry Gilligan	Charlie Whittingham	Llangollen Farm	1:44.40
1955	Jean's Joe	William Boland	William B. Finnegan	Murcain Stable	1:43.00
1954	Determine	Raymond York	William Molter	Andrew J. Crevolin	1:42.40
1953	Decorated	Johnny Longden	William Molter	Andrew J. Crevolin	1:44.20
1952	Windy City II	Eddie Arcaro	Willie Alvarado	Petite Luellwitz	1:44.00
1951	Phil D.	Raymond York	James Jordan	W. C. Martin	1:22.80
1950	Your Host	Johnny Longden	Harry L. Daniels	William Goetz	1:23.40
1949	Olympia	Willie Garner	Ivan H. Parke	Fred W. Hooper	1:22.80
1948	May Reward	Eddie Arcaro	Elwood L. Fitzgerald	Norman W. Church	1:23.60
1947	Owners Choice	Johnny Longden	T. D. Grimes	Fannie Hertz	1:23.60
1946	Galla Damion	Ralph Neves	F. Veysey	C. J. Sebastian	1:10.20
1945	Sir Bim	Johnny Longden	Hurst Philpot	Don Ameche	1:11.80
1941	Bull Reigh	Basil James	P. F. Dwyer	Anthony Pelleteri	1:24.00
1940	Our Mat	Ralph Neves	Matthew P. Brady	William Ziegler Jr.	1:10.40
1939	Specify	John H. Adams	Albert A. Baroni	Albert A. Baroni	1:10.20
1938	Speed to Spare	Raymond Workman	O. Anderson	Circle M Ranch	1:12.40
1937	Boxthorn	George Woolf	Graceton Philpot	E. & W. Janss	1:23.60
1936	Azucar	Alfred Robertson	Alexis G. Wilson	F. M. Alger Jr.	1:36.00
1935	Ted Clark	Clyde Turk	C. A. Marone	C. N. Mooney	1:37.60

* In 1983, Naevus was disqualified from first to second.

See also

• Road to the Kentucky Derby