Daytona Stakes

The Daytona Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older run over the distance of about 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the downhill turf scheduled annually in late May at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Daytona Stakes

Class	Grade III
Location	Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated	1968 (as San Simeon Handicap)
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.santaanita.com
Race information
Distance	about 6+1⁄2 furlongs
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three years old and older
Weight	124 lbs. with allowances
Purse	$100,000

History

The event was inaugurated in 1968 as the San Simeon Handicap^[1]

The race has been run at a variety of distances and track surfaces. The race was originally run on the dirt but in 1980 was switched to the downhill turf course. Since that time, it has only been run on dirt when the turf course was unusable due to weather-related conditions.^[2] Due to course conditions, several runnings of the event were taken off the turf and run on the dirt track.^[1]

The event was upgraded to a Grade III event for 1984.^[1]

In 2013 the race was renamed to the San Simeon Stakes.^[1]

The event was originally scheduled in April but the Los Angeles Turf Club in 2017 moved the race to the Memorial Day weekend at Santa Anita. In that same year the Los Angeles Turf Club renamed the race to the current name of Daytona Stakes.^[3] The original Daytona Stakes was renamed to the San Simeon Stakes.^[4] The event was named after the Irish bred horse Daytona who a three year old won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby and a four year old won the Grade I Shoemaker Mile Stakes at Santa Anita.^[5]

In 2019, the distance was shortened by over a furlong, and the event started on the backstretch of the turf oval.^[1] In 2020 the event was extended to 5+1⁄2 furlongs^[1] and in 2021 the event was held over 6+1⁄2 furlongs.

Records

Speed record:

• about 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:11:28 Chips All In (2013)

Margins:

• 4+1⁄2 lengths – Century's Envoy (1975)

Most wins:

• 2 - Mr. Gruff (2009, 2010)
• 2 - Champagne Bid (1984, 1985)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Elmendorf Farm (1976, 1981)
• 2 - Saddle Hill Farm (1984, 1985)
• 2 - Juddmonte Farms (1989, 2003)
• 2 - Gary Broad (2009, 2010)
• 2 - Hronis Racing (2014, 2022)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 6 - Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1969, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 6 - Ron McAnally (1973, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1990, 2007)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
Daytona Stakes
2025	Motorious (GB)	7	Antonio Fresu	Philip D'Amato	Anthony Fanticola	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.13	$100,500	III	[6]
2024	Mucho Del Oro	6	Kyle Frey	Doug F. O'Neill	Purple Rein Racing	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.37	$102,000	III	[7]
2023	Fast Buck	5	Hector Berrios	Cesar DeAlba	Zepher Racing, Peter Cruz & Cesar DeAlba	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.68	$101,000	III	[8]
2022	Bran (FRA)	4	Juan J. Hernandez	John W. Sadler	Hronis Racing	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.44	$100,000	III	[9]
2021	Bombard	8	Flavien Prat	Richard E. Mandella	Ramona S. & Perry R. Bass II, Adele B. Dilschneider & Waddell W. Hancock II	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.47	$100,000	III	[10]
2020	Wildman Jack	4	Mike E. Smith	Doug F. O'Neill	W.C. Racing	5+1⁄2 furlongs	1:01.01	$101,000	III	[11]
2019	Eddie Haskell	6	Kent J. Desormeaux	Mark Glatt	Philip J. Wood & James Hailey	5 furlongs	0:55.49	$100,702	III	[12]
2018	Conquest Tsunami	6	Victor Espinoza	Peter L. Miller	Gary Barber	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.03	$150,000	III	[13]
San Simeon Stakes
2017	Stormy Liberal	5	Norberto Arroyo Jr.	Peter L. Miller	Rockingham Ranch	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.43	$147,000	III	[14]
2016	Guns Loaded	5	Rafael Bejarano	Doug F. O'Neill	Westside Rentals.com, Neil Haymes, Leo Rodriguez & Steve Rothblum	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.33	$101,380	III	[15]
2015	Get Happy Mister	5	Tyler Baze	Mark D. Tsagalakis	Annette Bishop	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.11	$100,500	III	[16]
2014	Sweet Swap	5	Joseph Talamo	John W. Sadler	Hronis Racing	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.59	$101,000	III	[17]
2013	Chips All In	4	Tyler Baze	Jeff Mullins	Jean Everest, John O'Brien, Danny Valdez & Michelle Turpin	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.28	$100,250	III	[18]
San Simeon Handicap
2012	California Flag	8	Joseph Talamo	Brian J. Koriner	Barbara Card, E-Racing.Com, John Fradkin & Kevin Jacobsen	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.59	$100,000	III	[19]
2011	Regally Ready	4	Mike E. Smith	Steven M. Asmussen	Vinery Stables	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.33	$100,000	III	[20]
2010	Mr Gruff	6	Joel Rosario	Ronald W. Ellis	Gary Broad	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.53	$100,000	III	[21]
2009	Mr Gruff	5	Joel Rosario	Ronald W. Ellis	Gary Broad	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.88	$100,000	III	[22]
2008	Stoneside (IRE)	4	Martin A. Pedroza	Julio C. Canani	Marsha Naify	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.54	$112,400	III	[23]
2007	Bonfante	6	Aaron Gryder	Ron McAnally	Frankfurt Stables & Eugene Tenbrink	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.59	$103,488	III	[24]
2006	Pure as Gold	4	Pat Valenzuela	Doug F. O'Neill	Steve L. Keh, Robert Richmond & Dennis O'Neill	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.56	$109,400	III	[25]
2005	Shadow of Illinois	5	Mark Guidry	Anthony K. Saavedra	Ella & William. D. Sivage	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.62	$107,000	III	[26]
2004	Glick	8	Alex O. Solis	Jeff Mullins	Robert D. Bone	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.46	$107,300	III	[27]
2003	Speak in Passing	6	David R. Flores	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.87	$137,500	III	[28]
2002	Malabar Gold	5	Chris McCarron	Ronald W. Ellis	B. Wayne Hughes	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:11.73	$138,125	III	[29]
2001	Lake William	5	Victor Espinoza	Richard E. Mandella	Ann & Jerry Moss	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.34	$133,625	III	[30]
2000	El Cielo	6	Jose Valdivia Jr.	Craig Dollase	Larry Carr, Miller Trust, D & P Webber Trust, et al	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.66	$132,400	III	[31]
1999	Naninja	6	Chris McCarron	Mike R. Mitchell	Wes R. Horton, Marlin Merhab & Ed Nance	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.32	$108,700	III	[32]
1998	Labeeb (GB)	6	Kent J. Desormeaux	Neil D. Drysdale	Maktoum Al Maktoum	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.94	$113,100	III	[33]
1997	Sandtrap	4	Alex O. Solis	Ben D. A. Cecil	Estate Robert E. Hibbert	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.50	$156,850	III	[34]
1996	ƒ Ski Dancer	4	Gary L. Stevens	Gary F. Jones	Kallenberg Thoroughbreds	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.98	$104,200	III	[35]
1995	Finder's Fortune	6	Pat Valenzuela	Darrell Vienna	David S. Milch & Jack Silverman	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.65	$109,550	III	[36]
1994	Rapan Boy (AUS)	6	Gary L. Stevens	Gary F. Jones	Huthart & Moore	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.16	$108,100	III	[37]
1993	Exemplary Leader	7	Martin A. Pedroza	Brian A. Mayberry	Jan, Mace & Samantha Siegel	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.98	$109,300	III	[38]
1992	ƒ Heart of Joy	5	Chris McCarron	Gary F. Jones	Golden Eagle Farm	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.94	$114,600	III	[39]
1991	Forest Glow	4	Julio A. Garcia	Brad MacDonald	John A. Bell III	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.40	$108,900	III	[40]
1990	Coastal Voyage	6	Alex O. Solis	Ron McAnally	Red Tree Farm	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.20	$106,400	III	[41]
1989	Mazilier	5	Pat Valenzuela	Edwin J. Gregson	Juddmonte Farms	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.80	$82,500	III	[42]
1988	Caballo de Oro	4	Rafael Q. Meza	Lewis A. Cenicola	Humberto Ascanio, Fer & Zankich	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.40	$80,450	III	[43]
1987	Bolder Than Bold	5	Gary Baze	Charles E. Whittingham	Mary Jones Bradley, Ann Chandler & Charles E. Whittingham	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.60	$83,550	III	[44]
1986	§ Estate	7	Antonio Lopez Castanon	Jack Van Berg	Tom E. Norton	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.80	$88,150	III	[45]
1985	Champagne Bid	6	Ray Sibille	Randy Winick	Saddle Hill Farm	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.60	$97,150	III	[46]
1984	Champagne Bid	5	Ray Sibille	Randy Winick	Saddle Hill Farm & Randy Winick	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.40	$89,350	III	[47]
1983	Chinook Pass	4	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Laurie N. Anderson	Hi Yu Stable	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.40	$66,100	Listed	[48]
1982	Shagbark	7	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Robert J. Frankel	Mr. & Mrs. Martin Ritt	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.00	$66,850	Listed	[49]
1981	Syncopate	6	Donald Pierce	Ron McAnally	Elmendorf Farm	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:16.40	$53,950	Listed	[50]
1980	Dragon Command (NZ)	6	Eddie Delahoussaye	Michael C. Whittingham	Ivan W. Allan & Lee Ah Seong	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.60	$47,050	Listed	[51]
1979	Bywayofchicago	5	Darrel G. McHargue	Thomas A. Pratt	Robert Fluor, Sidney Port & Herman Sarkowsky	7 furlongs	1:21.80	$56,350	Listed	[52]
1978	Maheras	5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Lin Wheeler	Peter Cristofi & Nicholas P. Bissias	7 furlongs	1:22.80	$43,650	Listed	[53]
1977	Mark's Place	5	Sandy Hawley	Ron McAnally	Bob D. Bird	7 furlongs	1:21.00	$44,250	Listed	[54]
1976	Pay Tribute	4	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Ron McAnally	Elmendorf Farm	1 mile	1:35.20	$43,650	Listed	[55]
1975	Century's Envoy	4	Jorge Tejeira	Jerry Dutton	Mr. & Mrs. John J. Elmore	7 furlongs	1:22.40	$33,200	Listed	[56]
1974	Matun	5	Steve Valdez	Charles E. Whittingham	Marjorie Everett	7 furlongs	1:21.20	$34,700	III	[57]
1973	Soft Victory	5	Donald Pierce	Ron McAnally	Maxwell R. Prestridge Jr.	7 furlongs	1:21.40	$36,550	III	[58]
1972	Single Agent	4	Howard Grant	Wayne B. Stucki	Indian Hill Stable & Frank Marshall	7 furlongs	1:21.00	$34,700		[59]
1971	Long Position	5	Johnny Sellers	Morton Lipton	Westerly Stud	7 furlongs	1:21.80	$27,650		[60]
1970	Right Cross	4	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Ted Saladin	Mr. & Mrs. Bert W. Martin	7 furlongs	1:21.60	$23,050		[61]
1969	Ottawa Hills	6	Laffit Pincay Jr.	John Adams	Hasty House Farms	7 furlongs	1:22.20	$23,850		[62]
1968	Poona Khan	7	Miguel Yanez	John W. Pappalardo	Jay F. Walker	7 furlongs	1:22.00	$23,000		[63]

Legend:
  Dirt   Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races