Santa
Anita Park, which will embark upon its 76th winter/spring meeting on
Dec. 26, has announced it will offer a total of 41 graded stakes over the
course of its 71-day meet, beginning with the opening day Malibu (3-year-old
colts and geldings) and La Brea (3-year-old fillies) Stakes which will serve as
the first of nine Grade I events. Both stakes will offer purses of
$300,000 and will be run at seven furlongs.
Joining
the Malibu
and La Brea on opening day is the Grade II, $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes for
3-year-olds at one mile on turf.
The
Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and
Casino on March 2, and the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6,
trace their origins to Santa Anita’s founding and once again figure prominently
among the track’s marquee offerings.
Also
included on Santa Anita’s Grade I stakes roster are the $300,000 Santa
Monica on Jan. 26, the Las Virgenes and Frank
E. Kilroe Mile, which join the Big ’Cap on March 2, the Santa Margarita on
March 16, and the Santa Anita Oaks, which shares top billing with the Santa
Anita Derby on April 6.
“We’re
excited about our opener on Dec. 26 and we intend to build upon the momentum we
experienced with the two-day Breeders’ Cup here on Nov. 2 and 3,” said Santa
Anita Vice President of Racing, Rick Hammerle.
“We decided to move the La Brea from Dec. 31, back to opening day, which is
where it was slotted for many years.
“By
doing this, we now have two prestigious Grade I stakes on opening day and this
should help us get off to a good start. Both our turf course and main
track are in great condition and we’re looking forward to welcoming all of our
horsemen and fans back the day after Christmas for some world class racing.”
One
of the biggest days on the 2013 winter calendar is Sunshine Millions Day,
January 26, which will showcase a total of six stakes. The afternoon will
feature four California-bred stakes and be highlighted by the Grade I, $300,000
Santa Monica Stakes and the Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes.
Due
to the inception of the Golden State Series, both editions of the California
Breeders’ Champion Stakes on Jan. 26 have been increased from $100,000 to
$300,000. Both stakes are for 3-year-olds—one for colts and geldings and
the other is restricted to fillies.
“Both
of these races have traditionally been run on opening day, but with the
staggering increase in purse money, they should be a great fit on Sunshine
Millions Day,” said Hammerle. “Additionally, we’ve increased the distance
for both races, from seven furlongs to a mile.”
Two
other California-bred stakes will adorn the Jan. 26 card: The $100,000 Crystal
Water, for older horses at 1 1/8 miles on turf and the $100,000 Valentine
Dancer, for older fillies and mares at one mile on turf.
Santa
Anita’s comprehensive schedule of traditional Santa Anita Derby preps will
include races worth a total of 170 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and will
begin with the Grade III, $100,000 Sham Stakes (10 points) at one mile on Jan.
5. It’s followed by the Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (10
points) at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 2, and the Grade II, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes
(50 points) at 1 1/16 miles on March 9.
The
winner of the Santa Anita Derby will earn 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
“We
feel the new Derby
points system instituted by Churchill Downs reconfirms the significance of our
traditional 3-year-old program and provides our horsemen added incentive to
compete here,” said Hammerle.
The
74th running of the Grade II, $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap,
Santa Anita’s traditional closing day feature for older horses, will be run at
1 ¾ miles down the Camino Real Turf Course on closing day, April 21.
In
addition to its regular stakes schedule, Santa Anita will regularly card
overnight stakes throughout the meet. Santa Anita’s complete
winter/spring stakes schedule is available at santaanita.com
.
First
post time on Wednesday, Dec. 26, is 12 noon. For more information visit
the website or call (626) 574-RACE.