San Rafael Stakes
The San Rafael Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Santa Anita Park, located in Arcadia, California. The race was a Grade III event with a purse of $150,000 and was open to three-year-olds willing to race one mile (8 furlongs) on the facility's dirt race track.
| Grade III race | |
| Location | Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $150,000 |
Prior to 2005, the race was held in early March. Beginning in 2005, the race was moved to mid-January to offer a better fit to trainers to race in the Sham Stakes, the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (formerly known as the Santa Catalina Stakes) and the San Felipe Stakes. It became the year's first official prep race for the U.S. Triple Crown series. However, after Conveyance's win in 2010, Santa Anita has stopped running this event.
On November 28, 2007, this Grade II stakes race was downgraded to a Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:33.37 - El Gato Malo (2008) (On Cushion Track)
- 1:34.40 - Prince Spellbound (1982) (on dirt)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 - Chris McCarron (1983, 1984, 1986, 1991, 2002)
- 5 - Gary Stevens (1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2005)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 - Laz S. Barrera (1985, 1990)
- 2 - Craig A. Lewis (1989, 1995)
- 2 - Neil Drysdale (1992, 2000)
- 2 - D. Wayne Lukas (1994, 1996)
- 2 - Wallace Dollase (1998, 1999)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - Thoroughbred Corp. (1998, 1999)
Winners of the San Rafael Stakes
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Conveyance | Garrett Gomez | Bob Baffert | Zabeel Racing International | 1:36.45 |
| 2009 | The Pamplemousse | Alex Solis | Julio C. Canani | Alex Solis, Jr. | 1:35.31 |
| 2008 | El Gato Malo | David R. Flores | Craig Dollase | West Point Thoroughbreds | 1:33.37 |
| 2007 | Notional | Corey Nakatani | Doug O'Neill | J. Paul Reddam | 1:36.48 |
| 2006 | Brother Derek | Alex Solis | Dan Hendricks | Cecil N. Peacock | 1:36.11 |
| 2005 | Spanish Chestnut | Gary Stevens | Patrick Biancone | Smith & Tabor | 1:36.69 |
| 2004 | Imperialism | Victor Espinoza | Kristin Mulhall | Steve Taub | 1:36.11 |
| 2003 | Rojo Toro | Jerry Bailey | Bob Baffert | Hal Earnhardt | 1:35.89 |
| 2002 | Came Home | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | Farish et al. | 1:36.24 |
| 2001 | Crafty C.T. | Ed Delahoussaye | Howard Zucker | C. T. Grether, Inc. | 1:35.79 |
| 2000 | War Chant | Kent Desormeaux | Neil D. Drysdale | Irving & Marjorie Cowan | 1:36.45 |
| 1999 | Desert Hero | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase | Thoroughbred Corp. | 1:36.45 |
| 1998 | Orville N Wilbur's | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase | Thoroughbred Corp. et al. | 1:35.96 |
| 1997 | Funontherun | Goncalino Almeida | Melvin F. Stute | Dave & Herb Alpert | 1:36.01 |
| 1996 | Honour and Glory | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1:36.45 |
| 1995 | Larry The Legend | Kent Desormeaux | Craig A. Lewis | Craig A. Lewis | 1:37.61 |
| 1994 | Tabasco Cat | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook & Reynolds | 1:36.39 |
| 1993 | Devoted Brass | Kent Desormeaux | Noble Threewitt | Don W. Jordens | 1:35.13 |
| 1992 | A.P. Indy | Ed Delahoussaye | Neil D. Drysdale | Tomonori Tsurumaki | 1:35.41 |
| 1991 | Dinard | Chris McCarron | Richard J. Lundy | Allen E. Paulson | 1:35.80 |
| 1990 | Mister Frisky | Gary Stevens | Laz S. Barrera | Solymar Stud | 1:36.60 |
| 1989 | Music Merci | Gary Stevens | Craig A. Lewis | Pendleton/Royal T. Stable | 1:34.80 |
| 1988 | What a Diplomat | Gary Stevens | Richard Mulhall | Meyer & Mollie Gaskin | 1:38.00 |
| 1987 | Masterful Advocate | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Joseph Manzi | Belles (Lessee) & Leveton | 1:35.80 |
| 1986 | Variety Road | Chris McCarron | Bruce Headley | Kjell H. Qvale | 1:35.60 |
| 1985 | Smarten Up | Rafael Meza | Laz S. Barrera | Ryehill Farm | 1:36.20 |
| 1984 | Precisionist | Chris McCarron | Ross Fenstermaker | Fred W. Hooper | 1:35.00 |
| 1983 | Desert Wine | Chris McCarron | Jerry M. Fanning | Cardiff Stud/T90 Ranch | 1:35.60 |
| 1982 | Prince Spellbound | Marco Castaneda | Lester W. Holt | William L. Pease | 1:34.40 |
| 1981 | Johnlee n' Harold | Marco Castaneda | Hal King | Michael I. Blake | 1:36.00 |
References
- The San Rafael Stakes at Pedigree Query
- Thoroughbred Times article on the 2008 San Rafael Stakes titled El Gato Malo streaks to record-setting San Rafael win