# Honeymoon Stakes

The Honeymoon Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf course scheduled annually in late May or early June at Santa Anita Park. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

## History

The event was inaugurated on 18 May 1952 as the Sea Breeze Stakes and was run at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California before a crowd of 41,369. The event was run over 6 furlongs on the dirt and was won by Tonga in an upset starting at 51-1 defeating Princess Lygia and A Gleam.
The event honors the outstanding California bred mare, Honeymoon who won several races at Hollywood Park including the inaugural running of the Hollywood Oaks in 1946. Honeymoon was also successful at Santa Anita Park winning the 1948 Santa Maria Handicap.
The event was changed to the Honeymoon Stakes in 1956 then the Honeymoon Handicap in 1975.
The event was run in divisions in 1957 and 1965. The event was first run on the turf track in 1973.
The event was a Grade II from 1998 to 2018.
After the closure of the Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event has been held at Santa Anita Park.
The Honeymoon is a major leading prep race for the Grade I American Oaks run during the first part of July.

### Distance

Since inception, the race has been contested at a variety of distances:
* 1+1⁄8 miles : 1996–1999, 2002–present
* 1+1⁄4 miles : 2001
* 1+1⁄16 miles : 1971–1995
* 1 mile : 1955–1967, 1970
* 7 furlongs : 1954
* 6 furlongs : 1952–1953

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄8 mile – 1:46.37 Going Global (IRE) (2021)
* 1+1⁄16 mile – 1:40.20 Hot Option (1989)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 – Eddie Delahoussaye (1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – Charles E. Whittingham (1967, 1971, 1972, 1982)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| At Santa Anita Park – Honeymoon Stakes ||||||||||
| 2024 | Circle of Trust | Antonio Fresu | Philip D'Amato | James E. Downey | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.40 | $101,000 | III | |
| 2023 | Selenaia | Joe Bravo | Jonathan Thomas | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Madaket Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.18 | $101,500 | III | |
| 2022 | Cairo Memories | Mike E. Smith | Robert B. Hess Jr. | David A. Bernsen & Schroeder Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.67 | $100,500 | III | |
| 2021 | Going Global (IRE) | Flavien Prat | Philip D'Amato | CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.37 | $101,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Laura's Light | Abel Cedillo | Peter Miller | Gary Barber | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.02 | $101,500 | III | |
| 2019 | Lady Prancealot (IRE) | Joseph Talamo | Richard Baltas | J. & M. Iavarone, C. & J. Arntz, J. McClanahan & D. Durando | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.08 | $150,702 | III | |
| 2018 | Paved | Gary L. Stevens | Michael W. McCarthy | Ciaglia Racing & Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.57 | $200,690 | II | |
| 2017 | Sircat Sally | Mike E. Smith | Jerry Hollendorfer | Joe Turner | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.92 | $200,345 | II | |
| 2016 | Cheekaboo | Mike E. Smith | Peter Eurton | Sharon Alesia, Mike Burns & Ciaglia Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.86 | $201,380 | II | |
| 2015 | Spanish Queen | Brice Blanc | Richard Baltas | H. Nakkashian, H. Bederian, H. Kamberian | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.24 | $201,000 | II | |
| 2014 | Nashoba's Gold | Joseph Talamo | Carla Gaines | Warren B. Williamson | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.61 | $200,250 | II | |
| At Hollywood Park – Honeymoon Handicap ||||||||||
| 2013 | Sarach | Martin Garcia | Richard E. Mandella | Wertheimer et Frère | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.73 | $150,750 | II | |
| 2012 | My Gi Gi | Rafael Bejarano | Peter Eurton | Dennis Conner, Lloyd DeBruycker & Wade Jacobsen | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.22 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2011 | Sarah's Secret | Rafael Bejarano | Kathy Walsh | Joan Hadley Thoroughbreds & Al & Sandy Kirkwood | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.04 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2010 | Evening Jewel | Victor Espinoza | James M. Cassidy | Tom & Marilyn Braly | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.87 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2009 | Well Monied | Joel Rosario | Howard L. Zucker | Carl T. Grether | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.35 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2008 | Misty Ocean | Joel Rosario | Jerry Hollendorfer | Jim H. Plemmons | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.56 | $173,250 | II | |
| Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap ||||||||||
| 2007 | Valbenny (IRE) | Alex O. Solis | Patrick Gallagher | Rita DiPietro, LGL Racing, Michael Rosenmayer et al. | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.17 | $154,750 | II | |
| 2006 | Attima (GB) | Victor Espinoza | Julio C. Canani | Anthony Fantcola & Joseph Scardino | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.36 | $137,150 | II | |
| 2005 | Three Degrees (IRE) | Gary L. Stevens | Patrick Gallagher | Harlequin Ranches, Mary Rita DePietro, Aaron Wellman et al. | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.84 | $163,125 | II | |
| 2004 | Lovely Rafaela | Victor Espinoza | Paulo H. Lobo | TNT Stud | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.96 | $184,925 | II | |
| 2003 | Quero Quero | Tyler Baze | Paulo H. Lobo | Old Friends Inc. | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.34 | $215,950 | II | |
| 2002 | Megahertz (GB) | Pat Valenzuela | Robert J. Frankel | Michael Bello | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.97 | $167,050 | II | |
| 2001 | Innit (IRE) | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Richard Duchossois | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.28 | $217,000 | II | |
| Honeymoon Handicap ||||||||||
| 2000 | Classy Cara | Ignacio Puglisi | Doug F. O'Neill | Damos Stathatos & John J. Zamora | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.05 | $150,000 | II | |
| 1999 | Sweet Ludy (IRE) | Gary L. Stevens | Jenine Sahadi | Team Valor, Heiligbrodt Racing Stables, King, et al. | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.05 | $108,600 | II | |
| 1998 | Country Garden (GB) | Kent J. Desormeaux | Walter R. Greenman | Edward T. McGrath | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.74 | $106,800 | II | |
| 1997 | Famous Digger | Brice Blanc | Barry Abrams | Let It Ride Stable et al. | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.68 | $109,100 | III | |
| 1996 | Antespend | Chris Antley | Ron McAnally | Jack Kent Cooke | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.50 | $137,350 | III | |
| 1995 | Auriette (IRE) | Eddie Delahoussaye | Gary F. Jones | Rick Barnes & Prestonwood Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.68 | $107,100 | III | |
| 1994 | Work the Crowd | Chris McCarron | Greg Gilchrist | Harris Farms & Maddy | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.68 | $109,700 | III | |
| ‡1993 | Likeable Style | Eddie Delahoussaye | Richard E. Mandella | Golden Eagle Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.29 | $107,200 | III | |
| 1992 | Pacific Squall | Kent J. Desormeaux | J. Paco Gonzalez | Trudy McCaffery & Joohn Toffan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.02 | $112,100 | III | |
| 1991 | Masake | Martin A. Pedroza | Brian Sweeney | Austin G. E. Taylor | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.10 | $102,900 | III | |
| 1990 | Materco | Eddie Delahoussaye | Mark MacDonald | William R. Hawn | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.40 | $110,800 | III | |
| 1989 | Hot Option | Eddie Delahoussaye | Neil D. Drysdale | Clover Racing Stable, Luke et al. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.20 | $107,600 | III | |
| 1988 | Do So | Alex O. Solis | Ron McAnally | Jack Kent Cooke | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.80 | $131,100 | III | |
| 1987 | Pen Bal Lady (GB) | Eddie Delahoussaye | Hector O. Palma | DeCarlo, LaTorre, Rubenstein et al. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | $127,550 | III | |
| 1986 | An Empress | Pat Valenzuela | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.80 | $111,900 | III | |
| 1985 | Sharp Ascent | Eddie Delahoussaye | John Gosden | Robert E. Sangster | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.40 | $111,900 | III | |
| 1984 | Vagabond Gal | Eddie Delahoussaye | Jerry M. Fanning | Craig B. Singer | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.40 | $110,100 | III | |
| 1983 | Stage Door Canteen | Chris McCarron | Laz Barrera | C. Peter Beler | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.00 | $110,200 | III | |
| 1982 | Castilla | Ray Sibille | Charles E. Whittingham | Mary Jones Bradley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.60 | $106,400 | II | |
| 1981 | Amber Ever | Chris McCarron | John W. Russell | Mr. & Mrs. Hastings Harcourt | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.60 | $84,700 | II | |
| 1980 | †Lady Roberta | Sandy Hawley | Bud Delp | Windfields Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.60 | $105,050 | III | |
| 1979 | Variety Queen | Rudy Rosales | Bruce Headley | Kjell Qvale | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.60 | $55,050 | III | |
| 1978 | Country Queen | Marco Castaneda | Randy Winick | Maribel G. Blum | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $55,200 | III | |
| 1977 | Joyous Ways | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Julius E. Tinsley Jr. | Fred W. Hooper | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $44,150 | III | |
| 1976 | Cascapedia | Bill Shoemaker | Gordon C. Campbell | Bernard J. Ridder | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.20 | $44,750 | III | |
| 1975 | Katonka | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Laz Barrera | Happy Valley Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.20 | $55,650 | III | |
| Honeymoon Stakes ||||||||||
| 1974 | Bedknob | Álvaro Pineda | Jerry M. Fanning | Samuel J. "Jay" Agnew | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.20 | $34,250 | Listed | |
| 1973 | Meilleur | Donald Pierce | John H. Adams | El Peco Ranch (George A. Pope) | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $33,850 | Listed | |
| 1972 | †Le Cle | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Charles E. Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $33,700 | | |
| 1971 | Turkish Trousers | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $33,500 | | |
| 1970 | Street Dancer | Rudy Rosales | John G. Canty | William T. Brady | 1 mile | 1:34.60 | $27,800 | | |
| 1969 | Marjorie's Theme | Jerry Lambert | Gordon C. Campbell | Mr. & Mrs. Norman Alperson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.60 | $28,050 | | |
| 1968 | Miss Ribot | John Sellers | Frank E. Childs | Perne L. & Charles T. Grissom | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.20 | $27,950 | | |
| 1967 | Spinning Around | Milo Valenzuela | Charles E. Whittingham | Oxford Stable | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $28,550 | | |
| 1966 | April Dawn | Dean Hall | Harold C. McBride | Hemacinto (Phillip Stein) & Billrick Stable (Allan Lazaroff) | 1 mile | 1:36.40 | $33,800 | | |
| 1965 | Rullahline | Dave Gorman | John G. Canty | Neil S. McCarthy | 1 mile | 1:35.80 | $32,825 | | Division 1 |
| 1965 | Mine Lovely | Ismael Valenzuela | Robert L. Wheeler | Peter McBean | 1 mile | 1:35.40 | $33,325 | | Division 2 |
| 1964 | Gim Mah | Eddie Burns | Frank Colcord | Mr. & Mrs. Frank Colcord | 1 mile | 1:37.20 | $27,500 | | |
| 1963 | Molly O'Malley | Raymond York | Robert Wingfield | William Radkovich & Raymond Wilson | 1 mile | 1:37.40 | $28,800 | | |
| 1962 | Refanute | Rudy Campas | Harold C. McBride | Horace L. Miller | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $28,900 | | |
| 1961 | Bushel-N-Peck | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex Ellsworth | 1 mile | 1:34.80 | $21,800 | | |
| 1960 | Solid Thought | Donald Pierce | J. Lee Mosbacher | Mosbacher & Leach | 1 mile | 1:36.20 | $22,850 | | |
| 1959 | Cellyar (GB) | Alex Maese | Charles A. Comiskey | Robert S. Le Sage | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $27,350 | | |
| 1958 | Foreverett | John Longden | Dale Landers | Helbush Farms | 1 mile | 1:37.60 | $22,800 | | |
| 1957 | †Great Pride | Bill Shoemaker | James P. Conway | Ada L. Rice | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $21,650 | | Division 1 |
| 1957 | Fanciful Miss | John Longden | Wally Dunn | Joseph W. Brown | 1 mile | 1:36.00 | $21,650 | | Division 2 |
| 1956 | Triple Jay | Alex Maese | Samuel Sechrest | Cardinal & Gold Ranch | 1 mile | 1:36.40 | $22,700 | | |
| Sea Breeze Stakes ||||||||||
| 1955 | Madam Jet | John Longden | John Craigmyle | Alberta Ranches Ltd. | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $22,650 | | |
| 1954 | Miz Clementine | Ismael Valenzuela | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:23.20 | $22,150 | | |
| 1953 | Fleet Khal | John Burton | Mesh Tenney | Rex Ellsworth | 7 furlongs | 1:23.20 | $24,150 | | |
| 1952 | Tonga | Gordon Glisson | Warren Stute | Yolo Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $22,700 | | |
Legend:
 Turf  Dirt
Notes:
† Ran as an entry
‡ In 1993, the race was run off the turf, but retained its GIII status.