# Santa Ynez Stakes

The Santa Ynez Stakes is a Listed American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track held annually in early January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, USA. The event currently offers a purse of US$100,000.

## History

The event was named after the location and landmarks in Southern California, known as Santa Ynez in the Santa Ynez Valley and the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara County. Santa Ynez is Spanish for the virgin martyr Saint Agnes.
The inaugural running of the event was on New Year's Day in 1952 over a distance of six furlongs and was won the C. Ralph West trained coupled entry of Last Greetings and Asiatic. Last Greetings was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro won by 2+1⁄2 lengths over A Gleam with long shot Season's Best was three lengths further back in third. While Last Greetings won one more event in her career, A Gleam had a phenomenal season setting a Hollywood Park Racetrack record winning five straight stakes races in 1952.
For the 1952–53 Winter Meeting at Santa Anita the event was held as a two-year-old fillies event on the last day of December in 1952. Hence the event was not held in the 1953 calendar year. In 1954 the distance of the event was extended to 7 furlongs. In 1956 the distance of the event was reverted to six furlongs. The last running of the event at the six furlongs distance was in 1957 and was won by the 2/5 short priced favorite Sully's Trial who completed a six race winning streak.
In 1958 the distance was increased to 6+1⁄2 furlongs and was run at this distance for nine years. Of the notable winners during this period include the 1959 winner Silver Spoon who would be the first filly to win the Santa Ynez–Santa Susana Stakes (now Santa Anita Oaks) double as well as the Santa Anita Derby and run fifth in the 1959 Kentucky Derby to winner Tomy Lee. Silver Spoon would be voted as Thoroughbred Racing Association's U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. The 1964 winner Face The Facts, even money favorite, won by a stakes record 10+1⁄2 lengths and equaled the track record for the 6+1⁄2 furlongs distance. The winning margin continues to be the stakes record margin to date. In 1967 the event's distance was increased to seven furlongs and was run at this distance until 2012.
In the early 1970s three winners of the event went on the win the Santa Ynez–Santa Susana Stakes double. The 1971 winner Turkish Trousers easily won the event by 3+3⁄4 lengths in a time of 1:233⁄5. She later would be voted U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Filly for 1971. In 1972 Fred W. Hooper's Susan's Girl set a new stakes record of 1:214⁄5 in her easy 3+1⁄2 length victory. She also would go on and have a successful year winning the Kentucky Oaks as well as seven other stakes races around the US and would be crowned U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
In 1973 when the American Graded Stakes Committee would actively begin classifying events the Santa Ynez Stakes was classified as a Grade II event. However, the event would be downgraded to Grade III in 1975. In 1981 the event was upgraded once more to Grade II for three runnings.
The event was run in two divisions in 1984. Also in 1984 the event was downgraded again to Grade III. The event nonetheless attracted high quality fillies who were starting their campaigns for the year and would go on to have outstanding seasons. The 1987 winner Very Subtle won her sixth straight race and later in the year would win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The 1988 winner Goodbye Halo was a short 4/5 odds-on favorite and easily account for her opposition winning by five lengths. Later in the spring of that year she captured the Grade I Kentucky Oaks. With such quality fillies winning the race the event was reclassified as Grade II in 1990. Between 1990 and 1995, the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event.
In 1995 the event was once again was classified as Grade III and the winner was Robert & Beverly Lewis's Serena's Song, winning by two lengths as the 3/2 second favorite. Serena's Song would win eight more races, six of which were Grade I, including defeating her male counterparts in the GI Haskell Invitational Handicap. Her performance earned her U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors for 1995.
Since 1999 the event has been classified with Grade II status.
In the 21st century the event has continued to be a major preparatory race for three-year-old fillies who go on and excel in higher classified with greater stakes. Lightly raced Golden Ballet won the event in 2001 and captured the Santa Ynez–Santa Anita Oaks double.
In 2007 Santa Anita Park administration installed a new All-weather track and for the 2008 the winner was the 2007 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and 2007 US Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Indian Blessing. Indian Blessing started as the 1/10 odds-on favorite, although she was 3 lengths ahead in the straight Indian Blessing held on for a head victory over Golden Doc setting a new stakes and track record for the distance of 1:19.89.
Since 2011 the event has been held on the dirt track.
In 2018 Midnight Bisou as a maiden having her third start won the event convincingly by 4+1⁄2 lengths. Although Midnight Bisou did not win any honors the following year she won seven graded events and was crowned US Champion Older Dirt Female Horse for 2019.
Since 2013 the event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.

## Records

Speed record:
* 7 furlongs: 1:19.89 – Indian Blessing (2008)
* 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:15.25 – Reneesgotzip (2012)
* 6 furlongs: 1:10.20 – Sully's Trail (1957)
Margins:
* 10+1⁄2 lengths – Face The Facts (1964)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 7 – Bill Shoemaker (1960, 1961, 1962, 1969, 1971, 1980, 1987)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 7 – Bob Baffert (1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Bernard J. Ridder and/or Ridder Thoroughbred Stable (1974, 1981, 1996)
Santa Ynez Stakes – Santa Susana Stakes/Santa Anita Oaks double:
* Silver Spoon (1959), Spearfish (1966), Mira Femme (1967), Allie's Serenade (1968), Opening Bid (1970), Turkish Trousers (1971), Susan's Girl (1972), Grenzen (1978), Serena's Song (1995), Golden Ballet (2001), Midnight Bisou (2018), Bellafina (2019)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| 2025 | Look Forward | Mario Gutierrez | Micheal McCarthy | Reddam Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:25.42 | $101,500 | Listed | |
| 2024 | Kopion | Flavien Prat | Richard Mandella | Spendthrift Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:23.89 | $98,000 | III | |
| 2023 | Ice Dancing | Flavien Prat | Richard Mandella | Bass II, Perry R. and Bass, Ramona S. | 7 furlongs | 1:22.78 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Under the Stars | Flavien Prat | Bob Baffert | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor | 7 furlongs | 1:22.51 | $200,500 | II | |
| 2021 | Kalypso | Joel Rosario | Bob Baffert | David A Bernsen, Rockingham Ranch & Chad Littlefield | 7 furlongs | 1:23.42 | $200,500 | II | |
| 2020 | Bast | Drayden Van Dyke | Bob Baffert | Baoma Corporation | 7 furlongs | 1:23.42 | $200,500 | II | |
| 2019 | Bellafina | Flavien Prat | Simon Callaghan | Kaleem Shah | 7 furlongs | 1:22:00 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2018 | Midnight Bisou | Mike E. Smith | William Spawr | Allen Racing & Bloom Racing Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.40 | $201,035 | II | |
| 2017 | Unique Bella | Mike E. Smith | Jerry Hollendorfer | Don Alberto Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.21 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2016 | Forever Darling | Rafael Bejarano | Richard Baltas | Richard Baltas, Hebert Bloodstock & J K Racing Stable | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.25 | $200,500 | II | |
| 2015 | Seduire | Rafael Bejarano | Jerry Hollendorfer | Regis Farms | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.37 | $201,000 | II | |
| 2014 | Awesome Baby | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Kaleem Shah | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.62 | $196,000 | II | |
| 2013 | Renee's Titan | Tyler Baze | Doug F. O'Neill | Zillah Reddam | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.14 | $150,500 | II | |
| 2012 | Reneesgotzip | Corey Nakatani | Peter L. Miller | Lanni Family Trust | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.25 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2011 | California Nectar | Pat Valenzuela | Doug F. O'Neill | Suarez Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:21.34 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2010 | Amen Hallelujah | Chantal Sutherland | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables & Whizway Farms | 7 furlongs | 1:21.39 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2009 | Alpha Kitten | Tyler Baze | John W. Sadler | Ann & Jerome Moss | 7 furlongs | 1:21.84 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2008 | Indian Blessing | Garrett K. Gomez | Bob Baffert | Patti & Hal J. Earnhardt III | 7 furlongs | 1:19.89 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2007 | Jump On In | Corey Nakatani | John W. Sadler | C R K Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.45 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2006 | § Dance Daily | Jon Court | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert & Beverly Lewis | 7 furlongs | 1:23.34 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2005 | Sharp Lisa | Tyler Baze | Doug F. O'Neill | J. Paul Reddam, Suarez Racing & Mark Schlesinger | 7 furlongs | 1:23.10 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2004 | Yearly Report | Jerry D. Bailey | Bob Baffert | Golden Eagle Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:21.11 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2003 | Elloluv | Pat Valenzuela | Craig Dollase | J. Paul Reddam | 7 furlongs | 1:23.03 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2002 | Dancing (GB) | Gary L. Stevens | Jenine Sahadi | Howard J. Baker | 7 furlongs | 1:23.07 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2001 | Golden Ballet | Chris McCarron | Jenine Sahadi | Team Valor & Heiligbrodt Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.30 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2000 | Penny Blues | Eddie Delahoussaye | Edwin J. Gregson | Buffalo Wallet | 7 furlongs | 1:23.38 | $106,000 | II | |
| 1999 | Honest Lady | Kent J. Desormeaux | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 7 furlongs | 1:21.67 | $103,292 | II | |
| 1998 | Nijinsky's Passion | Corey Black | Tim Pinfield | Imagination Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.15 | $108,300 | III | |
| 1997 | Queen of Money | David R. Flores | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 7 furlongs | 1:22.55 | $105,650 | III | |
| 1996 | Raw Gold | Chris Antley | David E. Hofmans | Ridder Thoroughbred Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.66 | $104,550 | III | |
| 1995 | Serena's Song | Corey Nakatani | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert & Beverly Lewis | 7 furlongs | 1:21.45 | $99,800 | III | |
| 1994 | Tricky Code | Corey Nakatani | Gary F. Jones | Kallenberg Thoroughbreds | 7 furlongs | 1:22.16 | $104,575 | II | |
| 1993 | Fit to Lead | Corey Nakatani | Caesar F. Dominguez | Roger Birnbaum, Peter A. & Barbara Walski et al. | 7 furlongs | 1:22.55 | $107,500 | II | |
| 1992 | Looie Capote | Kent J. Desormeaux | Eyal Klayman | Martin L. or Lois E. Gellman | 7 furlongs | 1:23.42 | $106,450 | II | |
| 1991 | Brazen | Chris McCarron | Jerry M. Fanning | Olin B. Gentry | 7 furlongs | 1:23.60 | $87,300 | II | |
| 1990 | Fit to Scout | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | Robert M. Snell | 7 furlongs | 1:23.80 | $105,625 | II | |
| 1989 | Hot Novel | Eddie Delahoussaye | Fabio Nor | Joanne H. Nor | 7 furlongs | 1:22.80 | $80,700 | III | |
| 1988 | Goodbye Halo | Jorge Velasquez | Charles E. Whittingham | Arthur B. Hancock III | 7 furlongs | 1:23.40 | $81,650 | III | |
| 1987 | Very Subtle | Bill Shoemaker | Melvin F. Stute | Carl Grinstead & Ben Rochelle | 7 furlongs | 1:22.60 | $79,950 | III | |
| 1986 | Sari's Heroine | Alex O. Solis | Melvin F. Stute | Carl Grinstead & Ben Rochelle | 7 furlongs | 1:23.40 | $88,000 | III | |
| 1985 | Wising Up | Eddie Delahoussaye | D. Wayne Lukas | Samuel E. Stevens | 7 furlongs | 1:23.40 | $88,600 | III | |
| 1984 | Gene's Lady | Laffit Pincay Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Mr. & Mrs. Eugene V. Klein | 7 furlongs | 1:23.20 | $68,600 | III | Division 1 |
| 1984 | Boo La Boo | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Melvin F. Stute | Charles Cale, Jack Liebau & Davis | 7 furlongs | 1:23.80 | $66,900 | III | Division 2 |
| 1983 | A Lucky Sign | Chris McCarron | Bruce Headley | Bruce Headley, Elwood W. Johnston & Elizabeth Johnston | 7 furlongs | 1:23.40 | $82,800 | II | |
| 1982 | Flying Partner | Ray Sibille | Charles E. Whittingham | Buckland Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:22.80 | $83,050 | II | |
| 1981 | Past Forgetting | Sandy Hawley | Gordon C. Campbell | Bernard J. Ridder | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $68,800 | II | |
| 1980 | Table Hands | Bill Shoemaker | Willard L. Proctor | H. Joseph Allen & Peter M. Brant | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $65,700 | III | |
| 1979 | Terlingua | Laffit Pincay Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Barry A. Beal & L. Robert French Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:21.20 | $64,900 | III | |
| 1978 | Grenzen | Darrel G. McHargue | Loren Rettele | Diana Delaplaine, Marjorie Schaffer & Jacqueline Woolsey | 7 furlongs | 1:22.20 | $45,600 | III | |
| 1977 | Wavy Waves | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Julius E. Tinsley Jr. | Fred W. Hooper | 7 furlongs | 1:22.80 | $47,550 | III | |
| 1976 | Daisy Do | Sandy Hawley | Hector O. Palma | Mr. & Mrs. Robert Levey | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $33,800 | III | |
| 1975 | Raise Your Skirts | William Mahorney | Barney Willis | Jacqueline Woolsey & Virginia Willis | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $36,850 | III | |
| 1974 | Modus Vivendi | Donald Pierce | Gordon C. Campbell | Bernard J. Ridder | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $46,500 | II | |
| 1973 | Tallahto | Jorge Tejeira | Charles E. Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 7 furlongs | 1:21.40 | $43,800 | II | |
| 1972 | Susan's Girl | Victor Tejeda | John W. Russell | Fred W. Hooper | 7 furlongs | 1:21.80 | $47,200 | | |
| 1971 | Turkish Trousers | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 7 furlongs | 1:23.60 | $33,800 | | |
| 1970 | Opening Bid | Donald Pierce | Lou Glauburg | Mr. & Mrs. John J. Elmore | 7 furlongs | 1:22.20 | $31,650 | | |
| 1969 | Poona Downs | Bill Shoemaker | Lou Glauburg | Mr. & Mrs. John J. Elmore | 7 furlongs | 1:24.00 | $29,550 | | |
| 1968 | Allie's Serenade | Laffit Pincay Jr. | William J. Hirsch | Mereworth Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:22.60 | $28,850 | | |
| 1967 | Mira Femme | Walter Blum | Irv Guiney | Verne H. Winchell | 7 furlongs | 1:24.20 | $27,550 | | |
| 1966 | Spearfish | Donald Pierce | William A. Peterson | Michael H. Silver | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.20 | $29,000 | | |
| 1965 | § Respected | Manuel Ycaza | James W. Maloney | William H. Perry | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.20 | $32,450 | | |
| 1964 | Face The Facts | Manuel Ycaza | James W. Maloney | William H. Perry | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.40 | $22,900 | | |
| 1963 | Nalee | Kenneth Church | Pete Groos | Edith V. Cardy | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.40 | $22,850 | | |
| 1962 | § Don't Linger | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:17.60 | $17,050 | | |
| 1961 | Het's Pet | Bill Shoemaker | J. G. Evenson | Mr. & Mrs. John Eyraud | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.80 | $17,300 | | |
| 1960 | Solid Thought | Bill Shoemaker | J. Lee Mosbacher | J. Lee Mosbacher & William Leach | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:18.00 | $18,150 | | |
| 1959 | Silver Spoon | Raymond York | Robert L. Wheeler | Cornelius V. Whitney | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:17.00 | $17,150 | | |
| 1958 | Zev's Joy | George Taniguchi | Roy H. Highley | Harvey F. Dick | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:17.40 | $18,500 | | |
| 1957 | Sully's Trail | George Taniguchi | Warren Stute | Mrs. Ann Peppers | 6 furlongs | 1:10.20 | $17,350 | | |
| 1956 | Neva T. | George Taniguchi | R. L. Anderson | Howard D. Chastain & John J. Elmore | 6 furlongs | 1:11.00 | $17,300 | | |
| 1955 | § In Reserve | Johnny Longden | Vance Longden | Alberta Ranches | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $22,500 | | |
| 1954 | Sweet As Honey | Johnny Longden | Ellwood B. Johnston | Mr. & Mrs. Ellwood B. Johnston | 7 furlongs | 1:23.00 | $17,500 | | |
| 1953 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1952 | Lap Full | Eddie Arcaro | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:11.60 | $17,150 | † 2YOF | December |
| 1952 | § Last Greetings | Eddie Arcaro | C. Ralph West | Clifford Mooers | 6 furlongs | 1:11.20 | $23,700 | | January |
Legend:
 All Weather Track  Dirt
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† Event held as a two-year-old fillies event since the scheduling of the event was in December for the 1952–53 Winter Meeting at Santa Anita