# Santa Margarita Stakes

The Santa Margarita Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California for fillies and mares age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one and one-eighths miles.
A Grade I event for most of its history, in 2019 it was downgraded to Grade II.
Inaugurated in 1935, the race was open to all horses age three and older until 1938 when it was restricted to fillies and mares.
Since inception, the Santa Margarita Handicap has been raced at various distances:
* 7 furlongs : 1935–1936
* 6 furlongs : 1937
* 8.5 furlongs (1+1⁄16 miles) 1938–1941, 1945–1948, 1953–1954.
* 9 furlongs (1+1⁄8 miles) : 1949–1952, 1955 present
There was no race from 1942 through 1944 as a result of World War II.
The Santa Margarita Handicap was run in two divisions in 1964. The first time it was run as an invitational event was in 1968.

## Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)
* 1:47.00 – Lady's Secret (1986)
Most wins:
* 2 – Our Betters (1956, 1957)
* 2 – Curious Clover (1964, 1965)
* 2 – Tizna – (1974, 1975)
* 2 – Bayakoa (1989, 1990)
* 2 – Paseana (1992, 1994)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 6 – Bill Shoemaker (1951, 1952, 1954, 1966, 1972, 1979)
* 6 – Laffit Pincay Jr. (1967, 1971, 1973, 1981, 1982, 1989)
* 6 – Chris McCarron (1980, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 – Ron McAnally (1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – C. V. Whitney (1947, 1959, 1960)
* 3 – Ethel D. Jacobs (1961, 1966, 1984)
* 3 – William Haggin Perry (1964, 1968, 1969)

## Winners of the Santa Margarita Stakes since 1935

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2023 | Adare Manor | 4 | Juan Hernandez | Bob Baffert | Michael Lund Peterson | 1:49.79 |
| 2019 | Paradise Woods | 5 | Mike E. Smith | John A. Shirreffs | Steven Sarkowsky, Martin & Pam Wygod | 1:51.95 |
| 2018 | Fault | 4 | Geovanni Franco | Philip D'Amato | Agave Racing Stable & Little Red Feather Racing | 1:50.58 |
| 2017 | Vale Dori | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Sheikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum | 1:48.81 |
| 2016 | Tara's Tango | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Jerry Hollendorfer | Stonestreet Stables | 1:50.44 |
| 2015 | Warren's Veneda | 5 | Tyler Baze | Craig Anthony Lewis | Benjamin C. Warren | 1:48.73 |
| 2014 | Let Faith Arise | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Jerry Hollendorfer | Tommy Town Thoroughbreds | 1:48.70 |
| 2013 | Joyful Victory | 5 | Rosie Napravnik | J. Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms | 1:49.53 |
| 2012 | Include Me Out | 4 | Joe Talamo | Ron Ellis | Jay Em Ess Stable | 1:47.62 |
| 2011 | Miss Match (ARG) | 6 | Garrett Gomez | Neil Drysdale | Matthew Cloros | 1:47.33 |
| 2010 | Zenyatta | 6 | Mike E. Smith | John Shirreffs | Jerry & Ann Moss | 1:48.20 |
| 2009 | Life Is Sweet | 4 | Garrett Gomez | John Shirreffs | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1:48.71 |
| 2008 | Nashoba's Key | 5 | Joe Talamo | Carla Gaines | Warren B. Williamson | 1:48.82 |
| 2007 | Balance | 4 | Victor Espinoza | David Hofmans | Amerman Racing | 1:49.25 |
| 2006 | Healthy Addiction | 5 | Jon Court | John W. Sadler | Pamela C. Ziebarth | 1:48.18 |
| 2005 | Tarlow | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | John Shirreffs | Ann & Jerry Moss | 1:49.41 |
| 2004 | Adoration | 5 | Mike E. Smith | David Hofmans | Amerman Racing | 1:48.86 |
| 2003 | Starrer | 5 | Pat Valenzuela | John Shirreffs | George Krikorian | 1:48.20 |
| 2002 | Azeri | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Laura de Seroux | Allen E. Paulson Trust | 1:49.01 |
| 2001 | Lazy Slusan | 6 | David Flores | John K. Dolan | Dolan & Longo | 1:48.59 |
| 2000 | Riboletta | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Eduardo Inda | Aaron & Marie Jones | 1:50.40 |
| 1999 | Manistique | 4 | Gary Stevens | John Shirreffs | 505 Farms | 1:48.31 |
| 1998 | Toda Una Dama | 5 | Goncalino Almeida | Ron McAnally | Janis R. Whitham | 1:48.87 |
| 1997 | Jewel Princess | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase | Stephen & Stephen / TTC | 1:49.30 |
| 1996 | Twice The Vice | 5 | Chris McCarron | Ronald W. Ellis | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1:49.53 |
| 1995 | Queens Court Queen | 6 | Corey Nakatani | Ron McAnally | Alex G. Campbell Jr. | 1:48.81 |
| 1994 | Paseana (ARG) | 7 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Sidney H. Craig | 1:49.12 |
| 1993 | Southern Truce | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Roger Stein | Regal Rose Stable | 1:49.46 |
| 1992 | Paseana (ARG) | 5 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Sidney H. Craig | 1:47.48 |
| 1991 | Little Brianne | 6 | Julio A. Garcia | Jack Van Berg | Robert Alick | 1:48.40 |
| 1990 | Bayakoa (ARG) | 6 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | M/M Frank Whitham | 1:48.40 |
| 1989 | Bayakoa (ARG) | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally | M/M Frank Whitham | 1:48.40 |
| 1988 | Flying Julia | 5 | Frank Olivares | Donn Luby | James Marino | 1:50.40 |
| 1987 | North Sider | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | D. Wayne Lukas & Paul Paternostro | 1:48.80 |
| 1986 | Lady's Secret | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | D. Wayne Lukas | M/M Eugene Klein | 1:47.00 |
| 1985 | Lovlier Linda | 5 | Chris McCarron | Willard L. Proctor | William R. Hawn | 1:48.00 |
| 1984 | Adored | 4 | Fernando Toro | Laz Barrera | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:48.60 |
| 1983 | Marimbula | 5 | Sandy Hawley | Michael Whittingham | Oak Cliff Stable | 1:48.20 |
| 1982 | Ack's Secret | 6 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Michael Whittingham | Oak Cliff Stable | 1:47.60 |
| 1981 | Princess Karenda | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Gene Cleveland | Farish & Jones | 1:47.20 |
| 1980 | Glorious Song | 4 | Chris McCarron | Gerry Belanger | Nelson Bunker Hunt & Frank Stronach | 1:48.40 |
| 1979 | Sanedtki | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Serge Fradkoff | 1:47.80 |
| 1978 | Taisez Vous | 4 | Don Pierce | Robert L. Wheeler | Vernon D. & Ann Eachus | 1:49.00 |
| 1977 | Lucie Manet | 4 | Darrel McHargue | Jaime Villagomez | Valpredo & Valpredo | 1:48.40 |
| 1976 | Fascinating Girl | 4 | Fernando Toro | Tommy Doyle | Golden Eagle Farm | 1:49.40 |
| 1975 | Tizna | 6 | Don Pierce | Henry M. Moreno | Nile Financial Corp. | 1:48.60 |
| 1974 | Tizna | 5 | Fernando Toro | Henry M. Moreno | Nile Financial Corp. | 1:50.80 |
| 1973 | Susan's Girl | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | John W. Russell | Fred W. Hooper | 1:47.80 |
| 1972 | Turkish Trousers | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 1:47.80 |
| 1971 | Manta | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Farrell W. Jones | Elmendorf | 1:48.80 |
| 1970 | Gallant Bloom | 4 | John L. Rotz | William J. Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:50.60 |
| 1969 | Princessnesian | 5 | Don Pierce | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1:53.00 |
| 1968 | Gamely | 4 | Manuel Ycaza | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1:49.00 |
| 1967 | Miss Moona | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Steve Ippolito | Jacnot Stable | 1:50.20 |
| 1966 | Straight Deal II | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:48.60 |
| 1965 | Curious Clover | 5 | Kenneth Church | Clyde Turk | Louis R. Rowan | 1:49.60 |
| 1964 | Curious Clover | 4 | Kenneth Church | Clyde Turk | Louis R. Rowan | 1:48.80 |
| 1964 | Batteur | 4 | Manuel Ycaza | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1:49.00 |
| 1963 | Pixie Erin | 4 | Peter Moreno | Joseph S. Dunn | Howard B. Keck | 1:54.20 |
| 1962 | Queen America | 6 | George Taniguchi | Clyde Turk | Beaty & Dorney | 1:49.40 |
| 1961 | Sister Antoine | 4 | William Harmatz | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:49.60 |
| 1960 | Silver Spoon | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Robert L. Wheeler | C. V. Whitney | 1:48.80 |
| 1959 | Bug Brush | 4 | Angel Valenzuela | Robert L. Wheeler | C. V. Whitney | 1:48.20 |
| 1958 | Born Rich | 5 | Manuel Ycaza | Carl A. Roles | Poltex Stable | 1:50.60 |
| 1957 | Our Betters | 5 | Johnny Longden | William Molter | C. H. Jones & Sons | 1:49.00 |
| 1956 | Our Betters | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | William Molter | C. H. Jones & Sons | 1:49.20 |
| 1955 | Blue Butterfly | 6 | Johnny Longden | Vance Longden | Alberta Ranches, Ltd. | 1:48.60 |
| 1954 | Cerise Reine | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Noble Threewitt | Ada L. Rice | 1:47.00 |
| 1953 | Spanish Cream | 5 | Eric Guerin | Allen Drumheller | H. W. Collins Stable | 1:44.80 |
| 1952 | Bed O' Roses | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:51.40 |
| 1951 | Special Touch | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Allen Drumheller | James N. Crofton | 1:48.60 |
| 1950 | Two Lea | 4 | Steve Brooks | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:52.80 |
| 1949 | Lurline B. | 4 | Walter Litzenberg | Darrell Cannon | Elobee Farm | 1:53.00 |
| 1948 | Miss Doreen | 6 | Johnny Longden | Hurst Philpot | Charles S. Howard | 1:46.00 |
| 1947 | Monsoon | 5 | Ralph Neves | Lydell T. Ruff | C. V. Whitney | 1:43.00 |
| 1946 | Canina | 5 | Johnny Longden | Bob R. Roberts | Aaron Hirschberg | 1:43.40 |
| 1945 | Busher | 3 | Johnny Longden | George M. Odom | Louis B. Mayer | 1:43.00 |
| 1941 | Omelet | 5 | Jack Westrope | George Adams | Vegas Stock Farm | 1:47.20 |
| 1940 | Fairy Chant | 3 | Douglas Dodson | Richard E. Handlen | William duPont Jr. | 1:46.80 |
| 1939 | Flying Lee | 4 | Sam Renick | Duval A. Headley | Hal Price Headley | 1:47.20 |
| 1938 | Primulus | 5 | Lester Balaski | Thomas Griffin | Frank Smith | 1:49.00 |
| 1937 | Stand Pat | 6 | Willie Saunders | Frank Gilpin | Edward F. Seagram | 1:13.00 |
| 1936 | Singing Wood | 5 | Robert Jones | William J. Norton | Liz Whitney | 1:23.00 |
| 1935 | Ted Clark | 5 | Clyde Turk | Charles A. Marone | C. N. Mooney | 1:26.40 |