# Santa Anita Oaks

Santa Anita Oaks is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies willing to race 8.5 furlongs (1+1⁄16 miles) on the dirt. The race is a Grade II event with a current purse of $200,000 and has been a prep race to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, including the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes.
Inaugurated in 1935 as a race for two-year-olds, it originated as the Santa Susana Stakes. In 1952 the race became the Santa Susana Handicap then in 1958 reverted to the Santa Susana Stakes. In 1986 it was given its current designation as the Santa Anita Oaks. In 2020 the event was downgraded to Grade II.
Since inception, the race has been set at various distances:
* 1935 : 3 furlongs
* 1937 - 1938 : 6 furlongs
* 1939 - 1951 & 1956 : 7 furlongs
* 1954 & 1957 : 8 furlongs
* 1957 – present : 8.5 furlongs

## Records

Stakes Record
* Turbulent Descent (1:41.05) - Current Distance of 8.5 furlongs
Most wins by a jockey:
* Bill Shoemaker - 10
* Donald R. Pierce - 5
* Gary Stevens won four in a row, 1987–1990
Most wins by a trainer:
* D. Wayne Lukas - 8
* Charles E. Whittingham - 4

## Winners of the Santa Anita Oaks since 1975

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Grade |
| 2023 | Faiza | 3 | Flavien Prat | Bob Baffert | Michael Lund Petersen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.27 | II |
| 2022 | Desert Dawn | 3 | Umberto Rispoli | Philip D'Amato | H & E Ranch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.50 | II |
| 2021 | Soothsay | 3 | Flavien Prat | Richard Mandella | Claiborne Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.35 | II |
| 2020 | Swiss Skydiver | 3 | Mike Smith | Kenneth McPeek | Peter J. Callahan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | II |
| 2019 | Bellafina | 3 | Flavien Prat | Simon Callaghan | Kaleem Shah | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.47 | I |
| 2018 | Midnight Bisou | 3 | Mike E. Smith | William Spawr | Allen Racing LLC and Bloom Racing Stable LLC | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.79 | I |
| 2017 | Paradise Woods | 3 | Flavien Prat | Richard Mandella | Sarkowsky, Steven, Wygod, Martin J. and Wygod, Pam | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.53 | I |
| 2016 | Songbird | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Jerry Hollendorfer | Fox Hill Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.14 | I |
| 2015 | Stellar Wind | 3 | Victor Espinoza | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.26 | I |
| 2014 | Fashion Plate | 3 | Gary Stevens | Simon Callaghan | Zetcher/Tabor | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.97 | I |
| 2013 | Beholder | 3 | Garrett K. Gomez | Richard E. Mandella | Spendthrift Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.16 | I |
| 2012 | Willa B Awesome | 3 | Martin Pedroza | Walther Solis | Phil Daniels | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.47 | I |
| 2011 | Turbulent Descent | 3 | David Flores | Mike Puype | Blinkers On Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.05 | I |
| 2010 | Crisp | 3 | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Michael Talla | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.50 | I |
| 2009 | Stardom Bound | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Robert J. Frankel | IEAH Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.62 | I |
| 2008 | Ariege | 3 | Corey Nakatani | Robert J. Frankel | IEAH Stables/Pegasus Group | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.73 | I |
| 2007 | Rags to Riches | 3 | Garrett Gomez | Todd Pletcher | M.Tabor & D. Smith | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.84 | I |
| 2006 | Balance | 3 | Victor Espinoza | David Hofmans | Amerman Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.99 | I |
| 2005 | Sweet Catomine | 3 | Corey Nakatani | Julio C. Canani | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.44 | I |
| 2004 | Silent Sighs | 3 | David R. Flores | Julio C. Canani | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.84 | I |
| 2003 | Composure | 3 | Jerry Bailey | Bob Baffert | Robert & Beverly Lewis | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.34 | I |
| 2002 | You | 3 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.70 | I |
| 2001 | Golden Ballet | 3 | Chris McCarron | Jenine Sahadi | Team Valor/Heiligbrodt Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.83 | I |
| 2000 | Surfside | 3 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.03 | I |
| 1999 | Excellent Meeting | 3 | David R. Flores | Bob Baffert | Golden Eagle Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.26 | I |
| 1998 | Hedonist | 3 | Kent Desormeaux | Randy Bradshaw | Siegel family | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.14 | I |
| 1997 | Sharp Cat | 3 | Corey Nakatani | D. Wayne Lukas | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.22 | I |
| 1996 | Antespend | 3 | Chris Antley | Ronald McAnally | Jack Kent Cooke | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.04 | I |
| 1995 | Serena's Song | 3 | Corey Nakatani | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert & Beverly Lewis | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.71 | I |
| 1994 | Lakeway | 3 | Kent Desormeaux | Gary F. Jones | Michael G. Rutherford | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.66 | I |
| 1993 | Eliza | 3 | Pat Valenzuela | Alex Hassinger, Jr. | Allen E. Paulson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.97 | I |
| 1992 | Golden Treat | 3 | Kent Desormeaux | Richard Mandella | Golden Eagle Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.37 | I |
| 1991 | Lite Light | 3 | Corey Nakatani | Henry Moreno | Oaktown Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | I |
| 1990 | Hail Atlantis | 3 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Tayhill Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | I |
| 1989 | Imaginary Lady | 3 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | French, Jr. & Lukas | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | I |
| 1988 | Winning Colors | 3 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.00 | I |
| 1987 | Timely Assertion | 3 | Gary Stevens | Henry Moreno | Wichita Equine, Inc. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | I |
| 1986 | Hidden Light | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | I |
| 1985 | Fran's Valentine | 3 | Pat Valenzuela | Joseph Manzi | Green Thumb Farm Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | I |
| 1984 | Althea | 3 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Aykroyd, Alexander & Groves | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | I |
| 1983 | Fabulous Notion | 3 | Donald R. Pierce | James Jordan | Pine Meadow Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | I |
| 1982 | Blush With Pride | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | D. Wayne Lukas | Stonereath Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | I |
| 1981 | Nell's Briquette | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | Jack Van Berg | Triple L. Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | I |
| 1980 | Bold 'n Determined | 3 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Neil Drysdale | Saron Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | I |
| 1979 | Caline | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | Laz Barrera | Oatlands Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.60 | I |
| 1978 | Grenzen | 3 | Darrel McHargue | Lorren Rettele | Woolsey,Schaffer & Delaplaine | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | II |
| 1977 | Sound of Summer | 3 | Fernando Toro | Tom Pratt | Busching & Bernstein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.20 | II |
| 1976 | Girl in Love | 3 | Fernando Toro | Vincent Clyne | Elmendorf Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | II |
| 1975 | Sarsar | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | David A. Whiteley | William H. Perry | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | II |

## Earlier winners

* 1974 - Miss Musket
* 1973 - Belle Marie
* 1972 - Susan's Girl
* 1971 - Turkish Trousers
* 1970 - Opening Bid
* 1969 - Dumptys Lady
* 1968 - Allie's Serenade
* 1967 - Fish House
* 1966 - Spearfish
* 1965 - Desert Love
* 1964 - Blue Norther
* 1963 - Lamb Chop
* 1962 - Pixie Erin
* 1961 - Fun House
* 1960 - Darling June
* 1959 - Silver Spoon
* 1958 - Penumbra
* 1957 - Market Basket
* 1956 - Dupatta
* 1955 - No race
* 1954 - Quillo Maid
* 1953 - Femme Fatale
* 1952 - Season's Best
* 1951 - Ruth Lily †
* 1950 - Special Touch
* 1949 - Gaffery
* 1948 - Mrs. Rabbit
* 1947 - Hubble Bubble
* 1946 - Enfilade
* 1945 - Busher
* 1941 - Cute Trick
* 1940 - Augury
* 1939 - Sweet Nancy
* 1938 - Minulus
* 1937 - Patty Cake
* 1936 - No race
* 1935 - Dunlin Lady