# Rancho Bernardo Handicap

The Rancho Bernardo Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

## History

The event named after the master-planned community community Rancho Bernardo, San Diego located about 25 miles from Del Mar, was inaugurated on 14 October 1967 during the then Del Mar Fall meeting and held in split divisions for three-year-olds and older, and was run over a distance of one mile on the dirt track. The event was idle for five years and was resurrected in 1973 again in split divisions for three-year-olds and older, but this time on the grass track over 1+1⁄16 miles.
In 1974 the event was shortened to 6 furlongs and conditions were for fillies and mares three-years-old and older.
In 1986 the distance for the event was increased to 6+1⁄2 furlongs which is the current distance.
In 1988 the event was classified as a Grade III race.
In 1997 the John W. Sadler trained Track Gal won the event for the third time straight.
Between 1990 and 1995 the race had Breeders' Cup incentives which reflected in the name of the event. As of 2008, it is a Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" event, qualifying the winner to run in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
The event has showcased some brilliant female sprinters that have gone on to capture Breeders' Cup events. Of these mares, the 1995 winner Desert Stormer went onto win the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Belmont Park defeating males. The 2014 winner Judy the Beauty went on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and was crowned US Champion Female Sprint Horse that year.

## Records

Speed record:
* 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:14.20 - Track Gal (1995)
* 6 furlongs: 1:08.60 - Impressive Style (1974), Great Lady M. (1980), Lucky Lady Ellen (1982), Pleasure Cay (1984)
Margins:
* 7 lengths - Sweet Azteca (2024)
Most wins:
* 3 - Track Gal (1995, 1996, 1997)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 9 - Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000)
* 8 - Chris McCarron (1978, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 7 - John W. Sadler (1995, 1996, 1997, 2008, 2018, 2021, 2022)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps (1995, 1996, 1997)
* 3 - Hronis Racing (2018, 2021, 2022)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| 2024 | Sweet Azteca | 4 | Flavien Prat | Michael W. McCarthy | Pamela C. Ziebarth | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.60 | $100,500 | III | |
| 2023 | Eda | 4 | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | Baoma Corp | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.49 | $126,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Edgeway | 5 | Juan J. Hernandez | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.97 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2021 | Edgeway | 4 | Joe Bravo | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.80 | $98,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Sneaking Out | 4 | Umberto Rispoli | Jerry Hollendorfer | KMN Racing | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.57 | $101,500 | III | |
| 2019 | Danuska's My Girl | 5 | Geovanni Franco | Jerry Hollendorfer | Bad Boy Racing | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:17.13 | $101,404 | III | |
| 2018 | Yuvetsi | 4 | Tyler Baze | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:17.22 | $98,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Skye Diamonds | 4 | Tiago Josue Pereira | William Spawr | Allen Racing, Bloom Racing Stables, Tom Acker & John Lindo | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.35 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Tara's Tango | 4 | Martin Garcia | Jerry Hollendorfer | Stonestreet Stables | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.60 | $100,345 | III | |
| 2015 | Taris | 4 | Gary L. Stevens | Simon Callaghan | Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.31 | $100,500 | III | |
| 2014 | Judy the Beauty | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Wesley A. Ward | Wesley A. Ward | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.63 | $147,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Reneesgotzip | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | Peter L. Miller | Lanni Family Trust | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.48 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2012 | Winding Way | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Carla Gaines | Spendthrift Farm | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.93 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2011 | Tanda | 4 | Joseph Talamo | Mike R. Mitchell | Tommy Hutton's Dream Stable | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.34 | $147,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Sweet August Moon | 5 | Victor Espinoza | Brian J. Koriner | Legacy Ranch & Team MacPherson | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.40 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2009 | Carlsbad | 3 | Tyler Baze | Jeff Mullins | Dennis E. Weir | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.93 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2008 | Dearest Trickski | 4 | Mike E. Smith | John W. Sadler | Tom Mankiewicz | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.17 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2007 | River's Prayer | 4 | Clinton L. Potts | Paula S. Capestro | Bantry Farms,Paula S. Capestro & Martin Racing Stable | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:17.85 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2006 | Behaving Badly | 5 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Patti & Hal J. Earnhardt III | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.04 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2005 | Behaving Badly | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Patti & Hal J. Earnhardt III | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.32 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2004 | Dream of Summer | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Juan J. Garcia | James Weigel | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.85 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2003 | Secret Liaison | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Ted H. West | Desperado Stables | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.53 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2002 | Kalookan Queen | 6 | Alex O. Solis | Bruce Headley | Luis A. Asistio | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.40 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2001 | Kalookan Queen | 5 | Alex O. Solis | Bruce Headley | Luis A. Asistio | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.52 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2000 | Theresa's Tizzy | 6 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Noble Threewitt | Bellestri, Johnson, Leach, et al | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.23 | $150,000 | III | |
| 1999 | Enjoy the Moment | 4 | David R. Flores | William Spawr | Farfellow Farm | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.97 | $150,000 | III | |
| 1998 | Advancing Star | 5 | Chris McCarron | Richard E. Mandella | Golden Eagle Farm | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.64 | $106,900 | III | |
| 1997 | Track Gal | 6 | Gary L. Stevens | John W. Sadler | William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.64 | $109,125 | III | |
| 1996 | Track Gal | 5 | Chris McCarron | John W. Sadler | William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.64 | $103,550 | III | |
| 1995 | Track Gal | 4 | Chris McCarron | John W. Sadler | William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.28 | $103,025 | III | |
| 1994 | Desert Stormer | 4 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Fabio Nor | Joanne H. Nor | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.81 | $107,800 | III | |
| 1993 | Knight Prospector | 4 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Craig Anthony Lewis | Gaswirth & Mirage Stable | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:16.40 | $88,800 | III | |
| 1992 | Bountiful Native | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Dan L. Hendricks | Mr. & Mrs. Martin J. Wygod | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.30 | $106,525 | III | |
| 1991 | Cascading Gold | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Neil D. Drysdale | Morven Stud Farm | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.42 | $94,475 | III | |
| 1990 | Hot Novel | 4 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Fabio Nor | Joanne H. Nor | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.60 | $107,875 | III | |
| 1989 | Kool Arrival | 3 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Melvin F. Stute | Pete Valenti, John Coelho, & Philip Fields | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.20 | $81,375 | III | |
| 1988 | Clabber Girl | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | John A. Nerud | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.60 | $65,750 | III | |
| 1987 | Julie the Flapper | 3 | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | Calumet Farm | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.00 | $55,700 | | |
| 1986 | Bold N Special | 3 | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | Patricia A. & Cleber J. Massey | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.60 | $53,350 | | |
| 1985 | Take My Picture | 3 | Frank Olivares | Gary J. Lewis | L. G. & Helen Rhodes | 6 furlongs | 1:09.20 | $55,700 | | |
| 1984 | Pleasure Cay | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Neil D. Drysdale | William S. Kilroy | 6 furlongs | 1:08.60 | $54,750 | | |
| 1983 | Bara Lass | 4 | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | Sam Edward Stevens | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $54,300 | | |
| 1982 | Lucky Lady Ellen | 3 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Cloyce Box | 6 furlongs | 1:08.60 | $54,350 | | |
| 1981 | Forluvofiv | 4 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Karl Pew | Amy’s Racing Stable, Karl Pew & Tom Stadel | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $53,900 | | |
| 1980 | Great Lady M. | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert H. Spreen | 6 furlongs | 1:08.60 | $43,800 | | |
| 1979 | Fantastic Girl | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | Gary F. Jones | Golden Eagle Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:09.20 | $38,500 | | |
| 1978 | Happy Holme | 4 | Chris McCarron | Warren Stute | Indian Hill Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:13.00 | $31,700 | | |
| 1977 | Lullaby Song | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Roger E. Clapp | Mrs. Connie M. Ring | 6 furlongs | 1:09.00 | $27,800 | | |
| 1976 | Mama Kali | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | David E. Hofmans | Pearson’s Barn | 6 furlongs | 1:09.20 | $27,650 | | |
| 1975 | Mama Kali | 4 | Jerry Lambert | David E. Hofmans | Pearson’s Barn | 6 furlongs | 1:09.20 | $28,300 | | |
| 1974 | Impressive Style | 4 | Rudy Rosales | Bill McCormick | Johnston & Johnston | 6 furlongs | 1:08.60 | $27,550 | | |
| 1973 | Fairly Certain | 4 | Steve Valdez | Theodore Saladin | Ada L. Martin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | $17,150 | 3YO & older | Division 1 |
| 1973 | Dollar Discount | 4 | Steve Valdez | Theodore Saladin | Ada L. Martin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $16,550 | 3YO & older | Division 2 Dead heat |
| 1973 | D. B. Carm | 4 | Fernando Toro | Sid Martin | Mr. & Mrs. S. N. Simmons | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $16,550 | 3YO & older | Division 2 Dead heat |
| 1968–1972 | 1968–1972 | 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 |
| 1967 | Sharp Decline | 5 | Raymond Bianco | Curt N. Sundlie | W. H. Cook | 1 mile | 1:33.80 | $13,250 | 3YO & older | Division 1 |
| 1967 | Quicken Tree | 4 | Bill Hartack | Clyde Turk | Louis R. Rowan & Wheelock Whitney, Jr. | 1 mile | 1:35.20 | $13,325 | 3YO & older | Division 2 |
Legend:
 All Weather Track  Dirt  Turf