# Joe Hernandez Stakes

The Joe Hernandez Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old or older over the distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf scheduled annually in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.

## History

The race was inaugurated in 2008 in honor of Joe Hernandez (June 3, 1909 – February 2, 1972) the race caller at Santa Anita Park from the time the track opened on Christmas Day 1934 until he fainted at the microphone on 27 January, 1972.
The event was predominantly raced on the downhill turf course over the about 6+1⁄2 furlongs distance. In 2010 the event was moved to the synthetic All Weather track due to weather. The 2015 running was also moved off the turf but by then Santa Anita Park had restored the natural dirt track.
In 2019 the event was upgraded to Grade III and a year later to Grade II.
In 2020 the event was moved and run using the backstretch start at a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on turf, and the following year the event was run on the newly extended backstretch and close to the former distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs.
The 2017 winner Stormy Liberal followed up winning the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and repeating that effort in 2018.
The event was run twice in the calendar year in 2022 due to scheduling changes.

## Records

Speed record:
* about 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:11.17 – Unbridled's Note (2013)
Margins:
* 4+1⁄4 lengths – Distinctiv Passion (2015)

### Most wins by a jockey

* 3 – Joel Rosario (2009, 2012, 2021)
* 3 – Joseph Talamo (2014, 2018, 2019)

### Most wins by a trainer

* 3 – Peter L. Miller (2017, 2020, 2021)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| Joe Hernandez Stakes |||||||||||
| 2023 | Forbidden Kingdom | 4 | Flavien Prat | Richard Mandella | MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.92 | $203,500 | II | |
| 2022 (Dec) | Air Force Red | 4 | Juan Hernandez | Leonard Powell | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Holly Golightly | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:11.53 | $252,500 | II | |
| 2022 (Jan) | Chewing Gum | 6 | Umberto Rispoli | William I. Mott | Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable & Jerold Zaro | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.47 | $251,000 | II | |
| 2021 | Hembree | 7 | Joel Rosario | Peter L. Miller | Tom Kagele | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:13.80 | $201,000 | II | |
| 2020 | Texas Wedge | 5 | Flavien Prat | Peter L. Miller | Altamira Racing Stable, Rafter JR Ranch, STD Racing Stable & A. Miller | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.47 | $202,500 | II | |
| 2019 | Caribou Club | 5 | Joseph Talamo | Thomas F. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:11.66 | $101,053 | III | |
| 2018 | Pee Wee Reese | 5 | Joseph Talamo | Philip D'Amato | Nicholas B. Alexander | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:12.37 | $98,375 | Listed | |
| 2017 | Stormy Liberal | 5 | Norberto Arroyo Jr. | Peter L. Miller | Rockingham Ranch | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:11.89 | $80,035 | Listed | |
| 2016 | Guns Loaded | 5 | Santiago Gonzalez | Doug F. O'Neill | Westside Rentals.com, Neil Haymes, Leo Rodriguez & Steve Rothblum | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:12.60 | $79,190 | Listed | |
| 2015 | Distinctiv Passion | 5 | Edwin A. Maldonado | Jeff Bonde | Edward J. Brown Jr., Alan Klein & Phillip Lebherz | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.33 | $74,284 | | On dirt |
| 2014 | Sweet Swap | 5 | Joseph Talamo | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:12.28 | $76,900 | | |
| Joe Hernandez Handicap |||||||||||
| 2013 | Unbridled's Note | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Steven M. Asmussen | Mike McCarty | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:11.17 | $76,900 | | |
| 2012 | Mr Gruff | 8 | Joel Rosario | Ronald W. Ellis | Gary Broad | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:12.06 | $79,880 | | |
| Joe Hernandez Stakes |||||||||||
| 2011 | Regally Ready | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Steven M. Asmussen | Vinery Stables | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:12.98 | $79,150 | Listed | |
| 2010 | Sangaree | 5 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Darley Stable | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.28 | $60,350 | | All weather track |
| 2009 | Noble Court | 5 | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Joy Ride Racing | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:12.16 | $71,300 | | |
| 2008 | Desert Code | 4 | Richard Migliore | David E. Hofmans | Tarabilla Farms | abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:12.36 | $76,850 | Listed | |
Legend:
 Turf  All Weather Track  Dirt