Santa Anita's 18-day Autumn Meet, which opens Friday, Sept. 30, will be highlighted by a total of 26 stakes, 15 of them graded. Overnight purses remain the same as last year. Most all stakes purses are the same as in 2021, with the following exceptions — both the Golden State Juvenile and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies have had their purses increased from $150,000 to $175,000, while the Unzip Me and the Anoakia now have purses of $85,000, up from $75,000 last year. Additionally, two restricted stakes, the Swingtime and the Lure, now offer purse money of $80,000, up $10,000 each.
The 2022 Autumn Meet Stakes Schedule will include five Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” stakes over the first two weekends, Oct. 1 & 2 and Oct. 8 & 9, all significant preps to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Racecourse Nov. 4 & 5. These include three Grade 1 events, the $300,000 Awesome Again on Oct. 1 and the $300,000 American Pharoah and the $300,000 Rodeo Drive, both on Oct. 8.
With the Breeders' Cup in mind, the Autumn Meet will get off to a fast start, with 11 stakes, seven of them graded, being offered opening weekend, Oct. 1 & 2. The second weekend, Oct. 8 & 9, will offer six stakes, five of them graded.
The G1 Awesome Again Stakes is a prep to the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic, the G1 American Pharoah is a prep to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the G1 Rodeo Drive Stakes is a prep to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
With the G1 Awesome Again headlining a tremendous day of stakes action on Oct. 1, five additional stakes will be offered: the G2, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course; the G2, $200,000 John Henry Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles on turf; the G2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs; the G2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile (turf) for 3-year-olds and up and the $85,000 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf.
On Sunday, Oct. 2, a total of five stakes will be offered, the G2, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles; the G3, $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes for fillies & mares three and up at 6 ½ furlongs; the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf, the 100,000 Tokyo City Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles (which has been permanently moved to the Autumn Meet as a prep to Breeders' Cup Marathon races) and the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy, for fillies and mares three and up at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course.
A total of four California-bred Stakes, the California Distaff ($125,000) on Oct. 15; the California Flag ($125,000) on Oct. 16; the Golden State Juvenile ($175,000) on Oct. 29 and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies ($175,000) on Oct. 29, will again provide local owners and breeders' ample added money opportunities through closing day, Nov. 6.
Santa Anita's complete 2022 Autumn Stakes Schedule will be available soon at santaanita.com/horsemen. For additional information, please call the Santa Anita Racing Office at (626) 574-6352.
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