Santa Anita Park has announced that its 2022-23 Winter/Spring Stakes Schedule will offer fans and horsemen a total of 93 stakes, 10 of them Grade 1 events, including the $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 8, and 58 graded races beginning with the track's traditional opener on Monday, Dec. 26 through closing day, June 18.
“We're pleased to be able to announce our Winter/Spring stakes schedule at this time and to once again let everyone know that our 'Ship & Win' program will be available to those out of state horses that qualify throughout the meet,” said Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Chris Merz. “We feel there is something for everyone in this stakes schedule and we are excited to offer it. We worked diligently with trainers and other industry stakeholders to create a program that suits our horse population and caters to the needs of our owners and horsemen.”
One of the biggest days on the Southern California sports calendar, opening day will again feature a total of six graded stakes, highlighted by three Grade 1, $300,000 events, the Runhappy Malibu, for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, the La Brea, for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs, and the American Oaks, for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and one quarter on turf.
Additionally, three Grade 2, $200,000 races will be run on opening day, the Mathis Mile, for 3-year-olds on turf, the San Antonio, for older horses at a mile and one sixteenth and the San Gabriel, for older horses at a mile and one eighth on turf.
Santa Anita's prestigious roster of Grade 1 stakes will resume on Saturday, March 4, as the $500,000 Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino and the $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) will take center stage along with one of America's most important Derby preps, the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes.
Named for Spendthrift Farm's four-time Eclipse Award Champion and three-time Breeders' Cup winner, the Grade 1, $500,000 Beholder Mile will be run on March 11.
The Grade 1, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, a race that has produced 19 Kentucky Derby winners, will be run on Saturday, April 8, and be complemented by four other stakes, including the Grade 2, $200,000 Charles Whittingham and the Grade 2, $200,000 Monrovia.
Three Grade 1 stakes, the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile (turf), the $400,000 Hollywood Gold Cup and the $400,000 Gamely, will all be contested on Labor Day, Monday, May 29.
Santa Anita's traditional closing day feature, the Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes, at a mile and three quarters over the Camino Real Hillside Turf Course, will highlight proceedings on June 18.
Santa Anita's complete 2022-23 Winter Spring Stakes Schedule can be viewed here. For additional information, please contact the Santa Anita Racing Office at (626) 574-6352.
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