La Brea Stakes
The La Brea Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1974 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies, it is raced over a distance of seven furlongs on dirt, except from 2007 to 2011 when the track used a synthetic Cushion Track surface. A Grade I event, it currently offers a purse of $300,000 and is the last Grade I race for three-year-old fillies in the calendar year.
Grade I race | |
Location | Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1974 |
Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
Website | www |
Race information | |
Distance | 7 furlongs |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | left-handed |
Qualification | Three-year-old Fillies |
Weight | Assigned |
Purse | $300,000 |
Inaugurated in 1974, through 1976 the La Brea Stakes was run at 1 1⁄16 miles and open to three-year-olds. There was no race held in 1977 and 1986. In 1975, 1982, 1985 and 1990 it was run both in January and December. It was run in two divisions in 1975 and again in 1991.
Named for the area in Southern California called La Brea, noted for the La Brea Tar Pits in the middle of the city of Los Angeles. The word "brea" is Spanish for tar.
The La Brea Stakes is part of Santa Anita Park's La Cañada Series of races open to newly turning/turned 4-year-old fillies and run at an increasing distance. The series begins with the La Brea Stakes at 7 furlongs followed by the G-II El Encino Stakes at 1 1⁄16 miles in mid January, then the G-II La Cañada Stakes at 1 1⁄8 miles in mid February. Since the creation of the series in 1975, only three fillies have ever won all three races: Taisez Vous (1978), Mitterand (1985), and Got Koko (2003). The Santa Anita Park counterpart series for male horses is the Strub Series.
Records
Speed record: (at present distance of 7 furlongs)
- 1:20.33 - Switch (2010)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 - Chris McCarron (1982 (2), 1991, 1995, 1996)
- 5 - Mike E. Smith (2004, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019)
- 5 - Gary Stevens (1987, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2013)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 7 - Bob Baffert (1992, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - Michael E. Pegram (1992, 1999, 2005)
Winners of the La Brea Stakes
Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Hard Not to Love | Mike E. Smith | John Shirreffs | Mercedes Stables et al. | 1:22.17 |
2018 | Spiced Perfection | Flavien Prat | Brian J. Koriner | Dare To Dream Stable LLC (Michael Faber) | 1:23.54 |
2017 | Unique Bella | Mike E. Smith | Jerry Hollendorfer | Don Alberto Stable | 1:21.49 |
2016 | Constellation | Flavien Prat | Jerry Hollendorfer | LNJ Foxwoods | 1:21.83 |
2015 | Birdatthewire | Mike E. Smith | Dale L. Romans | Forum Racing IV | 1:23.31 |
2014 | Sam's Sister | Elvis Trujillo | Jerry Hollendorfer | Dedomenico/Hollendorfer/Todaro | 1:22.52 |
2013 | Heir Kitty | Gary Stevens | Peter Miller | Bernsen/Makin | 1:21.47 |
2012 | Book Review | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Mary & Gary West | 1:22.41 |
2011 | Teddy's Promise | Victor Espinoza | Ron Ellis | Ted & Judy Nichols | 1:20.47 |
2010 | Switch | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | CRK Stable | 1:20.33 |
2009 | Evita Argentina | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Halo Farms/Three Sisters | 1:21.78 |
2008 | Indian Blessing | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Patti/Hal Earnhardt | 1:20.89 |
2007 | Dearest Trickski | Mike E. Smith | John W. Sadler | Tom Mankiewicz | 1:21.09 |
2006 | Downthedustyroad | Jon Court | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 1:21.40 |
2005 | Pussycat Doll | Garrett Gomez | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1:21.36 |
2004 | Alphabet Kisses | Mike E. Smith | Martin F. Jones | Harris Farms | 1:21.38 |
2003 | Island Fashion | Kent Desormeaux | Marcelo Polanco | Everest Stables | 1:22.12 |
2002 | Got Koko | Alex Solis | Bruce Headley | Aase Headley/Paul Leung | 1:22.57 |
2001 | Affluent | Ed Delahoussaye | Ronald McAnally | Janis R. Whitham | 1:21.29 |
2000 | Spain | Victor Espinoza | D. Wayne Lukas | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1:22.27 |
1999 | Hookedonthefeelin | David R. Flores | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1:21.84 |
1998 | Magical Allure | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert | Golden Eagle Farm | 1:22.06 |
1997 | I Ain't Bluffing | Ed Delahoussaye | Ronald W. Ellis | Jan Siegel et al. | 1:21.23 |
1996 | Hidden Lake | Chris McCarron | Walter Greenman | D. E. & Estate J. E. Weir | 1:22.00 |
1995 | Exotic Wood | Chris McCarron | Ronald W. Ellis | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1:21.57 |
1994 | Top Rung | Gary Stevens | Willard L. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 1:21.84 |
1993 | Mamselle Bebette | Corey Nakatani | Jack Van Berg | Big Train Farm | 1:20.45 |
1992 | Arches of Gold | Ed Delahoussaye | Bob Baffert | Pegram & Bob Roth | 1:21.28 |
1991 | D'Or Ruckus | Chris McCarron | Gerald Moerman | JBS Stable | 1:22.05 |
1991 | Teresa Mc | Pat Valenzuela | Greg Gilchrist | Harris Farms, Inc. | 1:23.05 |
1990 | Brought To Mind | Alex Solis | Ron McAnally | Tadahiro Hotehama | 1:21.60 |
1990 | Akinemod | Gary Stevens | Jerry M. Fanning | El Rancho de Jaklin | 1:21.60 |
1989 | Variety Baby | Corey Black | Bruce Headley | Kjell H. Qvale | 1:21.60 |
1988 | Very Subtle | Pat Valenzuela | Melvin F. Stute | Ben Rochelle | 1:21.60 |
1987 | Family Style | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1:22.60 |
1985 | Savannah Slew | Bill Shoemaker | Ron McAnally | Allen E. Paulson | 1:22.40 |
1985 | Mitterand | Ed Delahoussaye | Randy Winick | Silver Star Stable/Winick | 1:21.80 |
1983 | Lovlier Linda | Bill Shoemaker | Willard L. Proctor | William R. Hawn | 1:22.20 |
1982 | Beautiful Glass | Chris McCarron | Gary F. Jones | Golden Eagle Farm | 1:21.00 |
1982 | Nell's Briquette | Chris McCarron | Loren Rettele | Triple L. Stables, Inc. | 1:25.80 |
1981 | Dynanite | Bill Shoemaker | John W. Russell | Mrs. Harold Cole | 1:21.40 |
1980 | Terlingua | Darrel McHargue | D. Wayne Lukas | B A Beal/L R French, Jr. | 1:20.80 |
1979 | Great Lady M. | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert H. Spreen | 1:22.60 |
1978 | Taisez Vous | Don Pierce | Robert L. Wheeler | Vernon & Ann Eachus | 1:22.80 |
1976 | Kirby Lane | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Laz Barrera | Gedney Farms | 1:45.20 |
1975 | Bobby Murcer | Eddie Belmonte | Joe Trovato | Carl Rosen | 1:43.40 |
1975 | Featherfoot | Bill Shoemaker | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1:42.20 |
1975 | Big Destiny | Sandy Hawley | Sid Martin | David J. Foster | 1:42.80 |
1974 | Niner Power | Steve J. Valdez | Buster Millerick | Mr. & Mrs Carl Galea | 1:43.80 |