Santa Anita spring meet features 27 stakes races
The racing action returns to Santa Anita Park this weekend with the start of its 30-day spring meet, which runs through June 14. Highlighting the stand are 27 stakes races for the elite of Thoroughbred racing along with a Kentucky Derby party on May 2, when Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy carries the hopes of California to Churchill Downs.
The stakes action kicks off Saturday with both the American Stakes (G3) for older horses at one mile on turf and John Shear Stakes for 3-year-olds sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. First post Saturday is 4 p.m. EDT for a 10-race card. On Sunday, the Santa Maria Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles is featured on a nine-race card also starting at 4 p.m. EDT.
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While not originally scheduled, Santa Anita has added a day of racing on April 30 to serve as a makeup for weather-related cancellations that occurred during the winter-spring meet. The following day, May 3, on-track fans in addition to the Santa Anita action can also watch and wager on the Kentucky Oaks program at Churchill Downs. This year the Kentucky Oaks, which will include Santa Anita Oaks winner Meaning, has a post time of 8:40 p.m. EDT. With the later start to the Kentucky Oaks program, Santa Anita has also pushed back its first post to 6:15 p.m. EDT.
Santa Anita’s racing program on Kentucky Derby day is led by the Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2). It is for older horses at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
Memorial Day weekend at Santa Anita will be replete with top racing action and other entertainment. On May 23, many of the top horses produced in California will be on display across five stakes races. Leading the stakes slate are the $125,000 Snow Chief for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf and $125,000 Melair for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf. They will be joined by the Thor’s Echo Stakes at six furlongs on dirt, Fran’s Valentine for fillies and mares at one mile on turf and Crystal Water for older horses at one mile on turf.
Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, is one of the biggest days of the spring meet. The racing program features two Grade 1 races, the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf and $300,000 Gamely for fillies and mares on turf, as well as the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) at 1 1/4 miles on the main track.
Putting a bow on the spring meet on June 14 is Santa Anita’s traditional closing-day feature, the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at the extended distance of about 1 3/4 miles on turf. The unique race starts at the top of Santa Anita’s hillside turf course and continues with a full circuit around Santa Anita’s main turf course before reaching the finish line. First run in 1935, the San Juan Capistrano has long been a fan favorite.