The Californian Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California (relocated from the now closed Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California). The Grade II event is open to horses age three and up willing to race one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt. This race serves as a key prep to the Hollywood Gold Cup.
Inaugurated in 1954, winner Imbros set a new track record of 1:41.00 which also equaled the then world record for a mile and sixteenth on dirt.
Since inception the race has been contested at three different distances: miles (8.5 furlongs) : 1954–1979 miles (9 furlongs)1980-1984, 1987–present 1 mile (8 furlongs) : 1985–1986
Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles ) 1:47.06 - Heatseeker
Most wins: 2 - Cougar II (1971, 1972) 2 - Quack (1973, 1974) 2 - Ancient Title (1975, 1976) 2 - Clubhouse Ride (2013, 2014)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Bill Shoemaker (1957, 1971, 1972, 1980, 1983) 5 - Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1975, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1985) 5 - Chris McCarron (1986, 1988, 1989, 1998, 1999)
Most wins by a trainer: 11 - Charlie Whittingham (1956, 1957, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990)
Most wins by an owner: 3 - Mary Jones Bradley (1971, 1972, 1985)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2024Mr. Fisk4Kazushi KimuraBob BaffertSunny Brook Stables1:49.412023Defunded5Juan J. HernandezBob BaffertKarl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman1:48.072022Stilleto Boy4Juan J. HernandezEd Moger JrSteve Moger1:48.072021Royal Ship4Mike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaFox Hill Farm & Siena Farm1:48.47202020192018Dr. Dorr5Joe TalamoBob BaffertNatalie J. Baffert1:49.842017Collected4Martin GarciaBob BaffertSpeedway Stable LLC1:47.732016Second Summer4Mario GutierrezPeter EurtonAlesia/Ciaglia Racing/Ferrell/Slam Dunk Racing1:48.292015Catch a Flight (ARG)5Gary StevensRichard E. MandellaHaras Santa Maria de Araras1:47.732014Clubhouse Ride6Joe TalamoCraig Anthony LewisSix-S Racing/Petralia1:48.742013Clubhouse Ride5Garrett GomezCraig Anthony LewisSix-S Racing/Petralia1:51.022012Game On Dude5Chantal SutherlandBob BaffertDiamond Pride, Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, Bernard Schiappa1:48.012011Twirling Candy4Joel RosarioJohn W. SadlerCraig Family Trust1:50.002010Rail Trip5Rafael BejaranoRon EllisJay Em Ess Stable1:48.492009Informed5Tyler BazeDouglas F. O'NeillW.C. Racing, et al.1:48.372008Heatseeker5Rafael BejaranoJerry HollendorferWilliam de Burgh1:47.062007Buzzards Bay5Jose Valdivia Jr.Ronald W. EllisGary Broad1:49.722006Dixie Meister4David FloresJulio C. CananiGary A. Tanaka1:49.532005Lava Man4Pat ValenzuelaDouglas F. O'NeillSTD racing & Jason Wood1:47.832004Even the Score4David FloresVladimir CerinRosendo G. Parra1:47.642003Kudos6Alex SolisRichard MandellaAnn & Jerry Moss1:47.912002Milwaukee Brew5Kent DesormeauxRobert J. FrankelStronach Stable1:48.062001Skimming5Garrett GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1:48.122000Big Ten5Alex SolisRichard MandellaStud Old Dog Stable (Francisco Bertin et al.)1:49.221999Old Trieste4Chris McCarronMike PuypeGary Biszantz1:46.551998Mud Route5Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJanis R. Whitham1:48.151997River Keen5Kent DesormeauxRobert B. Hess Jr.Hugo Reynolds1:47.381996Tinners Way6Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelPrince Khalid Abdullah1:46.601995Concern4Mike E. SmithRichard W. SmallRobert E. Meyerhoff1:47.741994The Wicked North5Kent DesormeauxDavid BernsteinPhil & Sophie Hersh Trust1:46.681993Latin American5Gary StevensRobert MarshallRobert Marshall1:46.921992Another Review4Kent DesormeauxChris SpeckertThomas Mellon Evans1:48.111991Roanoke4Eddie DelahoussayeNeil D. DrysdaleNedlaw Stable1:48.301990Sunday Silence4Pat ValenzuelaCharlie WhittinghamHancock/Whittingham/Gaillard1:48.001989Sabona7Chris McCarronNeil D. DrysdaleSir Ernest Harrison & Audrey Reed1:46.801988Cutlass Reality6Chris McCarronCraig A. LewisHoward Crash & Jim Hankoff1:47.601987Judge Angelucci4Gary BazeCharlie WhittinghamOlin B. Gentry1:48.201986Precisionist5Chris McCarronL. Ross FenstermakerFred W. Hooper1:33.601985Greinton4Laffit Pincay Jr.Charlie WhittinghamMary Jones Bradley, C. Whittingham, Howell Wynne1:32.601984Desert Wine4Eddie DelahoussayeJerry M. FanningDan J. Agnew & Fred Sahadi1:47.601983The Wonder5Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamAlain du Breil1:48.401982Erins Isle4Laffit Pincay Jr.Charlie WhittinghamBrian Sweeney1:48.001981Eleven Stitches4Sandy HawleyDonn LubyMorey & Claudia Mirkin1:48.401980Spectacular Bid4Bill ShoemakerBud DelpHawksworth Farm (Harry Meyerhoff)1:45.801979Affirmed4Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm1:41.201978J.O. Tobin4Steve CauthenLaz BarreraGeorge A. Pope Jr.1:41.001977Crystal Water4Laffit Pincay Jr.Roger ClappConnie M. Ring1:41.001976Ancient Title6Sandy HawleyKeith L. Stucki Sr.Kirkland Stable (Ethel Kirkland)1:41.201975Ancient Title5Laffit Pincay Jr.Keith L. Stucki Sr.Kirkland Stable (Ethel Kirkland)1:40.201974Quack5Donald PierceCharlie WhittinghamBwamazon Farm 1:40.201973Quack4Donald PierceCharlie WhittinghamBwamazon Farm 1:41.401972Cougar II6Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamMary F. Jones1:39.201971Cougar II5Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamMary F. Jones1:41.201970Baffle5Jerry LambertJohnny LongdenFrank M. McMahon1:40.201969Nodouble4Eddie BelmonteJ. Bert SonnierGene Goff1:40.401968Dr. Fager4Braulio BaezaJohn A. NerudWilliam L. McKnight1:40.801967Biggs7William HarmatzFarrell W. JonesE. F. Gould1:41.601966Travel Orb4 William HarmatzLeonard DorfmanFloyd Hughes1:41.801965Viking Spirit5Kenneth ChurchJames I. NazworthyThomas E. Brittingham III1:40.801964Mustard Plaster5 Jack LeonardWilliam A. PetersonMrs. Fraser Morrison1:41.601963Winonly6Jack LeonardJulius E. TinsleyFred W. Hooper1:41.801962Cadiz6William HarmatzRobert L. WheelerVicgray Farm1:41.601961First Balcony4Edward BurnsMelvin F. StuteM/M. Robert O. Schulze1:40.401960Fleet Nasrullah5 Johnny LongdenJames I. Nazworthy M/M. Ellwood B. Johnston1:40.601959Hillsdale4Tommy BarrowMartin L. Fallon Jr.Clarence Whitted Smith1:40.801958Seaneen4Johnny LongdenWilliam B. FinneganNeil S. McCarthy 1:41.001957Social Climber4Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamLlangollen Farm1:40.401956Porterhouse5 Ismael ValenzuelaCharlie Whittingham Llangollen Farm1:40.801955Swaps3David ErbMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1:40.401954Imbros4Johnny LongdenWilliam MolterAndrew J. Crevolin1:41.00
References The 2009 Californian Stakes at the NTRA