San Felipe Stakes

Road to the Kentucky Derby > San Felipe Stakes

San Felipe Stakes

San Felipe Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA
  • Inaugural Race: 1935
  • Current Distance: 1 1/16 miles
  • Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • Status: Grade 2
  • 2023 Purse: $400,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, March 4th

The San Felipe Stakes is a Grade II race for 3-year-olds run at 1 1/16 miles in March at Santa Anita Park. The race has been run at that distance since the 1950’s, and it serves as a qualifying race on the Kentucky Derby trail. Winners are awarded 50-20-15-10-5 points.

2023 San Felipe Stakes Race Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
3Practical MoveRamon A. Vazquez / Tim Yakteen$10.40 / $5.20 / $3.20
8Geaux Rocket RideFlavien Prat / Richard E. Mandella$5.00 / $3.20
10SkinnerVictor Espinoza / John A. Shirreffs$2.80
7HejaziMike E. Smith / Tim Yakteen
9Fort BraggJuan J. Hernandez / Tim Yakteen
11Mr FiskLanfranco Dettori / Tim Yakteen
1Chase the ChaosArmando Ayuso / Ed Moger, Jr.
5Genius JimmyKazushi Kimura / Michael W. McCarthy
4Bluegrass Go GoEdwin A. Maldonado / Doug F. O'Neill

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1 Exacta (3-8) Paid: $26.60
  • $0.50 Trifecta (3-8-10) Paid: $36.00
  • $0.10 Superfecta (3-8-10-7) Paid: $15.16

Watch the 2023 San Felipe Stakes

The History of the San Felipe Stakes

Founded in 1935, the San Felipe Stakes didn’t become a 3-year-olds only race until 1941. Nowadays it’s one of the key 3-year-old races in the early spring in California.

The race is in the first part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship series. The first five home are given points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis, and the 50 points earned by the winner should ensure they get a start in the Kentucky Derby.

In the last 20 years some superior horses have won the San Felipe and gone on to some strong finishes in the Triple Crown races. California Chrome (2014) is the most notable, winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Fusaichi Pegasus (2000) won the Derby and was 2nd in the Preakness. Free House was one of the best California-breds ever, and he went on to finish in the money in all three Triple Crown races but just missed winning. Point Given (2001) won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes after finishing 5th in the Derby. Pioneer of the Nile (2009) was 2nd in the Derby, and Dortmond (2015) finished 3rd in the Derby. Medaglia d’Oro (2002), the sensational sire won finished 1st of 2nd in 15 of 17 starts with a 2nd in the Belmont, only missed the money in the Derby and Preakness. He did win some major races following the San Felipe including the Travers, Jim Dandy, Whitney and Don Handicap while also finished 2nd twice in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. More recently, 2020 winner Authentic went on to capture a win at that years Derby in route to a 3-year-old Championship season.

Going back further, Affirmed won the San Felipe on his way to completing the Triple Crown in 1978. A decade later, another all-time great Sunday Silence used his San Felipe victory as a springboard to Triple Crown trail glory, winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and just coming up short in the Belmont Stakes.

Another great San Felipe Champion that never got the chance to realize his potential was 2017 winner Mastery. He came to the wire gliding effortlessly in the San Felipe, winning by nearly 7 lengths on his way to becoming the Kentucky Derby favorite following his 4th win in four starts. He had just earned the faster Beyer Speed Figure (105) by any 3-year-old in 2017, butt tragedy struck Mastery just beyond the finish line. Jockey Mike Smith pulled Master up and leapt off his back. Mastery was subsequently found to have a condylar fracture of his left front cannon bone (broken ankle), an injury that would end his career. Doctors saved his life, but the excitement, potential and racing career for this well-bred colt born on Kentucky Derby Day three-years earlier was over. Bob Baffert, who notched his then-record 6th win at the San Felipe after Mastery routed his rivals, no longer had his next Triple Crown trail contender. Since that year, Baffert has won the race twice (back to back wins in 2020 and 2021) to pad his record to 8 total wins.

The San Felipe has produced some great champions, and it’s also a race won most often by the very best horses in the field. Few if any long shots, even greater than 7-1, have come through to win the San Felipe Stakes in the past 30 years.

San Felipe Stakes Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / Time
2023Practical MoveRamon A. Vazquez / Tim Yakteen1 1/16 miles / 1:42.01
2022Forbidden KingdomJuan J. Hernandez / Richard E. Mandella1 1/16 miles / 1:43.96
2021Life Is GoodMike E. Smith / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.18
2020AuthenticDrayden Van Dyke / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.56
2019no race
2018Bolt d'OroJavier Castellano / Mick Ruis1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.71
2017MasteryMike E. Smith / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.28
2016Danzing CandyMike E. Smith / Clifford W. Sise Jr.1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.04
2015DortmundMartin Garcia / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.65
2014California ChromeVictor Espinoza / Art Sherman1 1⁄16 miles / 1:40.59
2013Hear the GhostCorey Nakatani / Jerry Hollendorfer1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.34
2012Creative CauseJoel Rosario / Michael Harrington1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.84
2011Premier PegasusAlonso Quinonez / Myung Kwon Cho1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.23
2010Sidney's CandyJoe Talamo / John W. Sadler1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.30
2009Pioneerof the NileGarrett Gomez / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.35
2008Georgie BoyMichael Baze / Kathy Walsh1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.35
2007Cobalt BlueVictor Espinoza / Doug O'Neill1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.46
2006A. P. WarriorCorey Nakatani / John Shirreffs1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
2005ConsolidatorRafael Bejarano / D. Wayne Lukas1 1⁄16 miles / 1:40.11
2004PreachinatthebarJavier Santiago / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.87
2003Buddy GilGary Stevens / Jeff Mullins1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.64
2002Medaglia d'OroLaffit Pincay Jr. / Robert J. Frankel1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.95
2001Point GivenGary Stevens / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.94
2000Fusaichi PegasusKent Desormeaux / Neil D. Drysdale1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.66
1999Prime TimberDavid R. Flores / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.16
1998ArtaxChris McCarron / Randy Bradshaw1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.73
1997Free HouseDavid R. Flores / J. Paco Gonzalez1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.49
1996OdyleCorey Nakatani / J. Paco Gonzalez1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.43
1995Afternoon DeelitesKent Desormeaux / Richard Mandella1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.11
1994Soul of the MatterKent Desormeaux / Richard Mandella1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.68
1993CorbyChris McCarron / John W. Sadler1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.11
1992BertrandoAlex Solis / Bruce Headley1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.76
1991Sea CadetChris McCarron / Ron McAnally1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80
1990Real CashAlex Solis / D. Wayne Lukas1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.00
1989Sunday SilencePat Valenzuela / Charlie Whittingham1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1988Mi PreferidoChris McCarron / Laz S. Barrera1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.20
1987Chart the StarsEd Delahoussaye / Richard Mulhall1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.00
1986Variety RoadChris McCarron / Bruce Headley1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.40
1985Image of GreatnessLaffit Pincay Jr. / D. Wayne Lukas1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.20
1984Fali TimeSandy Hawley / Gary F. Jones1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1983Desert WineChris McCarron / Jerry M. Fanning1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.60
1982Advance ManChris McCarron / Ross Fenstermaker1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.20
1981StancharryFernando Toro / Melvin F. Stute1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.00
1980Raise a ManBill Shoemaker / Chay R. Knight1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.60
1979Pole PositionSandy Hawley / George E. Goodwin1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.20
1978AffirmedSteve Cauthen / Laz Barrera1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1977SmasherSandy Hawley / Jay M. Robbins1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1976Crystal WaterBill Shoemaker / Roger Clapp1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1975Fleet VelvetFernando Toro / Tom Pratt1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
1974Aloha MoodDon Pierce / Cecil Jolly1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
1973Linda's ChiefBraulio Baeza / Robert J. Frankel1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80
1972Solar SaluteLaffit Pincay Jr. / Lou Glauburg1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80
1971UnconsciousLaffit Pincay Jr. / John G. Canty1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60
1970Cool HandJerry Lambert / Gene Cleveland1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80
1970TerlagoBill Shoemaker / Jerry M. Fanning1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80
1969Elect the RulerEddie Belmonte / Steve Ippolito1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20
1968Prince PabloJohnny Sellers / Linwood J. Brooks1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
1968DewanJerry Lambert / James W. Maloney1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
1967Rising MarketLaffit Pincay Jr. / Ted Saladin1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.80
1966Saber MountainBill Shoemaker / Charlie Whittingham1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
1965JacintoManuel Ycaza / James W. Maloney1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80
1964Hill RiseDon Pierce / William B. Finnegan1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.40
1963DenodadoRudy Campas / Charlie Whittingham1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.00
1962Doc JocoyWilliam Harmatz / L. C. Sternberger1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20
1961FlutterbyJohnny Longden / Vance Longden1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.20
1960Flow LineWilliam Boland / Willie H. Wyndle1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
1959FinneganWilliam Harmatz / William B. Finnegan1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.40
1958Carrier XGeorge Taniguchi / Robert L. Wheeler1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.60
1957Joe PriceGordon Glisson / William Molter1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.40
1956Social ClimberLarry Gilligan / Charlie Whittingham1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.40
1955Jean's JoeWilliam Boland / William B. Finnegan1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.00
1954DetermineRaymond York / William Molter1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40
1953DecoratedJohnny Longden / William Molter1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20
1952Windy City IIEddie Arcaro / Willie Alvarado1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.00
1951Phil D.Raymond York / James Jordan7 furlongs / 1:22.80
1950Your HostJohnny Longden / Harry L. Daniels7 furlongs / 1:23.40
1949OlympiaWillie Garner / Ivan H. Parke7 furlongs / 1:22.80
1948May RewardEddie Arcaro / Elwood L. Fitzgerald7 furlongs / 1:23.60
1947Owners ChoiceJohnny Longden / T. D. Grimes7 furlongs / 1:23.60
1946Galla DamionRalph Neves / F. Veysey6 furlongs / 1:10.20
1945Sir BimJohnny Longden / Hurst Philpot6 furlongs / 1:11.80
1941Bull ReighBasil James / P. F. Dwyer7 furlongs / 1:24.00
1940Our MatRalph Neves / Matthew P. Brady6 furlongs / 1:10.40
1939SpecifyJohn H. Adams / Albert A. Baroni6 furlongs / 1:10.20
1938Speed to SpareRaymond Workman / O. Anderson6 furlongs / 1:12.40
1937BoxthornGeorge Woolf / Graceton Philpot7 furlongs / 1:23.60
1936AzucarAlfred Robertson / Alexis G. Wilson1 mile / 1:36.00
1935Ted ClarkClyde Turk / C. A. Marone1 mile / 1:37.60