Road to the Kentucky Derby > 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
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Practical Move | Ramon A. Vazquez / Tim Yakteen | $10.40 / $5.20 / $3.20 |
| 8 | Geaux Rocket Ride | Flavien Prat / Richard E. Mandella | $5.00 / $3.20 |
| 10 | Skinner | Victor Espinoza / John A. Shirreffs | $2.80 |
| 7 | Hejazi | Mike E. Smith / Tim Yakteen | |
| 9 | Fort Bragg | Juan J. Hernandez / Tim Yakteen | |
| 11 | Mr Fisk | Lanfranco Dettori / Tim Yakteen | |
| 1 | Chase the Chaos | Armando Ayuso / Ed Moger, Jr. | |
| 5 | Genius Jimmy | Kazushi Kimura / Michael W. McCarthy | |
| 4 | Bluegrass Go Go | Edwin 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
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Practical Move | Ramon A. Vazquez / Tim Yakteen | 1 1/16 miles / 1:42.01 |
| 2022 | Forbidden Kingdom | Juan J. Hernandez / Richard E. Mandella | 1 1/16 miles / 1:43.96 |
| 2021 | Life Is Good | Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.18 |
| 2020 | Authentic | Drayden Van Dyke / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.56 |
| 2019 | no race | ||
| 2018 | Bolt d'Oro | Javier Castellano / Mick Ruis | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.71 |
| 2017 | Mastery | Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.28 |
| 2016 | Danzing Candy | Mike E. Smith / Clifford W. Sise Jr. | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.04 |
| 2015 | Dortmund | Martin Garcia / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.65 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza / Art Sherman | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:40.59 |
| 2013 | Hear the Ghost | Corey Nakatani / Jerry Hollendorfer | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.34 |
| 2012 | Creative Cause | Joel Rosario / Michael Harrington | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.84 |
| 2011 | Premier Pegasus | Alonso Quinonez / Myung Kwon Cho | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.23 |
| 2010 | Sidney's Candy | Joe Talamo / John W. Sadler | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.30 |
| 2009 | Pioneerof the Nile | Garrett Gomez / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.35 |
| 2008 | Georgie Boy | Michael Baze / Kathy Walsh | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.35 |
| 2007 | Cobalt Blue | Victor Espinoza / Doug O'Neill | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.46 |
| 2006 | A. P. Warrior | Corey Nakatani / John Shirreffs | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40 |
| 2005 | Consolidator | Rafael Bejarano / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:40.11 |
| 2004 | Preachinatthebar | Javier Santiago / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.87 |
| 2003 | Buddy Gil | Gary Stevens / Jeff Mullins | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.64 |
| 2002 | Medaglia d'Oro | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Robert J. Frankel | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.95 |
| 2001 | Point Given | Gary Stevens / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.94 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | Kent Desormeaux / Neil D. Drysdale | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.66 |
| 1999 | Prime Timber | David R. Flores / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.16 |
| 1998 | Artax | Chris McCarron / Randy Bradshaw | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.73 |
| 1997 | Free House | David R. Flores / J. Paco Gonzalez | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.49 |
| 1996 | Odyle | Corey Nakatani / J. Paco Gonzalez | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.43 |
| 1995 | Afternoon Deelites | Kent Desormeaux / Richard Mandella | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.11 |
| 1994 | Soul of the Matter | Kent Desormeaux / Richard Mandella | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.68 |
| 1993 | Corby | Chris McCarron / John W. Sadler | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.11 |
| 1992 | Bertrando | Alex Solis / Bruce Headley | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.76 |
| 1991 | Sea Cadet | Chris McCarron / Ron McAnally | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80 |
| 1990 | Real Cash | Alex Solis / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.00 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | Pat Valenzuela / Charlie Whittingham | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60 |
| 1988 | Mi Preferido | Chris McCarron / Laz S. Barrera | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.20 |
| 1987 | Chart the Stars | Ed Delahoussaye / Richard Mulhall | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.00 |
| 1986 | Variety Road | Chris McCarron / Bruce Headley | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.40 |
| 1985 | Image of Greatness | Laffit Pincay Jr. / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.20 |
| 1984 | Fali Time | Sandy Hawley / Gary F. Jones | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60 |
| 1983 | Desert Wine | Chris McCarron / Jerry M. Fanning | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.60 |
| 1982 | Advance Man | Chris McCarron / Ross Fenstermaker | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.20 |
| 1981 | Stancharry | Fernando Toro / Melvin F. Stute | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.00 |
| 1980 | Raise a Man | Bill Shoemaker / Chay R. Knight | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.60 |
| 1979 | Pole Position | Sandy Hawley / George E. Goodwin | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.20 |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen / Laz Barrera | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60 |
| 1977 | Smasher | Sandy Hawley / Jay M. Robbins | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60 |
| 1976 | Crystal Water | Bill Shoemaker / Roger Clapp | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60 |
| 1975 | Fleet Velvet | Fernando Toro / Tom Pratt | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40 |
| 1974 | Aloha Mood | Don Pierce / Cecil Jolly | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40 |
| 1973 | Linda's Chief | Braulio Baeza / Robert J. Frankel | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80 |
| 1972 | Solar Salute | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Lou Glauburg | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80 |
| 1971 | Unconscious | Laffit Pincay Jr. / John G. Canty | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60 |
| 1970 | Cool Hand | Jerry Lambert / Gene Cleveland | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80 |
| 1970 | Terlago | Bill Shoemaker / Jerry M. Fanning | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80 |
| 1969 | Elect the Ruler | Eddie Belmonte / Steve Ippolito | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20 |
| 1968 | Prince Pablo | Johnny Sellers / Linwood J. Brooks | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40 |
| 1968 | Dewan | Jerry Lambert / James W. Maloney | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40 |
| 1967 | Rising Market | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Ted Saladin | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.80 |
| 1966 | Saber Mountain | Bill Shoemaker / Charlie Whittingham | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40 |
| 1965 | Jacinto | Manuel Ycaza / James W. Maloney | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.80 |
| 1964 | Hill Rise | Don Pierce / William B. Finnegan | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.40 |
| 1963 | Denodado | Rudy Campas / Charlie Whittingham | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.00 |
| 1962 | Doc Jocoy | William Harmatz / L. C. Sternberger | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20 |
| 1961 | Flutterby | Johnny Longden / Vance Longden | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.20 |
| 1960 | Flow Line | William Boland / Willie H. Wyndle | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40 |
| 1959 | Finnegan | William Harmatz / William B. Finnegan | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.40 |
| 1958 | Carrier X | George Taniguchi / Robert L. Wheeler | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.60 |
| 1957 | Joe Price | Gordon Glisson / William Molter | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.40 |
| 1956 | Social Climber | Larry Gilligan / Charlie Whittingham | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.40 |
| 1955 | Jean's Joe | William Boland / William B. Finnegan | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.00 |
| 1954 | Determine | Raymond York / William Molter | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.40 |
| 1953 | Decorated | Johnny Longden / William Molter | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.20 |
| 1952 | Windy City II | Eddie Arcaro / Willie Alvarado | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.00 |
| 1951 | Phil D. | Raymond York / James Jordan | 7 furlongs / 1:22.80 |
| 1950 | Your Host | Johnny Longden / Harry L. Daniels | 7 furlongs / 1:23.40 |
| 1949 | Olympia | Willie Garner / Ivan H. Parke | 7 furlongs / 1:22.80 |
| 1948 | May Reward | Eddie Arcaro / Elwood L. Fitzgerald | 7 furlongs / 1:23.60 |
| 1947 | Owners Choice | Johnny Longden / T. D. Grimes | 7 furlongs / 1:23.60 |
| 1946 | Galla Damion | Ralph Neves / F. Veysey | 6 furlongs / 1:10.20 |
| 1945 | Sir Bim | Johnny Longden / Hurst Philpot | 6 furlongs / 1:11.80 |
| 1941 | Bull Reigh | Basil James / P. F. Dwyer | 7 furlongs / 1:24.00 |
| 1940 | Our Mat | Ralph Neves / Matthew P. Brady | 6 furlongs / 1:10.40 |
| 1939 | Specify | John H. Adams / Albert A. Baroni | 6 furlongs / 1:10.20 |
| 1938 | Speed to Spare | Raymond Workman / O. Anderson | 6 furlongs / 1:12.40 |
| 1937 | Boxthorn | George Woolf / Graceton Philpot | 7 furlongs / 1:23.60 |
| 1936 | Azucar | Alfred Robertson / Alexis G. Wilson | 1 mile / 1:36.00 |
| 1935 | Ted Clark | Clyde Turk / C. A. Marone | 1 mile / 1:37.60 |