Road to the Kentucky Derby > Santa Anita Derby
| Betting | Handicapping | Race Notes |
Santa Anita Derby Race Facts
- Location: Santa Anita Park, California
- Inaugural Race: 1935
- Current Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
- Status: Grade 1
- 2023 Purse: $750,000
- 2023 Race Date: Saturday, April 8th
The Santa Anita Derby is a critical Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest. The race rewards the top-four finishers with qualifying points on a 100-40-30-20-10 structure.
2022 Santa Anita Derby Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Taiba | Mike E. Smith / Tim Yakteen | $10.60 / $3.60 / $3.20 |
| 4 | Messier | John R. Velazquez / Tim Yakteen | $2.80 / $2.10 |
| 1 | Happy Jack | Abel Cedillo / Doug F. O'Neill | $4.20 |
| 2 | Armagnac | Drayden Van Dyke / Tim Yakteen | |
| 5 | Win the Day | Umberto Rispoli / Doug F. O'Neill | |
| 3 | Forbidden Kingdom | Juan J. Hernandez / Richard E. Mandella |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1.00 Exacta (6-4) Paid: $11.80
- $0.50 Trifecta (6-4-1) Paid: $40.80
- $0.10 Superfecta (6-4-1-2) Paid: $36.85
Watch the 2022 Santa Anita Derby
History of the Santa Anita Derby
The grade I Santa Anita Derby is held annually every April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It’s for three-year-olds and has been running almost every year since 1935. World War II brought a brief pause as the Santa Anita Derby did not run from 1942 to 1944. The Kentucky Derby prep is run on a dirt surface as horses follow left-handed around the track. The SA Derby has run at 1 1/8 miles (nine furlongs) every year except the first three years when the distance was 1 1/16 miles, and 1 ¼ miles in 1947. It was designated as a grade one race in 1973.
There have been numerous surfaces the Santa Anita Derby has been contested on. Until 2008, the racing surface consisted of natural dirt and then switched to a synthetic Cushion Track in 2008, Pro-Ride artificial surface in 2009 and 2010, before finally returning to a dirt surface in 2011.
Every year since 2013, the Santa Anita Derby is considered a major prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and is typically the second-to-last most important race on the prep circuit. The Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park precedes the California stakes.
In the history of the Santa Anita Derby, 11 horses have won both the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby in the same year. In the last 10 years, only three horses have accomplished the feat in the same year: I’ll Have Another (2012), California Chrome (2014) and Justify (2018).
To date, the only filly to win both the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby is Hall of Famer Winning Colors, who accomplished the rare feat in 1988. Only two Triple Crown winners has won all three American Classic races and the Santa Anita Derby in the same year: Affirmed (1978) and Justify (2018).
The 1 1/8-mile contest carries a $750,000 purse and is one of the final 100-40-20-10 points races in the “Championship” portion of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.
Santa Anita Derby Records
The record for fastest time at the Santa Anita Derby since it was run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles is 1:47.00 flat. The record is jointly held by three horses: Lucky Debonair who first accomplished the feat in 1965, and Sham (1973) and Indian Charlie (1998). The fastest winning time in the last 10 years was 1:47.52, courtesy of California Chrome in 2014.
The record for most Arkansas Derby wins by a jockey is held by Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, who won the event an astonishing nine times. Stevens won the Santa Anita Derby three straight years, from 1993 to 1995. The legendary Bob Baffert holds the record for most Santa Anita Derby wins by a trainer with nine.
Rex C. Ellsworth with three titles holds the record for most Santa Anita Derby wins by an owner.
Notable Santa Anita Derby Winners
Many noteworthy and recognizable names have won the Santa Anita Derby during their career. A few of the highlights:
- A.P Indy – 2000 United States Racing Hall of Fame inductee
- Affirmed – 1978 Triple Crown winner
- California Chrome – Two-time Horse of the Year winner
- I’ll Have Another – Two-time Triple Crown race winner (2012 Kentucky Derby, 2012 Preakness Stakes)
- Winning Colors — 2000 United States Racing Hall of Fame inductee
- Justify – 2018 Triple Crown Winner, American Horse of the Year & Champion Three Year Old Male
Past Winners of the Santa Anita Derby
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance (Miles) / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Taiba | Mike E. Smith / Tim Yakteen | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.4 |
| 2021 | Rock Your World | Umberto Rispoli / John W. Sadler | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.1 |
| 2020 | Honor A. P. | Mike E. Smith / John Shirreffs | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.0 |
| 2019 | Roadster | Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:51.3 |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.7 |
| 2017 | Gormley | Victor Espinoza / John Shirreffs | 1 & 1/8 / 01:51.2 |
| 2016 | Exaggerator | Kent J. Desormeaux / J. Keith Desormeaux | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.7 |
| 2015 | Dortmund | Martin Garcia / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.7 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza / Art Sherman | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.5 |
| 2013 | Goldencents | Kevin Krigger / Doug O'Neill | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.8 |
| 2012 | I'll Have Another | Mario Gutierrez / Doug O'Neill | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.9 |
| 2011 | Midnight Interlude | Victor Espinoza / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.6 |
| 2010 | Sidney's Candy | Joe Talamo / John W. Sadler | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.0 |
| 2009 | Pioneerof the Nile | Garrett Gomez / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.2 |
| 2008 | Colonel John | Corey Nakatani / Eoin G. Harty | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.2 |
| 2007 | Tiago | Mike E. Smith / John Shirreffs | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.5 |
| 2006 | Brother Derek | Alex Solis / Dan Hendricks | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.0 |
| 2005 | Buzzards Bay | Mark Guidry / Jeff Mullins | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.2 |
| 2004 | Castledale | Jose Valdivia Jr. / Jeff Mullins | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.2 |
| 2003 | Buddy Gil | Gary Stevens / Jeff Mullins | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.4 |
| 2002 | Came Home | Chris McCarron / Paco J. Gonzalez | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.0 |
| 2001 | Point Given | Gary Stevens / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.8 |
| 2000 | The Deputy | Chris McCarron / Jenine Sahadi | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.1 |
| 1999 | General Challenge | Gary Stevens / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.9 |
| 1998 | Indian Charlie | Gary Stevens / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.0 |
| 1997 | Free House | Kent Desormeaux / J. Paco Gonzalez | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.6 |
| 1996 | Cavonnier | Chris McCarron / Bob Baffert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.9 |
| 1995 | Larry the Legend | Gary Stevens / Craig A. Lewis | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.0 |
| 1994 | Brocco | Gary Stevens / Randy Winick | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.3 |
| 1993 | Personal Hope | Gary Stevens / Mark A. Hennig | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.0 |
| 1992 | A.P. Indy | Ed Delahoussaye / Neil Drysdale | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.3 |
| 1991 | Dinard | Chris McCarron / Richard J. Lundy | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.0 |
| 1990 | Mister Frisky | Gary Stevens / Laz Barrera | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.0 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | Pat Valenzuela / Charlie Whittingham | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.6 |
| 1988 | Winning Colors | Gary Stevens / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.8 |
| 1987 | Temperate Sil | Bill Shoemaker / Charlie Whittingham | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.0 |
| 1986 | Snow Chief | Alex Solis / Melvin F. Stute | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.6 |
| 1985 | Skywalker | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Michael Whittingham | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.4 |
| 1984 | Mighty Adversary | Ed Delahoussaye / Tommy Doyle | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.0 |
| 1983 | Marfa | Jorge Velásquez / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.4 |
| 1982 | Muttering | Laffit Pincay Jr. / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.6 |
| 1981 | Splendid Spruce | Darrel McHargue / Chay R. Knight | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.0 |
| 1980 | Codex | Pat Valenzuela / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.6 |
| 1979 | Flying Paster | Donald Pierce / Gordon C. Campbell | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.0 |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Laz Barrera | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.0 |
| 1977 | Habitony | Bill Shoemaker / Tommy Doyle | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.2 |
| 1976 | An Act | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Ron McAnally | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.0 |
| 1975 | Avatar | Jorge Tejeira / Tommy Doyle | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.6 |
| 1974 | Destroyer | Ismael Valenzuela / Monti C. Sims | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.8 |
| 1973 | Sham | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Frank "Pancho" Martin | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.0 |
| 1972 | Solar Salute | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Louis Glauburg | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.6 |
| 1971 | Jim French | Ángel Cordero Jr. / John P. Campo | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.2 |
| 1970 | Terlago | Bill Shoemaker / Jerry M. Fanning | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.4 |
| 1969 | Majestic Prince | Bill Hartack / Johnny Longden | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.2 |
| 1968 | Alley Fighter | Laffit Pincay Jr. / James W. Maloney | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.0 |
| 1967 | Ruken | Fernando Alvarez / Clyde Turk | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.8 |
| 1966 | Boldnesian | Walter Blum / James W. Maloney | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.4 |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | Bill Shoemaker / Frank Catrone | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.0 |
| 1964 | Hill Rise | Donald Pierce / William B. Finnegan | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.4 |
| 1963 | Candy Spots | Bill Shoemaker / Mesh Tenney | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.2 |
| 1962 | Royal Attack | Edward Burns / William J. Hirsch | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.6 |
| 1961 | Four-and-Twenty | Johnny Longden / Vance Longden | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.0 |
| 1960 | Tompion | Bill Shoemaker / Robert L. Wheeler | 1 & 1/8 / 01:47.8 |
| 1959 | Silver Spoon | Raymond York / Robert L. Wheeler | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.0 |
| 1958 | Silky Sullivan | Bill Shoemaker / Reggie Cornell | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.4 |
| 1957 | Sir William | Henry E. Moreno / Cecil Jolly | 1 & 1/8 / 01:54.2 |
| 1956 | Terrang | Bill Shoemaker / Mesh Tenney | 1 & 1/8 / 01:51.0 |
| 1955 | Swaps | Johnny Longden / Mesh Tenney | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.0 |
| 1954 | Determine | Raymond York / William Molter | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.8 |
| 1953 | Chanlea | Eddie Arcaro / Horace A. Jones | 1 & 1/8 / 01:49.8 |
| 1952 | Hill Gail | Ted Atkinson / Horace A. Jones | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.0 |
| 1951 | Rough'n Tumble | Eddie Arcaro / Melvin Calvert | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.4 |
| 1950 | Your Host | Johnny Longden / Harry L. Daniels | 1 & 1/8 / 01:48.8 |
| 1949 | Old Rockport | Gordon Glisson / Phil Reilly | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.2 |
| 1948 | Salmagundi | Johnny Longden / William M. Booth | 1 & 1/8 / 01:51.2 |
| 1947 | On Trust | Johnny Longden / William Molter | 1 & 1/4 / 02:03.2 |
| 1946 | Knockdown | Robert Permane / James W. Smith | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.6 |
| 1945 | Bymeabond | George Woolf / Wayne B. Stucki | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.0 |
| 1941 | Porter's Cap | Leon Haas / Tom Smith | 1 & 1/8 / 01:54.4 |
| 1940 | Sweepida | Ralph Neves / L. Roy Staples | 1 & 1/8 / 01:51.6 |
| 1939 | Ciencia | Carroll Bierman / William J. Hirsch | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.6 |
| 1938 | Stagehand | Jack Westrope / Earl Sande | 1 & 1/8 / 01:50.4 |
| 1937 | Fairy Hill | Maurice Peters / Richard E. Handlen | 1 & 1/16 / 01:45.8 |
| 1936 | He Did | Wayne D. Wright / J. Thomas Taylor | 1 & 1/16 / 01:49.4 |
| 1935 | Gillie | Silvio Coucci / William Brennan | 1 & 1/16 / 01:44.6 |