Santa Anita Derby

Horseraces infobox
class = Grade I
horse race = Santa Anita Derby


caption =
location = Santa Anita Park
Arcadia, California, USA
inaugurated = 1935
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.santaanita.com/ Santa Anita Park]
distance = 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs)
track = Dirt, Left-handed
qualification = Three-year-olds
weight = 122 lbs (55.3 kg)
purse = $750,000
bonuses = The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $750,000. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby. Since its inception, six Santa Anita Derby winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Now run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 Furlongs), for the first three years it was 1 1/16th miles, and at 1 1/4 miles in 1947.

Prep races to the Santa Anita Derby include the San Rafael Stakes, San Miguel Stakes, San Felipe Stakes, Sham Stakes, San Vicente Stakes and the Santa Catalina Stakes, all run at Santa Anita Park.

As a result of World War II, there were no races held from 1942 to 1944.

Records:

* At age 17, Pat Valenzuela became the youngest jockey to win the Santa Anita Derby when he rode Codex to victory in the 1980 race.
* In 2000, Jenine Sahadi became the first woman trainer to win the Santa Anita Derby.
* In 2005, Jeff Mullins became the first trainer to win three consecutive editions of the Santa Anita Derby.

Speed Record:
Three horses share the record for the fastest winning time of 1:47.00:
*Lucky Debonair (1965)
*Sham (1973)
*Indian Charlie (1998)

Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - Rex C. Ellsworth
* 2 - Calumet Farm, C.V. Whitney

Most wins by a jockey:
* 9 - Gary Stevens
* 8 - Bill Shoemaker
* 7 - Laffit Pincay, Jr.

Most wins by a Trainer:
* 4 - Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas
* 3 - Mesh Tenney

Winners of the Santa Anita Derby