The California Cup Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 2014 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California run at a distance of 1 1/16 miles on a dirt track it. The race is one of the track’s annual California Cup Day series of races that form part of the day’s regular Racecard. Each of the races have varied conditions with the exception that all are restricted to horses bred in the state of California or were sired by a horse that had competed on California racetracks.
Records Speed record: 1:43.22 – California Chrome (2014)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Victor Espinoza (2014, 2016) 2 - Tiago J. Pereira (2020, 2025) 2 - Juan J. Hernandez (2021, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 - Steve R. Knapp (2024, 2025)
Most wins by an owner: No owner won this race more than once.
Winners
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner (miles) Time Win $ 2014 California Chrome Victor Espinoza Arthur Sherman Perry Martin & Steve Coburn M 1:43.22 $140,000 2015 Mischief Clem Kent Desormeaux Robert B. Hess Jr. Griffin Thoroughbred Stables (Craig & Lorie Griffin) M 1:44.82 $137,500 2016 Smokey Image Victor Espinoza Carla Gaines Irvin Racing Stable (Betty & Diane Irvin) M 1:43.49 $137,500 2017 Ann Arbor Eddie Mario Gutierrez Douglas F. O'Neill Paul & Zillah Reddam M 1:44.65 $137,500 2018 Heck Yeah Mike E. Smith Robert A. Baffert Robert Baedeker, Michael Pageler, Michael Sigband M 1:46.60 $110,000 2019 Galilean Flavien Prat Jerry Hollendorfer West Point Thoroughbreds Inc., Denise Barker, William Sandbrook M 1:43.43 $110,000 2020 Fast Enough Tiago J. Pereira Rafael Becerra Craig Martin M 1:45.23 $200,000 2021 Big Fish Juan J. Hernandez David Hofmans Legacy Ranch Inc. M 1:46.37 $110,000 2022 Fast Drawings Munnings Drayden Van Dyke Jeffrey L. Mullins Emily Shields M 1:46.99 $110,000 2023 Thirsty John Juan J. Hernandez Peter L. Miller Terry C. Lovinger, Tom London, Eugene Zondlo M 1:45.51 $110,000 2024 Micis Express Umberto Rispoli Steve R. Knapp Tom Halasz M 1:46.75 $110,000 2025 Whiskyginandbrandy Tiago J. Pereira Steve R. Knapp Anthony J. Chacon, Victor M. Flores, Terry C. Lovingier M 1:46.12 $96,250
References