The La Brea Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track held annually in late December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, USA. The event currently offers a purse of US$300,000.

History

The event is named for the area in Southern California called La Brea, noted for the La Brea Tar Pits in the middle of the city of Los Angeles. The word "brea" is Spanish for tar.

The inaugural running of the event was on 16 January 1974 for four-year-old horses over a distance of miles and was won by Mr. & Mrs Carl Galea's 11/1 longshot Niner Power by a margin of lengths over First Majesty with Handsome Native length back in third in a time of 1:43. The event was held in 1975 in January for four-year-olds again with Bobby Murcer winning. However, track management scheduled the event for the 1975–76 Santa Anita Winter meet in December for three-year-old horses and when it came time to the draw entries for the race the event was split into divisions. Hence, for the 1975 calendar year the event was raced three times. In 1976 the event was held on the last day of the year for three-year-olds and the winner Kirby Lane would go on the following year and win the Grade II San Antonio Stakes and the Grade I Charles H. Strub Stakes.

For the next season's winter meeting, Santa Anita scheduled the event in January and that the conditions of the event were for four-year-old fillies at a shorter distance of seven furlongs. Therefore, for the calendar year 1977, the event was not held. The first running as a fillies event the winner was Taisez Vous by an easy 6 lengths.

The La Brea Stakes was part of Santa Anita Park's La Cañada Series of races open to newly turning/turned 4-year-old fillies and run at an increasing distance. The series begins with the La Brea Stakes at 7 furlongs followed by the Grade II El Encino Stakes at miles in mid January, then the Grade II La Cañada Stakes at miles in mid February. Until the series ended in 2011 when the El Encino Stakes was discontinued, only three fillies had ever won all three races: Taisez Vous (1978), Mitterand (1985), and Got Koko (2003). The Santa Anita Park counterpart series for male horses is the Strub Series.

Due to the scheduling near the New Year period, the event was sometimes scheduled in late December as a three-year-old fillies event or in early January as a four-year-old fillies event, such as in 1982, 1985 and 1990 and thus the event would not be held in the calendar year - 1984 and 1986.

American Triple Crown winner Secretariat's daughter Terlingua won this event in 1980. Later as a broodmare her offspring included a champion sire in Storm Cat (1999, 2000).

In 1983 the American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III.

Also American Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew's daughter Savannah Slew won this event in December 1985. Although Savannah Slew retired after this event, Lady's Secret whom she defeated into second place in 1986 had an outstanding year culminating with a victory in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Distaff and winning the U.S. Champion Older Filly award and being voted as United States Horse of the Year.

Prior to winning this event in 1988 Very Subtle had won the Grade I Breeders' Cup Sprint at Hollywood Park. Very Subtle dispatched her opposition by a record winning margin of nine lengths which continues to date to be the largest margin of victory.

In 1991 the event was run in split divisions for the second time and since then has been scheduled only in December.

In 1994 the event was upgraded to Grade II and to the highest classification of Grade I in 1997.

Records Speed record: 7 furlongs: 1:20.33 – Switch (2010)

Margins: 9 lengths – Very Subtle (1988)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Chris McCarron (1982 (2), 1991, 1995, 1996) 5 – Gary Stevens (1987, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2013) 5 – Mike E. Smith (2004, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer: 10 – Bob Baffert (1992, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2025)

Most wins by an owner: 4 – Michael E. Pegram (1992, 1999, 2005, 2025)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2025UshaJuan J. HernandezBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, Paul Weitman7 furlongs1:21.68$302,500I2024Kopion Kazushi KimuraRichard E. MandellaSpendthrift Farm7 furlongs1:22.08$301,500I2023Daddysruby Juan J. HernandezPeter L. MillerJethorse, Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber 7 furlongs1:23.06$302,000I2022Fun to Dream Juan J. HernandezBob Baffert Natalie J. Baffert & Connie Pageler7 furlongs1:21.99$301,000I2021KalypsoJohn VelazquezBob BaffertDavid A. Bernsen, Gainsway Stable, Rockingham Ranch & Chad Littlefield7 furlongs1:24.78$301,000I2020Fair MaidenRicardo GonzalezEoin G. HartyGodolphin7 furlongs1:22.17$302,500I2019Hard Not to LoveMike E. SmithJohn ShirreffsMercedes Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy & David Ingordo & Steve F. Mooney 7 furlongs1:22.17$301,404I2018Spiced PerfectionFlavien PratBrian J. KorinerDare To Dream Stable 7 furlongs1:23.54$301,035I2017Unique BellaMike E. SmithDon Alberto Stable7 furlongs1:21.49$301,035I2016ConstellationFlavien PratJerry HollendorferLNJ Foxwoods7 furlongs1:21.83$301,035I2015BirdatthewireMike E. SmithDale L. RomansForum Racing IV7 furlongs1:23.31$301,000I2014Sam's SisterElvis TrujilloJerry HollendorferMark Dedomenico, Jerry Hollendorfer & George Todaro 7 furlongs1:22.52$301,000I2013Heir KittyGary L. StevensPeter L. MillerDavid A. Bernsen & Paul Makin7 furlongs1:21.47$300,250I2012Book ReviewRafael BejaranoBob BaffertMary & Gary West7 furlongs1:22.41$300,500I2011Teddy's PromiseVictor EspinozaRonald W. EllisTed & Judy Nichols7 furlongs1:20.47$300,000I2010SwitchJoel RosarioJohn W. SadlerC R K Stable7 furlongs1:20.33$250,000I2009Evita ArgentinaJoel RosarioJohn W. SadlerHalo Farms & Three Sisters Thoroughbreds7 furlongs1:21.78$300,000I2008Indian BlessingJohn R. VelazquezBob BaffertPatti & Hal J. Earnhardt7 furlongs1:20.89$250,000I2007Dearest TrickskiMike E. SmithJohn W. SadlerTom Mankiewicz7 furlongs1:21.09$250,000I2006DownthedustyroadJon CourtBob BaffertZayat Stables7 furlongs1:21.40$250,000I2005Pussycat DollGarrett K. GomezBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram7 furlongs1:21.36$250,000I2004Alphabet KissesMike E. SmithMartin F. JonesHarris Farms7 furlongs1:21.38$250,000I2003Island FashionKent J. DesormeauxMarcelo PolancoEverest Stables7 furlongs1:22.12$250,000I2002Got KokoAlex O. SolisBruce HeadleyAase Headley & Paul Leung7 furlongs1:22.57$200,000I2001Affluent Ron McAnallyJanis R. Whitham7 furlongs1:21.29$200,000I2000Spain Victor EspinozaD. Wayne LukasThe Thoroughbred Corporation7 furlongs1:22.27$200,000I1999HookedonthefeelinDavid R. FloresBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram7 furlongs1:21.84$200,000I1998Magical AllureGary L. StevensBob BaffertMr. & Mrs. John C. Mabee7 furlongs1:22.06$200,000I1997I Ain't BluffingEddie DelahoussayeRonald W. EllisSamantha, Jan and Mace Siegel 7 furlongs1:21.23$165,900I1996Hidden LakeChris McCarronDennis E. & Estate of Jim E. Weir7 furlongs1:22.00$130,900II1995Exotic WoodChris McCarronRonald W. EllisPam & Martin Wygod7 furlongs1:21.57$130,250II1994Top RungGary L. StevensWillard L. ProctorGlen Hill Farm7 furlongs1:21.84$108,700II1993Mamselle BebetteCorey NakataniJack Van BergBig Train Farm7 furlongs1:20.45$110,900III1992Arches of GoldEddie DelahoussayeBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram & Bob Roth7 furlongs1:21.28$109,800III1991D'Or RuckusChris McCarronGerald C. MoermanJ B S Stable7 furlongs1:22.05$82,550IIITeresa McPat ValenzuelaGreg GilchristHarris Farms 1:23.05$82,5501990Brought To MindAlex O. SolisRon McAnallyTadahiro Hotehama7 furlongs1:21.60$110,000IIIDecemberAkinemodGary L. StevensJerry M. FanningEl Rancho de Jaklin1:21.60$107,650January1989Variety BabyCorey BlackBruce HeadleyKjell H. Qvale7 furlongs1:21.60$82,800III1988Very SubtlePat ValenzuelaMelvin F. StuteBen Rochelle7 furlongs1:21.60$103,500III1987Family StyleGary L. StevensD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein7 furlongs1:22.60$80,450III1986Race not held1985Savannah SlewBill ShoemakerRon McAnallyAllen E. Paulson7 furlongs1:22.40$66,150IIIDecemberMitterandEddie DelahoussayeRandy WinickSilver Star Stable & Randy Winick1:21.80$66,950January1984Race not held1983Lovlier LindaBill ShoemakerWillard L. ProctorWilliam R. Hawn7 furlongs1:22.20$67,700III1982Beautiful GlassChris McCarronGary F. JonesGolden Eagle Farm7 furlongs1:21.00$69,450 DecemberNell's BriquetteChris McCarronLoren RetteleTriple L. Stables 1:25.80$67,150January1981DynaniteBill ShoemakerJohn W. RussellMrs. Harold Cole7 furlongs1:21.40$54,250 1980Terlingua Darrel G. McHargueD. Wayne LukasBarry A. Beal & L. Robert French Jr.7 furlongs1:20.80$53,850 1979Great Lady M.Laffit Pincay Jr.D. Wayne LukasRobert H. Spreen7 furlongs1:22.60$58,300 1978Taisez VousDonald PierceRobert L. WheelerVernon & Ann Eachus7 furlongs1:22.80$44,700 1977Race not held1976Kirby LaneLaffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraGedney Farms miles1:45.20$39,500 1975FeatherfootBill ShoemakerLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm miles1:42.20$22,025December Big Destiny Sandy Hawley Sidney Martin David J. Foster1:42.80$22,325 Bobby Murcer Eddie Belmonte Joe Trovato Carl Rosen miles1:43.40$34,300January1974 Niner Power Steve J. Valdez Buster MillerickMr. & Mrs Carl Galea miles1:43.80$33,850

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2020 Santa Anita Media Guide

References