Santa Anita Oaks is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies willing to race 8.5 furlongs ( miles) on the dirt. The race is a Grade II event with a current purse of $200,000 and has been a prep race to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, including the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes.

Inaugurated in 1935 as a race for two-year-olds, it originated as the Santa Susana Stakes. In 1952 the race became the Santa Susana Handicap then in 1958 reverted to the Santa Susana Stakes. In 1986 it was given its current designation as the Santa Anita Oaks. In 2020 the event was downgraded to Grade II.

Since inception, the race has been set at various distances: 1935 : 3 furlongs 1937 - 1938 : 6 furlongs 1939 - 1951 & 1956 : 7 furlongs 1954 & 1957 : 8 furlongs 1957 – present : 8.5 furlongs

Records Stakes Record Turbulent Descent (1:41.05) - Current Distance of 8.5 furlongs

Most wins by a jockey: Bill Shoemaker - 10 Donald Pierce - 5 Gary Stevens won four in a row, 1987–1990

Most wins by a trainer: D. Wayne Lukas - 8 Charles E. Whittingham - 4

Winners of the Santa Anita Oaks since 1975 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Grade 2026Meaning3Juan J. HernandezMichael W. McCarthyBridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners miles1:43.99II2025Tenma3Juan J. HernandezBob BaffertBaoma Corp miles1:46.15II2024Nothing Like You3Lanfranco DettoriBob BaffertGeorgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz miles1:43.21II2023 Faiza3 Flavien Prat Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen miles1:43.27 II2022 Desert Dawn3 Umberto Rispoli Philip D'Amato H & E Ranch miles1:43.50 II2021 Soothsay3 Flavien Prat Richard Mandella Claiborne Farm miles1:44.35 II2020 Swiss Skydiver3 Mike Smith Kenneth McPeek Peter J. Callahan miles1:43.20 II2019 Bellafina3 Flavien Prat Simon Callaghan Kaleem Shah miles1:45.47 I2018 Midnight Bisou3 Mike E. Smith William Spawr Allen Racing LLC and Bloom Racing Stable LLC miles1:44.79 I2017 Paradise Woods3 Flavien Prat Richard Mandella Sarkowsky, Steven, Wygod, Martin J. and Wygod, Pam miles1:42.53 I2016 Songbird3 Mike E. Smith Jerry Hollendorfer Fox Hill Farms miles1:44.14 I2015 Stellar Wind3 Victor Espinoza John W. Sadler Hronis Racing miles1:43.26 I2014 Fashion Plate3 Gary Stevens Simon Callaghan Zetcher/Tabor miles1:42.97 I2013 Beholder3 Garrett K. Gomez Richard E. Mandella Spendthrift Farm miles1:43.16 I2012 Willa B Awesome3 Martin Pedroza Walther Solis Phil Daniels miles1:42.47 I2011 Turbulent Descent3 David Flores Mike Puype Blinkers On Racing miles1:41.05 I2010 Crisp3 Joel Rosario John W. Sadler Michael Talla miles1:43.50 I2009 Stardom Bound3 Mike E. Smith Robert J. Frankel IEAH Stables miles1:43.62 I2008 Ariege3 Corey Nakatani Robert J. Frankel IEAH Stables/Pegasus Group miles1:42.73 I2007 Rags to Riches3 Garrett Gomez Todd Pletcher M.Tabor & D. Smith miles1:42.84 I2006 Balance3 Victor Espinoza David Hofmans Amerman Racing miles1:42.99 I2005 Sweet Catomine3 Corey Nakatani Julio C. Canani Pam & Martin Wygod miles1:44.44 I2004 Silent Sighs3 David R. Flores Julio C. Canani Pam & Martin Wygod miles1:42.84 I2003 Composure3 Jerry Bailey Bob Baffert Robert & Beverly Lewis miles1:43.34 I2002 You3 Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann miles1:42.70 I2001 Golden Ballet3 Chris McCarron Jenine Sahadi Team Valor/Heiligbrodt Stable miles1:41.83 I2000 Surfside3 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm miles1:44.03 I1999 Excellent Meeting3 David R. Flores Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm miles1:43.26 I1998Hedonist3Kent DesormeauxRandy BradshawSiegel family miles1:44.14 I1997Sharp Cat3Corey NakataniD. Wayne LukasThe Thoroughbred Corp. miles1:42.22 I1996Antespend3Chris AntleyRonald McAnallyJack Kent Cooke miles1:43.04 I1995Serena's Song3Corey NakataniD. Wayne LukasRobert & Beverly Lewis miles1:42.71 I1994Lakeway3Kent DesormeauxGary F. JonesMichael G. Rutherford miles1:41.66 I1993Eliza3Pat ValenzuelaAlex Hassinger, Jr.Allen E. Paulson miles1:42.97 I1992Golden Treat3Kent DesormeauxRichard MandellaGolden Eagle Farm miles1:43.37 I1991Lite Light3Corey NakataniHenry MorenoOaktown Stable miles1:42.40 I1990Hail Atlantis3Gary StevensD. Wayne LukasTayhill Stables miles1:43.00 I1989Imaginary Lady3Gary StevensD. Wayne LukasFrench, Jr. & Lukas miles1:43.40 I1988Winning Colors3Gary StevensD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein miles1:42.00 I1987 Timely Assertion3 Gary Stevens Henry Moreno Wichita Equine, Inc. miles1:43.60 I1986 Hidden Light3 Bill Shoemaker Charlie Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck miles1:42.40 I1985 Fran's Valentine3 Pat Valenzuela Joseph Manzi Green Thumb Farm Stable miles1:42.40 I1984 Althea3 Laffit Pincay, Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Aykroyd, Alexander & Groves miles1:43.60 I1983 Fabulous Notion3 Donald Pierce James Jordan Pine Meadow Thoroughbreds miles1:43.60 I1982 Blush With Pride3 Bill Shoemaker D. Wayne Lukas Stonereath Farms miles1:45.80 I1981 Nell's Briquette3 Bill Shoemaker Jack Van Berg Triple L. Stables miles1:42.80 I1980 Bold 'n Determined3 Eddie Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Saron Stable miles1:41.20 I1979 Caline3 Bill Shoemaker Laz Barrera Oatlands Stable miles1:41.60 I1978 Grenzen3 Darrel McHargue Lorren Rettele Woolsey,Schaffer & Delaplaine miles1:43.80 II1977 Sound of Summer3 Fernando Toro Tom Pratt Busching & Bernstein miles1:42.20 II1976 Girl in Love3 Fernando Toro Vincent Clyne Elmendorf Farm miles1:43.20 II1975 Sarsar3 Bill Shoemaker David A. Whiteley William H. Perry miles1:42.80 II

Earlier winners

1974 - Miss Musket 1973 - Belle Marie 1972 - Susan's Girl 1971 - Turkish Trousers 1970 - Opening Bid 1969 - Dumptys Lady 1968 - Allie's Serenade 1967 - Fish House 1966 - Spearfish 1965 - Desert Love 1964 - Blue Norther 1963 - Lamb Chop 1962 - Pixie Erin 1961 - Fun House 1960 - Darling June 1959 - Silver Spoon 1958 - Penumbra 1957 - Market Basket 1956 - Dupatta 1955 - No race 1954 - Quillo Maid 1953 - Femme Fatale 1952 - Season's Best 1951 - Ruth Lily † 1950 - Special Touch 1949 - Gaffery 1948 - Mrs. Rabbit 1947 - Hubble Bubble 1946 - Enfilade 1945 - Busher 1941 - Cute Trick 1940 - Augury 1939 - Sweet Nancy 1938 - Minulus 1937 - Patty Cake 1936 - No race 1935 - Dunlin Lady

† In 1951, Sweet Talk won the race but was disqualified and placed third.

See also

Road to the Kentucky Oaks