Las Virgenes Stakes
American Thoroughbred horse race
Horse race
The Las Virgenes Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over the distance of one mile on the dirt scheduled annually in late January or early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California . The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History
The event was named after the Rancho Las Virgenes land grant in the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills . The event was inaugurated on 26 February 1983 with Saucy Bobbie victorious, who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Lazaro S. Barrera in a time of 1:361 ⁄5 .[ 2]
The event was scheduled in Southern California as a natural progression for three-year-old fillies with the Santa Ynez Stakes over 7 furlongs in January, Las Virgenes Stakes over one mile in February and the Santa Susana Stakes, later renamed as the Santa Anita Oaks over 1+ 1 ⁄16 miles in March.
Althea, winner of the second running in 1984[ 3] later that spring became the first filly to win the Arkansas Derby .[ 4]
The event was upgraded to Grade III in 1985.[ 5] The winner that year was Fran's Valentine who was first over the line in her first race, the inaugural 1984 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Hollywood Park but was disqualified and place tenth.[ 6] With the obvious quality of the runners in 1987 the event was upgraded to Grade II and the following year in 1988 the event reached Grade I status.[ 5]
The event has produced an outstanding number of fillies that have gone on to be champions both in their sophomore year and even later to become Champions winning Breeders' Cup events.
These include Goodbye Halo and Lite Light who went on to win the Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks . Serena's Song went on to defeat colts in the Jim Beam Stakes and Haskell Invitational Handicap en route to becoming US Champion Three-Year-Old Filly for 1995. The 2000 winner Surfside defeated older horses in the Grade II Clark Handicap also capturing US Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors. The 2007 winner Rags to Riches became a US Classic winner when she won the Belmont Stakes and going on to capture US Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors. The US Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Champion Beholder won this race and went on to win the 2013 Breeders' Cup Distaff and was named US Champion Three-Year-Old Filly that year.
In 2016 the event was downgraded to Grade II and again in 2021 to Grade III.[ 7]
The event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks .
Records
Speed record:
Margins:
13 lengths – Adare Manor (2022)
Most wins by a jockey :
Most wins by a trainer :
8 – Bob Baffert (1999, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Most wins by an owner:
Las Virgenes Stakes – Santa Anita Oaks double:
Althea †(1984), Fran's Valentine †(1985), Timely Assertion (1987), Lite Light (1991), Lakeway (1994), Serena's Song (1995), Antespend (1996), Sharp Cat (1997), Excellent Meeting (1999), Surfside (2000), Golden Ballet (2001), You (2002), Composure (2003), Balance (2006), Rags to Riches (2007), Stardom Bound (2009), Beholder (2013), Fashion Plate (2014), Songbird (2016), Bellafina (2019)
Notes:
† Santa Anita Oaks was known as the Santa Susana Stakes.
Winners
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Grade
Ref
2024
Kinza
Juan J. Hernandez
Bob Baffert
Michael Lund Peterson
1 mile
1:37.03
$100,000
III
[ 8]
2023
Faiza
Ramon Vazquez
Bob Baffert
Michael Lund Peterson
1 mile
1:38.46
$200,500
III
[ 9]
2022
Adare Manor
John Velazquez
Bob Baffert
Michael Lund Peterson
1 mile
1:37:11
$196,000
III
[ 10]
2021
Moonlight d'Oro
Flavien Prat
Richard E. Mandella
MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm
1 mile
1:38:01
$200,000
III
[ 11]
2020
Venetian Harbor
Flavien Prat
Richard Baltas
Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm & Domenic Savides
1 mile
1:37.51
$200,000
II
[ 12]
2019
Bellafina
Flavien Prat
Simon Callaghan
Kaleem Shah
1 mile
1:35.99
$200,000
II
[ 13]
2018
Dream Tree
Drayden Van Dyke
Bob Baffert
Phoenix Thoroughbred
1 mile
1:39.45
$200,345
II
[ 14]
2017
Unique Bella
Mike E. Smith
Jerry Hollendorfer
Don Alberto Stable
1 mile
1:35.66
$196,000
II
[ 15]
2016
Songbird
Mike E. Smith
Jerry Hollendorfer
Fox Hill Farms
1 mile
1:36.84
$300,345
II
[ 16]
2015
Callback
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
Spendthrift Farm
1 mile
1:36.92
$301,000
I
[ 17]
2014
Fashion Plate
Gary L. Stevens
Simon Callaghan
Arnold Zetcher & Michael Tabor
1 mile
1:37.22
$300,000
I
[ 18]
2013
Beholder
Garrett K. Gomez
Richard E. Mandella
Spendthrift Farm
1 mile
1:36.14
$250,750
I
[ 19]
2012
Eden's Moon
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
Kaleem Shah
1 mile
1:35.27
$250,000
I
[ 20]
2011
Zazu
Joel Rosario
John W. Sadler
Ann & Jerry Moss
1 mile
1:34.86
$250,000
I
[ 21]
2010
Blind Luck
Rafael Bejarano
Jerry Hollendorfer
Mark DeDomenico, John Carver & Jerry Hollendorfer
1 mile
1:35.98
$250,000
I
[ 22]
2009
Stardom Bound
Mike E. Smith
Robert J. Frankel
IEAH Stables , Paul Pompa Jr., Michael Dubb & Golden Goose Ent.
1 mile
1:36.43
$300,000
I
[ 23]
2008
Golden Doc A
Rafael Bejarano
Barry Abrams
Ron McCauley
1 mile
1:35.86
$250,000
I
[ 24]
2007
Rags to Riches
Garrett K. Gomez
Michael W. McCarthy
Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor
1 mile
1:37.85
$250,000
I
[ 25]
2006
Balance
Victor Espinoza
David E. Hofmans
Amerman Racing
1 mile
1:36.54
$250,000
I
[ 26]
2005
Sharp Lisa
Corey Nakatani
Doug F. O'Neill
J. Paul Reddam , Suarez Racing & Mark Schlesinger
1 mile
1:35.64
$250,000
I
[ 27]
2004
A. P. Adventure
Alex O. Solis
Wallace Dollase
Robert & Beverly Lewis
1 mile
1:36.50
$250,000
I
[ 28]
2003
Composure
Jerry D. Bailey
Bob Baffert
Robert & Beverly Lewis
1 mile
1:36.13
$200,000
I
[ 29]
2002
You
Jerry D. Bailey
Robert J. Frankel
Edmund A. Gann
1 mile
1:38.84
$200,000
I
[ 30]
2001
Golden Ballet
Chris McCarron
Jenine Sahadi
Team Valor & Heiligbrodt Racing Stable
1 mile
1:36.89
$200,000
I
[ 31]
2000
Surfside
Pat Day
D. Wayne Lukas
Overbrook Farm
1 mile
1:37.00
$196,000
I
[ 32]
1999
Excellent Meeting
Kent J. Desormeaux
Bob Baffert
Golden Eagle Farm
1 mile
1:35.35
$200,000
I
[ 33]
1998
Keeper Hill
David R. Flores
Robert J. Frankel
Dr. John A. Chandler
1 mile
1:36.94
$200,000
I
[ 34]
1997
Sharp Cat
Corey Nakatani
D. Wayne Lukas
The Thoroughbred Corp.
1 mile
1:35.52
$158,800
I
[ 35]
1996
Antespend
Chris Antley
Ron McAnally
Jack Kent Cooke
1 mile
1:36.45
$156,900
I
[ 36]
1995
Serena's Song
Corey Nakatani
D. Wayne Lukas
Robert & Beverly Lewis
1 mile
1:35.46
$160,200
I
[ 37]
1994
Lakeway
Kent J. Desormeaux
Gary F. Jones
Mike Rutherford
1 mile
1:35.14
$161,100
I
[ 38]
1993
Likeable Style
Gary L. Stevens
Richard E. Mandella
Golden Eagle Farm
1 mile
1:36.67
$158,500
I
[ 39]
1992
Magical Maiden
Gary L. Stevens
Warren Stute
Clement L. Hirsch
1 mile
1:36.23
$164,300
I
[ 40]
1991
Lite Light
Corey Nakatani
Henry Moreno
Jack L. Finley
1 mile
1:35.60
$161,300
I
[ 41]
1990
Cheval Volant
Alex O. Solis
Kenneth J. Jumps
Kenneth J. Jumps, Steve Shapiro, David Stark & Bill Stratton
1 mile
1:38.00
$134,400
I
[ 42]
1989
Kool Arrival
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Melvin F. Stute
John Coelho, Phillip Fields & Peter Valenti
1 mile
1:36.20
$133,450
I
[ 43]
1988
Goodbye Halo
Jorge Velasquez
Charles E. Whittingham
Arthur B. Hancock III
1 mile
1:36.80
$126,500
I
[ 44]
1987
Timely Assertion
Gary L. Stevens
Henry Moreno
George Aubin
1 mile
1:36.80
$126,600
II
[ 45]
1986
Life At The Top
Rafael Q. Meza
D. Wayne Lukas
Lloyd R. French Jr. & Eugene V. Klein
1 mile
1:36.20
$131,050
III
[ 46]
1985
Fran's Valentine
Pat Valenzuela
Joseph Manzi
Green Thumb Farm Stable
1 mile
1:36.40
$133,650
III
[ 47]
1984
Althea
Laffit Pincay Jr.
D. Wayne Lukas
David Aykroyd, Helen Alexander & Helen Groves
1 mile
1:37.00
$86,600
Listed
[ 3]
1983
Saucy Bobbie
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Laz Barrera
Leslie Combs II & Francis Kernan
1 mile
1:36.20
$83,850
[ 2]
Legend:
All Weather Track
Dirt
See also
References
^ "Chart of the 2020 Las Virgenes" . Equibase . Retrieved 18 May 2020 .
^ a b "Santa Anita Park Charts (1983 Las Virgenes Stakes - race 8: held 26 February 1983 )" . Lexington Herald-Leader . The Associated Press . 27 February 1983. p. 52. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ a b "Althea wins by nose in Las Virgenes Stakes (1984 Las Virgenes Stakes - race 8: held 25 February 1984 )" . Lexington Herald-Leader . The Associated Press . 26 February 1984. p. 34. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ Wall, Maryjean (2016). "Consummate Horsewoman" (PDF) . Keeneland.com. p. 46. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ a b "Stakes profile" . Equibase . Retrieved 18 May 2020 .
^ Christine, Bill (25 March 1985). "Finally, Earl Scheib Has a Reason to Paint the Town : His Filly, Fran's Valentine, Wins in Santa Susana Stakes by 2 1/2 Lengths Before 66,883 By" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2017-12-28 .
^ "LAS VIRGENES STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS" . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2024 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 3 - (race 2)" . Equibase . 10 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024 .
^ "2023 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 3 - (race 2)" . Equibase . 28 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023 .
^ "2022 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 3 - (race 3)" . Equibase . Retrieved 7 February 2022 .
^ "2020 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 3 - Race 3" . www.equibase.com . 6 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-08 .
^ "2020 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)" . Equibase . 8 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2019 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)" . Equibase . 9 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2018 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4)" . Equibase . 4 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2017 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)" . Equibase . 5 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2016 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)" . Equibase . 6 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2015 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 31 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2014 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)" . Equibase . 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2013 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 6)" . Equibase . 2 March 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2012 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)" . Equibase . 3 March 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2011 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 4)" . Equibase . 5 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2010 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 4)" . Equibase . 13 February 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2009 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 6)" . Equibase . 7 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2008 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)" . Equibase . 9 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2007 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)" . Equibase . 10 February 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2006 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)" . Equibase . 11 February 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2005 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)" . Equibase . 12 February 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2004 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 15 February 2004. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2003 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)" . Equibase . 9 February 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2002 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 10 February 2002. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2001 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 10 February 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "2000 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 6)" . Equibase . 12 February 2000. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1999 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)" . Equibase . 13 February 1999. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1998 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 15 February 1998. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1997 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 15 February 1997. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1996 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 18 February 1996. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1995 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 19 February 1995. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1994 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 20 February 1994. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1993 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 13 February 1993. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1992 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 16 February 1992. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "1991 Las Virgenes Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)" . Equibase . 24 February 1991. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ Mieszerski, Bob (25 February 1990). "Cheval Volant First, ... (1990 Las Virgenes Stakes - race 8: held 24 February 1990 )" . Los Angeles Times . p. 97. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ Christine, Bill (19 February 1989). "Kool Arrival Wins to, ... (1989 Las Virgenes Stakes - race 8: held 18 February 1989 )" . Los Angeles Times . p. 71. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ Christine, Bill (21 February 1988). "Match Is Perfect: Goodbye Halo Finishes on Top (1988 Las Virgenes Stakes - race 8: held 20 February 1988 )" . Los Angeles Times . p. 60. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "Blinkers Make Difference for Timely Assertion, Very Subtle (1987 Las Virgenes Stakes - race 8: held 21 February 1987 )" . Los Angeles Times . 22 February 1987. p. 124. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "Lukas fillies finish 1-2 in Las Virgenes Stakes (1986 Las Virgenes Stakes - race 8: held 1 March 1986 )" . Lexington Herald-Leader . The Associated Press . 2 March 1986. p. 124. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .
^ "Fran's Valentine Beats a Jinx in Winning Las Virgenes Stakes (1985 Las Virgenes Stakes - race 8: held 2 March 1985 )" . Los Angeles Times . 3 March 1985. p. 48. Retrieved 1 February 2021 .