The San Felipe Stakes is a Gr
2 American horse race for three-year-old thoroughbreds contested in
mid-March every year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California over 1
1/16 miles. Run over dirt, the San Felipe Stakes is an official prep
race for the Kentucky Derby and offers a lucrative purse of $250,000.
The San Felipe Stakes has been run since 1935 and in all that time has
only ever been cancelled in 1942, 1943 and 1944 as a result of the
Second World War. Being so old, it has undergone many changes over the
years. From 1935 to 1940 it was only open to colts and geldings three
and older. The following year it was opened to all three-year-olds. From
1935 to 1941 and from 1952 until 1992 the San Felipe Stakes was raced as
a handicap.
It is also a race that has been contested over a multitude of distances.
In 1935 and 1936 it was contested over 1 mile, from 1938 to 1940 and in
1945 and 1946 it was run over 6 furlongs, while in 1937, 1941 and 1947
to 1951 it was run over 7 furlongs. From 1952 until now it has been
raced over 1 1/16 miles.
The fastest time recorded over the San Felipe Stakes' current distance
is 1:40.11 set by Consolidator in 2005. Jockey Chris McCarron chalked
up a record seven victories in the race, while trainer Charlie
Whittingham has the most wins with four - in 1956, 1963, 1966 and 1989. |
