The San Miguel Stakes is an annual American ungraded stakes
sprint run over 6 furlongs at Santa Anita Park in California for
three-year-old thoroughbreds. Contested at the end of March, the San
Miguel Stakes offers a purse of $70,000 and used to be an important
prep race for the Santa Anita Derby in April.
As of 2009, the running of the San Miguel Stakes was shifted from
the beginning of January to the end of March, which means it is too
close to the Santa Anita Derby to be a prep race. That said, the
2009 running of the San Miguel Stakes still attracted some
formidable runners.
Although one of the less important races on Santa Anita Park's
annual racing calendar, the San Miguel Stakes is often selected by
trainers to put their up-and-coming three-year-olds through their
paces over 6 furlongs. And judging by how they run, trainers then
select other stakes races going forward.
The 2009 San Miguel Stakes was a particularly exciting race as
Triumphant Flight had to fight off a tough challenge by rival,
Charlie's Moment, to clinch victory and his first win as a
three-year-old. Ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, Triumphant Flight
crossed the line 1 1/2 lengths clear.
Over the years the San Miguel Stakes has seen some talented winners
cross the line in first place. More recently, these have included
Salute the Sarge in 2008, E Z Warrior in 2007, Going Wild in 2005,
Hosco in 2004, Popular in 2002, and Lasersport in 2001. |
