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Highlighted By The Inaugural California Crown On Sept. 28; Season Runs Sept. 27 – Oct. 27
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — Santa Anita will host 22 stakes including the inaugural GI, $1 million California Crown during its 16-day Autumn Meet starting Friday, Sept. 27. The first-ever California Crown Day at Santa Anita, featuring five stakes worth $2.8 million in prize money, will be presented the following day on Saturday, Sept. 28.
The California Crown program, which was formally announced on March 1, is a new racing and entertainment concept inspired by the popular Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park. California Crown Day is slated to bring together the adrenaline of world-class Thoroughbred racing with the excitement of live performances, interactive experiences, and cutting-edge technology. The hefty prize money offered on the stakes-laden card is being provided by 1/ST Racing.
The event’s namesake race, the Grade I, $1 million California Crown, is for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. It replaces the Awesome Again on the Santa Anita stakes slate. In addition to its hefty purse, the California Crown also provides the winner with an automatic berth in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
California Crown Day will also include the GII, $750,000 California Crown Eddie D Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course and GII, $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf Championship at 1 ¼ miles on turf.
Supporting the three California Crown races on Sept. 28 will be the GII, $200,000 City of Hope Mile and $100,000 Unzip Me Stakes presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The City of Hope Mile is an automatic qualifier for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Following the California Crown, the next day on Sunday, Sept. 29, Santa Anita will host both the GII, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on dirt and GII, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship presented by Estrella Jalisco. Both races are key steppingstones to the Breeders’ Cup five weeks later.
World-class racing will again be the order of the day the following weekend on Oct. 5-6. On Saturday, Oct. 5, Santa Anita will host five stakes including three Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events. Among the Breeders’ Cup qualifiers is the newly renamed Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association, formerly the Chandelier Stakes.
The Oak Leaf, a Grade II event for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, was known as the Chandelier from 2012 to 2023. The race was originally known as the Oak Leaf Stakes starting in 1969 when contested at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita in the fall.
Joining the Oak Leaf on Oct. 5 are the GI, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; and GII, $200,000 Rodeo Drive for fillies and mares at 1 ¼ miles on turf, which awards the winner an automatic berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
On Sunday, Oct. 6, Santa Anita will host three stakes including a pair of Grade III’s at one mile turf, the Zuma Beach for 2-year-olds and Surfer Girl for 2-year-old fillies. Also, that day is the Tokyo City Cup at 1 ½ miles on dirt.
Closing weekend of the Autumn Meet will feature the GII Twilight Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Saturday, Oct. 26 and the GIII Autumn Miss for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf on Oct. 27.
To view the complete Autumn Meet stake schedule and for information on opening weekend please visit www.Santaanita.com.
