ARCADIA, Calif. (June 6, 2022)—Santa Anita’s 18-day Autumn Meet, which opens Friday, Sept. 30, will be highlighted by a total of 26 stakes, 15 of them graded. Overnight purses remain the same as last year. Most all stakes purses are the same as in 2021, with the following exceptions. Both the Golden State Juvenile and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies have had their purses increased from $150,000 to $175,000, while the Unzip Me and the Anoakia now have purses of $85,000—up from $75,000 last year. Additionally, two restricted stakes, the Swingtime and the Lure, now offer purse money of $80,000, up $10,000 each.
The 2022 Autumn Meet Stakes Schedule will include five Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” stakes over the first two weekends, Oct. 1 & 2 and Oct. 8 & 9, all significant preps to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Racecourse Nov. 4 & 5. These include three Grade I events, the $300,000 Awesome Again on Oct. 1 and the $300,000 American Pharoah and the $300,000 Rodeo Drive, both on Oct. 8.
With the Breeders’ Cup in mind, the Autumn Meet will get off to a fast start, with 11 stakes, seven of them graded, being offered opening weekend, Oct. 1 & 2. The second weekend, Oct. 8 & 9, will offer six stakes, five of them graded.
The Grade I Awesome Again Stakes is a prep to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Grade I American Pharoah is a prep to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Grade I Rodeo Drive Stakes is a prep to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
With the Grade I Awesome Again headlining a tremendous day of stakes action on October 1, five additional stakes will be offered: the Grade II, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course; the Grade II, $200,000 John Henry Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles on turf; the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs; the Grade II, $200,000 City of Hope Mile (turf) for 3-year-olds and up and the $85,000 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf.
On Sunday, Oct. 2, a total of five stakes will be offered, the Grade II, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles; the Grade III, $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes for fillies & mares three and up at 6 ½ furlongs; the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf, the 100,000 Tokyo City Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles (which has been permanently moved to the Autumn Meet as a prep to Breeders’ Cup Marathon races) and the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy, for fillies and mares three and up at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course.
A total of four California-bred Stakes, the California Distaff ($125,000) on Oct. 15; the California Flag ($125,000) on Oct. 16; the Golden State Juvenile ($175,000) on Oct. 29 and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies ($175,000) on Oct. 29, will again provide local owners and breeders’ ample added money opportunities through closing day, Nov. 6.
Santa Anita’s complete 2022 Autumn Stakes Schedule will be available soon at santaanita.com/horsemen. For additional information, please call the Santa Anita Racing Office at (626) 574-6352.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo: Santa Anita scene, (Benoit)
