Santa Anita Unveils 2022 Autumn Meet Stakes Schedule

Santa Anita Park's 18-day Autumn Meet, which opens 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 Nov. 4 and 5. These include three grade 1 events, the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) Oct. 1, the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1), and the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T), both 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 and 2. The second weekend, Oct. 8 and 9, will offer six stakes, five of them graded.

The Awesome Again Stakes (G1) as a prep for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the American Pharoah (G1) is a prep for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and the Rodeo Drive Stakes, a prep to the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). 

With the Awesome Again (G1) headlining a tremendous day of stakes action Oct. 1, five additional stakes will be offered: the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes (G2T) for 3-year-olds and up at about 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf course; the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship (G2T) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/4 miles; the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) at six furlongs; the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2T) for 3-year-olds and up, and the $85,000 Unzip Me for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf.

On Sunday, Oct. 2, a total of five stakes will be offered: the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles; the $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares three and up at 6 1/2 furlongs; the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf, the $100,000 Tokyo City Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 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 Stakes, for fillies and mares three and up at about 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf course. 

A total of four California-bred Stakes: the California Distaff ($125,000) Oct. 15; the California Flag ($125,000) Oct. 16; the Golden State Juvenile ($175,000) Oct. 29, and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies ($175,000) Oct. 29, will again provide local owners and breeders' ample added money opportunities through closing day, Nov. 6.