Santa Anita Restores $1M Purse for Big 'Cap
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Santa Anita Park is returning the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) to $1 million in 2015, and also hiked the purse for its other leading main track event for older horses, the San Antonio Stakes (gr. II), to a record $500,000.
The track announced the purse changes Nov. 19 for its winter/spring meet, returning the Big 'Cap to the level it enjoyed from 1986 to 2009. This year's Santa Anita Handicap, at 1 1/4 miles on dirt, is March 7. The San Antonio, at 1 1/8 miles, received a $200,000 bump for its Feb. 7 renewal.
The Santa Anita Handicap is one of two $1 million races on the schedule along with the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 4. In all, there will be eight grade I races and 37 graded stakes held during the stand.
Santa Anita has canceled the Strub Stakes, an historically significant race for 4-year-olds that had traditionally been contested in the San Antonio's calendar slot. The race had been moved to mid-January last year, replacing the canceled San Fernando Stakes, and reduced in distance from nine furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.
The Strub is the only major race to be removed from the stakes calendar for the 2014-15 season, which runs from Dec. 26 to April 19. There was one addition to the schedule, the grade III $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes scheduled Dec. 27 at 6 1/2 furlongs. It was previously the Vernon Underwood Stakes when contested at Hollywood Park.
The track announced that two other stakes will receive purse increases this season, both March 7. The Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) on the turf will be boosted from $350,000 to $400,000, and the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds on the same day will be increased by $100,000 to $400,000.
The meet kicks off Dec. 26 with the Malibu and La Brea (both gr. I) headlining the card.
In addition to the Malibu, La Brea, Kilroe, Big 'Cap, and Derby, also included on Santa Anita's grade I stakes roster are the Las Virgenes Stakes Jan. 31, the Santa Margarita Stakes March 14, and the Santa Anita Oaks April 4.
The handicap series for older horses begins Jan. 10 with the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 10 at 1 1/16 miles.
"With the increases, these three races will now offer a total of $1.7 million in graded purse money leading into and including the Santa Anita Handicap," said Rick Hammerle, Santa Anita vice president of racing.
Santa Anita has also announced a couple of name changes. The $200,000 Mathis Brothers Mile (turf), which was formerly run as the Sir Beaufort, is on the opening day card; and for the former Potrero Grande Stakes (gr. II) will now be run as the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs April 11.
One of the biggest days on the calendar is the annual Sunshine Millions/California Cup Day, to be held Jan. 24. Five stakes for California bred or sired horses will be carded: The Cal Cup Derby, Cal Cup Oaks, Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint, Cal Cup Sprint, and the Cal Cup Classic. They will offer horsemen $975,000 in total purse money.
"We combined what had formerly been Cal Cup Day with the Sunshine Millions program last year and it was very well received," said Hammerle. "This is a perfect time of the year for these races and with the Golden State Series incentive program in play, it provides our local breeders and owners with outstanding opportunities and allows them to plan accordingly for the remainder of the calendar year."
Santa Anita's schedule of traditional Santa Anita Derby preps will include races worth a total of 170 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. First up is the $100,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at one mile Jan. 10, followed by the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7, and the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles March 7.
The Santa Anita Derby winner has also captured the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in two of the past three seasons—I'll Have Another in 2012 and California Chrome this past season.
Following the meet, Santa Anita's 2014 spring meet will open on April 25, and run through June 28.