San Pasqual Handicap

The San Pasqual Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during late January or early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Grade II event is open to horses, age four and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on dirt and currently offers a purse of $200,000. Since 2011, it is run under allowance weight conditions but was previously run as a handicap.

Inaugurated in 1935, the San Pasqual Handicap was a race limited to three-year-olds until 1939 when it was changed to its present condition. Since inception, it has been contested at various distances:

• 6 furlongs : 1935–1936
• 7 furlongs : 1938
• 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs) : 1937, 1942–1954, 1956–2017
• 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) : 1939–1941, 2018–present
• 1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs) : 1955 (on turf)

Speed record:

• 1:46.95 – Battle of Midway (2019) – at distance of 1+1⁄8 miles
• 1:39.58 – Zappa (2008) – at distance of 1+1⁄16 miles

Most wins:

• 2 – Moonrush (1951, 1953)
• 2 – Olden Times (1963, 1964)
• 2 – Kings Favor (1968, 1969)
• 2 – Express Train (2021, 2022)
• 2 – Newgrange (2023, 2024)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 8 – Bill Shoemaker (1955, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1974)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 5 – Bob Baffert (1999, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2015)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 – Rex C. Ellsworth (1963, 1964, 1965)
• 3 – C R K Stable (2020, 2021, 2022)

• The 2009 San Pasqual Handicap at the NTRA