San Rafael Stakes

Horseraces infobox
class = Grade III
horse race = San Rafael Stakes


caption =
location = Santa Anita Park
Arcadia, California United States
inaugurated = 1981
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.santaanita.com/ www.santaanita.com]
distance = 1 mile (8 furlongs)
track = Cushion Track, left-handed
qualification = Three-year-olds
weight = Assigned
purse = $150,000
bonuses = The San Rafael Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Santa Anita Park, located in Arcadia, California. The race is a Grade III event with a purse of $150,000 and is open to three-year-olds willing to race one mile (8 furlongs) on the facility's Cushion Track synthetic dirt race track.

Prior to 2005, the race was held in early March. Beginning in 2005, the race was moved to mid-January to offer a better fit to trainers to race in the Sham Stakes, the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (formerly known as the Santa Catalina Stakes) and the San Felipe Stakes. It is now the year's first official prep race for the U.S. Triple Crown series.

On November 28th, 2007, this Grade II stakes race was downgraded to a Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Records

Speed record:
* 1:33.37 - El Gato Malo (2008) (On Cushion Track)
* 1:34.40 - Prince Spellbound (1982) (on dirt)

Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 - Chris McCarron (1983, 1984, 1986, 1991, 2002)
* 5 - Gary Stevens (1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2005)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 2 - Laz S. Barrera (1985, 1990)
* 2 - Craig A. Lewis (1989, 1995)
* 2 - Neil Drysdale (1992, 2000)
* 2 - D. Wayne Lukas (1994, 1996)
* 2 - Wallace Dollase (1998, 1999)

Most wins by an owner:
* 2 - Thoroughbred Corp. (1998, 1999)

Winners of the San Rafael Stakes

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=680 The San Rafael Stakes at Pedigree Query]
* [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2008/January/12/El-Gato-Malo-streaks-to-record-setting-San-Rafael-win.aspx "Thoroughbred Times" article on the 2008 San Rafael Stakes titled "El Gato Malo streaks to record-setting San Rafael win"]