The San Rafael Stakes was an American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

horse race run at

Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races ...

, located in Arcadia, California. The race was a Grade III event with a purse of $150,000 and was open to three-year-olds willing to race one mile (8 furlongs) on the facility's 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 Sham Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old over the distance of one mile on the dirt scheduled annually in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a pu ...

, the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (formerly known as the

Santa Catalina Stakes The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses at the distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt held annually in late January or early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif ...

) and the San Felipe Stakes. It became the year's first official prep race for the U.S. Triple Crown series. However, after Conveyance's win in 2010, Santa Anita has stopped running this event. On November 28, 2007, this Grade II stakes race was downgraded to a Grade III by the

American Graded Stakes Committee {{short description, Organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders The American Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) based in Lexington, Kentucky is a trade organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeder ...

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 Christopher John McCarron (born March 27, 1955, Boston, Massachusetts) is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He mounted his first horse ever at 16.5 years old and was racing professionally by 18. At only 19 years o ...

(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

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! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:135px", Winner
! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:140px", Jockey
! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:150px", Trainer
! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:170px", Owner
! style="background-color:#DACAA5" , Time , - , 2010 , Conveyance ,

Garrett Gomez Garrett Keith Gomez (January 1, 1972 – December 14, 2016) was an American Thoroughbred jockey who won two Eclipse Awards and thirteen Breeders' Cup races during his career. Racing career Early career Gomez learned to ride by watching his fathe ...

Bob Baffert Robert A. Baffert (born January 13, 1953) is an American racehorse trainer who trained the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Baffert's horses have won a record six Kentucky Derbies, seven Preakn ...

, Zabeel Racing International , 1:36.45 , - , 2009 , The Pamplemousse , Alex Solis , Julio C. Canani , Alex Solis, Jr. , 1:35.31 , - , 2008 , El Gato Malo , David R. Flores ,

Craig Dollase __NOTOC__ Craig may refer to: Geology *Craig (landform), a rocky hill or mountain often having large casims or sharp intentations. People (and fictional characters) *Craig (surname) *Craig (given name) Places Scotland *Craig, Angus, aka Barony of ...

, West Point Thoroughbreds , 1:33.37 , - , 2007 ,

Notional ::''See Notional amount or Notional profit for economic terms '' Notional (born February 1, 2004 in California) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by In Excess and out of the mare Truly Blessed. His damsire, French Deputy, is ...

Corey Nakatani Corey S. Nakatani (born October 21, 1970 in Covina, California, United States) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He got his big break in 1990 when he rode Itsallgreektome to win big stakes races. Nakatani has long resided on the S ...

Doug O'Neill Douglas F. O'Neill (born May 24, 1968) is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer. He was born in Dearborn, Michigan, and resides in California, where he trained the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, I'll Have Another, and 2016 Kent ...

J. Paul Reddam John Paul Reddam Bachelor of Arts, B.A. Master of Arts, M.A. Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. (born July 28, 1955) is a Canadians, Canadian businessman, Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse owner and a former professor of philosophy at California Stat ...

, 1:36.48 , - , 2006 ,

Brother Derek {{Infobox thoroughbred racehorse , horsename = Brother Derek , image = , caption = , sire = Benchmark , grandsire = Alydar , dam = Miss Soft Sell , damsire = Siyah Kalem , sex = Stallion , foaled = 2003 , country = United States , col ...

, Alex Solis , Dan Hendricks , Cecil N. Peacock , 1:36.11 , - , 2005 , Spanish Chestnut , Gary Stevens ,

Patrick Biancone Patrick Louis Biancone (born June 7, 1952 in Mont-de-Marsan, Landes, France) is a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is currently based in the United States, but enjoyed success in both Europe and Hong Kong earlier in his career. He was the head t ...

Smith Smith may refer to: People * Metalsmith, or simply smith, a craftsman fashioning tools or works of art out of various metals * Smith (given name) * Smith (surname), a family name originating in England, Scotland and Ireland ** List of people wi ...

& Tabor , 1:36.69 , - , 2004 , Imperialism ,

Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza (born May 23, 1972) is a Mexican jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing who won the Triple Crown in 2015 on American Pharoah. He began riding in his native Mexico and went on to compete at racetracks in California. He has w ...

, Kristin Mulhall , Steve Taub , 1:36.11 , - , 2003 , Rojo Toro ,

Jerry Bailey Jerry D. Bailey (born August 29, 1957 in Dallas, Texas) is an NBC Sports thoroughbred racing analyst and a retired American Hall of Fame jockey. Early years Bailey was born in Dallas but raised in El Paso. He had a pony as a child and became ...

, Hal Earnhardt , 1:35.89 , - , 2002 ,

Came Home Came Home (March 29, 1999 – July 8, 2021) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Gone West, who was recently pensioned aMill Ridge Farm Came Home was out of the graded-stakes-winning mare Nice Assay. Came Home got his name af ...

J. Paco Gonzalez Juan Paco Gonzalez (born March 17, 1945 in Yahualica, Jalisco, Mexico) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. Life The fourth of six children, Paco Gonzalez grew up on a ranch near Guadalajara where his family owned Quarter horses. A ...

, Farish et al. , 1:36.24 , - , 2001 , Crafty C.T. , Ed Delahoussaye , Howard Zucker , C. T. Grether, Inc. , 1:35.79 , - , 2000 ,

War Chant War Chant (foaled 1997 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile for owners and breeders, Irving & Marjorie Cowan. Retired to stud, War Chant stands at Three Chimneys Farm Thre ...

Kent Desormeaux Kent Jason Desormeaux (born February 27, 1970) is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year with 598 wins in 1989. He has won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes ...

, Neil D. Drysdale , Irving & Marjorie Cowan , 1:36.45 , - , 1999 , Desert Hero ,

, Wallace Dollase , Thoroughbred Corp. , 1:36.45 , - , 1998 , Orville N Wilbur's ,

, Wallace Dollase , Thoroughbred Corp. et al. , 1:35.96 , - , 1997 , Funontherun , Goncalino Almeida , Melvin F. Stute , Dave &

Herb Alpert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American trumpeter who led the band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the 1960s. During the same decade, he co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss. Alpert has recorded 28 albums that have landed on the ...

, 1:36.01 , - , 1996 ,

Honour and Glory Honour and Glory (foaled March 24, 1993 in Kentucky – July 17, 2018) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who won important races during his career. He was bred by William T. Young, William T. Young's Overbrook Farm and purchas ...

, Gary Stevens , D. Wayne Lukas ,

Michael Tabor Michael Barry Tabor (born 28 October 1941) is a British businessman, bookmaker, gambler and owner of thoroughbred racehorses. Tabor regularly appears on the ''Sunday Times Rich List'' of the richest people in Britain. In 2012 his fortune w ...

, 1:36.45 , - , 1995 , Larry The Legend ,

, Craig A. Lewis , Craig A. Lewis , 1:37.61 , - , 1994 ,

Tabasco Cat Tabasco Cat (April 15, 1991 – March 6, 2004) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was best known for his performances in 1994 when he won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, the second and third legs of the Triple Crown Series. ...

Pat Day Patrick Alan "Pat" Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 a ...

, D. Wayne Lukas , Overbrook & Reynolds , 1:36.39 , - , 1993 , Devoted Brass ,

Noble Threewitt Noble Winfield Threewitt (February 24, 1911 – September 17, 2010) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who conditioned horses for seventy-five years before retiring on his ninety-sixth birthday. The city of Arcadia, California, hom ...

, Don W. Jordens , 1:35.13 , - , 1992 , A.P. Indy , Ed Delahoussaye , Neil D. Drysdale ,

Tomonori Tsurumaki Tomonori is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Tomonori can be written using many different combinations of kanji characters. Some examples: *友則, "friend, rule" *友紀, "friend, chronicle" *友憲, "friend, constitution" * ...

, 1:35.41 , - , 1991 ,

Dinard Dinard (; br, Dinarzh, ; Gallo: ''Dinard'') is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, Brittany, northwestern France. Dinard is on the Côte d'Émeraude of Brittany. Its beaches and mild climate make it a holiday destination, and this ...

, Richard J. Lundy ,

Allen E. Paulson Allen Eugene Paulson (April 22, 1922 – July 19, 2000) was an American businessman. Business career in aviation Born in Clinton, Iowa, Clinton, Iowa, Allen E. Paulson was on his own at age 13, supporting himself selling newspapers and doing ...

, 1:35.80 , - , 1990 , Mister Frisky , Gary Stevens , Laz S. Barrera , Solymar Stud , 1:36.60 , - , 1989 , Music Merci , Gary Stevens , Craig A. Lewis , Pendleton/Royal T. Stable , 1:34.80 , - , 1988 , What a Diplomat , Gary Stevens , Richard Mulhall , Meyer & Mollie Gaskin , 1:38.00 , - , 1987 , Masterful Advocate , Laffit Pincay, Jr. ,

Joseph Manzi Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

, Belles (Lessee) & Leveton , 1:35.80 , - , 1986 , Variety Road ,

, Bruce Headley , Kjell H. Qvale , 1:35.60 , - , 1985 , Smarten Up , Rafael Meza , Laz S. Barrera , Ryehill Farm , 1:36.20 , - , 1984 , Precisionist ,

, Ross Fenstermaker , Fred W. Hooper , 1:35.00 , - , 1983 ,

Desert Wine Desert Wine (1980–2003) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his three-year-old season that included a runner-up finish in the Preakness Stakes and four stakes wins in California, including the Strub Stakes. Background A de ...

Jerry M. Fanning Jerry M. Fanning (born November 23, 1932, in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is a trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. He grew up in Texas and began his career in horse racing as a groom for his father, trainer Lev Fanning. In 1958, he took out a trai ...

, Cardiff Stud/ T90 Ranch , 1:35.60 , - , 1982 , Prince Spellbound ,

Marco Castaneda Marco Castaneda (born June 15, 1950, in Bogotá, Colombia) is a former jockey who competed in Thoroughbred racing in his native Colombia before emigrating to the United States in 1971 where he became one of the top riders of his era and winner of ...

, Lester W. Holt , William L. Pease , 1:34.40 , - , 1981 , Johnlee n' Harold ,

Hal King Harold King (February 1, 1944 - March 23, 2019) was an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball and the Mexican League as a catcher from to for the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Cinci ...

, Michael I. Blake , 1:36.00 , -

References

The San Rafael Stakes at Pedigree Query

''Thoroughbred Times'' article on the 2008 San Rafael Stakes titled ''El Gato Malo streaks to record-setting San Rafael win''
Horse races in California Santa Anita Park Flat horse races for three-year-olds Triple Crown Prep Races Graded stakes races in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1981 1981 establishments in California