Royal Heroine Stakes
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Royal Heroine Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in April at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
Arcadia, California, USA
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, USA |
| Inaugurated | 1986 (as Royal Heroine Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Santa Anita Park |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Four years old and older |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $100,000 (since 2024) |
History
The event was named in honor of the great Champion filly, Royal Heroine, who won the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Mile at Hollywood Park Racetrack in North American record time.
The event was inaugurated on 12 December 1986 as the Royal Heroine Handicap held at Hollywood Park Racetrack for three year old fillies over the 1+1⁄16 miles distance and was won by Mary Jones Bradley's Miraculous who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Charles E. Whittingham in a time of 1:414⁄5.[1]
After an absence of 11 years, the event was renewed on 18 July 1998 as the Royal Heroine Stakes over the one mile distance with conditions for fillies and mares, three years old and older and was won by French bred mare Tuzla who won by a neck defeating the favorite Sonja's Faith (IRE) and four other runners in a time of 1:34.33.[2] The following year, Tuzla would start the favorite and repeat winning by three-quarters of a length.[3]
In 2001 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event.[4]
In 2006 with the influx of sponsorship dollars from CashCall the events purse was raised to $750,000 and renamed to the CashCall Mile Stakes.[5]
In 2007 the event was upgraded to a Grade II event[5] and was an invitational event which reflected in the name. The sponsorship of CashCall ended in 2009 and the event was changed to the Royal Heroine Mile Stakes.[5]
In 2014 with the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack the event was moved to Santa Anita Park and scheduled in June. The conditions of the event in 2016 changed so that three year old fillies were not included.[4]
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Santa Anita closed their track and the event was cancelled[6]
In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.[7]
Records
Speed record:
- 1 mile: 1:33.33 – Dance in the Mood (JPN) (2006)
Margins:
- 2+3⁄4 lengths – Vasilika (2019)
Most wins:
- 2 – Tuzla (FR) (1998, 1999)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – David Milch (1998, 1999)
- 2 – Jerry Hollendorfer (2014, 2019)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – Corey Nakatani (1998, 1999, 2003, 2017)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 – Philip D'Amato (2015, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Santa Anita Park – Royal Heroine Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Public Assembly | 4 | Antonio Fresu | Philip D'Amato | Abbondanza Racing LLC, Medallion Racing and Lissa Ann McNulty | 1 mile | 1:36.13 | $100,000 | III | [8] |
| 2024 | Uncorked (AUS) | 5 | Frankie Dettori | Philip D'Amato | The Elkstone Group | 1 mile | 1:34.06 | $102,000 | III | [9] |
| 2023 | Closing Remarks | 5 | Joe Bravo | Carla Gaines | Harris Farms | 1 mile | 1:34.82 | $200,500 | II | [10] |
| 2022 | Going Global (IRE) | 4 | Umberto Rispoli | Philip D'Amato | CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano | 1 mile | 1:33.97 | $196,000 | II | [11] |
| 2021 | Charmaine's Mia | 5 | Flavien Prat | Philip D'Amato | Agave Racing Stable & Rockin Robin Racing Stables | 1 mile | 1:33.76 | $201,500 | II | [12] |
| 2020 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2019 | Vasilika | 4 | Flavien Prat | Jerry Hollendorfer | All Schlaich Stables, Jerry Hollendorfer, Gatto Racing & George Todaro | 1 mile | 1:34.52 | $200,702 | II | [13] |
| 2018 | Beau Recall (IRE) | 4 | Joel Rosario | Simon Callaghan | Slam Dunk Racing & Medallion Racing | 1 mile | 1:34.52 | $201,380 | II | [14] |
| 2017 | Hillhouse High | 6 | Corey Nakatani | Richard Baltas | Golden Eagle Farm | 1 mile | 1:33.61 | $200,690 | II | [15] |
| 2016 | Nancy From Nairobi (GB) | 5 | Abel Lezcano | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 1 mile | 1:37.12 | $203,105 | II | [16] |
| 2015 | Fanticola | 5 | Joseph Talamo | Philip D'Amato | Anthony Fanticola & Joseph Scardino | 1 mile | 1:36.76 | $201,000 | II | [17] |
| 2014 | Parranda | 5 | Elvis Trujillo | Jerry Hollendorfer | Jerry Hollendorfer, Gillian Campbell, Dan Clark & Greg Skoda | 1 mile | 1:35.27 | $201,250 | II | [18] |
| At Hollywood Park – Royal Heroine Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2013 | Schiaparelli | 5 | Joseph Talamo | Mike Puype | Ran Jan Racing | 1 mile | 1:34.11 | $150,000 | II | [19] |
| 2012 | Quiet Oasis (IRE) | 4 | Mario Gutierrez | Ben D. A. Cecil | Reddam Racing | 1 mile | 1:35.06 | $150,000 | II | [20] |
| 2011 | Celtic Princess (BRZ) | 7 | Rafael Bejarano | Antonio C. Avila | Jessica Coudelaria | 1 mile | 1:33.74 | $150,000 | II | [21] |
| 2010 | Gotta Have Her | 6 | Tyler Baze | Jenine Sahadi | Green Lantern Stables | 1 mile | 1:34.98 | $150,000 | II | [22] |
| 2009 | Tuscan Evening (IRE) | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Jerry Hollendorfer | William de Burgh | 1 mile | 1:33.71 | $250,000 | II | [23] |
| CashCall Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2008 | Diamond Diva (GB) | 4 | David R. Flores | James M. Cassidy | Three Chimneys Racing | 1 mile | 1:34.07 | $750,000 | II | [24] |
| 2007 | Lady of Venice (FR) | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Patrick L. Biancone | Martin S. Schwartz | 1 mile | 1:33.56 | $1,000,000 | II | [25] |
| 2006 | Dance in the Mood (JPN) | 5 | Victor Espinoza | Kazuo Fujisawa | Shadai Race Horse | 1 mile | 1:33.33 | $750,000 | III | [26] |
| Royal Heroine Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2005 | Intercontinental (GB) | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1 mile | 1:34.33 | $200,000 | III | [27] |
| 2004 | Janeian (NZ) | 6 | Kent J. Desormeaux | W. Bret Calhoun | Greg L. England | 1 mile | 1:34.79 | $109,700 | III | [28] |
| 2003 | Magic Mission (GB) | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Neil D. Drysdale | Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum | 1 mile | 1:34.25 | $112,200 | III | [29] |
| 2002 | Surya | 4 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Robert J. Frankel | Flaxman Holdings | 1 mile | 1:34.73 | $114,800 | III | [30] |
| 2001 | Kalatiara (AUS) | 4 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Stonerside Stable | 1 mile | 1:34.41 | $109,900 | III | [31] |
| 2000 | Tranquility Lake | 5 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Julio C. Canani | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1 mile | 1:33.98 | $78,775 | Listed | [32] |
| 1999 | Tuzla (FR) | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Julio C. Canani | David Milch | 1 mile | 1:34.32 | $70,400 | Listed | [3] |
| 1998 | Tuzla (FR) | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Julio C. Canani | David Milch | 1 mile | 1:34.33 | $71,650 | Listed | [2] |
| 1987–1997 | Race not held | |||||||||
| Royal Heroine Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1986 | Miraculous | 3 | Gary L. Stevens | Charles E. Whittingham | Mary Jones Bradley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.80 | $40,000 | [1] | |