John C. Harris Stakes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arcadia, California, United States
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2012 (as Unzip Me Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | Santa Anita |
| Race information | |
| Distance | about 6+1⁄2 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-old fillies |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $100,000 (2025) |
The John C. Harris Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of about 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the Downhill turf course scheduled annually late September or early October at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
The event was inaugurated on 29 September 2012 as the Unzip Me Stakes at Santa Anita Park as the eleventh race on the racecard.[1] Unzip Me was a fine California-bred mare who won graded events in California and Canada winning 10 stakes in her career and amassing $959,228 in stakes winnings.[2]
The inaugural event was won by the British-bred filly Byrama, who started as the 13/5 favorite and was ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano gained the upper hand in the stretch run and won by a half-length in a time of 1:12.53.[1] Later in her career Byrama won the Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.[3]
The 2016 winner, British-bred Belvoir Bay had a fine career culminating in winning the 2019 Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.[4]
In 2019 the event was moved to the turf course proper after a serious of catastrophic breakdowns occurred on the Downhill turf course.[5] The event was held over the shortened distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs.[6] The winner Don't Sell set a new track record for the distance of 1:01.58.[7]
In 2020 the event was held once again on the main turf course and the winner Bulletproof One broke the track record for the 5+1⁄2 furlongs distance in a time of 1:01.12.[8] In 2021 the event returned back to the Downhill Turf track.[6]
In 2025 the event was upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.[9] Prior to releasing the Fall 2025 Santa Anita Park Stakes schedule the track administration announced that the event would be renamed to the John C. Harris Stakes in honor of John C. Harris, the late California owner/breeder who served on the boards of numerous California and national racing organizations, and in accepting accolades for his high-quality runners. John C. Harris was co-owner and bred Unzip Me in partnership.[2]
Records
Speed record:
- 5+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:01.12 – Bulletproof One (2020) (New Track Record)
- abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:11.35 – Ruby Nell (2018)
Margins:
- 3 lengths – Pontchatrain (2013)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – Rafael Bejarano (2012, 2015, 2018)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 – Peter L. Miller (2016, 2017, 2020, 2021)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Gary Barber (2016, 2017, 2020)