Starlet Stakes

Horse race From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Starlet Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies run over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles (8+1⁄2 furlongs) on the dirt held annually in early December at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California. The event currently offers a purse of $200,000.

ClassGrade II
LocationLos Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California
Inaugurated1979 (at Hollywood Park Racetrack)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Quick facts Class, Location ...
Starlet Stakes
ClassGrade II
LocationLos Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California
Inaugurated1979 (at Hollywood Park Racetrack)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteLos Alamitos
Race information
Distance1+1⁄16 miles
Surfacedirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationTwo-year-old fillies
Weight120 lbs.
Purse$200,000 (since 2023)
Close

History

The inaugural running of the event was during the spring meeting of 1979, on 13 April at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California as a 6 furlong sprint for three-year-olds. The event was won by Eloquent who was ridden by the US Hall of Fame jockey Donald Pierce and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Lazaro S. Barrera in a time of 1:09 flat.[1]

The event was not run the following. In 1981 the administration of Hollywood Park Racetrack decided to hold two new two-year-old events at the end of the racing season with one for colts and geldings, Hollywood Futurity and for fillies the Hollywood Starlet Stakes. The races were held on consecutive weekends with the Hollywood Starlet Stakes run on 21 November while the Futurity was held on 28 November.[2]

With high stakes that were offered for the race the event attracted many fine two-year-old fillies. Within two years, in 1983 the American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event with the highest grading of Grade I.[3] That year the US Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas saddled the first of eight victories in the event with Althea winning and US Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. in the reins.[4] Althea would be voted an Eclipse Award as the American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly for 1983.

In 1984 the Breeders' Cup was initiated and held at Hollywood Park, the winner by protest of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Outstandingly would three weeks later confirm her dominance with another win over Fran's Valentine to win the Hollywood Starlet[5] and capture US Champion Two-Year-Old Filly honors.

In 1985 the distance of the event was decreased to one mile.[6] After six runnings the distance was reverted back to a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.

In 2003, Hollywood Story became the first maiden to win the Starlet in the history of the event.[7]

In 2006 the event was run on a new synthetic Cushion Track which was installed at Hollywood Park.[3]

With the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event was moved Los Alamitos Race Course and renamed to the Starlet Stakes.[3]

The Starlet Stakes is the final major race of the year in California for young fillies, and is frequented by horses coming out of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

As a supplementary entry of $10,000 Abel Tasman started at 13-1 and won the event in 2016.[8] The following year Abel Tasman had an excellent season winning three Grade I events including the Kentucky Oaks and was voted US Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.[9]

In 2023 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade II status.[10]

Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Starlet twelve times, more than any other conditioner. The Into Mischief filly Consequent won in 2025 to give Baffert his ninth consecutive win in the race.[11]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1+1⁄16 miles (dirt): 1:41.82 - Splendid Blended (2004)
  • 1+1⁄16 miles (synthetic): 1:40.54 - Country Star (2007)
  • 1 mile: 1:35.00 – Stocks Up (1998)

Margins:

  • 11 lengths – Love Lock (1997)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 4 – Baoma Corporation/Baoma Corp (2019, 2020, 2021, 2024)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 12 – Bob Baffert (1998, 2001, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Los Alamitos – Starlet Stakes
2025 Consequent Kazushi Kimura Bob Baffert Juddmonte 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.03 $200,000 II [12]
2024 Tenma Juan J. Hernandez Bob Baffert Baoma Corp 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.16 $200,500 II [13]
2023 Nothing Like You Juan J. Hernandez Bob Baffert Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio & John L. Rogitz 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.78 $200,500 II [14]
2022 Faiza Flavien Prat Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.49 $300,500 I [15]
2021 Eda Juan J. Hernandez Bob Baffert Baoma Corporation 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.51 $300,500 I [16]
2020 Varda Drayden Van Dyke Bob Baffert Baoma Corporation 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.53 $300,500 I [17]
2019 Bast Drayden Van Dyke Bob Baffert Baoma Corporation 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.36 $300,000 I [18]
2018 Chasing Yesterday Drayden Van Dyke Bob Baffert Summer Wind Equine 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.59 $300,345 I [19]
2017 Dream Tree Drayden Van Dyke Bob Baffert Phoenix Thoroughbred III 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.87 $294,000 I [20]
2016 Abel Tasman Joseph Talamo Simon Callaghan Clearsky Farms 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.25 $301,380 I [21]
2015 Street Fancy Mike E. Smith Philip D'Amato Agave Racing Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.42 $301,000 I [22]
2014 Take Charge Brandi Victor Espinoza D. Wayne Lukas Willis D. Horton 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.18 $350,500 I [23]
At Hollywood Park – Hollywood Starlet Stakes
2013 Streaming Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings & Edward McGhee 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.96 $500,500 I [24]
2012 Pure Fun Garrett K. Gomez Kenneth G. McPeek Magdalena Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.65 $500,000 I [25]
2011 Killer Graces Joseph Talamo Jerry Hollendorfer Jerry Hollendorfer, Daniel Borislow, Gillian Campbell & Steve Melen 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.09 $402,000 I [26]
2010 Turbulent Descent David R. Flores Mike Puype Blinkers On Racing, Aurelio, Strauss, Butler, Coons, Lapso, et al 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.18 $409,250 I [27]
2009 Blind Luck Rafael Bejarano Jerry Hollendorfer Jerry Hollendorfer, Mark DeDomenico & John Carver 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.96 $405,250 I [28]
2008 Laragh Edgar S. Prado John P. Terranova II IEAH Stables, Gary Tolchin & Pegasus Holding Group Stables 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.96 $438,500 I [29]
2007 Country Star Rafael Bejarano Robert J. Frankel Stonerside Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:40.54 $425,500 I [30]
2006 Romance Is Diane David R. Flores Mike R. Mitchell Senji Nishimura 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.61 $459,250 I [31]
2005 Diplomat Lady Tyler Baze Christopher S. Paasch Charles Cono 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.89 $456,000 I [32]
2004 Splendid Blended Kent J. Desormeaux Neil D. Drysdale Peter Vegso 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.82 $389,000 I [33]
2003 Hollywood Story Pat Valenzuela John Shirreffs George Krikorian 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.87 $349,500 I [34]
2002 Elloluv Pat Valenzuela Craig Dollase J. Paul Reddam 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.88 $356,500 I [35]
2001 Habibti Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert The Thoroughbred Corporation 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.12 $358,000 I [36]
2000 I Believe in You Alex O. Solis Paul J. McGee Samantha, Jan & Mace Siegel 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.57 $341,750 I [37]
1999 Surfside Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.51 $380,250 I [38]
1998 Excellent Meeting Kent J. Desormeaux Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.14 $400,000 I [39]
1997 § Love Lock Kent J. Desormeaux D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.17 $281,000 I [40]
1996 Sharp Cat Corey Nakatani D. Wayne Lukas The Thoroughbred Corporation 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.69 $276,000 I [41]
1995 Cara Rafaela Corey Nakatani D. Wayne Lukas Gonzalo Borges Torrealba 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.10 $250,000 I [42]
1994 Serena's Song Corey Nakatani D. Wayne Lukas Robert & Beverly Lewis 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.96 $250,000 I [43]
1993 Sardula Eddie Delahoussaye Brian A. Mayberry Ann & Jerry Moss 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.34 $252,900 I [44]
1992 Creaking Board (GB) Corey Nakatani Robert J. Frankel Patrizio Cozzi 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.73 $250,000 I [45]
1991 Magical Maiden Gary L. Stevens Warren Stute Clement L. Hirsch 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.74 $251,100 I [46]
1990 Cuddles Gary L. Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 1 mile 1:36.20 $500,000 I [47]
1989 Cheval Volant Alex O. Solis Kenneth J. Jumps Kenneth J. Jumps, Steve Shapiro & David Stark 1 mile 1:35.60 $500,000 I [48]
1988 Stocks Up Alex O. Solis Ted West Alan Prible, John Coehlo, Charles Johnson & Pete Valenti 1 mile 1:35.00 $581,250 I [49]
1987 Goodbye Halo Jorge Velasquez Charles E. Whittingham Alex Campbell Jr. & Arthur B. Hancock III 1 mile 1:36.20 $549,100 I [50]
1986 Very Subtle Pat Valenzuela Melvin F. Stute Carl Grinstead & Ben Rochelle 1 mile 1:37.00 $500,000 I [51]
1985 I'm Splendid Chris McCarron James J. Toner Caesar P. Kimmel 1 mile 1:36.00 $625,850 I [52]
1984 Outstandingly Walter Guerra Frank Martin Sr. Harbor View Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.00 $702,500 I [5]
1983 Althea Laffit Pincay Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Helen Alexander, David Aykroyd & Helen Groves 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.00 $500,000 I [4]
1982 Fabulous Notion Donald Pierce James Jordan Pine Meadow Thoroughbreds 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.40 $518,850 [53]
1981 Skillful Joy Chris McCarron Leland R. Fenstermaker Fred W. Hooper 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.20 $427,250 [54]
1980 Race not held
Starlet Stakes
1979 Eloquent Donald Pierce Laz Barrera Harbor View Farm 6 furlongs 1:09.00 $43,200 3YO[1]
Close

Legend:
  All Weather Track   Dirt
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI