Santa Anita's Classic Meet will get off to its traditional fast start Dec. 26 with a trio of Grade I events each worth $300,000–the GI Malibu S., GI La Brea S., and GI American Oaks–and the track will continue racing through June 16 with a total of 90 stakes scheduled for the 78 race days. Those 90 stakes races include 53 graded events, with 10 Grade I races highlighted by the 87th running of the $400,000 GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 2 and the $750,000 GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 6.
Along with the track's iconic Big 'Cap Mar. 2, Santa Anita will also offer the $300,000 GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile, the $300,000 GII DK Horse San Felipe S. and the $200,000 GII Buena Vista S.
In addition to the Santa Anita Derby on the Apr. 6 card, 3-year-old fillies will go postward in the $300,000 GII Santa Anita Oaks and older fillies and mares will compete in the $100,000 GIIII Monrovia S.
Santa Anita will offer a total of 16 stakes restricted to state-bred horses, with five to be run both on California Cup Day, Jan. 13 and again on California Gold Rush Day, May 25.
Live racing at Santa Anita will take a brief pause following the Santa Anita Derby, as the 49-day Classic Meet will draw to a close Apr. 7 and the 29-day Hollywood Meet will begin Apr. 19. The Hollywood Meet will be highlighted by three Grade I, $300,000 stakes on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27–the Gamely S., the Shoemaker Mile and the Hollywood Gold Cup.
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