Royal Heroine Stakes

Royal Heroine Stakes
Grade III race
LocationSanta Anita Park
Arcadia, California, USA
Inaugurated1986 (as Royal Heroine Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteSanta Anita Park
Race information
Distance1 mile
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour years old and older
Weight124 lbs with allowances
Purse$100,000 (since 2024)

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.

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:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 4 – Philip D'Amato (2015, 2021, 2022, 2024)

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Santa Anita Park – Royal Heroine Stakes
2024 Uncorked (AUS) 5 Frankie Dettori Philip D'Amato The Elkstone Group 1 mile 1:34.06 $102,000 III [8]
2023 Closing Remarks 5 Joe Bravo Carla Gaines Harris Farms 1 mile 1:34.82 $200,500 II [9]
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 [10]
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 [11]
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 [12]
2018 Beau Recall (IRE) 4 Joel Rosario Simon Callaghan Slam Dunk Racing & Medallion Racing 1 mile 1:34.52 $201,380 II [13]
2017 Hillhouse High 6 Corey Nakatani Richard Baltas Golden Eagle Farm 1 mile 1:33.61 $200,690 II [14]
2016 Nancy From Nairobi (GB) 5 Abel Lezcano John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 1 mile 1:37.12 $203,105 II [15]
2015 Fanticola 5 Joseph Talamo Philip D'Amato Anthony Fanticola & Joseph Scardino 1 mile 1:36.76 $201,000 II [16]
2014 Parranda 5 Elvis Trujillo Jerry Hollendorfer Jerry Hollendorfer, Gillian Campbell, Dan Clark & Greg Skoda 1 mile 1:35.27 $201,250 II [17]
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 [18]
2012 Quiet Oasis (IRE) 4 Mario Gutierrez Ben D. A. Cecil Reddam Racing 1 mile 1:35.06 $150,000 II [19]
2011 Celtic Princess (BRZ) 7 Rafael Bejarano Antonio C. Avila Jessica Coudelaria 1 mile 1:33.74 $150,000 II [20]
2010 Gotta Have Her 6 Tyler Baze Jenine Sahadi Green Lantern Stables 1 mile 1:34.98 $150,000 II [21]
2009 Tuscan Evening (IRE) 4 Rafael Bejarano Jerry Hollendorfer William de Burgh 1 mile 1:33.71 $250,000 II [22]
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 [23]
2007 Lady of Venice (FR) 4 Julien R. Leparoux Patrick L. Biancone Martin S. Schwartz 1 mile 1:33.56 $1,000,000 II [24]
2006 Dance in the Mood (JPN) 5 Victor Espinoza Kazuo Fujisawa Shadai Race Horse 1 mile 1:33.33 $750,000 III [25]
Royal Heroine Stakes
2005 Intercontinental (GB) 5 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1 mile 1:34.33 $200,000 III [26]
2004 Janeian (NZ) 6 Kent J. Desormeaux W. Bret Calhoun Greg L. England 1 mile 1:34.79 $109,700 III [27]
2003 Magic Mission (GB) 5 Corey Nakatani Neil D. Drysdale Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum 1 mile 1:34.25 $112,200 III [28]
2002 Surya 4 Kent J. Desormeaux Robert J. Frankel Flaxman Holdings 1 mile 1:34.73 $114,800 III [29]
2001 Kalatiara (AUS) 4 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Stonerside Stable 1 mile 1:34.41 $109,900 III [30]
2000 Tranquility Lake 5 Eddie Delahoussaye Julio C. Canani Pam & Martin Wygod 1 mile 1:33.98 $78,775 Listed [31]
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]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Miraculous rallies to pick up win in Royal Heroines (race 7: held 12 December 1986)". Lexington Herald-Leader. The Associated Press. 13 December 1986. p. 56. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b "1998 Royal Heroine Stakes Listed - (race 2)". Equibase. 18 July 1998. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "1999 Royal Heroine Stakes Listed - (race 2)". Equibase. 17 July 1999. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "ROYAL HEROINE MILE STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Royal Heroine Stakes (Gr. 2)". Equibase. 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. ^ Crosby, Claire; King, Byron (27 March 2020). "Health Department Order Suspends Racing at Santa Anita". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. ^ "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2024". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. ^ "2024 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  9. ^ "2023 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  10. ^ "2022 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  11. ^ "2021 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  12. ^ "2019 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  13. ^ "2018 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  14. ^ "2017 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  15. ^ "2016 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  16. ^ "2015 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  17. ^ "2014 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 28 June 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  18. ^ "2013 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  19. ^ "2012 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  20. ^ "2011 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  21. ^ "2010 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 3 July 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  22. ^ "2009 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 11 July 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  23. ^ "2008 CashCall Mile Invitational Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 5 July 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  24. ^ "2007 CashCall Mile Invitational Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  25. ^ "2006 CashCall Invitational Stakes Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  26. ^ "2005 Royal Heroine Invitational Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 3 July 2005. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  27. ^ "2004 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 3 July 2004. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  28. ^ "2003 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 5 July 2003. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  29. ^ "2002 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 6 July 2002. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  30. ^ "2001 Royal Heroine Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 July 2001. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  31. ^ "2000 Royal Heroine Stakes Listed - (race 5)". Equibase. 8 July 2000. Retrieved 17 March 2021.