| Grade II race | |
| Location | Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1986 (as Colonel F. W. Koester Handicap) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | Santa Anita Park |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and older |
| Weight | Base weights with allowances: 4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs. 3-year-olds: 122 lbs. |
| Purse | $200,000 (since 2018) |
The City of Hope Mile Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old or older over the distance of one mile on the turf scheduled annually in September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The event was inaugurated on 4 October 1986 as the Colonel F. W. Koester Handicap at the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park as the eighth race on the racecard and was won by the US Hall of Fame, Charles E. Whittingham trained Palace Music who broke the track record for the distance that was set by Pettrax in 20 April 1986. [1] Palace Music in his next start would just fail winning the Breeders' Cup Mile finishing a head second to Last Tycoon. Colonel F. W. Koester was part of 1932 US Equestrian team, later was the General Manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association from 1955 to 1969 and was elected into the California Racing Hall of Fame in 1988. [2] [3]
In 1989 the event was classified by the American Graded Stakes Committee as Grade III and was upgraded to Grade II status the following year. [4]
In 1996 the event was renamed to the Oak Tree Mile Handicap and at the same time was downgraded to Grade III. [5] Between 1996 and 2006 the event had Breeders' Cup incentives which reflected in the name of the event. [5] In 2003 the event was upgraded back to Grade II. [4]
In 2013 the name of the event was changed to the City of Hope Stakes in honor of the cancer treatment center in Los Angeles. [6]
In 2017 the event was run as a Black Type event with a much lower purse as the Obviously Mile Stakes. [7] The Irish bred Obviously won this event in 2012 when it was run as the Arroyo Seco Stakes and was fourth in 2013 [8] and was third in 2016. [4]
Time record:
Margins:
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Santa Anita Park –City of Hope Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Hong Kong Harry (IRE) | 6 | Juan Hernandez | Phillip D'Amato | Scott Anastasi, Jimmy Ukegawa & Tony Valazza | 1 mile | 1:33.77 | $202,000 | II | [9] |
| 2022 | Beyond Brilliant | 4 | Victor Espinoza | John Shirreffs | C R K Stable | 1 mile | 1:32.61 | $200,500 | II | [10] |
| 2021 | Mo Forza | 5 | Flavien Prat | Peter L. Miller | Bardy Farm & OG Boss | 1 mile | 1:32.45 | $200,000 | II | [11] |
| 2020 | Mo Forza | 4 | Flavien Prat | Peter L. Miller | Bardy Farm & OG Boss | 1 mile | 1:32.09 | $201,000 | II | [12] |
| 2019 | True Valour (IRE) | 5 | Drayden Van Dyke | Simon Callaghan | Qatar Racing Limited | 1 mile | 1:32.82 | $202,106 | II | [13] |
| 2018 | Sharp Samurai | 4 | Gary L. Stevens | Mark Glatt | Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal & Mark Glatt | 1 mile | 1:32.47 | $201,380 | II | [14] |
| Obviously Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2017 | Blackjackcat | 4 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Mark Glatt | Al & Saundra Kirkwood | 1 mile | 1:33.70 | $79,695 | [15] | |
| City of Hope Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2016 | Vyjack | 6 | Flavien Prat | Philip D'Amato | Pick Six Racing | 1 mile | 1:31.69 | $201,725 | II | [16] |
| 2015 | Alert Bay | 4 | Martin Garcia | Blaine D. Wright | Peter Redekop B. C. | 1 mile | 1:33.58 | $200,750 | II | [17] |
| 2014 | Big Bane Theory | 5 | Joseph Talamo | Carla Gaines | Scott Gross & Mark Devereaux | 1 mile | 1:32.38 | $201,500 | II | [18] |
| 2013 | No Jet Lag | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Simon Callaghan | Anthony Ramsden | 1 mile | 1:31.84 | $150,750 | II | [8] |
| Arroyo Seco Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2012 | Obviously (IRE) | 4 | Joseph Talamo | Mike R. Mitchell | Anthony Fanticola & Joseph Scardino | 1 mile | 1:31.95 | $150,000 | II | [19] |
| Oak Tree Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2011 | Jeranimo | 5 | Martin Garcia | Michael Pender | Robert J. Wright | 1 mile | 1:32.61 | $150,000 | II | [20] |
| At Hollywood Park –Oak Tree Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2010 | Liberian Freighter | 5 | Martin Garcia | Neil D. Drysdale | Shawn L. Dugan, King Edward Racing Stable & Charles N. Winner | 1 mile | 1:33.24 | $150,000 | II | [21] |
| At Santa Anita Park –Oak Tree Mile Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2009 | Cowboy Cal | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | Todd A. Pletcher | Robert C. & Janice McNair | 1 mile | 1:33.12 | $150,000 | II | [22] |
| 2008 | Hyperbaric | 5 | Garrett K. Gomez | Julio C. Canani | Prestonwood Farm | 1 mile | 1:33.62 | $200,000 | II | [23] |
| 2007 | Out of Control (BRZ) | 4 | Michael C. Baze | Robert J. Frankel | T N T Stud | 1 mile | 1:34.16 | $252,000 | II | [24] |
| 2006 | Aragorn (IRE) | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Neil D. Drysdale | Ballygallon Stud | 1 mile | 1:32.87 | $249,000 | II | [25] |
| 2005 | Singletary | 5 | David R. Flores | Don Chatlos | Little Red Feather Racing | 1 mile | 1:34.54 | $249,000 | II | [26] |
| 2004 | Musical Chimes | 4 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Neil D. Drysdale | Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum | 1 mile | 1:33.29 | $246,000 | II | [27] |
| 2003 | Designed for Luck | 6 | Pat Valenzuela | Vladimir Cerin | David & Holly Wilson | 1 mile | 1:32.61 | $300,000 | II | [28] |
| 2002 | Night Patrol | 6 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Nick Canani | Everest Stables | 1 mile | 1:32.93 | $234,000 | II | [29] |
| 2001 | Val Royal (FR) | 5 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Julio C. Canani | David S. Milch | 1 mile | 1:33.21 | $219,000 | II | [30] |
| 2000 | War Chant | 3 | Gary L. Stevens | Neil D. Drysdale | Irving & Marjorie Cowan | 1 mile | 1:33.75 | $249,000 | II | [31] |
| 1999 | Silic (FR) | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Julio C. Canani | Terrence Lanni, Ken Poslosky, Bernard C. Schiappa, et al | 1 mile | 1:33.76 | $200,000 | III | [32] |
| Oak Tree Mile Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1998 | Hawksley Hill (IRE) | 5 | Alex O. Solis | Neil D. Drysdale | David & Jill Heerensperger | 1 mile | 1:36.72 | $274,000 | III | [33] |
| 1997 | Fantastic Fellow | 3 | Alex O. Solis | D. Wayne Lukas | The Thoroughbred Corporation | 1 mile | 1:36.23 | $200,000 | III | [34] |
| 1996 | Urgent Request (IRE) | 6 | Chris McCarron | Charles E. Whittingham | Stewart Aitken | 1 mile | 1:32.44 | $180,300 | III | [35] |
| Colonel F. W. Koester Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1995 | Ventiquattrofogli (IRE) | 5 | Goncalino Almeida | Wallace Dollase | Bonilla, Carr & Horizon Stable | 1 mile | 1:35.30 | $133,100 | II | [36] |
| 1994 | Bon Point (GB) | 4 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1 mile | 1:33.86 | $107,050 | II | [37] |
| 1993 | Johann Quatz (FR) | 4 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | Tadahiro Hotehama | 1 mile | 1:36.28 | $107,350 | II | [38] |
| 1992 | Twilight Agenda | 6 | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | Moyglare Stud | 1 mile | 1:33.36 | $110,300 | II | [39] |
| 1991 | Ibero (ARG) | 4 | Alex O. Solis | Ron McAnally | Ivan Pavlovsky & Frank Whitham | 1 mile | 1:33.77 | $112,000 | II | [40] |
| 1990 | Notorious Pleasure | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Hector O. Palma | Robert, Karen, Marc, Michael & Richard Levy | 1 mile | 1:33.00 | $113,700 | II | [41] |
| 1989 | Political Ambition | 5 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Neil D. Drysdale | Clover Racing Stable (lessee), Kinkade, Wolfe, et al | 1 mile | 1:33.40 | $112,800 | III | [42] |
| 1988 | Mohamed Abdu (IRE) | 4 | Gary L. Stevens | Richard W. Mulhall | Meyer & Molly Gaskin Trust – Markovic | 1 mile | 1:34.40 | $110,550 | [43] | |
| 1987 | Double Feint | 4 | Fernando Toro | LeRoy Jolley | Peter M. Brant | 1 mile | 1:37.00 | $107,200 | [44] | |
| 1986 | Palace Music | 5 | Gary L. Stevens | Charles E. Whittingham | Nelson Bunker Hunt & Allen E. Paulson | 1 mile | 1:35.00 | $82,300 | [1] | |
Legend:
Turf
The Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for three year olds and older over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race, by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf track, held annually in late January or early February at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $1,000,000.
The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old or older over the distance of six furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The Forty Niner Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older run over a distance of one mile on the dirt held annually in late October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $350,000.
The Wise Dan Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses four-year-old and older run at a distance of one and one sixteenth of a mile on the turf held annually in June at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Smile Sprint Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three and older over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in early July at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
The Awesome Again Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old or older over the distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt scheduled annually in September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.
The Zenyatta Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, age three and older the distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt scheduled annually in September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The Goldikova Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three years old or older over the distance of one mile on the turf scheduled annually in November at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The Senator Ken Maddy Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, two years old and older over a distance of about 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the Downhill turf course scheduled in early November at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California
The Ballston Spa Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf course scheduled annually in late July or early August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.
The Rancho Bernardo Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.
The Noble Damsel Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three-years-old and older run over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $200,000.
The Eddie Delahoussaye Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old or older over the distance of about 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the Downhill Turf course scheduled annually in late September or early October at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The La Troienne Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, age four and older, over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles held annually in early May on the Kentucky Oaks day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The current purse is $500,000.
The Autumn Miss Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies that are three years old, over a distance of one mile on the turf track held annually in October at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
The John B. Connally Turf Cup is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race, for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-half miles on the turf track, held annually in late January or early February at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The West Virginia Governor's Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt held annually in August at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester, West Virginia. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.
The Chillingworth Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older, over a distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the dirt track held annually in October at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
Luis Contreras is a Mexican jockey since 2006. After starting his career in Mexico, Contreras started competing in the United States and Canada during the late 2000s. For his graded stakes race career, Contreras has won thirty six Grade III races, twenty two Grade II races and four Grade I races. At the 2011 Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, Contreras won the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes, and Breeders' Stakes. He became the first jockey to use two horses to win the Canadian Triple Crown. In 2014, Contreras came short of another Canadian Triple Crown after finishing tenth at the Breeders' Stakes following wins at the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales.