Kona Gold Stakes

Last updated
Kona Gold Stakes
Listed race
Location Santa Anita Park
Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated1983 (as Potrero Grande Handicap)
Race type Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website www.santaanita.com
Race information
Distance6+1⁄2 furlongs
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs.
3-year-olds: 118 lbs.
PurseUS$100,000 (since 2021)

The Kona Gold Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for horses that are three years old or older with allowance conditions, over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in April at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

Contents

History


The event was inaugurated on Wednesday, 2 March 1983 as the Potrero Grande Handicap for horses four year old and older and was won by Hi-Yu Stable's Washington State bred Chinook Pass who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. in a time of 1:143⁄5. [1] Chinook Pass would continue on a superb season with several more wins on the Southern California circuit culminating him being crowned as U.S. Champion Sprint Horse for that year.

The event was named after Rancho Potrero Grande, a Mexican land grant in present-day Los Angeles County, California today located nearby in Rosemead and South El Monte, about 6 miles from Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia.

The event was upgraded to a Grade III in 1988. [2] That year the event only attracted three starters with Gulch winning in an upset victory over the 1987 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and 1/2 odds favorite Very Subtle by a 1+1⁄4 length margin. [3] Gulch won go on that year and win the Breeders' Cup Sprint and be crowned the U.S. Champion Sprint Horse.

With the seen quality of winners that were winning the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association upgraded the event to a Grade II in 1997. [4]

Between 1996 and 2007, the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event. [2]

The event was held on the All Weather synthetic track between 2008 and 2010. [2] On return to holding the event on the dirt track in 2011 the conditions of the event were modified from handicap to an allowance. [2]

In 2015 the administration of the Los Angeles Turf Club rename the event to the Kona Gold Stakes in honor of the dual winner of the event (2000 and 2001) Kona Gold [2] and third placegetter of the 2003 race. [5] Kona Gold had an outstanding record at Santa Anita Park with many wins on the Southern California circuit. His most important win was in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Sprint which was vital in him being awarded the U.S. Champion Sprint Horse.

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Santa Anita closed their track and the event was cancelled. [6] In 2021 Cezanne defeated three other starters by a new record margin of 9+3⁄4 lengths [7] breaking a 31 year record that was set by Olympic Prospect in 1990 of seven lengths. [8]

Other fine horses that have won this event and have gone on to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint later in their career include Cardmania, Lit de Justice and Amazombie. The 2002 winner Kalookan Queen is the only mare to have won the event. [4]

In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status. [9]

Records

Speed record:

Margins:

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
Kona Gold Stakes
2024The Chosen Vron6Hector BerriosJ. Eric KruljacJ. Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, Sondereker Racing & Richard Thornburgh6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.82$101,000Listed [10]
2023Brickyard Ride6Juan HernandezCraig LewisAlfred A. Pais6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.84$100,000III [11]
2022Brickyard Ride5Juan HernandezCraig LewisAlfred A. Pais6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.07$98,000III [12]
2021Cezanne4 Flavien Prat Bob Baffert Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & St. Elias Stable 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.71$98,000III [7]
2020Race not held
2019Cistron5 Victor Espinoza John W. Sadler Hronis Racing6+1⁄2 furlongs1:16.33$200,000II [13]
2018Bobby Abu Dhabi4 Victor Espinoza Peter L. Miller Rockingham Ranch & David A Bernsen6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.40$196,345II [14]
2017Ransom the Moon5 Flavien Prat Philip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable & Jeffrey Wilke6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.10$201,035II [15]
2016Wild Dude6 Rafael Bejarano Jerry Hollendorfer Green Smith Jr & Jerry Hollendorfer 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.10$201,035II [16]
2015Masochistic5 Tyler Baze Ronald W. Ellis Los Pollos Hermanos Racing & Jay Em Ess Stable6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.69$200,250II [17]
Potrero Grande Stakes
2014Big Macher4 Tyler Baze Richard BaltasThomas Mansor & Tachycardia Stables6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.97$200,750II [18]
2013Jimmy Creed4 Garrett K. Gomez Richard E. Mandella Spendthrift Farm 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.03$150,250II [19]
2012Amazombie6 Mike E. Smith William SpawrThomas C. Sanford & William Spawr6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.16$150,000II [20]
2011Amazombie5 Mike E. Smith William SpawrThomas C. Sanford & William Spawr6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.26$150,000II [21]
Potrero Grande Handicap
2010Ventana4 Garrett K. Gomez Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.03$150,000II [22]
2009Soul City Slew6Michael C. BazeJack CaravaLa Canada Stables6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.79$126,000II [23]
2008Greg's Gold7 Victor Espinoza David E. Hofmans William R. Boswell6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.62$200,000II [24]
2007Smokey Stover4 Aaron Gryder Greg Gilchrist Harry J. Aleo 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.83$192,000II [25]
2006Surf Cat4 Alex O. Solis Bruce Headley Aase Headley & Marsha Naify6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.00$128,000II [26]
2005Harvard Avenue4 Garrett K. Gomez Doug F. O'Neill Ron Crockett6+1⁄2 furlongs1:16.12$194,000II [27]
2004McCann's Mojave4 Jose Valdivia Jr. Leonard DorfmanMike Willman6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.60$122,488II [28]
2003Bluesthestandard6 Mike E. Smith Ted H. WestJeffrey Sengara6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.86$134,000II [5]
2002§ Kalookan Queen6 Alex O. Solis Bruce Headley Louis Asistio6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.31$197,700II [29]
2001 Kona Gold 7 Alex O. Solis Bruce Headley Bruce Headley, Irwin & Andrew Molasky, et al.6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.03$200,900II [30]
2000 Kona Gold 6 Alex O. Solis Bruce Headley Bruce Headley, Irwin & Andrew Molasky, et al.6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.75$200,998II [31]
1999Big Jag6 Jose Valdivia Jr. Tim PinfieldJulius H. Zolezzi6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.09$194,200II [32]
1998Son of a Pistol6 Garrett K. Gomez Bruce Headley Luis Asistio, B.B.C. Stables & Jeff Davenport6+1⁄2 furlongs1:13.71$130,700II [33]
1997First Intent8 Rene R. Douglas Jack CaravaLima Family Trust6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.75$144,250II [34]
1996Abaginone5 Gary L. Stevens Sanford ShulmanRonald L. Charles & Clear Valley Stables6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.59$202,400III [35]
1995 Lit de Justice 5 Corey Nakatani Jenine SahadiEvergreen Farm6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.65$100,000III [36]
1994Sir Hutch4 Pat Valenzuela Bob Baffert Robert & Beverly Lewis 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.48$106,100III [37]
1993Gray Slewpy5 Kent J. Desormeaux Dan L. Hendricks Ed Friendly 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.91$109,700III [38]
1992Cardmania6 Eddie Delahoussaye Myriam BollackJean Couvercelle6+1⁄2 furlongs1:17.16$102,700III [39]
1991Jacodra4 Corey Nakatani Hector O. PalmaPaul & Andrena Van Doren6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.00$107,300III [40]
1990Olympic Prospect6 Pat Valenzuela John W. Sadler Gregg Alsdorf, Lawrence Opas & Frank Sinatra6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.20$102,900III [8]
1989On the Line5 Gary L. Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.00$111,500III [41]
1988 Gulch 4 Eddie Delahoussaye D. Wayne Lukas Peter M. Brant 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.00$70,300III [3]
1987Zabaleta4 Laffit Pincay Jr. John Gosden Michael D. Riordan (Lessee)6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.00$78,975 [42]
1986Halo Folks5 Chris McCarron Bruce Headley Betty, E.W. & Judy Johnston family & Kjell Qvale6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.60$74,550 [43]
1985Fifty Six Ina Row4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Irv GuineyJohn Valpredo6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.40$76,150 [44]
1984Honeyland5 Bill Shoemaker Charles E. Whittingham Summa Stable & Sidney L. Port 6+1⁄2 furlongs1:15.40$67,450 [45]
1983 Chinook Pass 4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Laurie N. AndersonHi-Yu Stable6+1⁄2 furlongs1:14.60$64,050 [1]

Legend:
  All Weather Track  Dirt

Notes:
§ Ran as part of an entry

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

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References

  1. 1 2 "Chinook Pass Romps to Win – (race 8: held 2 March 1983)". Los Angeles Times . The Associated Press. 3 March 1983. p. 66. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kona Gold Stakes (Gr. 2)". Equibase. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Gulch Beats Very Subtle in Field of 3 – (race 8: held 30 March 1988)". Los Angeles Times . 31 March 1988. p. 52. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 "KONA GOLD STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  5. 1 2 "2003 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 March 2003. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  6. ↑ Crosby, Claire; King, Byron (27 March 2020). "Health Department Order Suspends Racing at Santa Anita". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. 1 2 "2021 Kona Gold Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Olympic Prospect wins stakes race – (race 8: held 4 April 1990)". Palm Springs Desert Sun . The Associated Press. 5 April 1990. p. 20. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2024". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  10. ↑ "2024 Kona Gold Stakes Listed - (race 4)". Equibase. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "2023 Kona Gold Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "2022 Kona Gold Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "2019 Kona Gold Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "2018 Kona Gold Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "2017 Kona Gold Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "2016 Kona Gold Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  17. ↑ "2015 Kona Gold Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "2014 Potrero Grande Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  19. ↑ "2013 Potrero Grande Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  20. ↑ "2012 Potrero Grande Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "2011 Potrero Grande Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "2010 Potrero Grande Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 April 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  23. ↑ "2009 Potrero Grande Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  24. ↑ "2008 Potrero Grande Handicap Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  25. ↑ "2007 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 7 April 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  26. ↑ "2006 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 2 April 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  27. ↑ "2005 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 April 2005. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  28. ↑ "2004 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 March 2004. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  29. ↑ "2002 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  30. ↑ "2001 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 1 April 2001. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  31. ↑ "2000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 3)". Equibase. 8 April 2000. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  32. ↑ "1999 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 3 April 1999. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  33. ↑ "1998 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 3)". Equibase. 4 April 1998. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  34. ↑ "1997 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 3)". Equibase. 5 April 1997. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  35. ↑ "1996 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 April 1996. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  36. ↑ "1995 Potrero Grande Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 March 1995. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  37. ↑ "1994 Potrero Grande Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 March 1994. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  38. ↑ "1993 Potrero Grande Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 March 1993. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  39. ↑ "1992 Potrero Grande Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 22 March 1992. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  40. ↑ "1991 Potrero Grande Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 April 1991. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  41. ↑ "On The Line equals record in winning Potrero Grande – (race 8: held 5 April 1989)". Lexington Herald-Leader . The Associated Press. 6 April 1989. p. 33. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  42. ↑ "Zabaleta Overtakes Zany Tactics To Win Potrero Grande Handicap – (race 8: held 11 February 1987)". Los Angeles Times . 12 February 1987. p. 60. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  43. ↑ "Thoroughbred Roundup; Santa Anita – (race 8: held 15 March 1986)". The Courier-Journal . 16 March 1986. pp. 61, 62. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  44. ↑ "Fifty Six Ina Row wins; Precisionist last – (race 8: held 9 March 1985)". Los Angeles Times . 10 March 1985. p. 56. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  45. ↑ "Honeyland wins at 'Anita – (race 8: held 29 February 1984)". San Bernardino County Sun . The Associated Press. 1 March 1984. p. 70. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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