Sweet Life Stakes

Sweet Life Stakes

Class	Listed
Location	Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated	2010
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	www.santaanita.com
Race information
Distance	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs
Surface	Turf
Track	Downhill - Left-handed
Qualification	Fillies, three years old
Weight	124 lbs with allowances
Purse	US$100,000 (2019)

The Sweet Life Stakes is a listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old fillies over the distance of about six and one-half furlongs on the downhill turf course scheduled annually in February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

History

The race was inaugurated in 2010 and was raced on the downhill turf course over the about 6+1⁄2 furlongs distance. ^[1]

The event is named in honor of the 2009 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year ^[2] Sweet Life. ^[3] Sweet Life was the dam of 2004 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Sweet Catomine and 2009 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Life Is Sweet. ^[2] Also Sweet Life was victorious in the 1999 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita Park. ^[4]

In 2019 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event ^[5] but was run on the dirt track due to inclement weather. ^[5]

In 2020 the event was run at a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on turf, using the backstretch start ^[1] and in 2021 the distance was increased to six furlongs. ^[5] In 2022 the event was scheduled on the original downhill turf course at the about six and one-half furlongs distance. ^[1]

In 2023 the American Graded Stakes Committee downgraded the event to a Listed race. ^[6]

Records

Speed record:

• about 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:12.00 – Rose Catherine (2010)

Margins:

• 3+1⁄2 lengths – Rose Catherine (2010)

Most wins by a jockey

• 2 – Rafael Bejarano (2013, 2014)

Most wins by a trainer

• 3 – Peter L. Miller (2014, 2018, 2020)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Gary Barber (2018, 2020)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
2025	Casalu	Flavien Prat	Bob Baffert	Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.90	$102,000	Listed	[7]
2024	Antifona (FR)	Hector Berrios	John W. Sadler	Hronis Racing	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.91	$103,000	Listed	[8]
2023	Manhattan Jungle (IRE)	Frankie Dettori	Michael McCarthy	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.08	$102,500	Listed	[9]
2022	Ouraika (FR)	Juan Hernandez	H. Graham Motion	Madaket Stables & Michael Dubb	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.98	$102,500	III	[10]
2021	Going Global (IRE)	Flavien Prat	Philip D'Amato	CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano	6 furlongs	1:07.68	$103,500	III	[11]
2020	Laura's Light	Abel Cedillo	Peter L. Miller	Gary Barber	5+1⁄2 furlongs	1:02.90	$101,000	III	[12]
2019	Apache Princess	Kent J. Desormeaux	J. Keith Desormeaux	KMN Racing	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:16.82	$100,000	III	On dirt [13]
2018	War Heroine	Tyler Baze	Peter L. Miller	Gary Barber	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.86	$83,415	Listed	[14]
2017	Miss Sunset	Edwin A. Maldonado	Jeff Bonde	Alan P. Klein & Phillip Lebherz	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.09	$91,935	Listed	[15]
2016	Swift Lady	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Baoma Corporation	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.04	$79,080		[16]
2015	She's a Big Winner	Brice Blanc	Peter Eurton	Sharon Alesia, Ciaglia Racing, Rob Dyrdek & Robin Christianson	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.42	$79,800		[17]
2014	On the Backstreets	Rafael Bejarano	Peter L. Miller	Brewer Racing, Lanzman Racing, Rockingham Ranch, J. Wood	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.44	$81,650		[18]
2013	Judy In Disguise (GB)	Rafael Bejarano	Simon Callaghan	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partner	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.25	$81,850		[19]
2012	Indigo River (IRE)	Joel Rosario	Jeff Mullins	Michael House	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.36	$73,950		[20]
2011	Bloemer Girl	Victor Espinoza	Jedd B. Josephson	Andrew & Christa Arthur	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:13.75	$94,150	Listed	[21]
2010	Rose Catherine	Garrett K. Gomez	Todd A. Pletcher	Paul P. Pompa Jr.	abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:12.00	$66,150		[22]

Legend:
  Dirt  Turf

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

1. "Sweet Life Stakes (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
2. BloodHorse Staff (21 April 2010). "Sweet Life is KY Broodmare of the Year". BloodHorse. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
3. "Sweet Life (USA) dkb/br. M, 1996 - 13 Starts, 4 Wins, 1 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: $223,486". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
4. "1999 Providencia Stakes Black Type - (race 3)". Equibase. 3 April 1999. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
5. "SWEET LIFE STAKES - SANTA ANITA PARK, CA". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
6. "American Graded Stakes Committee Releases 2023 Grades; The Stephen Foster Stakes is the only new grade 1 stakes for 2023". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
7. "2025 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
8. "2024 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
9. "2023 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
10. "2022 Sweet Life Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
11. "2021 Sweet Life Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
12. "2020 Sweet Life Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
13. "2019 Sweet Life Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
14. "2018 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
15. "2017 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 5)". Equibase. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
16. "2016 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
17. "2015 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
18. "2014 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 7)". Equibase. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
19. "2013 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
20. "2012 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
21. "2011 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
22. "2010 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 4)". Equibase. 24 January 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2020.