Santa Anita Oaks is an American Grade IIThoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies willing to race 8.5 furlongs on the dirt. The race is a Grade II event with a current purse of $200,000 and has been a prep race to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, including the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes. Inaugurated in 1935 as a race for two-year-olds, it originated as the Santa Susana Stakes. In 1952 the race became the Santa Susana Handicap then in 1958 reverted to the Santa Susana Stakes. In 1986 it was given its current designation as the Santa Anita Oaks. In 2020 the event was downgraded to Grade II. Since inception, the race has been set at various distances:
† In 1951, Sweet Talk won the race but was disqualified and placed third.
Special Bonus
Paths to the $2,200,000Black-Eyed Susan Bonus 1) winForward Gal Stakes + winDavona Dale Stakes + winGulfstream Park Oaks+ win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 2) win Las Virgenes Stakes + win Santa Anita Oaks + winGulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 3) win California Oaks + win Santa Anita Oaks + win Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 4) winPortland Meadows Oaks + win Santa Anita Oaks + win Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Paths to the $220,000 XpressBet Bonus 1) run in Forward Gal Stakes + win, place or show in the Gulfstream Park Oaks or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 2) run in Davona Dale Stakes + win, place or show in the Gulfstream Park Oaks or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 3) run in Las Virgenes Stakes + win, place or show in the Santa Anita Oaks or win, place or show in the Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 4) run in California Oaks + win, place or show in the Santa Anita Oaks or win, place or show in the Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 5) run in Portland Meadows Oaks + win, place or show in the Santa Anita Oaks or win, place or show in the Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes