The 2026 Autumn Meet at Santa Anita Park will feature 26 stakes races that includes seven "Win and You're In" events for this year's Breeders' Cup. Santa Anita's 19-day Autumn Meet opens on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs through Sunday Nov. 1.
Topping the stakes action are a pair of Grade I races that will be run on the first two Saturdays of the meet--the $300,000 Goodwood Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 26, and $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 3. The winners of both races earn automatic bid for the Breeders' Cup, which this year will be held on Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky.
"We're excited about the opportunities this schedule provides for horsemen throughout the Autumn Meet," said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. "The seven Breeders' Cup Challenge races headline a strong stakes program and give connections the chance to earn automatic berths into the World Championships while competing at the highest level. Combined with a balanced schedule across all divisions, we believe this program will continue to attract outstanding horses and deliver another quality meet at Santa Anita."
The Goodwood will be among five stakes run on the first Saturday of the meet. It will be joined by the GII Eddie D Stakes presented by Estrella Jalisco at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course; GII City of Hope Mile for older horses on turf; GII John Henry Turf Championship at 1 ¼ miles on turf; and GIII John C. Harris Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. All but the John C. Harris are also "Win and You're Ins" for the Breeders' Cup.
The following day, Sunday, Sept. 27, Santa Anita will host both the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs and the GII Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Both are also automatic qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup.
The stakes action continues with five more stakes on Saturday, Oct. 3, and two on Sunday, Oct. 4. Slated for the Oct. 3 program are the American Pharoah; GII Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles; GII Rodeo Drive for fillies and mares at 1 ¼ miles on turf; GIII Chillingworth Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track; and listed Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf. The winners of both the Oak Leaf and Rodeo Drive receive automatic bids for the Breeders' Cup. Last year, Oak Leaf winner Super Corredora, went on to also win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
On Sunday Oct. 4, 2-year-old grass horses will take the spotlight in both the GIII Zuma Beach and GIII Surfer Girl, the latter of which is restricted to fillies. Both races are contested at one mile on turf.
The third weekend of the stand, Oct. 9-12, includes a special Holiday Monday program on Oct 12. The stakes action that week includes the California Flag Handicap presented by City National Bank and California Distaff Handicap, both of which are for horses bred or sired in California. The Oct. 10 California Flag Handicap and the following day's California Distaff Handicap, which is for fillies and mares are each contested at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.
The feature on the Oct. 12 holiday Monday program is the restricted Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares at one mile on turf.
Returning to the stakes schedule this year at Santa Anita are four stakes that last year were all held during Breeders' Cup weekend at Del Mar. With Santa Anita being in session during this year's Breeders' Cup dates, returning to The Great Race Place are the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes, GIII Goldikova Stakes and both the Golden State Juvenile and Golden State Juvenile Fillies, both for horses bred or sired in California.
The Senator Ken Maddy is on Saturday, Oct. 24. It is fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. The Goldikova, Golden State Juvenile and Golden State Juvenile Fillies will all be run on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Goldikova is for fillies and mares at one mile on turf. The Golden State Juvenile and Golden State Juvenile Fillies are both contested at seven furlongs on the main track.
The feature on closing day Sunday, Nov. 1, is the GII Twilight Derby. The Twilight Derby is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
To view the complete Santa Anita Autumn Meet stakes schedule, click here.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
