Joe Hernandez Stakes

Joe Hernandez Stakes
ClassGrade II
LocationSanta Anita Park
Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated2008
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.santaanita.com
Race information
Distanceabout 6+1⁄2 furlongs
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed (Downhill)
QualificationFour-year-olds & up
Weight124 lbs with allowances
Purse$250,000 (2022)

The Joe Hernandez Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old or older over the distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf scheduled annually in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.

History

Inaugurated in 2008, the race is named in honor of Joe Hernandez, the race caller at Santa Anita Park from the time the track opened on Christmas Day 1934 until his death in 1972. Hernandez called 15,587 races in a row at Santa Anita during that time.[1]

The event was predominantly raced on the downhill turf course over the about 6+1⁄2 furlongs distance.[2] In 2010 the event was moved to the synthetic All Weather track due to weather.[2] The 2015 running was also moved off the turf but by then Santa Anita Park had restored the natural dirt track.[2]

In 2019 the event was upgraded to Grade III and a year later to Grade II.[3]

In 2020 the event was moved and run using the backstretch start at a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on turf, and the following year the event was run on the newly extended backstretch and close to the former distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs.[2]

The 2017 winner Stormy Liberal followed up winning the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and repeating that effort in 2018.

The event was run twice in the calendar year in 2022 due to scheduling changes.[2]

Records

Speed record:

  • about 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:10.88 – Gas Me Up (2025)

Margins:

  • 4+1⁄4 lengths – Distinctiv Passion (2015)
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Joe Hernandez Stakes
2025 Gas Me Up 5 Mirco Demuro Peter Eurton Exline-Border Racing, Michael Jawl, Aaron Kennedy & Tom Zwiesler abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:10.88 $202,500 II [4]
2024 Motorious 6 Antonio Fresu Philip D'Amato Anthony Fanticola abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.86 $201,500 II [5]
2023 Forbidden Kingdom 4 Flavien Prat Richard Mandella MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:14.92 $203,500 II [6]
2022 (Dec) Air Force Red 4 Juan Hernandez Leonard Powell Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Holly Golightly abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.53 $252,500 II [7]
2022 (Jan) Chewing Gum 6 Umberto Rispoli William I. Mott Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable & Jerold Zaro 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:15.47 $251,000 II [8]
2021 Hembree 7 Joel Rosario Peter L. Miller Tom Kagele 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:13.80 $201,000 II [9]
2020 Texas Wedge 5 Flavien Prat Peter L. Miller Altamira Racing Stable, Rafter JR Ranch, STD Racing Stable & A. Miller 5+1⁄2 furlongs 1:02.47 $202,500 II [10]
2019 Caribou Club 5 Joseph Talamo Thomas F. Proctor Glen Hill Farm abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.66 $101,053 III [11]
2018 Pee Wee Reese 5 Joseph Talamo Philip D'Amato Nicholas B. Alexander abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.37 $98,375 Listed [12]
2017 Stormy Liberal 5 Norberto Arroyo Jr. Peter L. Miller Rockingham Ranch abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.89 $80,035 Listed [13]
2016 Guns Loaded 5 Santiago Gonzalez Doug F. O'Neill Westside Rentals.com, Neil Haymes, Leo Rodriguez & Steve Rothblum abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.60 $79,190 Listed [14]
2015 Distinctiv Passion 5 Edwin A. Maldonado Jeffrey L. Bonde Edward J. Brown Jr., Alan Klein & Phillip Lebherz 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:14.33 $74,284 [15]
2014 Sweet Swap 5 Joseph Talamo John W. Sadler Hronis Racing abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.28 $76,900 [16]
Joe Hernandez Handicap
2013 Unbridled's Note 4 Corey Nakatani Steven M. Asmussen Mike McCarty abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.17 $76,900 [17]
2012 Mr Gruff 8 Joel Rosario Ronald W. Ellis Gary Broad abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.06 $79,880 [18]
Joe Hernandez Stakes
2011 Regally Ready 4 Corey Nakatani Steven M. Asmussen Vinery Stables abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.98 $79,150 Listed [19]
2010 Sangaree 5 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Darley Stable 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:15.28 $60,350 [20]
2009 Noble Court 5 Joel Rosario John W. Sadler Joy Ride Racing abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.16 $71,300 [21]
2008 Desert Code 4 Richard Migliore David E. Hofmans Tarabilla Farms abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.36 $76,850 Listed [22]

Legend:
  Turf   All Weather Track   Dirt

References

  1. ^ "Joe Hernandez, 62, Santa Anita 'Voice'". New York Times. February 4, 1972. Retrieved 30 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e "Joe Hernandez Stakes (Gr. 2)". Equibase. 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^ "JOE HERNANDEZ STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  4. ^ "2024 Joe Hernandez Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  5. ^ "2024 Joe Hernandez Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 28 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  6. ^ "2023 Joe Hernandez Stakes Grade 2 - (race 1)". Equibase. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  7. ^ "2022 (December) Joe Hernandez Stakes Grade 2 - (race 1)". Equibase. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  8. ^ "2022 (January) Joe Hernandez Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  9. ^ "2021 Joe Hernandez Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. ^ "2020 Joe Hernandez Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  11. ^ "2019 Joe Hernandez Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  12. ^ "2018 Joe Hernandez Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  13. ^ "2017 Joe Hernandez Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  14. ^ "2016 Joe Hernandez Stakes Listed - (race 4)". Equibase. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  15. ^ "2015 Joe Hernandez Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  16. ^ "2014 Joe Hernandez Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  17. ^ "2013 Joe Hernandez Handicap Black Type - (race 5)". Equibase. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  18. ^ "2012 Joe Hernandez Handicap Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  19. ^ "2011 Joe Hernandez Stakes Listed - (race 5)". Equibase. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  20. ^ "2010 Joe Hernandez Stakes Black Type - (race 7)". Equibase. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  21. ^ "2009 Joe Hernandez Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  22. ^ "2008 Joe Hernandez Stakes Listed - (race 3)". Equibase. 22 March 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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