Los Alamitos Derby
| Class | Listed |
|---|---|
| Location | Los Alamitos Race CourseLos Alamitos, California, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1974 (as Swap Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $100,000 (2024) |
The Los Alamitos Derby (formerly the Swaps Stakes) is a race for Thoroughbredhorses run annually at Los Alamitos Race Course in Los Alamitos, California. The race is open to three-year-old horses and is contested at one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. A Listed event, it currently carries a purse of $100,000.
Before 2014, the race was called the Swaps Stakes and was run at Hollywood Park Racetrack before its closure in 2013. At that point, it moved to Los Alamitos.
Prior to 1973 Hollywood Park's stakes schedule included the Hollywood Derby (prior to 1959 named the Westerner), a 11⁄4 mile stakes run on dirt which tended to attract top 3 year olds. Horses such as Round Table, Bold Reason, and Riva Ridge won the Hollywood Derby after competing in the U.S. Triple Crown. When the Hollywood Derby changed to 11⁄2 miles on the turf in 1973, there was no 11⁄4 mile dirt race to attract top 3 year olds from the Triple Crown series. Management decided to add the Swaps Stakes, named in honor of the notable California-bred 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps, to the 1974 July stakes schedule to fill that void. To lure top 3 year olds to enter the Swaps Stakes, at base a $100,000 added event, provisions were included to increase the purse substantially if one or more Triple Crown race winners participated. This came into play the following year when Belmont Stakes winner Avatar entered which triggered an increase of added purse money to $200,000. In 1977 a $300,000 purse attracted Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, who suffered the first loss of his career when he ran fourth to winner J O Tobin.
The Hollywood Derby continued as a 11⁄2 mile turf stakes through 1975, after which it was moved to earlier in the meeting to serve as a Kentucky Derby prep race at 11⁄8 miles on dirt. This prep would serve Affirmed well in 1978 as he would win the Hollywood Derby en route to becoming the 11th Triple Crown champion. The Hollywood Derby became a permanent turf stakes in 1981, contested first at the Hollywood Park Fall Meet, then moving to Del Mar racetrack in 2014 after the closing of Hollywood Park.
Although the inaugural running of the Swaps Stakes was ungraded, it would be contested as a Grade I event from 1975 through 1988.[1] The race was downgraded to a Grade II event in 1989. It regained Grade I in 1999, but this was short-lived as it became a Grade II again in 2002. In 2017, the race was downgraded once more to a Grade III level. Downgraded to Listed in 2022.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:59.20 @ 11⁄4 miles : Majestic Light (1976)
- 1:45.80 @ 11⁄8 miles : Free House (1997)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 - Chris McCarron (1982, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1998)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 15 - Bob Baffert (2000, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Most wins by an owner:
- 5 - Michael Pegram (2000, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2025)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time | Win$ | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Nevada Beach | 3 | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, & Paul Weitman | 11⁄8 | 1:47.59 | $100,000 | Listed |
| 2024 | Wynstock | 3 | Kyle Frey | Bob Baffert | Edward C. Allred & Jack Liebau | 11⁄8 | 1:50.51 | $100,000 | Listed |
| 2023 | Reincarnate | 3 | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan | 11⁄8 | 1:48.72 | $75,000 | Listed |
| 2022 | High Connection | 3 | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud | 11⁄8 | 1:48.98 | $75,000 | Listed |
| 2021 | Classier | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, & Madaket Stables | 11⁄8 | 1:49.15 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2020 | Uncle Chuck | 3 | Luis Saez | Bob Baffert | Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, & Paul Weitman | 11⁄8 | 1:47.65 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2019 | Game Winner | 3 | Joel Rosario | Bob Baffert | Gary & Mary West | 11⁄8 | 1:48.30 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2018 | Once On Whisky | 3 | Flavien Prat | Bob Baffert | Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, & Paul Weitman | 11⁄8 | 1:48.93 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2017 | West Coast | 3 | Drayden Van Dyke | Bob Baffert | Gary & Mary West | 11⁄8 | 1:48.65 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2016 | Accelerate | 3 | Tyler Baze | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing (Kosta & Pete Hronis) | 11⁄8 | 1:48.48 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2015 | Gimme Da Lute | 3 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, & Paul Weitman | 11⁄8 | 1:47.09 | $210,000 | G2 |
| 2014 | Shared Belief | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Jerry Hollendorfer | Jungle Racing LLC | 11⁄8 | 1:47.01 | $300,000 | G2 |
| 2013 | Chief Havoc | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Peter Miller | Paul Makin | 11⁄8 | 1:50.17 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 2012 | Blueskiesnrainbows | 3 | Joe Talamo | Bob Baffert | Bad Boy Racing & Whizway Farms | 11⁄8 | 1:50.89 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 2011 | Dreamy Kid | 3 | Joe Talamo | Neil Drysdale | Robert S. Evans | 11⁄8 | 1:50.43 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 2010 | Skipshot | 3 | Joel Rosario | Jerry Hollendorfer | Olympia Star, Inc. | 11⁄8 | 1:49.94 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2009 | Misremembered | 3 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Bob Baffert & George Jacobs | 11⁄8 | 1:49.02 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2008 | Tres Borrachos | 3 | Tyler Baze | C. Beau Greely | John Greely IV & Phil Houchens | 11⁄8 | 1:49.29 | $217,650 | G2 |
| 2007 | Tiago | 3 | Mike E. Smith | John Shirreffs | Ann & Jerry Moss | 11⁄8 | 1:48.76 | $220,950 | G2 |
| 2006 | Arson Squad | 3 | Alex Solis | Bruce Headley | Jay Em Ess Stable (Samantha Siegel) | 11⁄8 | 1:48.45 | $217,050 | G2 |
| 2005 | Surf Cat | 3 | Alex Solis | Bruce Headley | Marsha Naify & Aase Headley | 11⁄8 | 1:48.07 | $192,600 | G2 |
| 2004 | Rock Hard Ten | 3 | Corey Nakatani | Jason Orman | Mercedes Stable | 11⁄8 | 1:47.47 | $252,780 | G2 |
| 2003 | During | 3 | Jerry Bailey | Bob Baffert | James McIngvale | 11⁄8 | 1:49.38 | $240,000 | G2 |
| 2002 | Came Home | 3 | Mike E. Smith | J. Paco Gonzalez | Farish, McCaffery et al. | 11⁄8 | 1:48:28 | $300,000 | G2 |
| 2001 | Congaree | 3 | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert | Stonerside Stable | 11⁄8 | 1:48.61 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2000 | Captain Steve | 3 | Corey Nakatani | Bob Baffert | Michael Pegram | 11⁄8 | 1:48.01 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 1999 | Cat Thief | 3 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 11⁄8 | 1:47.87 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 1998 | Old Trieste | 3 | Chris McCarron | Mike Puype | Cobra Farm (Gary & Betty Biszantz) | 11⁄8 | 1:47.06 | $300,000 | G2 |
| 1997 | Free House | 3 | Kent Desormeaux | J. Paco Gonzalez | John Toffan & Trudy McCaffery | 11⁄8 | 1:45.80 | $300,000 | G2 |
| 1996 | Victory Speech | 3 | Jerry Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor | 11⁄8 | 1:48.20 | $300,000 | G2 |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | 3 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 11⁄8 | 1:49.00 | $275,000 | G2 |
| 1994 | Silver Music | 3 | Chris Antley | Wallace Dollase | Lauren Cohen | 11⁄4 | 2:00.60 | $123,800 | G2 |
| 1993 | Devoted Brass | 3 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Noble Threewitt | Don W. Jordens | 11⁄4 | 2:00.60 | $124,000 | G2 |
| 1992 | Bien Bien | 3 | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan | 11⁄4 | 2:02.80 | $123,400 | G2 |
| 1991 | Best Pal | 3 | Pat Valenzuela | Gary F. Jones | Golden Eagle Farm | 11⁄4 | 2:00.60 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1990 | Jovial | 3 | Gary Stevens | Bruce L. Jackson | Jack Munari | 11⁄4 | 2:01.20 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1989 | Prized | 3 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Neil D. Drysdale | Clover Racing & Meadowbrook Farm, et al. | 11⁄4 | 2:01.80 | $232,400 | G2 |
| 1988 | Lively One | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Thomas J. Curnes (Lessee) | 11⁄4 | 2:01.00 | $131,200 | G1 |
| 1987 | Temperate Sil | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Frankfurt Stable & Charles E. Whittingham | 11⁄4 | 2:02.20 | $124,400 | G1 |
| 1986 | Clear Choice | 3 | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. & Joyce F. Klein | 11⁄4 | 2:03.60 | $137,000 | G1 |
| 1985 | Padua | 3 | Pat Valenzuela | Gary F. Jones | Elmendorf Farm, Inc. (Maxwell Gluck) | 11⁄4 | 2:01.40 | $123,500 | G1 |
| 1984 | Precisionist | 3 | Chris McCarron | L. Ross Fenstermaker | Fred W. Hooper | 11⁄4 | 1:59.80 | $121,300 | G1 |
| 1983 | Hyperborean | 3 | Fernando Toro | Jerry M. Fanning | Craig B. Singer | 11⁄4 | 2:01.00 | $97,500 | G1 |
| 1982 | Journey At Sea | 3 | Chris McCarron | L. Ross Fenstermaker | Fred W. Hooper | 11⁄4 | 2:00.20 | $91,300 | G1 |
| 1981 | Noble Nashua | 3 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Jose A. Martin | Flying Zee Stable (Carl Lizza, Jr. & Herbert Hochreiter) | 11⁄4 | 2:01.20 | $127,000 | G1 |
| 1980 | First Albert | 3 | Francisco Mena | Laz Barrera | Carmen Barrera | 11⁄4 | 2:00.80 | $162,200 | G1 |
| 1979 | Valdez | 3 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Laz Barrera | Aaron U. & Marie Jones | 11⁄4 | 1:59.40 | $124,250 | G1 |
| 1978 | Radar Ahead | 3 | Darrel McHargue | Gary F. Jones | Sidney Vail | 11⁄4 | 2:00.00 | $133,300 | G1 |
| 1977 | J. O. Tobin | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | John H. Adams | El Peco Ranch (George A. Pope) | 11⁄4 | 1:58.60 | $194,900 | G1 |
| 1976 | Majestic Light | 3 | Sandy Hawley | John W. Russell | Ogden Mills Phipps | 11⁄4 | 1:59.20 | $98,200 | G1 |
| 1975 | Forceten | 3 | Donald Pierce | Neil D. Drysdale | Saron Stable | 11⁄4 | 1:59.80 | $119,800 | G1 |
| 1974 | Agitate | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | James R. Jimenez | Meeken Stable (John & Paula Kent Meeken) | 11⁄4 | 1:59.60 | $66,300 | G1 |
References
- ^"Historical Graded Stakes Races". toba.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
