Los Alamitos Derby
The Los Alamitos Derby (formerly the Swaps Stakes) is a race for Thoroughbred horses 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 Grade III event, it currently carries a purse of $150,000.
Grade III race | |
Location | Los Alamitos Race Course Los Alamitos, California, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1964 |
Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
Race information | |
Distance | 1 1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Three-year-olds |
Weight | Assigned |
Purse | $150,000 (2017) |
Before 2014, the race was called the Swaps Stakes and was run at Hollywood Park Racetrack before its closure in 2013. At that point, it moved to Los Alamitos.
Run in mid-July, this race was named for the notable California-bred 1955 Kentucky Derby winner, Swaps.
In 1977, U.S. Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew suffered the first loss of his career in this race when he ran fourth to winner J O Tobin.
From the race's inauguration in 1976 as the Swaps Stakes until 1988, it was run as a Grade I until 1989, when it was downgraded to a Grade II event. It regained Grade I in 1999, but this was short-lived as it became a Grade II again in 2002. In 2017, the race was downgraded once more to a Grade III level.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:59.40 @ 11⁄4 miles : Valdez (1979)
- 1:45.80 @ 11⁄8 miles : Free House (1997)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 - Chris McCarron (1982, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1998)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 9 - Bob Baffert (2000, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - Michael Pegram (2000, 2015, 2018, 2020)
Winners
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Dist. (Miles) |
Time |
Win$ |
Gr. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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, et al. | 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 | |
1974 | Agitate | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | James R. Jimenez | Meeken Stable (John & Paula Kent Meeken) | 11⁄4 | 1:59.60 | $66,300 | |