Sham (GIII)

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA 10-5-3-2-1
January 7, 2024

Sham Stakes Race History 

There are few Kentucky Derby prep races as young as the Sham (G3) at Santa Anita, first held in 2001 and named after Secretariat’s famous Triple Crown rival. At the same time, few preps in the same class as the Sham have been as successful at producing Derby starters and high-quality horses.

By awarding 17 Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers, including 10 to the winner, the Sham has cemented its position as a coveted early-season target for California’s top 3-year-olds.

Originally held over 1 18 miles in early February, the Sham received an early boost when 2003 runner-up Empire Maker went on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby and first in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Two years later, Giacomo used a third-place effort in the Sham as a springboard to his shocking 50-1 triumph in the “Run for the Roses,” which prompted the Sham to receive Grade 3 status in 2006. 

The Sham was shifted to January in 2011 and shortened to a mile in 2012, but these changes haven’t made the race any less productive. Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winners Tapizar and Goldencents claimed the Sham in 2011 and 2013, while Grade 1 winners Collected (2016), Gormley (2017), and McKinzie (2018) all reached the Sham winner’s circle during the late 2010s.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has enjoyed more Sham success than any other conditioner, saddling six of the first 20 winners. But one of Baffert’s most talented participants, future Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Secret Circle, was beaten by Out of Bounds in 2012. The winning time was a stakes-record 1:34.56, a testament to how well both colts performed.

By J. Keeler Johnson

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Road to the Kentucky Derby

Jerome

January 4, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Smarty Jones

January 4, 2025

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Lecomte (GIII)

January 18, 2025

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Southwest (GIII)

January 25, 2025

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Withers (GIII)

February 1, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Robert B. Lewis (GIII)

February 1, 2025

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Holy Bull (GIII)

February 1, 2025

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Sam F. Davis (GIII)

February 8, 2025

Tampa Bay Downs • Tampa, FL, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Risen Star (GII)

February 15, 2025

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Hyacinth

February 16, 2025

Tokyo Racecourse • Tokyo, Japan

Points: 30-15-9-6-3

Sunland Derby (GIII)

February 16, 2025

Sunland Park • Sunland Park, NM, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

John Battaglia Memorial

February 22, 2025

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Rebel (GII)

February 22, 2025

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes

February 26, 2025

Kempton • Sunbury-on-Thames, England, UK

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Patton

February 28, 2025

Dundalk • Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Fountain of Youth (GII)

March 1, 2025

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

San Felipe (GII)

March 1, 2025

Santa Anita • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Gotham (GIII)

March 1, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Tampa Bay Derby (GII)

March 8, 2025

Tampa Bay Downs • Tampa, FL, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Virginia Derby

March 15, 2025

Colonial Downs • New Kent, VA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Fukuryu

March 22, 2025

Nakayama • Funabashi, Chiba, Japan

Points: 40-20-12-8-4

Louisiana Derby (GII)

March 22, 2025

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII)

March 22, 2025

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Arkansas Derby (GI)

March 29, 2025

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Florida Derby (GI)

March 29, 2025

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

UAE Derby (GII)

April 5, 2025

Meydan Racecourse • Dubai, UAE

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Santa Anita Derby (GI)

April 5, 2025

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Blue Grass (GI)

April 5, 2025

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Wood Memorial (GII)

April 5, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Lexington (GIII)

April 12, 2025

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

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