Sweet Life Stakes

Horse race

The Sweet Life Stakes is a listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old fillies over the distance of about six and one-half furlongs on the downhill turf course scheduled annually in February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

History

The race was inaugurated in 2010 and was raced on the downhill turf course over the about 6+1⁄2 furlongs distance.^[1]

The event is named in honor of the 2009 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year^[2] Sweet Life.^[3] Sweet Life was the dam of 2004 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Sweet Catomine and 2009 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Life Is Sweet.^[2]Also Sweet Life was victorious in the 1999 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita Park.^[4]

In 2019 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event^[5] but was run on the dirt track due to inclement weather.^[5]

In 2020 the event was run at a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on turf, using the backstretch start^[1] and in 2021 the distance was increased to six furlongs.^[5] In 2022 the event was scheduled on the original downhill turf course at the about six and one-half furlongs distance.^[1]

In 2023 the American Graded Stakes Committee downgraded the event to a Listed race.^[6]

Records

Speed record:

• about 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:12.00 – Rose Catherine (2010)

Margins:

• 3+1⁄2 lengths – Rose Catherine (2010)

Most wins by a jockey

• 2 – Rafael Bejarano (2013, 2014)

Most wins by a trainer

• 3 – Peter L. Miller (2014, 2018, 2020)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Gary Barber (2018, 2020)

Winners

Legend:
  Dirt   Turf

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

1. "Sweet Life Stakes (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
2. BloodHorse Staff (21 April 2010). "Sweet Life is KY Broodmare of the Year". BloodHorse. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
3. "Sweet Life (USA) dkb/br. M, 1996 - 13 Starts, 4 Wins, 1 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: $223,486". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
4. "1999 Providencia Stakes Black Type - (race 3)". Equibase. 3 April 1999. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
5. "SWEET LIFE STAKES - SANTA ANITA PARK, CA". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
6. "American Graded Stakes Committee Releases 2023 Grades; The Stephen Foster Stakes is the only new grade 1 stakes for 2023". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
7. "2024 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
8. "2023 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
9. "2022 Sweet Life Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
10. "2021 Sweet Life Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
11. "2020 Sweet Life Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
12. "2019 Sweet Life Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
13. "2018 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
14. "2017 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 5)". Equibase. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
15. "2016 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
16. "2015 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
17. "2014 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 7)". Equibase. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
18. "2013 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
19. "2012 Sweet Life Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
20. "2011 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
21. "2010 Sweet Life Stakes Listed - (race 4)". Equibase. 24 January 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2020.