The Santa Anita Derby is the West Coast’s premier Kentucky Derby prep race, and one of the final stops along the road to the derby.
Contested over 1 1/8 miles, this race for three-year-old thoroughbreds and guarantees the winner a position at the Derby starting gate. Its $1 million purse has been lowered this year, to just $400,000.
This race has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than any other Grade One prep race, including two Triple Crown winners.
This year’s race will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2020, at Santa Anita Park in California.
Here, we’ll tell you:
- How to place your wagers online and at the track
- Santa Anita Derby odds and how to calculate payouts
- Santa Anita Derby entries and history
How to bet on the Santa Anita Derby
You have a few options to explore if you want to bet on the Santa Anita Derby. Usually, you could attend the event in person, or visit a racetrack with full simulcasting capabilities, but both Santa Anita Park and many other racing facilities in the US are closed to spectators this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can also seek out a legal off-track betting facility, if they are open in your area. These venues also provide simulcast coverage of the races and afford you the opportunity to place your bets right then and there.
Last but not least, you can place your bets at your convenience either online or via a horse betting app. Several operators specialize in horse racing betting and are legal in the US.
At the top of the list is TVG. TVG serves as the broadcast home for racing action from across the globe and provides both an iPhone and Android app.
It’s legal and safe to bet on horse racing in the vast majority of the US. For a complete list of states in which you can place your bets without issue, click through to our horse race betting page here.
Bet on the Santa Anita Derby using an app
Mobile betting provides the convenience of placing your bets whenever you want in advance of post time.
Placing your bets in person at a track or off-track betting facility can be a fun experience that every bettor should have on their bucket list, but it’s tough to compete with the convenience of wagering on mobile.
You can perform all the same functions on your phone as you would at the track. There are no lines, and you won’t have to deal with a teller or kiosk to get your bets in. It’s just a matter of a few clicks and swipes to place a bet.
Santa Anita Derby odds
Each year, the field for the Santa Anita Derby features several contenders for the Kentucky Derby and the other Triple Crown races. It’s no different this time around. Let’s take a look at the current odds:
| Post | Horse | Jockey | TVG Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friar’s Road | Geovanni Franco | 20-1 |
| 2 | Rushie | Flavien Prat | 8-1 |
| 3 | Shooters Shoot | Abel Cedillo | 8-1 |
| 4 | Anneau d’Or | Victor Espinoza | 15-1 |
| 5 | Azul Coast | Umberto Rispoli | 15-1 |
| 6 | Honor A.P. | Mike Smith | 9-5 |
| 7 | Authentic | Drayden Van Dyke | 4-5 |
Bet types for Santa Anita Derby
Beyond just making the call on which horse will win the Santa Anita Derby, there are a number of other ways to get in on the action. Let’s take a closer look at all the major bet types to choose from.
Win
This is the simplest bet on the menu. You’re simply choosing the runner you think will win the race.
Place
A place bet is a wager on a horse to finish the race in second place or better. You can also combine this with a Win bet for a Win/Place to cover more options.
Show
The show bet covers a horse to finish in third place or higher. You can also combine this wager with both of the above for a Win/Place/Show bet.
Exacta
For an exacta bet, you are choosing the horses you think will finish first and second. You can choose two runners or multiple for each spot, but the cost will rise accordingly.
Trifecta
A trifecta wager is on which runners will take the top three spots. Just like the exacta, you can stick to three choices or go with multiple selections.
Superfecta
The superfecta is a bet on the top four finishers in the race. Once again, you can choose a single horse for each leg or pick multiple runners.
The last three wagers on this list are known as exotics. The returns on these wagers can be great for winning bettors, but they are naturally not simple to hit.
Part of the appeal is that these bets can be placed for small denominations. You can place the bets in straight fashion, with one choice per leg, or box multiple selections for even more chances to win. The cost of your ticket will vary based on the direction you choose.
Payouts for horse racing are based on the pari-mutuel wagering system. In a nutshell, that means all wagers are placed into the same pool based on bet type. The operating track will take its cut, while the remainder will be split among winning bettors.
As for what the payouts will be, this will vary based on wagering amounts, odds for runners and the amount of funds in the betting pools.
If you place your bets with an online and mobile operator such as TVG, you’ll be able to see the pools in real time and the estimated payouts for certain bet types.
Each runner in the field will have odds attached. The initial set, known as the morning line odds, is released in advance of the race. Once the betting public gets a chance to weigh in, there will be movement based on the action that each selection attracts.
As a result, the final odds at post time could be quite different from what the morning line shows.
When researching the races, it’s good practice to check the morning line odds and compare them to where they stand when you are ready to place your bets. This can help highlight where the money is flowing on race day.
Santa Anita Derby payouts
We’ll have to wait until the results are official for the Santa Anita Derby before we know payout amounts, but we can say with confidence that the race will attract a ton of betting action.
It’s the highlight of a busy day of action with a number of featured races to look forward to, many of which will take place at Santa Anita. Here’s a look back at the payout table from the 2019 running of the race:
| Finish | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Roadster | $8.20 | $3.00 | $2.40 |
| 2nd | Game Winner | $2.40 | $2.10 | |
| 3rd | Instagrand | $2.60 |
The top selections ruled the day at last year’s race, so payout amounts weren’t through the roof. The same held true for the winning exotic tickets.
- $1 Exacta – $7.00
- 50 cent Trifecta – $5.90
- 10 cent Superfecta – $2.24
The stepping stone to The Kentucky Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is one of the biggest prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In order to qualify for the annual Run for the Roses, horses need to accumulate points during prep season.
Those who fare well at Santa Anita will do just that. The top four finishers in the race will receive points on a scale of 100-40-20-10.
The race itself traces its roots back to 1935. Since that time, a number of its winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. Here’s the list:
- 2018: Justify
- 2014: California Chrome
- 2012: I’ll Have Another
- 1989: Sunday Silence
- 1988: Winning Colors
- 1978: Affirmed
- 1969: Majestic Prince
- 1965: Lucky Debonair
- 1955: Swaps
- 1954: Determine
- 1952: Hill Gail
Additionally, several runners that have come up short at Santa Anita through the years have actually gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. As such, this race is considered a big stepping stone to Triple Crown success.
Santa Anita Derby day entries
While the Santa Anita Derby is the biggest highlight, there are a number of other races to look forward to.
- $150,000 Cinema Stakes
1 1/8 miles on turf for three-year-olds. - $100,000 Crystal Waters Stakes
1 mile on turf for three-year-olds and upward - $75,000 Desert Code Stakes
5 1/2 furlongs on turf for three-year-olds - $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes
1 mile on turf for three-year-olds - $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1)
1 1/4 miles on dirt for three-year-olds and upward - $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2)
1 1/16 miles on dirt for three-year-old fillies
Santa Anita results
Results will be posted after the race is over.
History of the Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby has been held annually since 1935 at Santa Anita Park. It’s a G1 stakes race for top three-year-olds in the current racing season and is considered one of the biggest prep races leading into the Kentucky Derby.
A total of 11 runners who won the Santa Anita have also gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, a list which includes 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed. Another seven who lost out west at Santa Anita Park were still able to claim victory at Churchill Downs.
Over the last decade, three victors at Santa Anita have won the Derby. Here are the key details from the last 10 years, with runners that took both races noted with an asterisk:
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Roadster | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | 1:51:28 |
| 2018 | Justify* | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | 1:49:72 |
| 2017 | Gormley | Victor Espinoza | John Shirreffs | 1:51:16 |
| 2016 | Exaggerator | Kent Desormeaux | J. Keith Desormeaux | 1:49:66 |
| 2015 | Dortmund | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | 1:48:73 |
| 2014 | California Chrome* | Victor Espinoza | Art Sherman | 1:47:52 |
| 2013 | Golden Cents | Kevin Krigger | Doug O’Neill | 1:48:78 |
| 2012 | I’ll Have Another* | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O’Neill | 1:47:88 |
| 2011 | Midnight Interlude | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | 1:48:56 |
| 2010 | Sidney’s Candy | Joe Talamo | John W. Sadler | 1:48:00 |
Legendary trainer Bob Baffert has had a ton of success here, as he’s alone atop the all-time list with nine victories. With two entries for the 2020 race, Baffert could see his 10th win. For jockeys, Gary Stevens is the leader, also with nine wins. The all-time speed record stands at 1:47:00 and is shared by three horses.
Santa Anita Derby FAQ
When is the Santa Anita Derby?
This year’s edition of the Santa Anita Derby will be held on Saturday, June 6. It’s the highlight of a big day of racing at the Arcadia, Calif., track which will feature a number of other top stakes, including the Santa Anita Oaks.
Which horses have come out of Santa Anita to win the Kentucky Derby?
Eleven horses have found success at both the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derby. Here’s the list:
- 2018: Justify
- 2014: California Chrome
- 2012: I’ll Have Another
- 1989: Sunday Silence
- 1988: Winning Colors
- 1978: Affirmed
- 1969: Majestic Prince
- 1965: Lucky Debonair
- 1955: Swaps
- 1954: Determine
- 1952: Hill Gail
How much does the winner of the Santa Anita Derby receive?
In previous years, the total purse for the Santa Anita Derby stood at $1 million, but it has been reduced to $400,000 for this year. The split for 2020 will be $240,000 to first, $80,000 to second, $48,000 to third, $24,000 to fourth and $8,000 to fifth.
Who was the fastest horse to win the Santa Anita Derby?
There are three horses tied for the all-time fastest record at the Santa Anita Derby with a time of 1:47:00. Here’s the list.
- 1998: Indian Charlie
- 1973: Sham
- 1965: Lucky Debonair
Which jockeys and trainers have the most wins at the Santa Anita Derby?
The names atop the leaderboard in both categories are horse racing industry legends. For jockeys, Gary Stevens has won it nine times with his last victory coming in 2003. Bob Baffert leads the way for trainers with nine wins, most recently in 2019.