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Twilight Derby
Twilight Derby
ClassGrade II
LocationSanta Anita Park
Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated1969 (as Volante Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
WebsiteSanta Anita Park
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
Weight124 lbs.
Purse$200,000 (since 2024)

The Twilight Derby is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds over the distance of one-and-one-eighth miles on the turf scheduled annually in late October at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History

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The event was inaugurated on 18 October 1969 as the Volante Handicap at the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park and was won by the Mrs. Howard B. Keck's entry Tell who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker carrying the imposing weight of 130 pounds by 34 of a length over Noholme Jr. in a time of 1:4645.[1] The event was named for Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin's 1885 American Derby winner, Volante, who was ridden to victory by jockey Isaac Burns Murphy. Lucky Baldwin had built the original Santa Anita Racetrack Track in 1907 and Volante was buried at the track.[2]

When the grading of races began as a Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association project in 1973 the event was classified as Grade III, however, the event was not held that year due to a strike by pari-mutual clerks.[3]

In 1988 and 1989 the event was upgraded to Grade II before returning to Grade III.[4] In 1996 the event was once again upgraded to Grade II.[5]

In 1997 the event was renamed to the Oak Tree Derby after the Oak Tree Racing Association. [4] In 2012 with the Oak Tree Racing Association abandoning the Santa Anita Track the event was renamed to the Twilight Derby.[5]

The event has been held on the undercard of the Saturday Breeders' Cup card in 2008, 2009, 2016, 2019 and 2023.

Records

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Time record:

  • 1:44.48 – The Usual Q.T. (2009)

Margins:

  • 4+14 lengths - Daytona (IRE) (2007)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

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Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Santa Anita Park – Twilight Derby
2024 Atitlan Hector Berrios John A. Shirreffs John M. B. O'Connor 1+18 miles 1:49.12 $201,000 II [6]
2023 Seal Team (GB) Umberto Rispoli Richard E. Mandella Perry R. & Ramona S. Bass 1+18 miles 1:47.29 $254,000 II [7]
2022 Cabo Spirit Joe Bravo George Papaprodromou Kretz Racing 1+18 miles 1:49.46 $201,500 II [8]
2021 Subconscious Juan Hernandez Richard E. Mandella LNJ Foxwoods 1+18 miles 1:47.00 $202,500 II [9]
2020 Smooth Like Strait Umberto Rispoli Michael W. McCarthy Cannon Thoroughbreds 1+18 miles 1:46.89 $202,000 II [10]
2019 Mo Forza Joel Rosario Peter L. Miller Bardy Farm & OG Boss 1+18 miles 1:46.18 $202,106 II [11]
2018 River Boyne (IRE) Flavien Prat Jeff Mullins Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal 1+18 miles 1:45.36 $201,380 II [12]
2017 Sharp Samurai Gary L. Stevens Mark Glatt Mark Glatt, Red Barron's Barn & Rancho Temescal 1+18 miles 1:45.36 $201,380 II [13]
2016 Frank Conversation Mario Gutierrez Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing 1+18 miles 1:46.81 $201,725 II [14]
2015 Om Gary L. Stevens Dan L. Hendricks Sareen Family Trust 1+18 miles 1:45.90 $200,750 II [15]
2014 Long On Value Rosie Napravnik William I. Mott Watchtel Stables & George J. Kerr 1+18 miles 1:46.82 $201,500 II [16]
2013 Rookie Sensation Victor Espinoza John Shirreffs Stronach Stables 1+18 miles 1:46.54 $152,000 II [17]
2012 Grandeur (IRE) William T. Buick Jeremy Noseda Yvonne Jacques 1+18 miles 1:46.78 $150,000 II [18]
Oak Tree Derby
2011 Ultimate Eagle Martin A. Pedroza Michael Pender B. J. Wright 1+18 miles 1:47.03 $150,000 II [19]
At Hollywood Park
2010 Fantastic Pick (GB) Corey Nakatani James Lloyd Jim Ford, Robert Maycock & Ken Smole 1+18 miles 1:48.51 $150,000 II [20]
At Santa Anita Park
2009 The Usual Q. T. Victor Espinoza James M. Cassidy Don Van Racing, Michael Nentwig, George Saadeh, Thomas H. Braden 1+18 miles 1:44.48 $150,000 II [21]
2008 Muny David R. Flores Mike Puype Robert Bone, Don Johnson, Richard S. Trontz, Brewer Racing Stable & Robinson 1+18 miles 1:47.69 $150,000 II [22]
2007 Daytona (IRE) Mike E. Smith Dan L. Hendricks Jeff Davenport, Tom Lenner, Jess Ravich & Thomas W. Murray 1+18 miles 1:46.40 $150,000 II [23]
2006 Dark Islander (IRE) Jose Valdivia Jr. John W. Hills Donald M. Kerr 1+18 miles 1:46.21 $150,000 II [24]
2005 Aragorn (IRE) Pat Valenzuela Neil D. Drysdale Ballygallon Stud 1+18 miles 1:46.48 $150,000 II [25]
2004 Greek Sun Edgar S. Prado Robert J. Frankel Peter G. Angelos 1+18 miles 1:48.08 $150,000 II [26]
2003 Devious Boy (GB) Julie Krone Kathy Walsh James R. Vreeland 1+18 miles 1:48.92 $150,000 II [27]
2002 Johar Alex O. Solis Richard E. Mandella The Thoroughbred Corporation 1+18 miles 1:46.00 $150,000 II [28]
2001 No Slip (FR) Kent J. Desormeaux Robert J. Frankel Amerman Racing Stables 1+18 miles 1:46.56 $150,000 II [29]
2000 Sign of Hope (GB) Alex O. Solis Neil D. Drysdale Relatively Stable 1+18 miles 1:47.71 $250,000 II [30]
1999 Mula Gula Gary L. Stevens Jerry Hollendorfer Steven J. Gula 1+18 miles 1:46.67 $250,000 II [31]
1998 Ladies Din Gary L. Stevens Julio C. Canani J. Terrence Lanni, Bernard Schiappa & Mike Sloan 1+18 miles 1:50.24 $250,000 II [32]
1997 Lasting Approval Alex O. Solis Diane L. Perkins Wimborne Farm 1+18 miles 1:50.84 $250,000 II [33]
Volante Handicap
1996 Odyle Chris McCarron J. Paco Gonzalez Ron Brimacombe, Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan 1+18 miles 1:46.83 $130,250 II [34]
1995 Helmsman Chris McCarron Wallace Dollase Horizon Stable, Jarvis & Taber, et al. 1+18 miles 1:48.98 $131,900 III [35]
1994 Run Softly Laffit Pincay Jr. Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1+18 miles 1:49.96 $109,800 III [36]
1993 Eastern Memories (IRE) Jerry D. Bailey Mark A. Hennig Team Valor, Amerman & Stibor 1+18 miles 1:48.00 $111,800 III [37]
1992 Blacksburg Alex O. Solis D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 1+18 miles 1:48.00 $112,700 III [38]
1991 General Meeting Kent J. Desormeaux David E. Hofmans Golden Eagle Farm 1+18 miles 1:46.78 $114,500 III [39]
1990 In Excess (IRE) Gary L. Stevens Bruce L. Jackson Jack J. Munari 1+18 miles 1:46.60 $110,300 III [40]
1989 Seven Rivers Robbie Davis Charles E. Whittingham Enemy Stable & Mandysland Farm 1+18 miles 1:45.80 $111,100 II [41]
1988 Coax Me Clyde Pat Valenzuela Barry Knight Vistas Stables 1+18 miles 1:48.40 $135,000 II [42]
1987 The Medic Sandy Hawley Gary F. Jones Dr. Edward Giammarino 1+18 miles 1:47.80 $84,050 III [43]
1986 Air Display Gary L. Stevens Darrell Vienna Apple, Forgnone, Levy, et al. 1+18 miles 1:48.00 $107,450 III [44]
1985 Justoneoftheboys Alex O. Solis Ron McAnally Morris Cohen & Dion Recachina 1+18 miles 1:47.60 $110,000 III [45]
1984 Tights Chris McCarron Laz Barrera Mill House Stable 1+18 miles 1:46.60 $110,500 III [46]
1983 Mamaison Chris McCarron Richard E. Mandella Sam Bretzfield & Hal Oliver 1+18 miles 1:49.80 $108,900 III [47]
1982 Lamerok Laffit Pincay Jr. LeRoy Jolley Peter M. Brant 1+18 miles 1:46.20 $111,300 III [48]
1981 Seafood Marco Castaneda Ron McAnally Elmendorf Farm 1+18 miles 1:49.00 $85,450 III Dead heat[49]
Waterway Drive Jerry D. Bailey Robin Frank Eric Frank
1980 Pocketful in Vail Fernando Toro Jerry M. Fanning Kahn, Morcus & Rosburg 1+18 miles 1:47.80 $66,400 III [50]
1979 Hyannis Port Bill Shoemaker Charles E. Whittingham Bell Bloodstock & Charles E. Whittingham 1+18 miles 1:47.60 $54,800 III [51]
1978 Wayside Station Laffit Pincay Jr. John H. Adams El Peco Ranch 1+18 miles 1:47.80 $57,100 III [52]
1977 Kulak Bill Shoemaker Charles E. Whittingham Mary Jones Bradley, Charles E. Whittingham & Buck Wynne Jr. 1+18 miles 1:46.80 $33,300 III [53]
1976 Today 'n Tomorrow Laffit Pincay Jr. Roger E. Clapp Connie M. Ring 1+18 miles 1:46.80 $32,950 III [54]
1975 § Messenger of Song Jerry Lambert Gordon C. Campbell Bernard J. Ridder 1+18 miles 1:46.80 $43,450 III [55]
1974 Within Hail Bill Shoemaker Charles E. Whittingham Bwamazon Farm 1+18 miles 1:48.40 $45,250 III [56]
1973 ‡ Race not held
1972 Bicker Glen Brogan Robert Wingfield Green Thumb Farm Stable 1+18 miles 1:48.20 $33,150 [57]
1971 Vegas Vic Howard Grant Randy Sechrest Betty Sechrest & Charles Fritz 1+18 miles 1:48.20 $33,550 [58]
1970 Mickey McGuire Bill Shoemaker Paul K. Parker Vanguard Stable (Suzanne Reagan) & Anita Madden 1+18 miles 1:47.40 $25,450 [59]
1969 § Tell Bill Shoemaker Charles E. Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck 1+18 miles 1:46.80 $57,500 [1]

Legend:
  Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
‡ In 1973 the Volante Handicap was scheduled to be held on Saturday, 7 October 1973, opening day of the Oak Tree Racing Association's meeting at Santa Anita but was cancelled due to a three-day strike by the pari-mutuel clerks.[3]

See also

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References

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