Overnight purses increased on upcoming Cal-bred stakes day

ARCADIA, Calif. – The purses of four scheduled overnight races for California-breds at Santa Anita have been increased by $10,000 to $13,000 on Jan. 18. The program is highlighted by five stakes for statebreds: the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, $200,000 California Cup Derby, $200,000 California Cup Oaks, $150,000 California Cup Sprint, and $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint. It is the richest day of the year for California-breds.

The funds for the increased purses were provided by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association in an effort to attract more horses, according to Santa Anita racing secretary Steve Lym.

“We want to try to make it bigger,” Lym said.

Three allowance races with $20,000 claiming options will be worth $70,000 and will be run at 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1 1/8 miles on turf, and at six furlongs for fillies and mares. The purses are $11,000 to $13,000 higher than similar races in recent weeks. A maiden special weight race for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf will be worth $65,000, an increase of $10,000.

The corresponding program in 2019 was run on the same day as the Pegasus World Cup program at Gulfstream Park. This year, the two events are being held on consecutive weekends, which Lym hopes will attract more betting to the Santa Anita program.

“It gets lost on a big day like that,” he said, referring to the Pegasus World Cup program, which will be held on Jan. 25.