John C. Harris Stakes

John C. Harris Stakes
ClassGrade III
LocationSanta Anita Park
Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated2012 (as Unzip Me Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteSanta Anita
Race information
Distanceabout 6+1⁄2 furlongs
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
Weight124 lbs with allowances
Purse$100,000 (2025)

The John C. Harris Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of about 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the Downhill turf course scheduled annually late September or early October at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 29 September 2012 as the Unzip Me Stakes at Santa Anita Park as the eleventh race on the racecard.[1] Unzip Me was a fine California-bred mare who won graded events in California and Canada winning 10 stakes in her career and amassing $959,228 in stakes winnings.[2]

The inaugural event was won by the British-bred filly Byrama, who started as the 13/5 favorite and was ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano gained the upper hand in the stretch run and won by a half-length in a time of 1:12.53.[1] Later in her career Byrama won the Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.[3]

The 2016 winner, British-bred Belvoir Bay had a fine career culminating in winning the 2019 Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.[4]

In 2019 the event was moved to the turf course proper after a serious of catastrophic breakdowns occurred on the Downhill turf course.[5] The event was held over the shortened distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs.[6] The winner Don't Sell set a new track record for the distance of 1:01.58.[7]

In 2020 the event was held once again on the main turf course and the winner Bulletproof One broke the track record for the 5+1⁄2 furlongs distance in a time of 1:01.12.[8] In 2021 the event returned back to the Downhill Turf track.[6]

In 2025 the event was upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.[9] Prior to releasing the Fall 2025 Santa Anita Park Stakes schedule the track administration announced that the event would be renamed to the John C. Harris Stakes in honor of John C. Harris, the late California owner/breeder who served on the boards of numerous California and national racing organizations, and in accepting accolades for his high-quality runners. John C. Harris was co-owner and bred Unzip Me in partnership.[2]


Records

Speed record:

  • 5+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:01.12 – Bulletproof One (2020) (New Track Record)
  • abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:11.35 – Ruby Nell (2018)

Margins:

  • 3 lengths – Pontchatrain (2013)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
John C. Harris Stakes
2025 abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs III
Unzip Me Stakes
2024 Toupie Flavien Prat H. Graham Motion Wertheimer et Frère abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.94 $102,500 Listed [10]
2023 Ruby Nell Edwin Maldonado Richard E. Mandella Spendthrift Farm abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.35 $102,500 Listed [11]
2022 Connie Swingle Kyle Frey Philip D'Amato Nicholas B. Alexander abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.87 $115,040 Listed [12]
2021 Zero Tolerance Flavien Prat Peter L. Miller Custom Truck Accessories, Jason Hall, Joe Kelly & Michael Riordan abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.67 $82,000 Listed [13]
2020 Bulletproof One Ricardo Gonzalez Peter L. Miller Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Wachtel Stable, Cecil and Gary Barber abt. 5+1⁄2 furlongs 1:01.12 $94,000 Listed [8]
2019 Don't Sell Evin Roman Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing 5+1⁄2 furlongs 1:01.58 $100,205 [7]
2018 Travieza Rafael Bejarano Doug F. O'Neill W.C. Racing & Greg Lewis abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.42 $86,115 [14]
2017 Storm the Hill Corey Nakatani Peter L. Miller Gary Barber, Silver Ranch Stable & Wachtel Stable abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12:21 $82,435 [15]
2016 Belvoir Bay (GB) Norberto Arroyo Jr. Peter L. Miller Team Valor International & Gary Barber abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.26 $78,835 [16]
2015 Singing Kitty Rafael Bejarano Matthew Chew Chris Aulds & Peter Jeong abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:13.34 $86,170 [17]
2014 Alexis Tangier Victor Espinoza Richard E. Mandella Ran Jan Racing abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.50 $78,700 [18]
2013 Pontchatrain Gary L. Stevens Thomas F. Proctor Glen Hill Farm abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:11.86 $82,670 [19]
2012 Byrama (GB) Rafael Bejarano Simon Callaghan Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners abt. 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:12.53 $76,720 [1]

Legend:
  Turf

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "2012 Unzip Me Stakes Black Type - (race 11)". Equibase. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Santa Anita Releases Autumn Meet Stakes Schedule Headlining the autumn meet is the Goodwood Stakes (G1) Sept. 27". Bloodhorse.com. Santa Anita Park. July 24, 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Horse profile Byrama (GB)". equibase.com. equibase. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Horse profile Belvoir Bay(GB)". equibase.com. equibase. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  5. ^ Angst, Frank (July 18, 2019). "Santa Anita Considers Return of Downhill Turf Sprints Track officials are considering a number of options for turf sprints". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b "JOHN C. HARRIS STAKES - SANTA ANITA PARK, CA". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b "2019 Unzip Me Stakes Black Type - (race 11)". Equibase. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b "2020 Unzip Me Stakes Listed - (race 1)". Equibase. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  9. ^ "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2025". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  10. ^ "2024 Unzip Me Stakes presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Listed - (race 5)". Equibase. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  11. ^ "2023 Unzip Me Stakes Listed - (race 5)". Equibase. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  12. ^ "2022 Unzip Me Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  13. ^ "2021 Unzip Me Stakes Listed - (race 1)". Equibase. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  14. ^ "2018 Unzip Me Stakes Black Type - (race 12)". Equibase. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  15. ^ "2017 Unzip Me Stakes Black Type - (race 11)". Equibase. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  16. ^ "2016 Unzip Me Stakes Black Type - (race 11)". Equibase. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  17. ^ "2015 Unzip Me Stakes Black Type - (race 3)". Equibase. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  18. ^ "2014 Unzip Me Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  19. ^ "2013 Unzip Me Stakes Black Type - (race 11)". Equibase. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
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