What is the Gamely Stakes?
The Gamely Stakes is a Grade I Thoroughbred race held annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the turf for fillies and mares aged three and older, it is the premier distaff turf test on the West Coast and one of the most prestigious fillies and mares races in North America. The race was inaugurated in 1939 at Hollywood Park as the Long Beach Handicap, and was renamed in 1976 to honor Gamely, the Hall of Fame filly who was one of the greatest turf mares of the 20th century. Gamely earned Grade I status in 1983. Following the closure of Hollywood Park in 2013, the race moved to Santa Anita and has been contested as part of the Memorial Day card every year since, consistently attracting the top European-based and American fillies and mares targeting the summer championship circuit.
When is the Gamely Stakes in 2027?
The 2027 Gamely Stakes is scheduled for Monday, May 25 at Santa Anita Park as the centerpiece of the Memorial Day program. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the turf with a purse of $300,000, the race draws the elite older fillies and mares from North America and internationally, with many of the top European shippers targeting it as a springboard toward the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Gamely Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Gamely Stakes has a distinguished roll of honor including champions Lady Eli, Going Global, and Vasilika among its modern-era winners, and has evolved into a showcase for the best international distaffers competing in Southern California each spring. Irish-bred Be Your Best provided the race's most dominant recent performance in 2025, blazing to a 2¾-length victory in 1:46.26 under Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. - the fastest Gamely since Lady Eli's 1:45.29 in 2017. Anisette (GB) delivered a memorable debut at the 4-year-old level when she rallied from last in the 2024 renewal to win by 2¾ lengths in 1:48.15 under Umberto Rispoli for trainer Leonard Powell. Brazilian-bred Macadamia gave trainer Phil D'Amato his first Gamely win in 2023, with jockey Tiago Pereira guiding her home in 1:48.01, while local longshot Maxim Rate produced a career highlight under Juan Hernandez in 2022 for trainer Simon Callaghan.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Be Your Best (IRE) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 1:46.26 |
| 2024 | Anisette (GB) | Umberto Rispoli | 1:48.15 |
| 2023 | Macadamia (BRZ) | Tiago Pereira | 1:48.01 |
| 2022 | Maxim Rate | Juan Hernandez | [VERIFY] |
| 2021 | Ocean Road | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
Last Updated on 05/05/2026
The Gamely Stakes is the premier Grade I distaff turf event on the West Coast and a signature race of Santa Anita Park's prestigious Memorial Day program.
