The 2026 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes takes place Sunday, September 27 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Grade II race is contested at 6 furlongs on dirt for 3-year-olds and up and carries a $200,000 purse. The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
| Date | Sunday, September 27, 2026 |
| Track | Santa Anita Park |
| Race | 4 |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Grade | Grade II |
| Purse | $200,000 |
| Age | 3-year-olds and up |
| Breeders' Cup Qualifier | Win and You're In - Breeders' Cup Sprint |
| Post Time | 2:35 PM ET |
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Listenupshance | E Jaramillo | D F O'Neill | 2/1 |
| 2 | Imagination | J J Hernandez | B Baffert | 5/2 |
| 3 | Ahrens | J Rosario | J W Sadler | 8/1 |
| 4 | March of Time | K Kimura | B Baffert | 12/1 |
| 5 | Maximum Bourbon | U Rispoli | P D'Amato | 6/5 |
Last Updated on 09/25/2026
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The Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes is one of the West Coast's leading dirt sprints for older horses. The Grade II event is contested at 6 furlongs and traditionally serves as an important final California prep for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
The 2026 race carries added championship significance as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In event. The winner earns an automatic starting position in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, subject to Breeders' Cup eligibility requirements.
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The Santa Anita Sprint Championship has long been one of Southern California's most important races for elite dirt sprinters and has frequently served as a final stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Notable recent winners include Roy H, Dr. Schivel, Straight No Chaser and Imagination. Roy H won consecutive editions in 2017 and 2018, while Dr. Schivel captured the race in both 2021 and 2023.
Imagination won the 2025 Santa Anita Sprint Championship under jockey Juan J. Hernandez for trainer Bob Baffert, completing the 6 furlongs in 1:09.00.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Imagination | Juan J. Hernandez | 1:09.00 |
| 2024 | Straight No Chaser | John R. Velazquez | 1:08.54 |
| 2023 | Dr. Schivel | Juan J. Hernandez | 1:08.49 |
| 2022 | Howbeit | Mike E. Smith | 1:10.15 |
| 2021 | Dr. Schivel | Flavien Prat | 1:09.44 |
The 2026 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes is scheduled for Sunday, September 27 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
The Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes is contested at 6 furlongs on dirt.
The 2026 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes carries a $200,000 purse.
The Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes is open to Thoroughbreds 3 years old and up.
Final entries for the 2026 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes have not yet been confirmed. The field, post positions, jockeys and official odds will be updated once Santa Anita Park publishes the final race card.
The favorite for the 2026 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes can be identified in the latest odds table above.
The latest 2026 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes odds are listed in the odds table above and will be updated as race-day prices change.
The Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes is a Grade II dirt sprint for horses 3 years old and up held at Santa Anita Park. The 2026 race is contested at 6 furlongs for a $200,000 purse.
The Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes is held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Yes. The 2026 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
You can bet the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes online at BUSR. Create an account, fund your account, select Santa Anita Park, choose the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes and place your wager. BUSR also offers a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
Imagination won the 2025 Santa Anita Sprint Championship under jockey Juan J. Hernandez for trainer Bob Baffert in 1:09.00.
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