What is the Senorita Stakes?
The Senorita Stakes is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Contested at about 6½ furlongs on Santa Anita's distinctive downhill hillside turf course for 3-year-old fillies, it is one of the premier early-season sprint tests for sophomore turf fillies on the West Coast and a key early indicator for the top members of the division pointing toward summer stakes races at Del Mar and beyond. The race originated in 1968 at Hollywood Park before moving to Santa Anita in 2014 following Hollywood's closure. Santa Anita's hillside turf course — a one-of-a-kind starting chute that descends sharply from above the main track — rewards natural speed and nimble footwork, producing some of the most dramatic sprint finishes in California racing each spring.
When is the Senorita Stakes in 2027?
The 2027 Senorita Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at Santa Anita Park. Contested at about 6½ furlongs on the hillside turf course with a purse of $100,000, the race draws top 3-year-old turf fillies from California and beyond seeking their first graded stakes score.
Senorita Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Senorita Stakes has a long tradition of producing standout 3-year-old turf sprinting fillies who go on to earn championship consideration later in the season. The 2023 edition produced the stakes record of 1:12.36 by Teena Ella, the fastest the race has ever been run on Santa Anita's hillside course. Phil D'Amato's Jungle Peace (IRE) scored a head victory over late-closer Amorita in 2025 under Umberto Rispoli, giving the trainer his most recent Senorita win. The race regularly attracts international talent — particularly Irish-bred and European fillies who excel on the unique downhill turf format — alongside California-based contenders targeting the summer turf sprint circuit.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jungle Peace (IRE) | Umberto Rispoli | 1:13.83 |
| 2024 | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
| 2023 | Teena Ella | [VERIFY] | 1:12.36* |
| 2022 | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
| 2021 | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
* Stakes record.
Last Updated on 05/04/2026
The Senorita Stakes is a signature event of the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet and a critical early-season benchmark for 3-year-old turf sprint fillies on the West Coast.
