The Sorrento Stakes is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Contested at 6 furlongs on the dirt exclusively for 2-year-old fillies, it is the most important early test for juvenile fillies on the West Coast and the traditional prep race for the Grade I Del Mar Debutante Stakes held several weeks later. The race was inaugurated on October 7, 1967, during the Del Mar Fall meeting and moved to the summer schedule in 1970. Classified Grade III in 1986 and upgraded to Grade II in 1994, the race was downgraded back to Grade III in 2004 before being upgraded to Grade II in 2015 and downgraded again following the 2023 running. The Sorrento has a distinguished history of producing Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies champions, with Brave Raj (1986), Silverbulletday (1998), and Tempera (2001) completing the Sorrento-Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies double. Bob Baffert holds the all-time trainer record with nine wins, including Himika in 2025 and the previous two editions. Laffit Pincay Jr. leads all jockeys with six wins.
The 2026 Sorrento Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, August 8 at Del Mar Racetrack on the same card as the Best Pal Stakes and Yellow Ribbon Handicap. Contested at 6 furlongs on the dirt with a purse of $150,000, the race draws the top 2-year-old fillies on the West Coast targeting the Grade I Del Mar Debutante Stakes later in the meeting.
Bob Baffert has dominated the Sorrento Stakes in the modern era, winning nine times overall, including three consecutive editions from 2023 to 2025. Himika gave Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez a 2025 win, the filly drawing off in the lane to complete her unbeaten record and establish herself as the top juvenile filly prospect on the West Coast. Baffert also won the 2024 and 2023 editions, extending his remarkable record in the race. The Sorrento Stakes has consistently identified the top 2-year-old fillies in California, with multiple winners going on to compete in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies each fall. The race is one of only a handful of Grade III events in the country exclusively for 2-year-old fillies that regularly attracts horses capable of winning at the Grade I level later in their careers.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Himika | Juan Hernandez | 1:10.61 |
| 2024 | Nooni | Juan Hernandez | 1:10.41 |
| 2023 | Dreamfyre | Hector Berrios | 1:10.52 |
| 2022 | Vegas Magic | Abel Cedillo | 1:11.46 |
| 2021 | Elm Drive | Juan Hernandez | 1:10.64 |
The Sorrento Stakes is the premier 2-year-old filly test on the West Coast and the traditional Del Mar opening-weekend juvenile filly event each August.
