The Sham Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old over the distance of one mile on the dirt scheduled annually in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000. History The event was inaugurated on 9 February 2001 over a distance of miles and was won by the US Hall of Fame trained Bob Baffert's Wild and Wise who was entered as an entry with Special Times. He was ridden by the entry with Special Times. He was ridden by the US Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza winning by half a length in a time of 1:50.51. The event is named in honor for the racehorse Sham, winner of the 1973 Santa Anita Derby and remembered for his battles with Secretariat in that year's U.S. Triple Crown Races. The event was upgraded to Grade III in 2006. In 2011 distance for the event was decreased to miles and once again the following year was decreased to 1 mile. Since 2011 the event has been held early in January. An official prep race for the Kentucky Derby with qualification points. Records Speed record: 1 mile – 1:34.56 - Out of Bounds (2012) mile – 1:47.86 - The Pamplemousse (2009) Margins: lengths – Authentic (2020) Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Alex Solis (2003, 2004, 2009, 2010) 4 - Garrett Gomez (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012) 4 - Victor Espinoza (2001, 2005, 2006, 2017) 4 - Mike E. Smith (2014, 2018, 2019, 2021) Most wins by a trainer: 9 - Bob Baffert (2001, 2006, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) Most wins by an owner: 3 - Golconda Stable (2020, 2022, 2023) 3 - Madaket Stables (2020, 2022, 2023) 3 - SF Racing (2020, 2022, 2023) 3 - Starlight Racing (2020, 2022, 2023) Winners Legend: Notes: § Ran as an entry See also List of American and Canadian Graded races Road to the Kentucky Derby References 2001 establishments in California Horse races in California Santa Anita Park Flat horse races for three-year-olds Triple Crown Prep Races Graded stakes races in the United States Grade 3 stakes races in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 2001