Beverly Hills Handicap

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Grade II race
Beverly Hills Handicap
Location Hollywood Park Racetrack
Inglewood, California, USA
Inaugurated 1968
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website Hollywoodpark.com
Race information
Distance 1¼ miles
Track Turf, left-handed
Qualification Fillies & Mares. 3-Years-Old & up
Weight Assigned
Purse $150,000

The Beverly Hills Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late June at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The Grade II un over a distance of 1 ¼ miles on turf, the race is open to fillies and mares three years of age and older.

Previously a Grade I race, in 2003 The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association amended its status to a Grade II event.

There have been four two-time winners of the Beverly Hills Handicap, all accomplishing the feat back-to-back in Grade I company. The Irish filly La Zanzara did it first in 1974/75, followed by Swingtime who was owned by her trainer Charlie Whittingham in partnership with Mary Jones Bradley. The last two back-to-back winners were both granddaughters of the great English Triple Crown champion Nijinsky. Flawlessly won it in 1992-1993 en route to earning the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse. She was followed by the late Allen E. Paulson's filly, Astra in 2001-2002.

Of note too, is that Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker, who retired from riding in 1990, earned his first Grade I win as a trainer in the 1991 edition of the Beverly Hills Handicap with the filly, Alcando.

[edit] Winners of the Beverly Hills Handicap since 1989

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2007 Citronnade 4 David R. Flores Robert J. Frankel Frank Stronach 2:01.47
2006 Memorette 4 Victor Espinoza Bill Currin Betty Currin 2:00.16
2005 Megahertz 6 Alex Solis Robert J. Frankel Michael Bello 2:01.78
2004 Light Jig 4 Alex Solis Robert J. Frankel Khalid Abdullah 2:01.52
2003 Voodoo Dancer 5 Corey Nakatani Christophe Clement Green Hills Farm 2:00.80
2002 Astra 6 Kent Desormeaux Laura de Seroux Allen E. Paulson 1:58.56
2001 Astra 5 Kent Desormeaux Simon Bray Allen E. Paulson 1:59.61
2000 Happyanunoit 5 Brice Blanc Robert J. Frankel John & Jerry Amerman 1:59.32
1999 Virginie 5 Laffit Pincay, Jr. Richard E. Mandella Rio Claro Thoroughbreds 2:00.21
1998 Squeak 4 Gary L. Stevens Ben D. Cecil Gary A. Tanaka 2:01.56
1997 Windsharp 6 Corey Nakatani Wallace Dollase R&M Stephen/Thbd Corp 2:00.60
1996 Different 4 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Sidney H. Craig 200.74
1995 Alpride 4 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Jenny Craig 1:46.67
1994 Corrazona 4 Gary L. Stevens Richard E. Mandella La Presle Farm 1:47.40
1993 Flawlessly 5 Chris McCarron Charles Whittingham Harbor View Farm 1:47.00
1992 Flawlessly 4 Chris McCarron Charles Whittingham Harbor View Farm 1:47.13
1991 Alcando 5 Jesse J. Garcia Bill Shoemaker Not Found 1:46.50
1990 Beautiful Melody * 4 Kent Desormeaux Richard E. Mandella Golden Eagle Farm 1:47.00
1990 Reluctant Guest * 4 Robbie Davis Richard E. Mandella Robert S. Folsom 1:47.00
1989 Claire Marine 4 Chris McCarron Charles Whittingham Sidney L. Port & Whittingham 1:47.20

*In 1990 there was a DH for first place.

[edit] Earlier winners

  • 1989 - Claire Marine
  • 1988 - Fitzwilliam Place
  • 1987 - Auspiciante
  • 1986 - Estrapade
  • 1985 - Johnica
  • 1984 - Royal Heroine
  • 1983 - Absentia
  • 1982 - Sangue
  • 1981 - Track Robbery
  • 1980 - Country Queen
  • 1979 - Giggling Girl
  • 1978 - Swingtime
  • 1977 - Swingtime
  • 1976 - Bastonera
  • 1975 - La Zanzara
  • 1974 - La Zanzara
  • 1973 - Le Cle
  • 1972 - Hill Circus
  • 1971 - Manta
  • 1970 - Pattee Canyon
  • 1969 - Miss Ribot
  • 1968 - Pink Pigeon