Twilight Derby prize money
The Twilight Derby is worth $200,000 . That makes it the 474th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 145th richest in the United States.
Every figure here is the money the race announces, in the currency it announces it in. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the Twilight Derby is
Grade II · miles (9 furlongs) · Turf · Santa Anita Park
- Racecourse
- Santa Anita Park
- Country
- United States
- Grade
- Grade II
- Distance
- miles (9 furlongs)
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred, Flat racing
- Open to
- Three-year-olds
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1969
We hold the total fund for the Twilight Derby and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 1:47.66 in 2025, the Twilight Derby pays $1,858 for every second of the race, which is 290th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 149th in the United States.
Every Twilight Derby winner
57 runnings, 1969 to 2025, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Test Score1:47.66 | Juan J. Hernandez | H. Graham Motion | Amerman Racing | $200,000 |
| 2024 | Atitlan1:49.12 | Hector Berrios | John A. Shirreffs | John M. B. O'Connor | $201,000 |
| 2023 | Seal Team (GB)1:47.29 | Umberto Rispoli | Richard E. Mandella | Perry R. & Ramona S. Bass | $254,000 |
| 2022 | Cabo Spirit1:49.46 | Joe Bravo | George Papaprodromou | Kretz Racing | $201,500 |
| 2021 | Subconscious1:47.00 | Juan Hernandez | Richard E. Mandella | LNJ Foxwoods | $202,500 |
| 2020 | Smooth Like Strait1:46.89 | Umberto Rispoli | Michael W. McCarthy | Cannon Thoroughbreds | $202,000 |
| 2019 | Mo Forza1:46.18 | Joel Rosario | Peter L. Miller | Bardy Farm & OG Boss | $202,106 |
| 2018 | River Boyne (IRE)1:45.36 | Flavien Prat | Jeff Mullins | Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal | $201,380 |
| 2017 | Sharp Samurai1:45.36 | Gary L. Stevens | Mark Glatt | Mark Glatt, Red Barron's Barn & Rancho Temescal | $201,380 |
| 2016 | Frank Conversation1:46.81 | Mario Gutierrez | Doug F. O'Neill | Reddam Racing | $201,725 |
| 2015 | Om1:45.90 | Gary L. Stevens | Dan L. Hendricks | Sareen Family Trust | $200,750 |
| 2014 | Long On Value1:46.82 | Rosie Napravnik | William I. Mott | Watchtel Stables & George J. Kerr | $201,500 |
| 2013 | Rookie Sensation1:46.54 | Victor Espinoza | John Shirreffs | Stronach Stables | $152,000 |
| 2012 | Grandeur (IRE)1:46.78 | William T. Buick | Jeremy Noseda | Yvonne Jacques | $150,000 |
| 2011 | Ultimate Eagle1:47.03 | Martin A. Pedroza | Michael Pender | B. J. Wright | $150,000 |
| 2010 | Fantastic Pick (GB)1:48.51 | Corey Nakatani | James Lloyd | Jim Ford, Robert Maycock & Ken Smole | $150,000 |
| 2009 | The Usual Q. T.1:44.48 | Victor Espinoza | James M. Cassidy | Don Van Racing, Michael Nentwig, George Saadeh, Thomas H. Braden | $150,000 |
| 2008 | Muny1:47.69 | David R. Flores | Mike Puype | Robert Bone, Don Johnson, Richard S. Trontz, Brewer Racing Stable & Robinson | $150,000 |
| 2007 | Daytona (IRE)1:46.40 | Mike E. Smith | Dan L. Hendricks | Jeff Davenport, Tom Lenner, Jess Ravich & Thomas W. Murray | $150,000 |
| 2006 | Dark Islander (IRE)1:46.21 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | John W. Hills | Donald M. Kerr | $150,000 |
| 2005 | Aragorn (IRE)1:46.48 | Pat Valenzuela | Neil D. Drysdale | Ballygallon Stud | $150,000 |
| 2004 | Greek Sun1:48.08 | Edgar S. Prado | Robert J. Frankel | Peter G. Angelos | $150,000 |
| 2003 | Devious Boy (GB)1:48.92 | Julie Krone | Kathy Walsh | James R. Vreeland | $150,000 |
| 2002 | Johar1:46.00 | Alex O. Solis | Richard E. Mandella | The Thoroughbred Corporation | $150,000 |
| 2001 | No Slip (FR)1:46.56 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Robert J. Frankel | Amerman Racing Stables | $150,000 |
| 2000 | Sign of Hope (GB)1:47.71 | Alex O. Solis | Neil D. Drysdale | Relatively Stable | $250,000 |
| 1999 | Mula Gula1:46.67 | Gary L. Stevens | Jerry Hollendorfer | Steven J. Gula | $250,000 |
| 1998 | Ladies Din1:50.24 | Gary L. Stevens | Julio C. Canani | J. Terrence Lanni, Bernard Schiappa & Mike Sloan | $250,000 |
| 1997 | Lasting Approval1:50.84 | Alex O. Solis | Diane L. Perkins | Wimborne Farm | $250,000 |
| 1996 | Odyle1:46.83 | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | Ron Brimacombe, Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan | $130,250 |
| 1995 | Helmsman1:48.98 | Chris McCarron | Wallace Dollase | Horizon Stable, Jarvis & Taber, et al. | $131,900 |
| 1994 | Run Softly1:49.96 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | $109,800 |
| 1993 | Eastern Memories (IRE)1:48.00 | Jerry D. Bailey | Mark A. Hennig | Team Valor, Amerman & Stibor | $111,800 |
| 1992 | Blacksburg1:48.00 | Alex O. Solis | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | $112,700 |
| 1991 | General Meeting1:46.78 | Kent J. Desormeaux | David E. Hofmans | Golden Eagle Farm | $114,500 |
| 1990 | In Excess (IRE)1:46.60 | Gary L. Stevens | Bruce L. Jackson | Jack J. Munari | $110,300 |
| 1989 | Seven Rivers1:45.80 | Robbie Davis | Charles E. Whittingham | Enemy Stable & Mandysland Farm | $111,100 |
| 1988 | Coax Me Clyde1:48.40 | Pat Valenzuela | Barry Knight | Vistas Stables | $135,000 |
| 1987 | The Medic1:47.80 | Sandy Hawley | Gary F. Jones | Dr. Edward Giammarino | $84,050 |
| 1986 | Air Display1:48.00 | Gary L. Stevens | Darrell Vienna | Apple, Forgnone, Levy, et al. | $107,450 |
| 1985 | Justoneoftheboys1:47.60 | Alex O. Solis | Ron McAnally | Morris Cohen & Dion Recachina | $110,000 |
| 1984 | Tights1:46.60 | Chris McCarron | Laz Barrera | Mill House Stable | $110,500 |
| 1983 | Mamaison1:49.80 | Chris McCarron | Richard E. Mandella | Sam Bretzfield & Hal Oliver | $108,900 |
| 1982 | Lamerok1:46.20 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Peter M. Brant | $111,300 |
| 1981 | Seafood1:49.00 | Marco Castaneda | Ron McAnally | Elmendorf Farm | $85,450 |
| 1980 | Pocketful in Vail1:47.80 | Fernando Toro | Jerry M. Fanning | Kahn, Morcus & Rosburg | $66,400 |
| 1979 | Hyannis Port1:47.60 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Bell Bloodstock & Charles E. Whittingham | $54,800 |
| 1978 | Wayside Station1:47.80 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | John H. Adams | El Peco Ranch | $57,100 |
| 1977 | Kulak1:46.80 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Mary Jones Bradley, Charles E. Whittingham & Buck Wynne Jr. | $33,300 |
| 1976 | Today 'n Tomorrow1:46.80 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Roger E. Clapp | Connie M. Ring | $32,950 |
| 1975 | § Messenger of Song1:46.80 | Jerry Lambert | Gordon C. Campbell | Bernard J. Ridder | $43,450 |
| 1974 | Within Hail1:48.40 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Bwamazon Farm | $45,250 |
| 1973 | ‡ Race not held | ||||
| 1972 | Bicker1:48.20 | Glen Brogan | Robert Wingfield | Green Thumb Farm Stable | $33,150 |
| 1971 | Vegas Vic1:48.20 | Howard Grant | Randy Sechrest | Betty Sechrest & Charles Fritz | $33,550 |
| 1970 | Mickey McGuire1:47.40 | Bill Shoemaker | Paul K. Parker | Vanguard Stable (Suzanne Reagan) & Anita Madden | $25,450 |
| 1969 | § Tell1:46.80 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | $57,500 |
56 of the 57 runnings name the rider, 56 name the trainer and 56 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to. 56 carry the total prize money for that year, converted here the same way the purse above is.
What the Twilight Derby has paid, season by season
Total prize money, 1969 to 2025
The total prize money went from $57,500 in 1969 to $200,000 in 2025, 3.5 times more. Every year is converted at today's rate, so the line is the money the race puts up rather than the money the exchange rate did.
Who wins the Twilight Derby more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a jockey
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Twilight Derby in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 463 | Commonwealth Turf CupLaurel Park | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 464 | Dwyer StakesAqueduct Racetrack | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 466 | Hill Prince StakesAqueduct Racetrack | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 467 | Lone Star DerbyLone Star Park | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 468 | Mathis Mile StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 469 | Peter Pan StakesBelmont Park | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 470 | Robert B. Lewis StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 471 | San Vicente StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 472 | Smarty Jones Stakes (Parx)Parx Casino and Racing | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 473 | Sunshine Millions ClassicSanta Anita Park, Arcadia, California & | United States | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| 475 | Chester VaseChester Racecourse | Great Britain | $189,000 | £140,000 |
| 476 | Premio Presidente della RepubblicaCapannelle Racecourse | Italy | $184,275 | €163,800 |
| 477 | Coronation Futurity StakesWoodbine Racetrack | Canada | $181,170 | CA$250,000 |
| 478 | New Zealand Trotting DerbyAddington Raceway | New Zealand | $178,565 | NZ$300,000 |
| 479 | Adrian Knox StakesRandwick Racecourse, | Australia | $175,781 | AU$250,000 |
| 480 | Angst StakesRandwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia | Australia | $175,781 | AU$250,000 |
| 481 | Aspiration QualityRandwick Racecourse | Australia | $175,781 | AU$250,000 |
| 482 | Birthday Card StakesRosehill Gardens Racecourse | Australia | $175,781 | AU$250,000 |
| 483 | Blue Diamond Preview (C&G)Caulfield Racecourse | Australia | $175,781 | AU$250,000 |
| 484 | Blue Diamond Preview FilliesCaulfield Racecourse | Australia | $175,781 | AU$250,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Twilight Derby in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in the United States
196 races, 145th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert B. Lewis Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Grade III | $200,000 |
| San Vicente Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Grade II | $200,000 |
| Smarty Jones Stakes (Parx) | Parx Casino and Racing | Listed | $200,000 |
| Sunshine Millions Classic | Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California & | Restricted | $200,000 |
| California Cup Derby | Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California | Restricted Stakes | $175,000 |
| Kitten's Joy Stakes | Gulfstream Park | Listed | $175,000 |
| Quick Call Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | Grade III | $175,000 |
| Swale Stakes | Gulfstream Park | Listed | $175,000 |
Every race in the United States we hold a purse for is on the United States prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total Twilight Derby prize money?
$200,000.
Where does the Twilight Derby rank among the richest races in the world?
474th of 997. 473 races pay more, the nearest of them Commonwealth Turf Cup. In the United States it is 145th of 196.
Which jockey has won the Twilight Derby most often?
Gary L. Stevens, with 6 wins between 1986 and 2017.
When was the Twilight Derby first run?
1969. This page holds 57 runnings, from 1969 to 2025.
How far is the Twilight Derby?
miles (9 furlongs), on turf, at Santa Anita Park.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money