The orginal Sunshine Millions format ended this year, as California horsemen opted out of the program, causing the entire program to be moved to Gulfstream Park and restricted to Florida-breds only. As a result, Santa Anita revamped its stakes schedule and offered up promotions on the same day on the opposite coast, such as a beach chair giveaway, a handicapping contest, and a food truck festival in the infield, attracting 30,514 fans. Conditions were ideal on Saturday at the historic Arcadia oval, with clear skies and temperatures in the upper 70's, with a fast main track and firm turf for the 2 graded stakes and 3 stakes for California-breds.
The feature event was the $300,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track. Rumor, winner of the CERF Stakes at Del Mar and the Kalookan Queen Handicap at Santa Anita, was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 7 over 5-2 second choice Teddy's Promise, winner of the La Brea Stakes (G1) last out. Sugarinthemorning, second in the La Brea, was sent off as the 9-2 third choice on the tote.
Rumor and 11-2 fourth choice Home Sweet Aspen battled down the backstretch through quick fractions of 22.70 and 45.42, while stalked by Sugarinthemorning third. Entering the stretch, Home Sweet Aspen gained a short lead as Rumor tired. Sugarinthemorning put in a rally of her own but Home Sweet Aspen held her off to win by a neck in a time of 1:21.41. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to late-running She's Cheeky third.
