Santa Anita raises purse for Grade 1 Big 'Cap

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Santa Anita is increasing the purse for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap to $1 million, and upping the San Antonio Stakes to $500,000 for

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Santa Anita is increasing the purse for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap to $1 million, and upping the San Antonio Stakes to $500,000 for its upcoming winter meet.

The Big `Cap for older horses was previously worth $750,000. It will be run at 1 1/4 miles on March 7. The Grade 2 San Antonio will be run at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 7 after a purse increase of $200,000.

The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes also gets a purse increase to $400,000 for its running at 1 1/16 miles on March 7.

The winter meet opens Dec. 26 with a pair of Grade 1 stakes - the Malibu and La Brea.

The $1 million Santa Anita Derby, the West's biggest prep for the Kentucky Derby, will be run April 4.

The meet closes April 19.