Going back to the beginning of Santa Anita's storied history, there are a few races that have been there from day one. Over time, those charter events transformed into staples of the schedule every winter in Arcadia. And as legend after legend took their place in the winner's circle, those races ascended to legendary status.

Among the contests that appeared in 1935 were the San Pasqual Handicap, the San Antonio Handicap, and of course, the Santa Anita Handicap. An abundance of fan favorites and great horses have all taken at least one of those races over time. Others have taken two of them. And very few have scored trophies in all three.

If you want to talk triples in Southern California racing, the usual topic might be either the Strub Series or the combination of the Big 'Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. But a lesser known would be the winter trio just mentioned. It was well over thirty years before any horse was able to make that sweep, and the one who did so just happened to be a familiar face in the Southland.

Nowadays, Pretense might be best known for his rivalry with Native Diver. But Pretense (who later went on to sire the terrific horse, Sham), was actually an accomplished horse in the Southland during the 1960s. A look at his record will yield several stakes wins to his name. And like his contemporary, Pretense found the winner's circle at the three major Southern California tracks.

Pretense never won the Hollywood Gold Cup as Native Diver dominated that race in the mid-1960s. But he took some races that eluded his rival, and those were part of Pretense's own unprecedented triple in the winter of 1967.

It began on January 26 with the San Pasqual Handicap. After squaring off in the San Carlos Handicap a couple of weeks earlier, Pretense and Native Diver met up to go a mile and one-sixteenth. The Diver came out on top in the San Carlos, and now he sought to make it two straight in the San Pasqual. He had to do it with the most weight, however. He was issued 132 pounds, with Pretense next at 118.

Initially, Native Diver had the lead, which was his favorite spot. With regular rider Jerry Lambert aboard, he held it for a while, but Pretense and Bill Shoemaker stayed close and eventually took over. He never gave the position back, either, going on to win comfortably and avenge his defeat in the San Carlos.

The two did not have to wait long to meet again. They were back at Santa Anita two weeks later for the February 11 San Antonio. Neither horse had won this race going into 1967, but the expectation was one of them would do so. Native Diver was favored, with the coupled entry of Pretense and Drin not far behind in the wagering. Pretense still had the weight advantage, but by seven pounds this time.

As usual, Native Diver and Lambert sped to the front while Pretense and Shoemaker tracked them. Just like in the San Antonio, they were one-two for a sizable portion of the race. But Pretense was not interested in being the runner-up. Taking the lead in the later stages of the race, he went on to finish first in the San Antonio to give him a pair of major wins at the meet.

With that momentum, Pretense was entered in the Santa Anita Handicap on February 25. It was impossible to ignore the recent form, and that gave Pretense favorite status. Joining him on track was none other than Native Diver, who had yet to win the classic event. Distance was not a problem, given he was the reigning two-time winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup. But for some reason, the Big 'Cap had always eluded the Diver's grasp. Even so, he was seen as a contender for the win. Asked to saddle 125 pounds this time, he gave up seven to Pretense like he had in the San Antonio.

As the race got underway, Pretense found himself in a familiar spot. He and Shoemaker cleared everyone except for Native Diver, who led the field with Don Pierce now aboard. Native Diver was the clear leader, but Pretense had him well within range. Native Diver had control for more than half the race, but history repeated itself like it had during the winter. Pretense caught up to his rival and assumed the lead. Native Diver could not get it back, and Pretense guided the field the rest of the way as he became the newest winner of the Big 'Cap while making history as the first to sweep that race, the San Pasqual and San Antonio in the same year.

Looking back on it now, what Pretense accomplished that winter was truly amazing. First, he demonstrated an ability to run over three different distances over a mile. Second, he did so in the span of one month. Not only could he navigate various longer distances, he proved he carried an abundance of stamina. Pretense was indeed a strong horse, and he used that strength to become one of the stars of Santa Anita's 1967 winter-spring meet. He also made his mark in track lore with that sweep, opening a door that no other horse had been able to since 1935.

As with the Strub Series and the Triple Crown, capturing that trio of handicap races has proved to be reserved for a handful of horses. Ack Ack was the next to do it in his legendary 1971 campaign. Farma Way pulled it off exactly twenty years later in 1991, and Express Train followed suit in 2022. Not just any horse can take the San Pasqual, San Antonio and Santa Anita Handicaps in the same meet, as history has conveyed.

But Pretense showed he was indeed that kind of horse.