It was named in honor of the actor, musician, bandleader, comedian and producer, Desi Arnaz.
It was originally run as the Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California to honor Moccasin, the only two-year-old filly to be named American Horse of the Year.
[1] Ownership of the race name was acquired at the end of 2013 when Hollywood Park ceased operations.
It was first run at Del Mar in 2014 as the Desi Arnaz Stakes.
Always a race on dirt for two-year-old fillies, the ungraded event is set for the fall of each year.