The race was inaugurated in 1939 as the Long Beach Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California over a distance of 1 mile. Then event was dormant until 1968 when it was run on the dirt for three-year-olds and older over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles. The following year the race was conditioned for fillies and mares at the distance of 1 mile.
In 1973, the distance was set at the current route of 1+1⁄8 miles with a classification of Grade II.
The race was renamed for the 1976 running to honor the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly Gamely who had died in 1975. It was run in two divisions in 1971 and again in 1978.
In 1983 the event was upgraded to Grade I.
Following the closure of Hollywood Park, the race moved to Santa Anita Park in 2014.
Records
Speed record: (at current distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)