Thrilling Race for Leading Jockey at Santa Anita Spring Meet
The race for the leading jockey title at the Santa Anita spring meet came down to the wire, with Juan Hernandez and Antonio Fresu battling it out on the final day of the stand. Going into Sunday’s closing day, Hernandez held a slim one-win advantage, with 35 victories to Fresu’s 34.
Hernandez continued his late surge on Saturday, earning his third hat trick in as many days. The 32-year-old native of Veracruz won the second race aboard favorite Hardmoneymuchachos ($4) for trainer Peter Miller, the seventh on favorite Runamileinmyshoes ($4.60) for trainer Jeff Mullins, and the 10th on favorite Hope Road ($3.20) for trainer Bob Baffert.
Not to be outdone, Fresu also had a productive day, bagging a pair of wins on Saturday’s 11-race card to stay well within striking distance. The 32-year-old native of Sardinia, Italy, won the sixth race aboard Thirsty in Vegas ($10.20) for trainer Steve Knapp and the ninth on favorite Divin Propos ($4) for trainer Phil D’Amato.
“With 10 mounts on Sunday’s 12-race card, including four morning-line favorites, Fresu will have every chance to surge past Hernandez in the standings. Meanwhile, Hernandez is scheduled on eight mounts, with the only program favorite in that group being Final Boss (8-5) in the co-featured Cinema Stakes.”
Hernandez is seeking his sixth Santa Anita riding title, while Fresu, who has been riding in the U.S. for only about 14 months, is trying for his first domestic riding crown. The duo also lead all jockeys with four stakes wins each at the Hollywood Meet, and they will face off again in Sunday’s Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano.
In other news, trainer Phil D’Amato secured his sixth Santa Anita trainer’s title on Saturday, saddling two winners to finish the spring meet with 22 victories, five more than runner-up Doug O’Neill. D’Amato, a native of nearby San Pedro, also leads all trainers with six stakes wins at the meet, including victories with Uncorked, Gold Phoenix, Circle of Trust, Musical Rhapsody, King of Gosford, and Shady Tiger.
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