The 2025-26 Santa Anita Classic Meet wrapped up Sunday with Emisael Jaramillo as the leading jockey, Doug O'Neill as the top trainer and Kretz Racing winning its first owner's title. Live racing will resume at Santa Anita on Friday, April 17 with the start of the 30-day Hollywood Meet.
Jaramillo won the jockey's crown in his first season riding full-time at Santa Anita Park. A 48-year-old native of Venezuela, Jaramillo had previously been based at Gulfstream Park in Florida for many years before coming west this winter. Many of Jaramillo's wins came riding for O'Neill, who along with agent Tom Knust were instrumental in Jaramillo's move to Santa Anita.
"I love California," Jaramillo said during a winner's circle ceremony Sunday. "I want to thank my agent Tom and Doug O'Neill for the opportunity to come to California."
Jaramillo won 50 races from 229 mounts, a 22 percent strike rate. He also won six stakes at the stand including the GIII San Marcos with Mondego for trainer Michael McCarthy and the GIII Santa Ana aboard Take a Breath for trainer Mark Glatt.
Jaramillo's mounts earned a total of $2,476,200 in purse earnings.
"Emisael had a lot to think about because he was leading rider at Gulfstream Park," Knust said. "His son and him had always said they wanted to come to California. When Doug gave him a call, they decided to go ahead and come out. He worked really hard right from the beginning. With his work ethic and his talent, it just took off. I didn't have to do much. "
Jaramillo, who is the all-time winningest rider in his native Venezuela, has won 1,932 races in North America.
O'Neill dominated the trainer's standings with 36 wins with 157 starters (23 percent), which was eight wins clear of runner-up Mark Glatt. O'Neill last won a Santa Anita trainer's title at the 2023-24 Classic Meet.
"First and foremost you have to thank all the owners, all the help and my assistant Leandro Mora. He is the main key," O'Neill said. "I'm very blessed to be surrounded by horsemen and women that love what they do. It is just amazing."
O'Neill's notable wins included the Grade III Megahertz with Princesa Moche and the Sweet Life Stakes with Light Won Up. His stable earned $1,768,080 in purse money.
Kretz Racing, led by Rustin Kretz, had a prolific meet with seven wins from just 20 starters. Kretz Racing's leading horse was Captain Choochies, who was a perfect 4-for-4 at the stand including a pair of allowance/optional claiming victories.
Kretz Racing has been a longtime client of trainer George Papaprodromou. The duo's top horses, in addition to Captain Choochies, have included multiple graded stakes winner Cabo Spirit, who won the GIII San Gabriel Stakes on opening day, and retired Grade I winner American Theorem.
"If it wasn't for Kretz Racing, I wouldn't be here right now," Papaprodromou said. "[Rustin Kretz] is a great guy and I couldn't be happier. I've been training for them close to 15 years now and so far so good."
Other highlights of the 2025-26 Classic Meet include:
So Happy and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith winning the Grade I Santa Anita Derby for trainer Mark Glatt and owners Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. It was Glatt's first time winning the Santa Anita Derby and the fifth time Smith won Santa Anita's marquee race for 3-year-olds. They will now move on to the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meaning scoring in the Grade II Santa Anita Oaks under Juan Hernandez for trainer Michael McCarthy and owners Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. It was the first time winning the Oaks for McCarthy, who also saddled runner-up Brooklyn Blonde.
Jockey Tyler Baze winning his 3,000th race. The 43-year-old reinsman from Seattle, Wa. reached the milestone on closing day when guiding Gypsy Tears ($36.20) to an upset victory for trainer Val Brinkerhoff.
Trainer Richard Baltas winning his second Grade I Santa Anita Handicap with British Isles, who was ridden by Diego Herrera. Baltas, who also won the Big Cap in 2021 with Idol, co-owns British Isles along with Slam Dunk Racing and Cynthia McClanahan.
Trainer Bob Baffert winning two Grade I's on opening day with Goal Oriented in the Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds and Usha in the La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Entries for opening day of the Hollywood Meet will be taken on Sunday, April 17. The meet runs through June 14.
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