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View Winners → NATION’S TOP JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS SET FOR SANTA ANITA AUTUMN MEET OPENER ON SEPT. 26
Pasadena Independent Sep 24, 2014
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photo by Terry Miller
America’s top jockeys and trainers are set to compete beginning Friday, Sept. 26, as Santa Anita’s 23-day Autumn Meet, which will be highlighted by the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Oct. 31 & Nov. 1, will get underway.
“We’ve got an incredible overall jockey colony and our horse inventory looks good as well,” said Rick Hammerle, Santa Anita Vice President of Racing. “Our trainer roster is second to none and we’re optimistic we’re going to be able to provide our fans top-class racing and good betting opportunities.”
Rafael Bejarano, who will be seeking his 20th leading rider title in Southern California, heads one of the nation’s deepest jockey colonies that also includes the likes of Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who is the all-time winningest jockey in Breeders’ Cup history and who has to be considered one of the greatest big-money jocks in the history of the sport.
Top trainers such as Bob Baffert, Jerry Hollendorfer, Peter Miller, John Sadler and Doug O’Neill figure to once again vie for leading trainer honors. Hollendorfer, who dead-heated atop the Santa Anita Spring standings with Sadler has a deep and varied stable that is currently headed by the undefeated Shared Belief, who is slated to run next in the Grade I Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27—his final prep for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1.
Hall of Famers Baffert and Hollendorfer are joined on the trainer roster by fellow inductees Neil Drysdale, Richard Mandella and Ron McAnally.
Exciting newcomers Mark Casse, Keith Desormeaux and Mike Stidham will hope to make their presence felt along with host of solid barns including Barry Abrams, Richard Baltas, Phil D’Amato, Robertino Diodoro, Ron Ellis, Carla Gaines, Mark Glatt, Bob Hess, Marty Jones, Mike Machowsky, Tom Proctor, Mike Puype, Art Sherman, Bill Spawr and many others.
First post time on opening day is at 1 p.m. The Grade III Eddie D. Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up at 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course, will highlight a nine-race program.
For more information on the 2014 Santa Anita Autumn Meet and a full roster of jockeys and trainers, please visit santaanita.com.
