SANTA ANITA LEADERS

Through Sunday

Jockeys / Wins

Juan Hernandez / 36

Flavien Prat / 35

Umberto Rispoli / 22

Hector Berrios / 18

Tiago Pereira / 16

Antonio Fresu / 15

Trainers / Wins

Mark Glatt / 21

Bob Baffert / 19

Jeff Mullins / 15

Doug O’Neill / 14

Michael McCarthy / 12

Bob Hess Jr. / 11

UPCOMING STAKES

SANTA ANITA

Saturday

$300,000, Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/4 miles

$300,000, Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile, 4-year-olds and up, 1 mile on turf

$300,000, Grade II San Felipe Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles

$200,000, Grade II Buena Vista Stakes, fillies and mares, 4 and up, 1 mile on turf

Sunday

$100,000, Grade III Santa Ysabel Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles

DOWN THE STRETCH

Saturday’s Frank E. Kilroe Mile, the first Grade I turf race of 2025 in California, matches the early speed of El Potente (Hector Berrios riding), 2-1 on the morning line, and the late kick of Mi Hermano Ramon (Flavien Prat), the 8-5 favorite. The eight-horse lineup includes Formidable Man (Umberto Rispoli), a Grade I winner last fall; Almendares (Antonio Fresu), trained by three-time Kilroe winner Phil D’Amato, and Neat (Jose Ortiz), a Saratoga stakes winner making his California debut.

California-based trainers Doug O’Neill, John Sadler and John Shirreffs are on the ballot again for the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, as are California stars Blind Luck, Game On Dude, Kona Gold and Rags to Riches. First-time nominees for enshrinement in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., are trainer Kenny McPeek, 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones and champion female sprinter Groupie Doll. Voting results will be announced April 24 and ceremonies are Aug. 1.

Del Mar released the schedule for its July 18-Sept. 7 season. Opening day moves back to Friday from Saturday. The $1 million Pacific Classic, on Aug. 30, and $300,000 Del Mar Futurity, on closing day, head the same list of six Grade I stakes as last summer. Following Santa Anita’s purse increases, Del Mar announced an overall 8% hike in purses compared to 2024.

The Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday has Holy Bull Stakes winner Burnham Square (Edgard Zayas), Street Sense Stakes winner Sovereigny (Junior Alvarado) and River Thames (John Velazquez) in a field of eight Kentucky Derby prospects.

Straight No Chaser is staying in the Middle East to target the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen on April 5 after the 2024 North American champion sprinter’s convincing victory with Velazquez in the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Saturday. The win was the 6-year-old’s third in a row for Santa Anita-based trainer Dan Blacker

— Kevin Modesti