The Classic Meet at Santa Anita concluded on Sunday after 46 days of thrilling races. Juan Hernandez emerged as the leading jockey, while Doug O'Neill claimed the trainer's title and HronisRacing stood out as the top owner.
This marked Hernandez's fifth championship win at Santa Anita, solidifying his status as a skilled rider. Hailing from Veracruz, Mexico, the 32-year-old has consistently proven his talent and expertise in the field. He ended the season with 53 victories out of 245 rides, boasting a remarkable 22 percent win rate.
This impressive performance surpassed the 46 wins achieved by the second-place jockey, Antonio Fresu. Hernandez, an increasingly relied-upon jockey for the esteemed trainer Bob Baffert, achieved victory in an impressive seven stakes races during the event. Notable wins include the G2 San Vicente with Muth, as well as the G3 Las Virgenes and G3 Santa Ysabel with Kinza, all under the guidance of Baffert.
Hernandez was the top earner among all jockeys, bringing in an impressive $3,683,348. Hernandez has consistently been the top rider at various meets, including the Autumn Meet in 2023, the Hollywood Meet in 2023, the Classic Meet in 2022-23, and the Winter Spring Meet in 2021-22.
O'Neill claimed the trainer's title by securing an impressive 30 victories out of 163 starts, resulting in a commendable 18 percent win rate. He ended up with one victory more than Mark Glatt, who achieved his inaugural Santa Anita trainer's championship during last year's Autumn Meet.