Antonio Fresu clinches Santa Anita jockeys title

Antonio Fresu clinches Santa Anita jockeys title

Antonio Fresu finished as the leading jockey at Santa Anita’s Hollywood Meet for the second year in a row after Armando Ayuso failed to make up a two-win deficit on Monday. Fresu had 33 wins, Ayuso 31 at the meet that began in April; neither recorded a victory on closing day. Juan Hernandez finished third with 27. Emisael Jaramillo led the Classic Meet portion of the Santa Anita season that opened in December. Phil D’Amato led the trainers stand…

Santa Anita closes with record handle for 6th straight year

Santa Anita brought down the curtain on its annual six-month season Monday with all-sources handle of $708,112,231, an average of $9,196,263 a day that marked the sixth straight year daily handle topped $9 million for the winter-spring season. The total capped an unusual run that opened 48 hours behind schedule and produced the first Monday finale in the venue's 91-year history, with quality racing drawing crowds of more than a half-million that…