SANTA ANITA’S HOLLYWOOD MEET DRAWS TO A CLOSE, ALL SIGHTS SET ON THE INAUGURAL CALIFORNIA CROWN SEPT. 28 AT THE GREAT RACE PLACE

ARCADIA, CA (June 17, 2024)—Santa Anita’s 29-day Hollywood Meeting ended on a high note Sunday, as a robust on-track crowd of 16,331 Father’s Day attendees enjoyed a spectacular day of world-class Thoroughbred racing and other entertainment at The Great Race Place.

Closing day produced not only a new course record in the GIII San Juan Capistrano Stakes, Santa Anita’s traditional closing-day feature, but also a life-changing payout in the $1 Pick Six. There were two winning tickets in Sunday’s Pick Six, each returning a whopping $139,725.30.

In the about 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano, which starts on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course, Planetario made it back-to-back wins in the test of speed and stamina. Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, Planetario lowered his own course record when roaring to the wire in 2:46.95.

The Hollywood Meet, which began on April 19, followed Santa Anita’s 46-day Classic Meet, which kicked off Dec. 26 and concluded on April 7. Most notably, this winter-spring season ended as the safest in track history. Santa Anita’s 99.7 percent safety record ranks as the highest in the world for tracks with a comparable volume of racing and training.

“Another successful Santa Anita season continues to be the result of a team effort from all our stakeholders,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager. “We sincerely thank our horseplayers, owners, trainers, jockeys, backstretch workers and the thousands of people who are involved in putting on live racing for their tireless efforts these last six months. Our safety protocols remain the industry standard, and we are proud to continue to lead the way.”

Attention will now turn to the Santa Anita Autumn Meet, which opens Sept. 27, and the first-ever California Crown, which is a $1 million race contested at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. California Crown Day at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 will bring together the adrenaline of top-level racing with the excitement of live performances, interactive experiences and cutting-edge technology.

“We are already excited to welcome everyone back home to The Great Race Place for the Autumn Meet and the first California Crown, a new and unique event combining world-class racing and world-class entertainment,” Newby said.

Santa Anita’s 75 days of racing this winter and spring produced an array of outstanding performances, both equine and human.

On Memorial Day May 27, Santa Anita hosted a blockbuster card featuring a pair of Grade I events and the historic Hollywood Gold Cup. In the Hollywood Gold Cup, Mr Fisk provided Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert with his record-extending 10th victory in a race that was first run in 1938. It was also the 350th stakes win at Santa Anita for Baffert, which is the most all-time by a trainer.

Also on Memorial Day, turf star Johannes took down the GI Shoemaker Mile for trainer Tim Yakteen and owner Cuyathy LLC, while 4-year-old filly Anisette won her third career Grade I in the Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. Anisette is trained by Leonard Powell and owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Two days earlier on Gold Rush Day May 29, horses bred or sired in California took center stage including millionaire gelding The Chosen Vron. Trained and co-owned by Eric Kruljac, The Chosen Vron on Gold Rush Day collected his fourth stakes win of the Santa Anita season in the Thor’s Echo Stakes at six furlongs on dirt. The Chosen Vron previously this season won the California Cup Sprint Stakes Jan. 13, GIII San Carlos Stakes March 16 and Kona Gold Stakes April 27.

The 6-year-old gelding by Vronsky has now won 18 of 23 races in his career and earned $1,419,678 for Kruljac and co-owners Sondereker Racing LLC, Robert S. Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh. The Chosen Vron’s win in the Thor’s Echo was his 12th stakes victory at Santa Anita, which tied the legendary John Henry for second-most stakes victories at Santa Anita. Hall of Fame mare Beholder holds the Santa Anita record with 13 stakes wins.

Santa Anita is annually home to the world’s most elite jockey and this year was no different. Santa Anita’s top jockey for the season was once again Juan Hernandez. A 32-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico, Hernandez finished as leading rider at both the Classic Meet and Hollywood Meet.

Hernandez won 53 races during the Classic Meet and 36 races at the Hollywood Meet. The chase for leading jockey at the Hollywood Meet was particularly intriguing as it came down to the final race Sunday.

Antonio Fresu, a 32-year-old native of Italy, had a chance to finish in a tie with Hernandez to earn his first-ever riding title in the U.S. He was mired in last aboard Anmer Hall before unleashing a furious stretch drive that came up agonizingly short. Fresu and Anmer Hall we’re beaten by a head on the wire.

In the trainer’s division, Phil D’Amato won his sixth Santa Anita title at the Hollywood Meet. The 48-year-old native of nearby San Pedro, Calif. finished with 22 wins from 120 starters and nearly $1.4 million in purse earnings.

The race for leading owner at the Hollywood Meet was also tight. Reddam Racing narrowly prevailed with seven wins from 46 starters. Red Baron’s or Rancho Temescal won six races from 21 starters to just miss finishing as the leading owner.

With no live racing until the Autumn Meet, Santa Anita will be open as a simulcast facility during the offseason every Thursday through Sunday. Admission gate open at 10 a.m PT.

For additional information regarding the Autumn Meet or California Crown, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.