Mark Glatt © Benoit Photo

The trainers title at Del Mar is in the bag for Mark Glatt but the jockeys race this fall is still up for grabs.

The defending champion, Juan Hernandez, has the inside track with 16 wins going into the final day of racing. Two better than both Antonio Fresu and Umberto Rispoli. Due to a five day suspension, Fresu only has one mount Sunday on Game Warrior in the G3 Cecil B. DeMille, a designated race that is exempt from the suspension. Being two back in the standings, Fresu is out of contention for the jockeys title. 

But Rispoli has five mounts and a fighting chance. Hernandez has mounts in every one of the nine races Sunday except one, making for an exciting finish to a race he has won twice in the past. Hernandez has a total of five Del Mar jockey titles in all. This one didn’t come easy. He just inherited the lead last Sunday. 

The trainers title on the other hand is over. Mark Glatt came out and won 14 races this fall and holds a commanding six win lead going into the last day. His closest rival, defending champion Philip D’Amato, has eight wins but only three entries today. Glatt meanwhile will be a spectator with zero horses running Sunday. 

“It’s very special,” Glatt says of winning his first training title at Del Mar. “Anytime you win a training title, especially in Southern California. It’s a short meet but it’s an accomplishment. We just strive to do better and hope we’ll be on top in the next meet.”

Glatt has 14 winners in only 32 starts with seven seconds and five thirds.

“I haven’t had a terrible amount of runners,” Glatt notes, “but I had horses that fit the right conditions. I thought with a little luck we could have a good meet. But I never would have dreamt anything like what we’ve had. It goes that way sometimes. 30 days from now I could be oh-for-40 and be wondering if I still know how to train a horse. You never know in this game.”