Santa Anita: Hernandez, Prat are favored to lead jockey colony

With Santa Anita’s traditional winter meet set to open on Tuesday, Dec. 26, linemaker Jon White has established an imaginary morning line for top jockey and trainer at the upcoming 49-day stand, which runs through April 7.

Defending champion Juan Hernandez and three-time leader Flavien Prat are back to ride full-time this winter. They’ll be joined by 2021 Eclipse champion Joel Rosario, European legend Frankie Dettori, Japan-born stalwart Kazushi Kimura and others world-class riders.

In the trainer’s division, Phil D’Amato, who has become a dominant force on turf, will be bidding for his fourth winter meet crown and his second in a row. Santa Anita’s all-time winter meet leader in both stakes and races won is Bob Baffert, who is back with another awe-inspiring group of soon-to-be 3-year-olds as he seeks his record 13th training title. He’ll be joined by Doug O’Neill, who is in search of his fifth winter meet crown, Mark Glatt, Richard Mandella, John Sadler, Peter Miller and a host of other conditioners.

The winter meet will be followed by Santa Anita’s 29-day spring meet, which gets underway April 19 and runs through June 16.

Here is White's morning line.

Jockeys

Juan Hernandez, 8-5

Flavien Prat, 9-5

Joel Rosario, 5-1

Frankie Dettori, 8-1

Antonio Fresu, 8-1

Kazushi Kimura, 8-1

Umberto Rispoli, 8-1

Any other jockey, 15-1

Trainers

Phil D’Amato, 8-5

Bob Baffert, 5-2

Doug O’Neill, 5-2

Mark Glatt, 12-1

Richard Mandella, 12-1 Peter Miller, 12-1

John Sadler, 12-1

Any other trainer, 15-1