Santa Anita to Conclude Autumn Racing Season Sunday
The Grade II Twilight Derby headlines the final day of the racing calendar in Arcadia.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Equestrian
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The Santa Anita autumn racing season concludes this Sunday with the running of the Grade II Twilight Derby. Six horses are set to compete in the final race of the meet.
Why it matters
The race serves as the finale for a season that saw competitive standings among the track's top participants. Trainers and jockeys are looking to solidify their positioning as the meet comes to a close.
Jockey Juan Hernandez currently holds 19 wins in the standings, while trainer Doug O'Neill leads his category with 13 wins. The season finale features a field of six horses for the Grade II Twilight Derby.
The players
Juan Hernandez
He is the current leader in the jockey standings at Santa Anita with 19 wins.
Doug O'Neill
He is a prominent horse trainer who leads the standings at Santa Anita with 13 wins.
Proletariat
He is a 3-year-old gelding by Raging Bull expected to be the favorite in the Twilight Derby.
Lightning Vaquera
This horse recently won the Grade I Golden State Million Futurity by a neck.
The details
The 3-year-old gelding Proletariat, sired by Raging Bull, is expected to be favored to win his fourth consecutive race. Santa Anita and Los Alamitos will both open gates early this weekend to broadcast the Breeders' Cup from Keeneland.
Timeline
October 25: Lightning Vaquera won the Golden State Million Futurity.
October 28: Kentucky Derby future betting opened at Churchill Downs.
October 30: Kentucky Derby future betting period.
October 31: Santa Anita first post time 1 p.m.
November 1: Santa Anita hosts the Grade III Goldikova Stakes.
Season Trajectory
The scheduling at Santa Anita is adjusted to accommodate the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. These final races impact the closing seasonal standings for top jockeys and trainers in the region.
The season finale determines the final win tallies for jockeys and trainers at the track. Future wagering on the Kentucky Derby remains open at Churchill Downs through Friday at 1 p.m. PDT.
The takeaway
Fans of the sport can look for potential betting value as the season concludes. Watching top-performing horses like Proletariat offers insight into potential contenders for future major races.
Further reading
Find more updates on the track in the Arcadia Equestrian section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pasadena Star News.
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