Joel Rosario Wins Four Races at Del Mar
Rosario took over the fall meeting jockey lead after a four-win Friday card at the San Diego track.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Equestrian
Joel Rosario won four of the eight races at Del Mar on Friday, including the feature aboard Sogno Di Vino, and took over the fall meeting jockey lead. Sogno Di Vino finished a head in front of Chacon in the 1-mile allowance for older California-bred horses, his third straight start and fourth overall.
Why it matters
Rosario's four wins moved him to the top of the fall meeting jockey standings, a notable swing in a race for the meet's leading rider. The results also show the rider's continued success on the San Diego track after claiming his fourth Del Mar riding title during the summer meeting.
Rosario's winners paid $3.00 to $7.20 in the races he won Friday, with Sogno Di Vino returning $7.20 in the feature. Nearly an inch of overnight rain was the reason racing was taken off the turf course that day, so the results came on the main track.
The players
Joel Rosario
Joel Rosario is a 41-year-old jockey who claimed his fourth Del Mar riding title during the summer meeting.
John Sadler
John Sadler is a veteran Southern California horse trainer who saddled two winners on Friday's Del Mar card.
The details
Rosario won the feature aboard Sogno Di Vino, a 4-year-old gelding, in a six-horse field for the 1-mile allowance. Trainer John Sadler saddled two winners on the card, Ala Sawab and Gallant Jack, with Gallant Jack ($9.40) winning the third race under Hernandez.
Timeline
Friday: Rosario won four races and took the fall meeting jockey lead.
Saturday: The Desi Arnaz stakes for fillies, seven furlongs and $100,000, is scheduled with first post at 12:30 p.m.
Sunday: The Bob Hope stakes for 2-year-olds, seven furlongs and $100,000, is scheduled.
Season Trajectory
Rosario's move to the top of the fall jockey standings follows his summer championship at Del Mar and sets up a closer race for the meet's leading rider over the remaining cards. Sogno Di Vino's third straight start also tightens the division picture for older California-bred allowance horses on the grounds.
Fans planning to attend Del Mar this weekend can expect a $100,000 stakes race on Saturday and a second $100,000 stakes race on Sunday, both at seven furlongs. Holmby will race only one turn Saturday, and Sea's No Joke is the 7-5 choice in the Desi Arnaz field.
The takeaway
Rosario's four wins and the fall meeting lead show how quickly the standings can shift in a single card at Del Mar. Readers following the Saturday and Sunday stakes should watch the early odds, since favorites and first-time distances can change the picture quickly.
What happens next
Saturday's Desi Arnaz stakes for fillies, a $100,000 race over seven furlongs with first post at 12:30 p.m., will feature Holmby as the 4-5 favorite. Sunday's Bob Hope stakes for 2-year-olds follows at the same seven-furlong distance and $100,000 purse.
Further reading
For more on the San Diego track's racing calendar, see our Equestrian coverage.
