DEL MAR, Calif. – Boosted by an outstanding opening weekend in late October and early November, trainer Mark Glatt is on the verge of his first training title in slightly more than a year at Del Mar this fall. Through Sunday, the 13th day of the 16-day season that ends Sunday, Glatt leads all trainers with 12 wins from 30 starters, an impressive 40 percent win rate. Phil D’Amato is second with seven wins from 51 runners. “Anytime you’re the No. 1 that’s a good thing,” Glatt said between races Sunday. “It’s a credit to my owners and a credit to my team. “This game is a roller-coaster. You’ve got to enjoy the highs when you’re high. It’s a humbling sport.” Even though the Del Mar season is nearing its conclusion, Glatt does not consider the title his. “It’s certainly not over yet as many as D’Amato runs,” he said. Glatt was leading trainer at the 2023 Santa Anita autumn meeting and has been close to winning a title in the last year. At the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting earlier this year, Glatt won 29 races, second to Doug O’Neill, who had 31. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports “I think it’s coincidence,” he said of his current position. “I’ve been right there. I’ve been top five at most of the meets. You get a few lucky trips and things go your way. That’s what gets you the title.” Glatt had two-win days on Oct. 31 and again on Friday and Saturday last week. He has runners in two turf races at a mile on Friday – Miss Will in a $25,000 claimer, and Sareeha and Star of the Night in an allowance race. What is missing from the portfolio of victories is a stakes win. Glatt has yet to have a stakes runner at Del Mar this fall, but intends to run Mi Hermano Ramon in Saturday’s Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap and possibly Chatalas in a Grade 1 race on turf worth $300,000 this weekend – either Saturday’s Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles or Sunday’s Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile. Mi Hermano Ramon was second in the restricted Lure Stakes at a mile on turf Oct. 19 at Santa Anita, losing by a neck to Seabiscuit nominee Sumter after racing in traffic in the stretch. “He was unlucky not to win,” Glatt said. “He got in just enough trouble that he could have gotten up and won. He deserves a shot.” Chatalas has been based with Glatt and Grant Forster in the Midwest this year, The winner of the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks on dirt at Horseshoe Indianapolis in July, Chatalas was third in the Seneca Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs in her most recent start Sept. 21. Chatalas was second by a neck in the Blue Norther Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita last December in her only start on turf. Glatt said a decision on whether Chatalas runs in the Hollywood Derby or Matriarch will be made later this week. He cautioned she could be held out of those races for a Grade 1 race for 3-year-old fillies worth $300,000 at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 – the La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt or the American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf. “We’ve got a couple of days to evaluate,” he said in regard to weekend plans at Del Mar. “There is the option to wait, and that is a consideration.” There are no immediate race plans for Dr. Venkman, winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in July who was held out of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar earlier this month. Dr. Venkman was pre-entered for both the BC Sprint and Dirt Mile, but Glatt said in late October he was not satisfied with the way the 4-year-old was training. Without stating race goals, Glatt said Sunday that Dr. Venkman will resume racing in early 2025. “We’re giving him a working vacation,” he said. “I don’t think it will be long, shortly into next year, when we’ll see him again.” Romanesque is Baffert’s latest Romanesque is the latest example of trainer Bob Baffert’s remarkable depth in the 2-year-old division. :: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!  On Saturday at Del Mar, Romanesque won his debut in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs, racing near the front throughout before finishing 2 1/4 lengths clear of stablemate Rodriguez, another first-time runner. In a text message Sunday, Baffert wrote that he “was very encouraged by both runners,” describing them as “nice horses.” Romanesque was timed in 1:15.91 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84. A colt by Practical Joke, Romanesque races for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable, Stonestreet Stable, and Dianne Bashor. Romanesque was purchased for $435,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September yearling sale. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.