Jacobson to have California string

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer David Jacobson said Monday that he plans to send 20 horses to Santa Anita for the winter-spring meet, which begins Dec. 26, and hopes to have a year-round presence in Southern California.

Jacobson said his contingent will mostly be made up of turf horses, though he will have some dirt runners as well. Jacobson, a major player in the claiming game, had a Southern California string during the 2015-16 season and won four races from 55 starters.

Jacobson said that among the reasons he wants to have a California presence is that he recently became a grandfather, and his son Howard, whose wife just gave birth to twins, lives in California and will work in the stable. Further, Jacobson said he was able to get Humberto Ascanio to be his main assistant. Ascanio is best known as being the top assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel before his death in 2009.

“He’s going to be working with me and Howard out there, and I’m very excited about it,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson said he will still have 40 horses based in New York for the winter.