Rosario shifting base to Southern California

Jockey Joel Rosario, the leading rider at Santa Anita at the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 winter-spring meetings, is returning to California and will begin riding at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Rosario, who is represented by agent Bill Castle, said in a text message he plans to arrive in California on Thursday.

Rosario, 41, won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding rider in 2021. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024.

Through Sunday, Rosario ranked 22nd in the nation in earnings, with more than $2.99 million. Rosario had 20 wins from 168 mounts.

In the last month, Rosario has been based at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

At Keeneland, Rosario ranked eighth in the standings with five wins. At Churchill Downs, Rosario had two wins from 15 mounts through Saturday, including a maiden race on the Kentucky Derby program.

Rosario most recently rode at Santa Anita in late December, winning the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters on the now-retired Goal Oriented.

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