The year 2025 will be unforgettable for trainer Michael McCarthy, both personally and professionally. The year began with tragedy when the Eaton Fire nearly destroyed his family’s home in Altadena, forcing them to evacuate for over ten months due to extensive smoke and fire damage. They were finally able to return only recently. Despite this hardship, McCarthy triumphed professionally, leading his stable to a record-breaking earnings total of $10,391,891 this season, largely thanks to the outstanding performances of Journalism, the winner of the G1 Santa Anita Derby and Preakness Stakes. This surpasses his previous best of $6,985,218 set in 2021 when Rombauer earned McCarthy his first Preakness victory.
As the Santa Anita Classic Meet kicks off this Sunday, McCarthy aims to continue his streak. He will ride stakes winner Simply Joking in the G1 La Brea, where the race distance is shortened to seven furlongs. Simply Joking recently placed second in the one-mile G3 Bayakoa at Del Mar, competing against older horses and will start from the No. 1 post position. McCarthy expressed confidence in the horse’s ability at the shorter distance and is eager to work with a 3-year-old again.
In the G2 Matisse Smile turf race for 3-year-olds, McCarthy will ride Mars, a Galliway gelding with five wins and one loss. Mars struggled in the G1 Hollywood Derby due to a slipped saddle but previously finished second in the G2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita, outperforming several competitors including the favorite Namarone. Jose Ortiz, an Eclipse Award-winning jockey, will replace Ricky Gonzalez as Mars’s rider.
The Matisse Mile, scheduled as the fifth race at around 1:00 PM PT, will feature a competitive field including horses such as Antonio Fres, Tempus Volato, Namarrone, Geometry, Friendly Confines, Lyle the Crocodile, and Mars.
In the 1 1/8-mile G3 San Gabriel turf race, McCarthy enters Endres and Mondego. Endres, sired by Oscar Performance, has not won in five races since the Kentucky Derby but will run without blinkers this time. McCarthy remains hopeful about Endres’s potential despite past results. Mondego, who finished seventh in the G2 Hollywood Turf Cup, is also in the race with hopes to rebound.
The San Gabriel, listed as race nine at about 3:00 PM, features a diverse lineup including Twirling Point, Mondego, Endless, Stay Hot, St. Anthony, Nesso Rastaler, Suchet, Astronomer, Cabo Spirit, Most Flashy Player, and Nine Eleven Turbo.
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on December 23, 2025.
Fan Take: Michael McCarthy’s resilience in overcoming personal loss while setting new professional milestones highlights the heart and spirit of horse racing. This story underscores why fans should stay excited about the sport—there’s always an inspiring comeback or breakthrough moment just around the corner.
