Ron Glatt Gets First Win in More Than Quarter Century

More than a quarter of a century after retiring from training, Ron Glatt reached the winner's circle May 30 at Santa Anita Park as both trainer and owner of Smile Baby Smile, who upset the third race as the longest shot on the board.

Smile Baby Smile prevailed in a state-bred allowance/optional claimer going 6 furlongs on the main track under a rail-skimming ride by Abel Lezcano. She paid $61.20. Glatt claimed the 5-year-old mare by Smiling Tiger for $8,000 last June. On Saturday, she was entered for the $20,000 optional claiming tag.

"She's a big, good-looking mare," Glatt explained for the claim. "I liked some of the races she was in and she was in cheap that day. I thought I'd take a chance."

Glatt, 80, is the father of Mark Glatt, one of the top trainers at Santa Anita. He won 676 races during a training career that began in 1976. Glatt most notably was a leading force at Emerald Downs in Washington upon its opening in 1996. According to Equibase, Glatt's last starter as trainer prior to Saturday came on Sept. 10, 2000, at Emerald Downs.

"I've been involved," Glatt said. "I've had some horses with my son, and I do some training on the farm helping horses get their foundation."

In 2024, Glatt won two races as owner, both with Sol Del Sur. The gelding by Medaglia d'Oro won at Santa Anita when trained by Mark Glatt and at Turf Paradise when Vann Belvoir was the listed trainer.

After Glatt claimed Smile Baby Smile last summer, she didn't return to the races until earlier this month. On May 3, Smile Baby Smile ran in a similar state-bred allowance/optional claimer and finished last of five.

"She needed some time off, but I wanted to give her another chance because you just never know," Glatt said. "Today I ran her for 20 because I wanted to save that condition just in case she got good this year. I don't know how she'll do down at Del Mar, it's tough there, but we got the money today."

As the winning owner, Glatt earned $40,200 of the $67,000 purse.