By Bloodhorse.com ELMONT, N.Y. (June 9, 2018) — Justify, who burst onto the scene less than four months prior with a maiden victory at Santa Anita Park, set the pace, took challenges from multiple runners, and put them all away to win Saturday’s Grade I Belmont Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths over longshot Gronkowski in a final time of 2:28.18 for 1 1/2 miles under jockey Mike Smith. Justify joins Seattle Slew as the only two undefeated Triple Crown winners and is the 13th winner of the three-race championship series for 3-year-olds. Vino Rosso was the first to take a run at the Bob Baffert-trained chestnut—who set fractions of :23.37, :48.11, 1:13.21, and 1:38.09 through a mile—and made his challenge in the final turn. Jockey John Velazquez asked his Curlin  colt to go on the attack, but he could only get to the pacesetter’s hip. After Justify dispensed of that attempt, Gronkowski was the only threat. Far back in last through the first turn in his dirt debut, Gronkowski rallied... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 3, 2018)–Despite never having run beyond six furlongs, lightly raced Loving Lynda settled nicely off the early pace and mustered a stretch drive to out-finish favored Spiced Perfection by a half length in Sunday’s $200,000 Melair Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies bred or sired in California. Ridden by Geovanni Franco, trained by Phil D’Amato and owned and bred by Darren and Jim Robbins, Loving Lynda got a mile and a sixteenth over the Santa Anita main track in 1:44.94. “Phil just said he didn’t want to see me on the lead,” said Franco, who notched his second win on the day and who had guided the daughter of Empire Way to her 5 ½ furlong maiden win here on April 28. “He said to find a comfortable spot to let her run and she sure did. I was expecting a lot from her because she’s shown me in the first few races that she’s definitely a runner. “It was just... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 2, 2018)–Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Take the One O One captured Saturday’s $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Santa Anita, in a race marred by the spill of stablemate Waya Ed in midstretch. Take the One O One, by Acclamation, was ridden by Joe Talamo and trained by Brian Koriner, who reported that Waya Ed suffered a fractured right hind tibia and was euthanized. His jockey, Tiago Pereira, was launched about eight feet in the air, but was ambulatory and conscious before being transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. “The highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows in a fifth of a second,” said owner Samantha Siegel, whose horses race as Jay Em Ess Stable. “I don’t even know what happened…Never had anything like this happen in all the years we’ve been in racing, except we had a filly win the Landaluce one year at Hollywood Park and she collapsed from heat exhaustion.”... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 21, 2018) –While Barretts Sales will continue to run under the auspices of the Los Angeles County Fair Association at least through the end of 2018, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association is discussing other options to ensure California has a full, year-round sales schedule in 2019 and beyond. “Breeding trends have been moving in a positive direction, and the quality of horses in the state has improved tremendously,” said CTBA president Doug Burge. “The CTBA, for several years, has been working on a transition in regards to commercial sales. We’ve had numerous conversations with Barretts, other major sales companies, and several racetracks.” The LACFA, which operates at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., in recent years has been reducing its interest in the racing industry. It closed its racetrack and moved its traditional September racing dates to Los Alamitos in 2014. Barretts currently conducts its 2-year-old sale, paddock sale of horses of racing age, and select yearling auction at Del Mar and its January and October... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (May 20, 2018)–In a race in which the top five finishers were separated by roughly a half length, it was trainer Leonard Powell’s veteran warhorse, Soi Phet, who carried the day, as he took Sunday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes by a head.  Ridden by Alonso Quinonez, the 10-year-old gelding, who was making his 58th career start, got one mile over the Santa Anita turf in 1:35 flat. Claimed 42 starts back for $16,000 on May 23, 2013 at Hollywood Park, the California-bred gelding by Tizbud, out of the Siberian Summer mare Summer Jersey, notched his 14th career win (13 of them with his current connections) and his seventh career stakes victory in taking the Crystal Water. He was bred by ARCHA. A close third turning for home behind eventual third place finisher Well Developed and fifth place finisher Tule Fog, Soi Phet pinned his ears when challenged to his outside by second place finisher B Squared and won like a young lion. “I was... ...

By Doug Burge, CTBA President ARCADIA, Calif. (May 20, 2018) — There have been concerns regarding Barretts and the future of sales in California. Be assured that the CTBA is working with Barretts, the LA County Fair, and several other interested parties to assure continuing sales in California. There will not be any changes during 2018. The Del Mar Paddock Sale, Yearling Sale, Nor Cal Yearling & Horses of Racing Age Sale and the October Mixed Sale will be held and conducted as scheduled. There will continue to be yearling, horses of racing age and mixed sales in California, as there is strong interest from existing and other sales companies. We know how critical sales are to all of us as breeders, and CTBA will ensure that our market will continue into future years. If you have questions please feel free to call our office at (800) 573-2822. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (May 19, 2018)–With a pace scenario that defied prognostication, trainer Mark Glatt’s Cordiality sat second early and took over a quarter mile from home en route to an authoritative 1 ¾ length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Gary Stevens, who picked up the mount late in the day due to a mishap involving Tyler Baze in the sixth race, the 5-year-old California-bred mare by Papa Clem got a flat mile on turf in 1:35.78 and thus provided Hall of Famer Stevens with his first win since returning to Santa Anita full-time on Thursday. Cordiality was bred by Dr. Edward Allred. “I was a little concerned that she might be rank today because of the trouble line in the Form from her last race (‘Pulled, steadied early’),” said Stevens.  “But Mark said he was confident she’d settle, that the only reason she was rank the last time was because it... ...

By Bloodhorse.com BALTIMORE, Md. (May 19, 2018) — Cutting through dense fog over a sloppy (sealed) track at Pimlico Race Course, 3-year-old Ax Man led at every point of call to snag the May 19 $100,000 LARC Sir Barton Stakes and take home his third win of the season.  In a portent of things to come, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and fellow Hall of Famer Mike Smith found themselves in the winner’s circle only an hour before the Preakness Stakes (G1) as Patti and Hal J. Earnhardt III’s homebred Ax Man, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Misremembered, proved uncatchable in the 1 1/16-mile test over the Baltimore oval.  With the field halved by early scratches due to inclement weather, Ax Man broke second from post 4 in a field of six 3-year-olds, charging to the front to set the pace. Title Ready managed to drive up to his flank but couldn’t muster the speed to edge ahead as Ax Man hit the six-furlong mark in 1:11.30. Turning for... ...

By DRF SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 18, 2018) — Legalizing sports betting in California faces a difficult deadline to make the November ballot and could be years from implementation, according to state racing executives and legislative staff. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal law that prevented individual states from authorizing sports betting. New Jersey, which led the fight to allow sports betting, is putting regulations in place and is expected to begin betting in the near future. Delaware officials said Thursday that they hope to begin sports betting in coming weeks. California is just beginning the process required for state and regulatory approval and may not vote on the measure until 2020, according to Adam Capper, legislative director for Assemblyman Adam Gray. In 2017, Gray introduced a constitutional amendment allowing sports betting in California. The measure, which has yet to go to assembly committee, requires two-thirds approval by the state Assembly and Senate, plus approval by Gov. Jerry Brown, before it can go on a ballot. The... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 17, 2018) — Freshman sire Boisterous had his first runner debuting with a win at Santa Anita in a California-bred maiden special race Thursday. Two-year-old filly Six Pack Gal went wire-to-wire scoring by 3 1/2 lengths as the second choice at 2-to-1. Produced from the Forest Camp broodmare Heart Six, Six Pack Gal earned $32,400 plus the Cal-bred bonus of $17,000 for her owner/breeder Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, LLC. Boisterous, owned by Gary Barber and Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, is a Grade One winning millionaire son of sire of sires Distorted Humor. He is standing for $5,000. ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 16, 2018) – Cuddle Alert, a $10,000 claimer in 2016 who went on to win the $100,000 Spring Fever Handicap for California-breds the following year, was retired last month with a minor injury, trainer Reed Saldana said. Cuddle Alert has been bought privately by Perry and Denise Martin, who raced California Chrome, the Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2016. Saldana said the Martins plan to breed Cuddle Alert to California Chrome in 2019. By the Forestry stallion Bedford Falls, the 7-year-old Cuddle Alert won 7 of 34 starts and earned $391,514. “Her ankle started to bug her a little bit,” Saldana said. “She had done too much to try to push her. It was bittersweet, but I had to. It was the right decision for her.” :: Get breeding & sales news, Beyer info, and more delivered right to your email! Saldana said he had “a few offers” for Cuddle Alert and struck a deal with the Martins. Cuddle Alert was claimed by... ...

Analysis from Daniel Singer and Ben Vonwiller, who lead the Global Sports & Gaming practice at McKinsey & Company in New York NEW YORK — Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the federal prohibition on sports betting, legal sports books will likely begin operations in New Jersey, Delaware, and West Virginia by the end of the year. With the potential for seven other states (including Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan) to legalize sports betting soon after, and up to 10 more within five years, the industry could exceed $120 billion in wagers by 2023. While all forms of gaming ultimately compete for shares of the wagering wallet, we believe the cannibalization threat from legal sports betting is limited: Racing has continued to prosper in countries with legal sports betting. Although important differences exist between the United States and other racing jurisdictions, it is encouraging that the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland all have higher levels of per-capita gross win (revenues) for horse racing than the U.S., despite the... ...

By Bloodhorse.com WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14, 2018) — In a decision that was largely anticipated by the horse racing industry—as well as other gaming experts—the U.S. Supreme Court on May 14 found federal law that had kept sports gambling in check—largely to Nevada—to be unconstitutional. The decision will open the door to allow states to determine if they want to allow sports gambling. The case was brought by New Jersey, which already has approved added sports gambling at tracks and casinos in the state. With the Supreme Court decision in place, Monmouth Park is expected to soon open an on-site sports book. “We started this fight back in 2012 and are grateful that the Supreme Court has recognized that we’ve been right all along,” said Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Monmouth operator Darby Development. “We can now shift our focus on commencing sports betting, which will be off and running at Monmouth Park as soon as possible.” As far as the Supreme Court’s decision (Murphy, Governor of New Jersey,... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. — Rye, a late-charging son of English Channel, is likely to run against California-breds again in next Sunday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes at a mile on turf after two straight races in graded events. The five-year-old chestnut won the Unusual Heat Turf Classic against Cal-breds on Jan. 27 before running fifth in the Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes and third in the Grade III San Juan Capistrano, each at considerably longer distances than the Crystal Water. “We’ll probably run mostly because it’s for Cal-breds,” trainer Bill Morey explained. “He’s won at a mile going back a few (on Aug. 11, 2016, at Del Mar), but of course he’ll need some help up front (pace-wise). You need some luck in all these races, right?” Probable for the Crystal Water: Accountability, Gary Stevens; Anatolian Heat, no rider; Ashleyluvssugar, Flavien Prat; Camino Del Pariso, no rider; Fly to Mars, no rider; Rye, Kent Desormeaux; and Ward ‘n Jerry, no rider. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (May 12, 2018) – Longshot Bella Luma, the lone California-bred in the field, circled five-wide into the stretch and gamely won Saturday’s $60,075 Golden Poppy Stakes for fillies and mares at Golden Gate. Bella Luma is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Bold Badgett mare Bold Roberta, was bred by Thomas Bachman, is owned by Bachman and Linda Brown and is trained by Ed Moger Jr. She has four wins, in 13 starts, earnings of $136,317 and ran her win streak to three. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (May 5, 2018) – Shanghai Kid was represented by his first winner on Friday when Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Cozze Kid won the fourth race at Golden Gate, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds fillies. Shanghai Kid is a California-bred out of the Cozzene mare Cozzekiki, was bred by Willow Tree Farm and G.W. Thomas, is owned by James Marsden, Myles McMahon, Roman Rudy and Jamey Thomas and is trained by Thomas. The $4,500 purchase at last year’s Northern California Yearling Sale ran the five furlongs in :51.96 and won by 8 ¾ lengths at odds of 2-1. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 29, 2018) – Pulpit Rider, a daughter of Lucky Pulpit, scored her second victory of the year in the $100,000 Campanile Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies under jockey Corey Nakatani. Bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams, with a late surge she won by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:38.63 on firm turf. The Mike Puype-trained filly previously won the Feb. 19 California Cup Oaks before she finished fourth in the April 7 Providencia Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park, her only outing in graded company. Pulpit Rider has a record of 4-0-1 in nine starts, with earnings of $260,536. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 29, 2018) — Silver Creek Stables’ Hardboot, a 10-1 longshot, scored an upset win April 29 in the $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes for Golden State Series eligible at Golden Gate Fields. In the one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds bred or sired in California, the son of Lucky Pulpit broke last in the field of 10, as Night At the Opera set fractions of :23.93, :47.87, and 1:11.87 through the first six furlongs.  Turning into the lane, jockey Juan Hernandez swung Hardboot to the outside and ran four wide in the stretch as they pushed forward for a last-ditch effort in the final furlong. As he blew past the waning Night At the Opera, Hardboot made short work of the remaining contenders, won by 1 3/4 lengths and completed the race in a time of 1:37.33. Unpossible finished second, with Psycho Dar a half-length behind in third. Luke’s On Fire finished fourth.  The winner paid $22.80, $10, and $7.60.  Bred by James Mann and trained by Michele Dollase, Hardboot is out of the Cryptoclearance mare Mme.... ...

OCALA, Fla. (Apr. 24, 2018) – A California-bred son of Strong Mandate sold for $250,000 at the OBS April Sale of Two-Year-Olds on Tuesday. The colt is from the first crop of Strong Mandate, out of the Henny Hughes mare Diva’s Tribute, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, and purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & ERJ Racing. He is a half-brother of Spectator, winner of the Grade II Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar and third in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante. The colt worked one-eighth of a mile in :10.1. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 21, 2018)–Veteran California-bred gelding What a View liked what he saw on the front-end in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 American Stakes at Santa Anita and he proceeded to lead six rivals on a merry chase all the way to the finish line, taking the one mile turf fixture by a neck under Stewart Elliott. Trained by Kenny Black, the 7-year-old son of Vronsky got the distance in 1:33.80. “He broke great and he made an easy lead,” said Elliott. “He was comfortable and he took care of business. I thought the six (Sawyer’s Hill) would show speed…I didn’t see him around, it worked out good.” Well beaten after setting a fast pace in the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) on March 10, What a View had been winless in three starts since taking the one mile turf Crystal Water Stakes here on May 20 of last year. Off at 6-1, he paid $14.20, $7.80 and $4.20. “From everything he’d been showing... ...

From Barton Thoroughbreds SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2018) —Cat Burglar has been retired sound from racing and will enter stud for the 2018 season at Barton Thoroughbreds for $2,500 live foal stands and nurses. The multiple graded stakes placed son of Unbridled’s Song has lifetime earnings of $538,720, including winning the Santana Mile Stakes at Santa Anita in 2016 for owner Michael Lund Petersen and trainer Bob Baffert. “He has perfect conformation and a great pedigree. Cat Burglar was able to sprint or run a mile and a half with the best company,” said Baffert. Cat Burglar is out of the unraced Be My Prospect (by Forest Wildcat), a half-sister to stakes-winning sprinter Away (the dam of Grade 2 winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles) and stakes-winning turf performer Rich Find. Barton Thoroughbreds is pleased to add a stallion to their roster with this caliber of pedigree and looks forward to supporting him with mares.  Cat Burglar is available for inspection at the farm in Santa Ynez, California. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 14, 2018)–Reddam Racing’s homebred B Squared parlayed his outside post position into a thrilling neck victory over favored Tough Sunday in Saturday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Handicap for Golden State Series eligible three year olds and up at Santa Anita. Ridden by Mario Gutierrez and trained by Doug O’Neill, the 4-year-old California-bred colt by Square Eddie got six furlongs in 1:10.09. Breaking on top in a field of five, B Squared settled nicely in third, just off Tough Sunday and longshot Make It a Triple as the field motored to the far turn. A half length off the lead while three-deep at the quarter pole, B Squared kept to his task and overtook an extra-game Tough Sunday right on the money. “It was a five-horse field,” said Gutierrez. “My horse has a lot of speed, but I didn’t want to go head and head with anybody, but at the same time, I didn’t want to leave him too much to do at the end.... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Apr. 13, 2018) — The Oaklawn Handicap, once the highlight of its own Oaklawn Park afternoon, has been upstaged on the same program by the Arkansas Derby since 2012. No matter. For those who prefer their racehorses of a more mature vintage, Saturday’s running of the Oaklawn Handicap promises to provide all the diversion required, even though Sunday’s headlines will be monopolized by the 3-year-old event. Youth must be served. With $750,000 on the line, the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap should be on the to-do list of every owner and trainer with a viable runner. This year’s field includes that entertaining pair of underachievers Lookin At Lee and Sonneteer, plus the 1-2-3 finishers from the local Essex Handicap, while the real shade will be thrown by California shippers Accelerate, trained by John Sadler, and City of Light, from the stable of Michael McCarthy. They were the stars of the March 10 party at Santa Anita, highlighted by their Grade 1 victories in the... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 7, 2018)–In his first without blinkers, Heck Yeah unfurled an impressive turn of foot when called upon as he rallied to take Saturday’s $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds by 2 ¼ lengths under Mike Smith. Trained by Bob Baffert, Heck Yeah, a 3-year-old California-bred colt by Acclamation, got six and one half furlongs in 1:17.13. Second, just off pacesetter Rewired around the far turn, Heck Yeah easily cruised to a one length advantage while well within himself a quarter mile from home and went on to win as much best. A winner of the Cal Cup Derby here at a mile and one sixteenth two starts back on Feb. 19, Heck Yeah was most recently fifth in the one mile turf Pasadena Stakes against open company on March 17. Off as the 8-5 second choice in a field of eight Golden State Series eligible sophomores, Heck Yeah paid $5.20, $3.40 and $2.40. Bred in California by Michael Pageler... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 7, 2018)–Unhurried from her rail post position, trainer Brian Koriner’s Spiced Perfection swung three-wide turning for home and overhauled heavily favored Show It N Moe It well inside the sixteenth pole to win Saturday’s $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies by a hard-fought neck. Ridden by Joe Talamo, she got seven furlongs in 1:17.08. A Cal-bred stakes winner four starts back this past August at Del Mar, Spiced Perfection, a 3-year-old filly bred by Premier Thoroughbreds by Smiling Tiger out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Perfect Feat, she was off at 10-1 in a field of eight Golden State Series eligible sophomore fillies and paid $23.60, $6.00 and $3.40. Owned by Dare to Dream Stable, LLC, Spiced Perfection improved her overall mark to 8-3-3-1 and with the winner’s share of $110,000, she increased her earnings to $227,625. Show It N Moe It, who was ridden by Mike Smith, had no apparent excuses from the far outside and was... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2018) — A California-bred son of Uncle Mo  sold for $600,000 to top the April 4 Barretts spring 2-year-old sale at Del Mar. The sale was a combination of horses traditionally offered at Barretts in March and May after the company merged the two sales. The resulting average, not unexpectedly, ended up between the 2017 figures. In 2018, the combined auction sold 72 horses for a gross of $6,171,000 and an average of $85,708. In 2017, the March sale averaged $150,600 on 45 sold for a gross of $6,777,000 and the May sale averaged $43,170 on 47 sold for a gross of $2,029,000. The 2018 median was $48,500, and the buy-back rate was 37.4%, with 43 of the 115 through the ring not sold. “Going into the sale, I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Kim Lloyd, Barretts’ general manager. “The highly desirable horses are easy to sell. There are people after them, and there’s a lot of competition for them. But the... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 30, 2018) — The stakes schedule for the Del Mar summer meeting, July 18 to Sept. 3, comprises 41 races with minimal changes from the 2017 season. The distances and conditions of four 2-year-old stakes are among the most prominent differences. The conditions of two $100,000 stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at six furlongs in late August – the I’m Smokin for both sexes and the Generous Portion for fillies – have been changed and are restricted to non-winners of a first-place purse of $50,000. The new condition will eliminate the winners of the first round of stakes for 2-year-old California-breds at the meeting – the Graduation for both sexes and the CTBA Stakes for fillies – run earlier that month. Track officials are hoping the winners of the Graduation and CTBA stakes will start in open-company stakes for 2-year-olds on turf or the main track at the end of the meeting. Two Grade 2 stakes for 2-year-olds – the Best Pal for both sexes... ...

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 29, 2018) – A California-bred full sister to Grade 1 winner Ralis sold for $650,000 at the Fasig Tipton Gulfstream Sale on Wednesday. The daughter of Square Eddie, out of the Ten Most Wanted mare Silar Rules, was bred by Reddam Racing, consigned by Wavertree Stables, agent, and purchased by Shadai Farm. Ralis won the Grade I Hopeful and another full brother, B Squared, is a multiple stakes winner. All are Cal-breds. ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 20, 2018) — Warren B. Williamson, the California-based owner and breeder who raced the top-class but ill-fated Cal-bred mare Nashoba’s Key, died several days ago of natural causes following a recent surgery to repair a fractured hip, according to his longtime trainer, Carla Gaines. Williamson was 89. Williamson, who had various jobs connected to finance and was a member of the wealthy and powerful Chandler family of Southern California, had described himself as a lifelong horse lover, going back to his time spent growing up on his family’s 4,200-acre ranch near Ramona. He owned Thoroughbreds for the past 25 years, and in later years bred many of the horses he raced from a small band of prized mares. He also served on the boards of the Oak Tree Racing Association, the non-profit group that once held a fall meet at Santa Anita Park, The California Thoroughbred Foundation, and of Hollywood Park, which closed in 2014. “He was a great racing fan, a great sportsman, and... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 19, 2018) – 2017 Bayakoa Stakes (Grade 2) winner Majestic Heat has been retired from racing after her fifth-place finish on Saturday in Santa Anita Park’s Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes as announced by owner-racing manager Madeline Auerbach. A California-bred daughter of sire Unusual Heat, Majestic Heat was trained for the bulk of her career by Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella and was known for her versatility and durability during her four seasons of racing. Majestic Heat is a four-time stakes winner on both turf and dirt while also winning stakes both sprinting and routing. Her top accomplishment on the track was her victory in the 2017 Bayakoa Stakes (Grade 2) at Los Alamitos, defeating 2016 Eclipse Award winner Champagne Room in the process. The dark bay mare also captured the 2016 Solana Beach Stakes (LR) at Del Mar and came back to defend her title and win the 2017 edition of the Solana Beach in similar fashion. She also captured the 2017 Betty Grable Stakes... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 17, 2018)–In a totally dominant performance, trainer Jeff Bonde’s Miss Sunset went to the lead and was in complete command throughout out as she took Saturday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares, originally scheduled to be run down the hillside turf course, by seven lengths under Mike Smith.  A 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Into Mischief, Miss Sunset got 6 ½ furlongs over a main track listed as “good” in 1:16.30. “Yes, it went exactly to plan,” said Smith, who also guided her to gate to wire victory going six furlongs in the Spring Fever Stakes here on Feb. 25.  “She’s so quick and I basically just stayed out of her way.  She runs the turn so well…She got a little separation there and was able to take a breather.  It makes my job easy.  The way she ran today, I think she might be able to stretch out.” The 4-5 favorite in a field of six California-bred... ...

From Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 17, 2018) — Reddam Racing’s homebred grade 1 winner Ralis, who was retired from racing in February of 2017 because of a tendon injury, has returned to training at Santa Anita Park. The 2015 Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner —who didn’t record a win in 12 ensuing starts (all in stakes) but placed in three other stakes, including the 2016 Del Mar Derby (G2T)—logged his second breeze of the year March 16 at Santa Anita. “California-bred, grade 1-winning Ralis is back in training,” trainer Doug O’Neill said of the 5-year-old son of Square Eddie  who is still intact and covered three furlongs in :37 flat Friday morning. “Over time, the tendon got better—looked fantastic four, five months ago, so he’s back in training. His stride is back, his energy is back, (and) his health is back.” BALAN: Grade 1 Winner Ralis Retired From Racing O’Neill said there were offers to stand Ralis as a stallion, and owner Paul Reddam even considered standing him at stud himself at Ocean... ...

OCALA, Fla. (Mar. 13, 2018) – A California-bred filly by Creative Cause sold for $285,000 at Tuesday’s session of the Ocala March 2-Year-Olds in training sale. The filly, bred by The Revocable Trust of Dr. Mikel C. Harrington & Patricia O. Harr, was consigned by Wavertree Stables, agent, and was purchased by Justin Casse, agent. She is out of the Swiss Yodeler mare Teacher Teacher, who was a full sister to multiple stakes winner Tilde. The filly was sold at last year’s Barretts August Select Yearling Sale for $50,000 to Redwings. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 11, 2018)–A switch from 6 ½ furlongs on turf to a muddy main track, five scratches and a perfect stalking trip under Joe Talamo resulted in Nick Alexander’s homebred Tough Sunday notching his first-ever stakes win in Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita.  Trained by Steve Miyadi, the 6-year-old full horse by Alexander’s Grazen, prevailed by one length over a fast closing Solid Wager while getting the distance in 1:15.68. Out of Alexander’s General Meeting mare Sunday Dress, Tough Sunday was orphaned at birth, pale-fed for the first six months of his life and today, in his 18th career start, he enjoyed his biggest win.  Needless to say, emotions were running high in the Winner’s Circle. “I’m shaking, I’m going to cry,” said Alexander.  “We thought several times that he was the best horse in the race and he would just miss.  With this one, everything worked out.  The right horses scratched, he had the right spot... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 11, 2018) — Co-owners Will Shamlian and Samantha Siegel decided to retire California-bred grade 1 winner Masochistic March 11, following his eighth-place performance in the Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita Park. After setting a fast early pace, Masochistic was eased in the stretch by jockey Victor Espinoza and came in 18 3/4 lengths behind the winner, Tough Sunday. The 2015 Triple Bend (G1) victor, who also won the 2015 Kona Gold (G2) and the 2016 Pat O’Brien (G2), last ran well in the 2017 Triple Bend (second) and ended his racing career with three far-back finishes. In those three starts he finished a combined 46 lengths behind the winners. “He’s 100% sound and he’s going to have a career as a trail horse. He’s had enough and he’s telling us that,” Shamlian said. “He’s too good of a horse, and we’re going to do right by him. He’s given us the message and we’re going to listen. We’re going to find him a good home.” The 8-year-old Sought... ...

From Stronach Company WARNER SPRINGS, Calif. (Mar. 10, 2018) — Adena Springs’ multiple Grade 1 winner and $3,859,311 earner Shaman Ghost has been relocated from Tommy Town Thoroughbreds to Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Ranch near Warner Springs, Calif., it was announced today.   “The Adena Springs Champion homebred is the subject of a newly formed California-based strategic alliance between Adena Springs, Lovacres Ranch and EF1 Farm,” said Ben Walden of Adena Springs. “Through their mutual support, promotion, and pooling of broodmares, the three entities have combined forces to establish the stallion career of Shaman Ghost in California.”   “We are grateful to Tommy Town for their efforts pertaining to the stallion and for the mares that they provided,” said Frank Stronach.   A son of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, Shaman Ghost accumulated a record of 8-3-2 from 17 starts. Shaman Ghost won or placed in seven stakes, including victories in the Woodward S. (G1), Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Brooklyn Invitational S. (G1) and the Pimlico Special (G1). He was also... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 4, 2018)—Idle since third in a Grade I stakes in September, Northern California Yearling sale graduate Take the One O One overcame his rail post position to defeat heavily favored Surfing Star by a half length in Sunday’s $56,000 Santa Anita allowance feature. Ridden by Joe Talamo and trained by Brian Koriner, Take the One O One, a California-bred 3-year-old colt by former Eclipse Award Champion Acclamation, got 6 ½ furlongs over a fast track in 1:15.82. “Brian’s done a great job bringing this horse back,” said Talamo, who has ridden Take the One O One in all four of his previous starts. “Obviously, we didn’t like drawing the rail first time back, but he broke sharply and he put me in a good position. I had a lot of horse down the lane and I flagged him a couple times to keep him focused.” With longshot Sir Valentine breaking on top, the winner made the lead at the rail after the first... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 3, 2018) – California stallion Vronsky was represented by four winning progeny in the state on Friday. Accreditation won the first race at Santa Anita, a maiden special weight for Cal-breds. He is a 4-year-old out of the Perfect Mandate mare Perfectly Perfect, was bred by Old English Rancho, owned by Robert Riggio and trained by Hector Palma. Veronica Bay won the sixth race at Santa Anita, a $10,000 claimer. She is a 7-year-old out of the Unusual Heat mare Nikkisilverjet, was bred by Barry Abrams, is owned by Marcelo Polanco and Carlo Scianlanga and is trained by Polanco. Hotflickaru won the third race at Golden Gate, a $4,000 claimer. She is a 4-year-old out of the Unusual heat mare Hot Flick, was bred by Old English Rancho, is owned by Horseplayers Racing Club and trained by Tim McCanna. Royal Alexei won the fourth race at Golden Gate, a $4,000 claimer. He is a 7-year-old out of the Royal Academy mare Royal Enclosure, was bred by Victoria... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2018)–Highly accomplished sprinter Miss Sunset broke on top and rolled to an impressive 2 ½ length win under Mike Smith in Sunday’s $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita.  Trained by Jeff Bonde, the 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Into Mischief, out of the Trippi mare Tuscan Sunset, got six furlongs versus four rival Cal-bred fillies in 1:09.92. Breaking on top from her number three post position, Miss Sunset was joined on her inside by longshot Shy Carmelita heading to the far turn, but Smith let out a notch three furlongs from home and the Spring Fever was never in doubt thereafter as she easily defeated Cuddle Alert while 4-5 favorite Majestic Heat was never a factor for the win. “She ran really well today and she felt better than she’s ever felt,” said Smith, who last rode Miss Sunset in a winning effort four starts back on Sept. 4.  “She’s really, really quick.  She’s... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2018)–Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams’ homebred Pulpit Rider rallied strongly through the stretch under Corey Nakatani to take Monday’s $200,000 California Cup Oaks for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-old fillies by 2 ½ lengths.  Trained by Mike Puype, the 3-year-old daughter of Lucky Pulpit got a mile on turf in 1:35.80. Last into the Club House turn in a field of seven, Pulpit Rider was just in behind heavily favored One Fast Broad around the far turn as Nakatani bided his time in order to save ground.  As Pulpit Rider turned for home, Nakatani asked her for her best and she wheeled five-wide outside the favorite en route to an easy win. “This is such a testament to Mike (Puype),” said Nakatani.  “He said she’s doing better than ever over the grass and that her family loves the grass.  I love winning races and this is just such a tribute to Mike and his team.  He really knows how to settle them... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2018)–Despite being pressured heavily on the early lead, Bob Baffert’s Heck Yeah went on to an emphatic 1 ¼ length win in Monday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds, his first time going two turns.  Ridden by Mike Smith, the California-bred colt by Acclamation got a mile and one sixteenth over Santa Anita’s main track in 1:46.60. Fresh off victory in the Cal Cup Turf Sprint at 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course on Jan. 27, Heck Yeah was sent from his number four post position, but was engaged immediately around the Club House turn to his inside by Intimidate, who tired three furlongs out and finished ninth under Corey Nakatani. “I was telling Bob that down the backstretch, I felt like I was in the Olympics (with a strong headwind).  I was trying to be as aerodynamic as possible.  (The wind) was really strong and it took its toll on all of them in there…I... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2018) — California-bred Tribal Storm sat dead last early, came with an inside run down the lane and passed seven competitors to win the 2018 $50,000 Lost In The Fog Stakes for older sprinters. Tribal Storm, a son of Papa Clem, stopped the clock for six furlongs in 1:08.71 seconds. “Plenty of speed in front benefits him at the end and he proved it again today,” said winning jockey Irving Orozco. “We had to find a clear path down the stretch but we did and he did his thing. He’s 100% right now and hopefully we can win some more with him.” With this stakes victory, Tribal Storm improved his career record to five wins, one second and four thirds in 13 lifetime starts. Last October, Tribal Storm won the Harris Farm Stakes at Fresno, making this Lost In The Fog victory his second career stakes win.  Tribal Storm, a 4-year-old California bred ridgling, is owned by his breeders, Curt and Lila Lanning, and is trained... ...

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2018) – Mr Joshua, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Bluegrass Cat, ran his win streak to three by taking Saturday’s $50,000 Trust Buster Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Mr Joshua ran the six furlongs in 1:10. 31 and won by one length at odds of 2-1 in the field of seven. He has three wins in eight starts with earnings of $66,040. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2018) – Multiple graded stakes winner Sircat Sally was named 2017 California-bred Horse of the Year at Monday night’s California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner at Santa Anita Park. Sircat Sally was retired after winning seven of eight races and $552,860 in purses. Five of her wins came in 2017, including the Grade II Honeymoon Stakes and Grade III Senorita and Providencia Stakes. In her last career start, she finished third in the Grade II San Clemente Handicap. Sircat Sally is by Surf Cat, out of the In Excess mare Sister Sally, was bred by owner Joe Turner and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Sircat Sally also is the champion Cal-bred 3-year-old female. The other finalists for Horse of the Year were Ashleyluvssugar and Skye Diamonds. The other champions that were presented at the dinner: Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings – Unusual Heat, property of The Unusual Heat Syndicate. Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Number of Winners – Lucky... ...

VINTON, La. (Feb. 12, 2018) – Remember Daisy, a daughter of California stallion Misremembered, won Saturday night’s $120,000 Louisiana-bred Premier Night Starlet Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Delta Downs. Remember Daisy, out of the Speightstown mare Very Speightstown, has two wins in three starts with earnings of $99,200. She ran the mile in 1:43.72 and won by 3 ½ lengths at odds of 2-1 in the field of seven. ...

From NTRA LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 9, 2018) — President Trump today signed into law the Bipartisan Budget Act, a bill that among other measures extends retroactively for fiscal year 2017 uniform three-year racehorse depreciation, an important tax provision supported by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) that expired in 2016 alongside certain other expired tax provisions. The bill also funds the federal government until March 23. Three-year depreciation is an investment incentive for racehorse owners that had been in place for several years before expiring at the end of 2016. “We wish to thank Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his continued support for our industry,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “We’ve worked with the Leader for over a decade on our industry’s unique issues, and we appreciate his continued efforts.” Prior to the 2008 Farm Bill, which became effective January 1, 2009, racehorses 24 months of age and younger when purchased and placed in service, were depreciated on a seven-year schedule that did not accurately reflect the... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2018)–As he’s done literally thousands of times throughout his Hall of Fame career, Kent Desormeaux timed it to the minute when the big money was down in Saturday’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, presented by City National Bank at Santa Anita, as he was just up to win by head aboard aboard Rye, a 5-year-old full horse by English Channel.  Bred in California by H & E Ranch, Rye got a mile and one eighth on turf in 1:48.01. Next to last with a quarter mile to run, Desormeaux worked out a perfect trip and was able to exploit fractions of 23.44, 46.87, 1:11.63 and 1:35.94 and thus provide a red-hot Billy Morey with his second training win on the day.  Morey now has two stakes wins at the current meet and he’s won with nine out of his 14 starts–a 64 percent strike rate. “It was very eventful,” said Desormeaux. “The horse in front of me almost fell at the three-eighths... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2018)–Upstart Heck Yeah answered any questions about his ability to handle turf as he rallied into a fast pace en route to winning Saturday’s $100,000 California Cup Turf Sprint by 2 ½ lengths under Drayden Van Dyke.  Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old colt by Eclipse Champion Turf Horse Acclamation got 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:13.61. Well back early but an attentive fourth turning for home, Heck Yeah validated his 5 ¼ length main track win in his debut at Los Alamitos Dec. 7 by running lights out on turf today. Bet down to the 2-1 favorite in a field of a dozen 3-year-olds bred or sired in California, Heck Yeah paid $6.40, $5.00 and $3.60. Bred in California by his co-owner Michael Pageler, Heck Yeah is out of the Maria’s Mon mare Lutess.  Now perfect in two starts, he picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $124,000. “It’s wonderful,” said Pageler. “This... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2108)–Trainer John Sadler was confident he had the best horse in the $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint despite what the odds board said, and he was proven right emphatically by Edwards Going Left Jan. 27 at Santa Anita Park. What may have been most impressive in his six-length win, however, was how the 4-year-old Midnight Lute  gelding did it. With the inside post in the field of six, jockey Tyler Baze opted against Edwards Going Left’s normal stalk-and-pounce tactics, and asked his mount to keep up with heavily favored Masochistic from the first jump. Masochistic, in his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, broke best and cruised on the lead early, but Edwards Going Left forced the issue on the rail, and early in the turn, the favorite was already in retreat. Edwards Going Left hit the front, and while B Squared and Tough Sunday loomed at the top of the stretch, the Hronis Racing-owned bay continued to extend his lead to the wire. Bred by Red Baron’s Barn and Vaya Con Suerte out... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2018)–Second and on the move at the dirt crossing turning for home, Reddam Racing’s homebred How About Zero easily overhauled favored Miss Sunset to take Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint under Mario Gutierrez at Santa Anita.  Trained by Doug O’Neill, the 4-year-old filly by Reddam’s Square Eddie got 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:13.10. Most recently second, beaten a head in a one mile turf allowance here Jan. 1, How About Zero was off at 2-1 and paid $6.40, $3.60 and $2.40. Out of Reddam’s In Excess mare Too Much Excess, How About Zero notched her second win from six tries down the hill and improved her overall mark to 12-3-5-0.  With the winner’s share of $90,000, she increased her earnings to $343,950. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Barbara Beatrice flew late to nip Miss Sunset by a nose for the place.  Off at 7-2, Barbara Beatrice, who was ridden by Tiago Pereira, paid $4.20... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 20, 2018)–Breaking from post position one, California-bred Coniah gunned to the lead under Kent Desormeaux and was in control thereafter as she cruised to a 1 ¾-length win in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita.  In providing trainer William Morey with his first-ever graded stakes victory, the 5-year-old mare by Harlington negotiated 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:12.17. “It took me almost 1,600 wins to get my first graded win,” said Morey.  “It feels pretty good.  I was very confident.  I thought she looked great out there and I had Kent in charge, so I wasn’t looking at the fractions.  When they turned for home, I knew they had to do some running to catch her.” Idle since June 18, Coniah had two close second-place finishes from as many tries down the hill.  Off as the 2-1 second choice in a field of seven older fillies and mares, she paid $6.40, $3.40 and $2.60. Owned... ...

From Barretts POMONA, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2018) — Phil Lebherz’s Premier Thoroughbreds LLC of San Mateo, California is the recipient of the Second annual McMahon Award given to the breeder of the leading money-winning California-bred two-year-old sold at public auction.  Premier Thoroughbreds LLC bred and raised Spiced Perfection, who led all California-bred two-year-olds of 2017 sold at public auction with earnings of $167,280. Spiced Perfection was purchased from Sue Greene’s Woodbridge Farm consignment at the 2016 Barretts Fall Sale by John Brocklebank as agent, who also purchased the inaugural McMahon winner, California Diamond, at a WTBOA auction.  After receiving her early preparation in Utah, she was resold by Checkmate Thoroughbreds in the 2017 Barretts March Sale to Brian Koriner as agent for Dare to Dream Stables LLC. She made her debut as the odds-on favorite going 4 ½ furlongs at Santa Anita on June 1 and finished a close 3rd despite a wide trip while getting beat 2 noses.  She never finished worse than second the rest of her juvenile year. ... ...

By Bloodhorse.com SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2018) — Multiple grade 1 winner and Canadian champion Shaman Ghost will enter stud at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds near Santa Ynez, Calif., for the 2018 season, his connections announced Jan. 11. The stud fee for the 6-year-old son of Ghostzapper  will be $10,000, live foal stands and nurses. There will be special consideration for young stakes-winning mares at a reduced fee of $7,500, live foal stands and nurses. In an exclusive interview with BloodHorse Daily, owner Frank Stronach reiterated his dedication to building up the California-bred program. He said he is sending multiple mares to California to foal and be bred back to Shaman Ghost. “Basically, as you know, we own two racetracks here in Golden Gate Fieldsand Santa Anita Park,” said the founder of The Stronach Group. “We’re a little concerned there aren’t enough horses, there are small fields, so we want to make sure that we have a good horse population. Naturally, it’s also important that we get new owners (involved in the sport).” Shaman Ghost, an Ontario-bred out of the Gilded... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2018) — The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) announced today that Josh Rubinstein has been named its President. Rubinstein, 48, has worked at Del Mar in an executive capacity since 1997 and had risen to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As President and COO, Rubinstein will continue his duties representing DMTC within the racing industry while handling aspects of strategic planning and overseeing daily operations of the company. Joe Harper, who had been DMTC’s President and Chief Executive Officer since 1990, has relinquished the title of President, but will continue on in his current capacity of CEO. “Josh works well and builds consensus with racing stakeholders and has high respect from those in the industry that he interacts with,” Harper said. “He works extremely hard and very well for Del Mar and he’s earned this promotion.” Rubinstein serves on the Equibase Management Committee, as a director and secretary of the Thoroughbred Racing Association and as a board... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 9, 2018) – Multiple stakes-winning California-bred Long Hot Summer sold at Tuesday’s session of the Keeneland January Sale for $260,000. The 6-year-old daughter of Street Boss, out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Hotlantic, was bred by Harris Farms and Donald Valpredo and is a half-sister to stakes winner Pacific Heat. Shadai Farm was the listed buyer for Long Hot Summer, who sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, consigned by Ashview Farm. She was owned by Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino, who bought her out of Barretts 2014 2-year-old Sale for $260,000. She has six wins and earnings of $424,539. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2018) — Significant changes to the property at Santa Anita Park have been proposed in the past and many went by the wayside, but the tone from Tim Ritvo, The Stronach Group’s chief operating officer, Jan. 7 was different. What Ritvo stressed Sunday was that the drastic changes this time around—ideas to expand the barn area, build a second turf course, expand the main track, and build a brand-new training facility in nearby West Covina, Calif.—are not only desired, but essential. “For racing to continue on, this has to happen.” the executive said. “If this doesn’t happen, we’re in trouble.” The first step, Ritvo said, is to build about 1,000 new stalls to the north of the main oval at Santa Anita, an area that currently serves as a parking lot. While the master plan—which would include extending the main track from a mile to 1 1/8 miles, widening the turf course enough to make two separate grass courses, adding an L-shaped training track for jogging on... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2018)–If there is such a thing as The Big Dodger in the Sky, he was smiling down on Santa Anita on Monday, as Pee Wee Reese went to the front in the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes under Joe Talamo, winning by 2 ¾ lengths.  Named for the late Dodger Hall of Fame shortstop, owned and bred in California by Nick Alexander and trained by Phil D’Amato, the 5-year-old full horse by Tribal Rule got 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:12.37. “He’s a fun horse to ride and he’s pretty tough anywhere from 6 ½ (furlongs) to a mile and a sixteenth,” said Talamo, who’s now won five out of his seven engagements with “Pee Wee.”  “He reminds me of (2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner) California Flag.  I know we went 44 (seconds for the first half mile), but it felt like 46.  He’s got incredible speed and he has the ability to relax and finish.  This race... ...

By Bloodhorse.com LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Dec. 27, 2017) — Trainer John Charles “Jack” Van Berg, a Hall of Fame trainer and the son of Hall of Fame trainer Marion Van Berg, died Dec. 27. The 81-year-old conditioner had been hospitalized at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Ark., due to complications from cancer. Services will be held Jan. 8 at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs, Ark. <p> Van Berg, who entered the Hall of Fame in 1985, ranks fourth on the all-time win list for North American-based trainers with 6,523 victories. His runners earned more than $85 million. His most famous runner was Alysheba, winner of the 1987 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). After being named champion 3-year-old male of 1987, he was dubbed “America’s Horse” and earned Horse of the Year  and champion older male crowns following his victory in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Alysheba, who entered the Racing Hall of Fame in 1993, raced for Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer and earned... ...

By DRF.com WARNER SPRINGS, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2017) — When California owner Terry Lovingier left Kentucky in mid-November, he was bound for home with a renewed breeding operation. Lovingier had reached an agreement to stand Stay Thirsty at his Lovacres Farm in Warner Springs, Calif. To support the young stallion, Lovingier purchased 10 broodmares at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale alone. “By the time I left to come back, I made the deal,” Lovingier said of the acquisition of Stay Thirsty. Lovingier has numerous stallions based at his farm in California, but said Stay Thirsty was the first stallion previously based in Kentucky he has acquired. Stay Thirsty, who will stand for $5,000, previously stood at Ashford Stud, where he had his first season at stud in 2013. Stay Thirsty has had fair results. Through Dec. 15, the son of Bernardini was fourth among second-crop stallions with earnings of $3.57 million. Bodemeister led the list with earnings of $4.96 million. Lovingier is banking on that success to attract attention from California breeders. “I... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2017) — Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer for The Stronach Group, was relocated from his regular post at Gulfstream Park to Santa Anita Park earlier this year with the aim of observing the California track’s functions, identifying flaws in the operation, and fixing them. During various check-ins with the media over the summer, Ritvo said one of the most serious issues facing California’s racing industry, beyond just Santa Anita, was a low horse population, which led to small field sizes. To help reverse that trend, Stronach Group founder and honorary chairman Frank Stronach will once again reach from within his own infrastructure to combat the problems identified by Ritvo. However, the staff members making the move west are of the equine variety. Earlier in December, Stronach revealed that his homebred Grade 1 winner Shaman Ghost will enter stud in California for the 2018 breeding season, instantly giving the state one of its most buzzed-about incoming stallions in recent memory. Additionally, a pair of veteran... ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 20, 2017) — The Tax Bill cleared by Congress for President Trump’s signature contains a number of provisions beneficial to horse breeders and owners, according to an initial assessment by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). The tax reform package benefits the horse racing industry by slashing corporate tax rates, reducing most individual tax rates, doubling the estate tax exemption from $5 million to $10 million (indexed for inflation occurring after 2011), and generally providing special tax treatment for certain pass-through entities (sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and S corporations).    The package also includes significant and positive changes to depreciation and expensing of yearlings, breeding stock, farm equipment and other qualifying depreciable property. These include:    Bonus Depreciation. An increase in bonus depreciation from 50 percent to 100 percent for both new and used property acquired and put into service after Sept. 27, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2023. Bonus depreciation permits first-year, full expensing for purchases such as yearlings, breeding stock, and... ...

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2017) — California stallion Misremembered has been relocated to Barton Thoroughbreds for the 2018 breeding season. The Grade I-winning son of Candy Ride, who entered stud in 2012, will stand for a fee of $2,500. He won the Santa Anita Handicap and had career earnings of more than $1.3 million.   ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2017) — It’s not every day that a racing company’s plans for the future are laid out in stark terms anyone can understand. More often than not, the public is delivered corporate platitudes and pies in the sky. Not so last Wednesday at Santa Anita, where track owner Frank Stronach and chief operating officer Tim Ritvo answered pointed questions from a group of owners and trainers concerning the future of California racing in the wake of the San Luis Rey Downs fire. The Stronach Group owns San Luis Rey Downs, and since the closure of Hollywood Park in early 2014 it has been maintained as a popular facility used by the stables of some of California’s top trainers. Horses win running out of San Luis Rey, just as they win running out of training centers like Fair Hill, Payson Park, or Palm Meadows. Stronach seemed quite taken by San Luis Rey when it was acquired by his former company Magna Entertainment Corp.... ...

By DRF.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 18, 2017) — Coolmore and Mike Repole will donate a total of $220,000 to the Thoroughbred Charities of America’s Horses First Fund following the sale of two no-guarantee seasons to champion Uncle Mo to benefit racehorses and their caretakers displaced by the wildfires that devastated California’s San Luis Rey training center earlier this month. Coolmore and Repole initially put forward the 2018 season to Uncle Mo to benefit the fund. Prominent owner and breeder Gary Barber won the auction, which concluded last week with a final bid of $110,000, fending off competition from Tom VanMeter, Joe Allen, Tom Ryan of SF Bloodstock, Ken Donworth, and Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm. Following the auction, Juddmonte Farms offered to match the winning bid if a second season was made available, adding another $110,000 to the donation. Uncle Mo, who raced in Repole’s colors and stands at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, stands for an advertised fee of $125,000. The leading freshman sire of 2015, he was represented by... ...

From Bean Acres NORCO, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2017) – California stallion Street Life has been relocated and will stand the 2018 breeding season at Bean Acres in Norco. Street Life is the only son of Street Sense standing in California. He will stand for a $2,500 fee with a limited number of lifetime breedings available to select mares. Also being offered are multiple-mare discounts and discounts for B+ and black-typed mares. Contact Luanne Bean, syndicate manager, at 951-377-1566 or email LuanneBean1@gmail.com. ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 16, 2017) – Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith won his third stakes of the Winter Thoroughbred meet, guiding Intimidate to a 1 ¼ length score in the $100,345 King Glorious Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-olds Saturday at Los Alamitos. Smith, who captured the Grade II Bayakoa with Majestic Heat Dec. 3 and the Grade I Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity with McKinzie – via disqualification – Dec. 9, has won nine stakes locally since thoroughbred racing returned in July, 2014. Much troubled when well-beaten in the Golden Nugget Nov. 11 at Golden Gate Fields after winning the first two starts of his career over that track’s synthetic surface, Intimidate broke sharply in the King Glorious and essentially battled throughout with 7-1 shot Lucky Romano before asserting his superiority in the final sixteenth of a mile. Owned by James Eaton, Maria Hess and breeder Don Muldoon and trained by Bob Hess, Sr., Intimidate, a 2-year-old son of Vronsky and the Perfect Mandate... ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2017) — California-bred Scathing, a 4-year-old gray daughter of Grazen, became the first San Luis Rey based horse to win a race since the tragic Lilac fire swept through the Bonsall, Ca. training facility Dec. 7. An $8,000 claim by trainer Adam Kitchingman for owner Cody Polansky Oct. 6, Scathing rallied to win the $17,535 starter allowance by 1 ½ lengths in her second start for her current connections. Scathing, who has won five of 22 and earned $70,341, had to pass a respiratory exam before being cleared to race.  Fortunately, Kitchingman’s San Luis Rey stable wasn’t badly affected by the fire, which destroyed eight barns and killed a reported 46 horses. The final time for the five furlongs was 58.26 seconds. Scathing paid $10.60, $5.40 and $2.80 as the 4-1 fourth choice in the field of seven. Aiming Straight returned $4.20 and $2.80 while finishing a neck in front of 5-2 favorite Papa Mambo. The show price on Papa Mambo was... ...

By Bloodhorse.com BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2017) — The morning of Dec. 13, nearly a week after the devastating fire at San Luis Rey Training Center, the smell still works its way through your nostrils and grips the back of your throat. It’s not reminiscent of a burning log in a fireplace or a campfire. It’s foreign, more like the smell of charred plastic. It lingers like the memories of what happened Dec. 7, and those who work at the Bonsall, Calif., facility are still trying to grapple with what exactly transpired that afternoon. Life at Del Mar, where most of the evacuated Thoroughbreds from San Luis Rey have been relocated, has moved on as much as it can, as the seaside racetrack officially converted from an evacuation center to a training center Wednesday night. Trifecta Equine Athletic Center, which sits just across the street from San Luis Rey and once had more than 100 evacuated horses, is down to about 10, with four still needing medical care at the... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2017) — More than $600,000 currently has been raised via donations to the TSG/Santa Anita & Del Mar GoFundMe account through a world-wide outpouring to help the victims of last Thursday’s devastating Lilac Fire which destroyed eight barns at San Luis Rey Downs Training Center, claiming the lives of 46 Thoroughbreds and displacing hundreds of workers. To address immediate needs, a working committee has been formed to oversee those funds and has announced that $250,000 will be distributed this week to those in critical need. The committee consists of Santa Anita/TSG’s Nate Newby (Vice President, Marketing), Del Mar’s David Jerkens (Racing Secretary), Madeline Auerbach (owner/breeder, CHRB* commissioner and founder of CARMA*), Alan Balch (Executive Director, CTT*) and Cliff Goodrich (Executive Director, CTHF*). “We have well over 200 stable workers that have been severely impacted by this fire, some have lost everything and all have been significantly affected by the fire,” said Newby. “The committee is allocating an immediate disbursement of $500 each... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2017) – The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association has made donations to CARMA and the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation earmarked for horse and human fire relief. CARMA is working in partnership with the racing and equestrian communities to collect monetary donations to be given directly to Thoroughbred horses affected by the Southern California wild fires. CTHF also has been taking donations to provide relief to the victims of last week’s fire, with proceeds going to those most in need as determined by the Foundation. ...

From Tommy Town Thoroughbreds SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2017) — On the heels of his most productive year at stud, the graded stakes-siring stallion Bedford Falls will relocate within California to stand at Tom and Debi Stull’s Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in 2018. The 14-year-old Forestry half-brother to the late multiple Grade 1 winner and leading sire Harlan’s Holiday is represented by 22 winners from 35 starters and lifetime average earnings per starter of more than $54,000. His top runners are the 2017 Santa Anita Park stakes winner Cuddle Alert, a $328,534-earner who ran third to Unique Bella in the track’s Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes in October, and the Del Mar/Santa Anita stakes performer Wonderful Lie ($318,264). “We welcome Bedford Falls to the Tommy Town stallion roster for 2018,” said Tom Stull, whose Santa Ynez farm reigned as California’s leading breeder in 2009, 2013 and 2015. “Harlan’s Holiday continues to improve this family through his successful sons including Into Mischief, and we’re hoping Bedford Falls will produce another runner... ...

From Liz Pink BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 13, 2017) — We are a group of horse owners whose horses were trapped at our boarding ranch just east of the San Luis Rey training facility during the devastating Lilac Fire. These are smaller ranches of pleasure riders many without trailers and no means of escape. Our rescue came in the form of one of your thoroughbred community who braved the smoke and fire to get us to safety. Linda Madsen of Milky Way Farms in Temecula not only drove us out but settled us into her beautiful barn and cared for our horses for four long days while the winds persisted. She made trips to the feed store for needed supplies and welcomed us for as long as we needed to stay. After returning us to our ranch she refused any type of compensation. We would like to have her kindness and generosity known throughout the community and were hoping that perhaps our story could be told in your monthly publication in... ...

By Dennis Miller, CTBA Member As with most tragedies there are examples of courage that flash to the surface in split seconds when all seems lost, when circumstances overwhelm, when seemingly ordinary people become super human and accomplish the impossible. Some are born heroes; some are born on the spot. No amount of training or preparation can predict who will emerge as a hero until the time comes. Captain Sullenberger was a hero that was well trained and experienced. When thrown in the crucible he did the right thing. The proper course of action is not always apparent in an emergency. Decision-making is split second and miscalculations unforgiving. There is no doubt the conflagration that occurred at San Luis Rey Downs on December 7th, 2017 was such an  occasion. A time when ordinary souls, forged by fire, accomplished feats beyond mortal expectations. While I have no doubt that there were numerous feats of selfless heroism that occurred as the Armageddon of San Luis Rey unfolded, I am compelled to note... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2017) — Thoroughbred horsemen have a special kind of dry, sometimes biting humor. If there was any indication healing from the devastating fire at San Luis Rey Training Center Dec. 7 was beginning, it was the return of humor the morning of Dec. 10 at Del Mar, where the majority of evacuated horses and horsemen have been relocated. With the Del Mar main track open for light training for the second day since the evacuation, the backside stand was a meeting point for some of the trainers on the grounds, as well as Southern California racetrack officials. BALAN: Equine Death Toll From San Luis Rey Fire at 46 As the first of about 40-45 horses made it to the track to jog Sunday morning, trainer Gary Mandella—who didn’t have horses at San Luis Rey, but traveled down to Del Mar to help trainer Michele Dollase—was in a conversation with Del Mar racing secretary David Jerkens. “So when are you going to open for... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2017) — Trainer Martine Bellocq continues to be treated at UCSD Medical Center in San Diego for burns she received trying to rescue her horses during the San Luis Rey Downs training center fire in Bonsall Thursday. Her status remains “critical” according to the hospital and her doctors have indicated that it will be at least several more days before any decisions can be made about further treatments. Bellocq and her husband, Pierre, Jr., had six horses at the San Diego North County facility. Four of them are known to have been rescued. Pierre, Jr. is the older brother of long-time racing executive Remi Bellocq, who currently works in Lexington, KY with the Bluegrass Community and Technical College. They are the sons of the noted equine artist Pierre Bellocq, known as PEB. Those wishing to donate funds toward Martine Bellocq’s medical expenses are encouraged to do so through the California Thoroughbred Trainers’ site by going to CTHFcares.org The donation can be specifically earmarked for Bellocq. Media... ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2017)  – The Quarter Horse Benevolent Charitable Foundation and Los Alamitos Race Course owner and CEO Dr. Edward Allred have each donated $25,000 and F. Jack Liebau, the vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association, has donated $10,000 for a total of $60,000 to the relief efforts for the tragic Lilac fire that swept through the San Luis Rey training center in Bonsall, Ca. on December 7. The donations will be made to the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation, Inc., a non-profit foundation that presently assists over 5,000 California Horse Racing Board licensed backstretch workers and their families. Donations received by the CTHF will go directly to the victims most in need once it is determined where the most need lies. For others wishing to make donations, it is suggested they be channeled through CTHF. To do so visit cthfcares.org. The Quarter Horse Benevolent Charitable Foundation was established years ago to serve the needs of the Quarter Horse backstretch community.  “When horsemen... ...

From Barretts ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2017) — In support of industry efforts to provide relief to the victims of the catastrophic San Luis Rey Downs Fire, Barretts will donate 10% of the sales commissions of horses sold at the 2018 January Mixed Sale to the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation (CTHF), a non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life for backstretch workers at California racetracks and training centers. The horses of all ages sale conducted January 17 at The Finish Line Sports Grill at Fairplex, Pomona, begins at 11:00 am PST. The day of the sale, live and silent auctions of donated 2018 stallion seasons, equine artwork and racing memorabilia are planned to raise additional funds. For more information, contact Barretts (info@barrett.com, 909 629-3099). ...

From Taylor Made Stallions NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 9, 2017) — Taylor Made Stallions and the California Chrome syndicate have donated a no-guarantee season to California Chrome  to aid in helping backstretch workers most affected by the fires in California. “California Chrome was always called `The People’s Horse’, so we only thought it fitting that the funds raised from this season donation would help the people affected by this tragedy,” said Duncan Taylor, Taylor Made Farm President & CEO. “Bidding will close Thursday, and is available by going to thoroughbredlifestyle.com/signup.” Taylor said that Taylor Made and the syndicate will make the money available immediately, even before the funds have been collected, in order that the funds get to those workers in need as soon as possible. ...

From Golden Gate Publicity ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 9, 2017) — Defending champion Fast and Foxy successfully defended her title in the $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes at Golden Gate Fields, when the daughter of Thisnearlywasmine went straight to the lead and scored a gate-to-wire victory in the Saturday afternoon feature for California-bred fillies and mares. Under the guidance of regular rider Catalino Martinez, Fast and Foxy dueled early on with eventual fourth place finisher Spring Heat, was able to scamper clear of her competitors on the far turn and dug in gamely down the stretch to hold off a late rally from Southern California invader Cuddle Alert. “[Fast and Foxy] only has one way of going and it’s to the lead,” said Martinez. “I tried to get her [to the lead] and save something for the end. That’s the only way you can ride her. When I took the lead at the three-eighths pole she took a big breath and I knew I had a lot of horse. When we got... ...

HEMET, Calif. (Dec. 9, 2017) — EF1 Farm announces a new home for its equine health research and wellness center. The new facility – which is offering rehabilitation for horses impacted by this week’s fire — will be housed on what was once Brazeau Thoroughbred Farms in Diamond Valley. The farm is offering rehab on horses that were in the fires with EF1 products – free of charge – that can clear and rehydrate the lungs of the horses with smoke inhalation. The only charge will be for lay-up. We are also set-up with nebulizers and oxygen. Eric (Yohan) has done successful work on burned horses and we are open to rehabilitate those as well. EF1 Farm will continue its dedication to ongoing equine research and rehabilitation under the guidance of founder Eric Yohan. The farm will still offer all of its current services including: breaking and training, lay-ups, rehabilitation, breeding, boarding and sales prep. Two new stallions, North Light and City Wolf, will be arriving from Adena Springs and... ...

By DRF.com OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Dec. 9, 2017) – The New York racing community is pitching in with relief efforts following the fire that impacted the Southern California racing community at San Luis Rey Downs this week. The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association donated $10,000 on behalf of the victims of the fire and has pledged to contribute additional funds, according to a release put out by the organization on Saturday. “It is truly amazing how the racing community comes together in times of tragedy,” said trainer Rick Violette, the retiring president of the NYTHA. “The scenes and stories from San Luis Rey Downs have been heart-wrenching, and we want the horsemen in California to know that we are here to help in any way we can.” Joseph Applebaum was recently elected president of the NYTHA and will preside over his first meeting on Tuesday. In a release, he said the situation in California “will be at the top of the agenda” for that meeting. “We know there is great... ...

By Bloodhorse.com BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 9, 2017) –The equine death toll from the devastating brushfire that ripped through San Luis Rey Downs Training Center Dec. 7 is at 46 as of the morning of Dec. 9, according to officials at the California Horse Racing Board. CHRB spokesman Mike Marten said Saturday morning that state officials “are confident” in the figure, but made sure to note that a small number of horses broke through a “knockdown fence” at the facility during the fire and are still unaccounted for. Those horses are believed to be still loose in the hills surrounding San Luis Rey in Bonsall, Calif., but Marten could not confirm the number of horses that are unaccounted for. As of 7:15 a.m. PT, between 350-370 Thoroughbred race horses from San Luis Rey (which had about 450 horses at the time of the fire) are on the grounds at Del Mar, according to Del Mar racing secretary David Jerkens. Another 60 horses or so are still at Trifecta Equine Athletic Center, a... ...

From Santa Anita and DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — Following an emergency meeting of the California horse racing industry’s Stabling and Vanning Committee Friday afternoon, it has been announced that Santa Anita Park and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club have joined forces to accommodate nearly 500 displaced horses as San Luis Rey Downs Training Center undergoes reconstruction following yesterday’s devastating Lilac Fire. The fire, first reported at 11:30 a.m. PT, near Interstate 15 and south of state Route 76, spread rapidly westward when fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds and engulfed San Luis Rey Downs early Thursday afternoon, resulting in the destruction of at least eight barns and the loss of an undetermined number of Thoroughbred horses. Owned by Santa Anita’s parent company, The Stronach Group (TSG), San Luis Rey Downs Training Center boasts a mile track and many other amenities that have served as home to trainers such as Peter Miller, Doug O’Neill, Clifford Sise and many others. “This is a horrific situation and everybody... ...

By DRF.com BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — The death toll in the San Luis Rey Downs fire in Bonsall, Calif., on Thursday is likely to surpass 40 horses, according to California Horse Racing Board chairman Chuck Winner, who toured the devastated property on Friday morning. In a phone interview, Winner said the number of horses lost cannot be immediately known because so many runners were taken to different farms in the area, sent to Del Mar, or perished in barn fires at San Luis Rey Downs. “We don’t know how many yet,” Winner said. “The estimates are above 40 to 42, I think. Those are just estimates. The problem is the vans were taking those horses in the night and taking them to farms around Bonsall. Some of them haven’t been accounted for yet.” Some horses arrived at Del Mar and local farms without lip tattoos, making identifications difficult. Three farms in the direct vicinity of San Luis Rey Downs were housing approximately 150 horses on Thursday and into... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — What this reporter witnessed Thursday was the end destination of the mass fire evacuation of the horses and people from San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in north San Diego County. The horses were transported by an impromptu caravan of horse trailers, from commercial big rigs to backyard two-stalls, to the empty stables of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which opened its doors and mustered a remarkably efficient operation of volunteers and professional handlers. It was difficult to contemplate, even in the midst of an emergency. I know just about every inch of San Luis Rey, from the old days 40 years ago when Charlie Whittingham stabled a powerful second string there, through its fallow years as an underused stepchild of the L.A. tracks, to its more recent renaissance under the ownership of The Stronach Group as a vital part of the Southern California stabling capacity. Its setting was idyllic. The air pristine, feathered by afternoon ocean breezes making their... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — When the last van from San Luis Rey Downs arrived Thursday night at Del Mar, the horse Dream Police stepped off, the last of three runners whom owner Jeff Bloom had at San Luis Rey Downs, which was hit by a devastating fire Thursday. One by one they had trickled in – first A Red Tie Day, then Sassy Ashley, and finally Dream Police – and now all were safely relocated. “When he got here,” Bloom said Friday, “the whole place erupted.” There was cause for both joy and tears in the aftermath of the fire, which left this racing community shell-shocked but also brought out the very best. Bloom was one of scores of people at Del Mar on Friday morning helping to care for the horses, some of whom had burn marks, could not be immediately identified, or both. “It’s like puzzle pieces,” said Bloom, who lives in nearby Oceanside and runs the Bloom Racing partnership. “There were so... ...

By Bloodhorse.com BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — The California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation has set up the website cthfcares.org to accept donations to help people and horses affected by the Southern California fire that destroyed much of the San Luis Rey training center. Cliff Goodrich, executive director of the CTHF, which runs the Noble Threewitt Health Center on the Santa Anita Park backstretch, is coordinating funds to that website so that CTHF can help get money to those most in need. Many grooms who work at San Luis Rey lost everything in the fire, even as they risked their lives to save the horses. “When something like this happens, everybody pulls together and wants to help however they can,” said Goodrich, “whether it’s hospitalization costs, blankets, or temporary housing. Our part in this is that people can donate at the site. The home page has information on what to do to donate.” The donations to the CTHF website for the fire victims are tax-deductible. Many organizations are stepping in to... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — Del Mar’s backstretch area has provided safe haven for more than 800 horses escaping a wind-blown, fast-moving fire that ripped through the North County area of San Diego Thursday. The first group of horses arrived at the Del Mar Fairgrounds late Thursday afternoon and vans continued to flow in throughout the night. By Friday morning more than 800 head – both Thoroughbreds and other breeds — had been bedded down in the 40-plus barns located on the grounds that are capable of holding as many as 1,600 horses. Other animals, including goats and pigs, also were brought on board to the 350-acre Fairgrounds. Approximately 250 of the 450 horses that had been stabled at the San Luis Rey training center just over 30 miles to the northwest of Del Mar had been moved to the Fairgrounds after that facility was hit directly by the fire with as many as 30 horses deaths reported and several of their barns burned. There... ...

From CARMA ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — CARMA is working in partnership with the racing and equestrian communities to collect monetary donations to be given directly to Thoroughbred horses affected by the Southern California wild fires. Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends and families that have been so greatly impacted by this terrible natural disaster. The board and staff at CARMA are heartsick over the loss of the life and devastation at San Luis Rey Downs. We will do everything we can to ensure those in need receive the help and support they desperately need. To help the horses, donations can be made to CARMA online at www.carma4horses.org/make-a-donation. Checks can be made out to CARMA and mailed to 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia CA 91007. Please designate your donation by including “fire relief” in the memo line or notes. ...

By Bloodhorse.com BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — Trainer Martine Bellocq suffered second- and third-degree burns over 50% of her body while trying to rescue her horses during the Dec. 7 fire at San Luis Rey Training Center in Bonsall, Calif. Bellocq’s brother-in-law, Remi Bellocq, reported Dec. 8 that Martine was air-lifted to UC San Diego Medical Center where she is being treated for the burns. Doctors have put her in an induced coma as they treat her. “She’s in intensive care right now,” Remi Bellocq said Friday morning. He added that doctors examined Martine’s lungs and found no significant damage. Martine’s husband and Remi’s brother Pierre Bellocq Jr. also was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. “They had six horses at the training center and she was trying the best she could to save them,” Remi Bellocq said. “The fire hit so fast and where they were in one of the lower barns. Three of their horses died for sure and they’re not sure where the other three are. They ask... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) – Two farms have offered to accept horses displaced by the Lilac Fire in San Diego County. The farms are: EF1 Farms in Hemet area, which has an on-call veterinarian, a MASH unit, as well as handling lay-ups and training. The farm is offering help in shipping. Contact Eric Yohan, 310-383-0055; Nadine Anderson, 951-201-2278 or Sam, 310-755-5221. Dignitary Downs, in the Anza area, reports it can accept 300 horses. The farm has 200 fully fenced acres, a 40-stall training barn, a 5/8-mile track with some housing available for people. Contact Sergio Salazar, 951-858-9589. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) – California-breds Fiery Lady and Central Heat are entered in Sunday’s $50,000 Miss America Stakes for fillies and mares at Golden Gate. Fiery Lady is by Unusual Heat, out of the Ride the Rails mare Lady Railrider, was bred by owners Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Steve Specht. She has three wins in eight starts, earnings of $79,570 and is coming off a third in a Nov. 17 optional claimer. Central Heat is by Unusual Heat, out of the Smart Strike mare Miss Boomtown, was bred by Abrams, Huston Racing, Matties Racing and Auerbach, is owned by William Delia or Dana Rocheford and is trained by Delia. She has 18 wins in 42 starts, earnings of $454,477and is coming off a fifth in a Nov. 18 optional claimer. She was second in this race in 2014. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2017) – Fast and Foxy will attempt to defend her title in Saturday’s $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes for fillies and mares bred or sired in California at Golden Gate. Run for Retts is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Jump Start mare Mrs. Began, was bred by owners Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Steve Miyadi. She has three wins in 24 starts, earnings of $220,712 and is coming off a fifth in the Nov. 12 Betty Grable. Princess Ashlyn is by Cyclotron, out of the Perugino mare Palace Royale, was bred by Old English Rancho & Berumen, is owned by Troy Onorato and is trained by John Martin. She has six wins in 22 starts, earnings of $140,995 and is coming off a seventh in an Oct. 21 allowance. Spring Heat is by Coil, out of the Unusual Heat mare Heatology, was bred by M. Auerbach & Barry Abrams, is owned by GCCI and trained by Cliff DeLima. She has seven wins in... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2017) – Perennial leading sire Unusual Heat and longtime Los Alamitos Race Course executive Brad McKinzie have been elected into the California Hall of Fame and will be inducted posthumously at the annual meeting and awards banquet of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, to be held February 12, 2018, in the Chandelier Room at Santa Anita Park. Unusual Heat, a six-time leading stallion in California, passed away in May due to complications of arthritis-induced laminitis at the age of 27. McKinzie, a 30-year Los Alamitos executive and co-founder of Finish Line Self Insurance, died in August from renal carcinoma at the age of 62. Unusual Heat, a son of Nureyev claimed for $80,000, was pensioned last year after becoming the all-time leading California sire by progeny earnings (more than $55 million from 17 crops). He sired 15 California champions and three millionaires, including Eclipse Award winner Acclamation, and is the leading California sire in progeny turf earnings this year. He was owned by a syndicate that included Madeline Auerbach, trainer Barry... ...

FRESNO, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2017) – Multiple graded stakes winner Sircat Sally will be bred to all-time leading earner Arrogate, Sircat Sally’s owner and breeder Joe Turner said on Monday. Sircat Sally, a California-bred daughter of Surf Cat, won her first seven races, six of them stakes, before suffering a career-ending sesamoid fracture while finishing third in the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar in July. Turner said she has completely healed from surgery. Turner said he will bring Sircat Sally back from Kentucky with plans for her to be bred back in California and make the Arrogate foal a California-bred. “The people at Juddmonte (where Arrogate stands) saw Sircat Sally win the Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos by 12 lengths on dirt the same day California Chrome won by 12 lengths and they didn’t know why we kept running her on grass,” Turner said. “They are looking for mares that can run on dirt. She could run on anything.” Sircat Sally finished her career with $552,860, the first... ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif.(Dec. 3, 2017) – Three weeks after an easy win in her dirt debut, Majestic Heat became a graded stakes winner on the surface with another decisive victory in the $201,035 Bayakoa Sunday at Los Alamitos. After dispatching of fellow California-breds by 3 ¼ lengths going seven furlongs in the Betty Grable Nov. 12 at Del Mar, the 5-year-old Unusual Heat mare prevailed by 2 ½ lengths when stretched to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade II, which was run Sunday at Los Alamitos for the first time since 2014. Reserved off the quick early pace set by eventual runner-up Champagne Room, Majestic Heat began to rally wide nearing the stretch under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, easily collared the leader  and went on to her seventh victory in 16 starts. The 3-1 third choice in the field of eight, Majestic Heat, who is owned by Bardy Farm, Ron McCauley and Madeline Auerbach and trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, completed the distance... ...

By Bloodhorse.com HEMET, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2017) — The Stronach family has started following through on its commitment to build up the California-bred program by sending three stallions to the Golden State for the 2018 breeding season. The highest-profile horse of the group will be multiple grade 1 winner and Canadian champion Shaman Ghost, who Frank Stronach said will stand in California next year. “He will be very exciting for the California breeders,” Stronach said Dec. 2 in an exclusive interview with BloodHorse Daily. “I don’t know where he will stand yet. I will be out there next week to look at a few farms. We’ll make a decision in the next week or so.” Stronach said he’ll stand the son of his homebred 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper for $10,000. “We have Ghostzapper in Kentucky and I really want to do something out in California,” Stronach said of his decision to start out Shaman Ghost on the West Coast. “This is a horse that won the Santa Anita... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2017) – Favored One Fast Broad remained undefeated on dirt with a last-to-first victory in the $101,380 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies Saturday at Los Alamitos. Anchored well off the pace by jockey Corey Nakatani, the daughter of Decarchy and the Mr. Broad Blade mare Awesome Broad rallied wide into the stretch, gained the lead in deep stretch and prevailed by three-quarters of a length over 5-2 second choice Spiced Perfection. Bred by Richard Kritzski and AGR Racing and owned by trainer Mick Ruis’ Ruis Racing LLC, One Fast Broad completed the mile in 1:38.26. Her third win – all on the main track – in five starts increased her earnings to $229,000. The 11-10 favorite, One Fast Broad returned $4.20, $2.80 and $2.20. Spiced Perfection, who also finished second behind One Fast Broad in last month’s Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar, paid $3.40 and $2.60 while finishing four lengths in front of pacesetter and 8-1 shot Twisted Rosie.... ...

NORCO, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2017) – California stallion Street Life has been relocated to Bean Acres to stand the 2018 breeding season. The 8-year-old son of Street Sense, a multiple stakes winner, entered stud in 2013 and previously stood at Milky Way Farm. For further information, contact Bean Acres at 951-37-1566. ...

PIRU, Calif. (Nov. 28, 2017) — California stallion Roi Charmant has been relocated to Rancho Temescal in Ventura County. The 16-year-old son of Evansville Slew entered stud in 2010 after earning $337,678 on the track, winning races from ages 2 to 8. Among Roi Charmant’s progeny is Princess Roi, third in this year’s California Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. ...