From Poplar Meadows
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2017) – The California-based stallion Bedford Falls was represented by his first black-type stakes winner on Sunday when his second-crop daughter Cuddle Alert upset Santa Anita Park’s $100,000 Spring Fever Handicap for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares by a hard-fought head.
After breaking from the rail at odds of 8-1 under veteran jockey Agapito Delgadillo, Cuddle Alert stalked the pace in fourth early, moved three-wide entering the stretch and relentlessly took aim upon front-runner Late ‘n Left, ultimately stopping the clock as a photo-finish winner in 1:09.86 for six furlongs. Her win also marked the first career stakes victory for trainer Melissa Saldana, who conditions Cuddle Alert for owners Reed Saldana and Leopoldo (“Polo”) Urbina.
Cuddle Alert was produced by the winning Gilded Time mare Tee Dee, and bred in California by Carol Lingenfelter. The 6-year-old mare was sold privately as a 3-year-old by Bedford Falls Promotions Manager Lisa Groothedde, and has earned $229,000 to date with six wins and eight placings from 21 starts.
Bedford Falls is a 14-year-old Forestry half-brother to the late multiple Grade 1 winner and leading sire Harlan’s Holiday. A $1.1 million graduate of the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and three-time winner, Bedford Falls entered stud in 2009 at Poplar Meadows in California, the Sanger farm where the seven-time Grade 1 winner and two-time California Horse of the Year Lava Man ($5,268,706) was foaled and raised under Lingenfelter’s care.
Bedford Falls is out of the winning Affirmed mare Christmas in Aiken. From 31 starters, he is represented by 21 winners, five $100,000-plus earners and average earnings per starter of more than $50,000 —one of the highest such averages among active California stallions. His 2017 fee is $1,500, live foal guarantee.