Daily Racing Form

February 5, 2012

Acclamation front-runner to be chosen top Cal-bred of 2011
By Steve Andersen
Acclamation’s haul of year-end awards for his 2011 season is likely to grow on Monday when the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association announces its Horse of the Year at its annual dinner on Monday in Pasadena, Calif.

Already recognized with the Eclipse Award for the nation’s outstanding older male of 2011, Acclamation has earned honors as the top California-bred turf horse and older male of the year. He was the only horse to win two divisional titles in the statebred category in 2011.

Amazombie, the Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s outstanding sprinter of 2011, was recognized as the season’s top sprinter among California-breds. Along with the Grade 1 winner Ultra Blend, Amazombie is also a finalist for California-bred of the year.

The California-bred Horse of the Year title is an honor that both of the male horses deserve, having raced at the highest level through the season and being nationally recognized.

Amazombie won two Grade 1 races in 2011, highlighted by a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs in November. Acclamation won five consecutive graded stakes, including three Grade 1 races at Hollywood Park and Del Mar last spring and summer.

Other divisional titles went to Ismene, champion 2-year-old filly; Rousing Sermon, 3-year-old male; Teddy’s Promise, 3-year-old filly; Burns, 3-year-old male; and Ultra Blend, older filly or mare.

Sadly, Burns is being honored posthumously. The winner of the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar in August, Burns suffered a catastrophic injury during the running of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in September.

Ultra Blend, the winner of the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar in August, and three other stakes in 2011, has since been retired to be bred.

The people behind Acclamation are being honored for their success in 2011 – and their lifelong contributions to racing. Don Warren was named outstanding trainer, while majority owner Bud Johnston and the racehorses Brown Bess and Quicken Tree will be inducted into the CTBA’s Hall of Fame.

The Oak Tree Racing Association, which operated not-for-profit race meetings at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park from 1969 to 2010, will receive the Scoop Vessels award for service to racing.

Going Ballistic joins Victory Rose band of stallions
By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. – Going Ballistic, the latest addition to California’s stallion ranks, is scheduled to arrive at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds at Vacaville, Calif., by Wednesday, farm owner Ellen Jackson said on Friday.

The 8-year-old Going Ballistic will give Victory Rose seven stallions for its 2012 roster. Earlier this year, Bold Chieftain was retired from racing and will begin his stud career at Victory Rose when the breeding season starts in earnest later this month.

Jackson said negotiations were completed with Going Ballistic’s owner, Mike Kindred, in late January for the stallion to be shipped west.

“It came as a complete surprise,” she said. “Over a week, we hammered out an agreement.”

By Lite the Fuse, Going Ballistic won 7 of 46 starts and $1,195,567. In a career that spanned from 2006 to last year, Going Ballistic won six stakes, including the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in 2007 and races at Lone Star Park, Remington Park, and Retama Park.

Going Ballistic was trained by Donnie Von Hemel.

Going Ballistic will stand for $3,000, and Jackson is hopeful of attracting approximately 40 mares.

“I hope we can get that,” she said. “We’ve got mares waiting.”

Jackson expects stallion books at Victory Rose to grow substantially, and perhaps double this year, after a poor 2011 breeding season. She said that the farm bred “90 to 100” mares last year, a number that she described as “dangerously scary. It was nothing like years gone by. This year, I would hope to have close to 200. The mare population is starting to pick up around here.”

January 29, 2012

Barretts purchase made for worthwhile shopping trip
By Steve Andersen

Ron Stolich made the 80-mile drive from Rancho Mirage, Calif., to Pomona last Monday with a singular purpose. The mare Sci Fi Kin was available at the Barretts January mixed sale, and she was the one Stolich wanted for his Kentucky broodmare band.

“That’s the only reason I went there,” he said on Thursday.

He got her for the right price. Stolich said the $60,000 final bid, which topped the sale, was his last bid. “I thought if I could get her for $60,000, that was a good buy,” he said.

By the end of the week, Sci Fi Kin was in Kentucky. The Unusual Heat foal she is carrying will be eligible for California-bred races because the foal is by a California-based sire, but Sci Fi Kin will stay in Kentucky. Stolich, the former owner of Blooming Hills Farm in Clements, Calif., keeps a group of approximately six broodmares in Kentucky. His old farm was purchased by Pete Parrella and is now known as Legacy Ranch.

Stolich said he has not decided a stallion mating for Sci Fi Kin this spring.

“I’m trying to get better mares all the time,” Stolich said. “I was really thrilled to buy her. She’s my kind of mares, big with a lot of bone. This is a nice mare.”

“I hope that I have a good baby and get her back in foal.”

Sci Fi Kin, consigned by Harris Farms, agent for Madeline Auerbach, is by Siphon out of the multiple stakes winner Akinemod. The foal that Sci Fi Kin will produced this spring is already related to two talented runners.

Sci Fi Kin is the dam of Pretty Unusual, a mare by Unusual Heat who won the Grade 2 El Encino Stakes for 4-year-old fillies at Santa Anita in 2010. She has also produced Jax El, an Unusual Heat mare who has placed in two stakes.

The presence of Sci Fi Kin as the most expensive horse in the sale did not surprise Barretts vice-president Kim Lloyd.

“She figured to sell well,” he said. “She produced a Grade 2 winner and a stakes-placed horse. She was well sold and well purchased, too.”

Overall, the Barretts sale saw 162 horses sell for $982,500. The average rose 14 percent, to $6,065 from $5,310 in 2011, while the median increased 20 percent, to $3,000 from $2,500 last year.

A colt by Awesome Gambler was purchased for $40,000 by trainer Doug O’Neill, the leading 2-year-old at the sale. The colt, consigned by Lovacres Ranch, agent, is out of Rachel’s Edition, 16, who was stakes-placed in Ontario during a three-year racing career. Rachel’s Edition is by Ascot Knight.

The 2-year-old colt, a California-bred, has been galloping for 90 days, according to a note in the sale catalog. Awesome Gambler was the leading freshman sire in California in 2011 and stands at Lovacres Ranch.

Two 4-year-old fillies and a 5-year-old mare sold for $30,000 – Miss Nicole, an unraced 4-year-old mare by Street Cry, who sold as a broodmare prospect; Alala, a maiden race winner at Hollywood Park in December; and Smart Striking, 5, a two-time winner in Ireland who was second in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Dec. 30.

The uptick in the market was expected, Lloyd said.

“Things are getting better,” he said. “We’re getting solid action in this sale. People are calling from all over the country looking to buy. It gives you a feeling of confidence going forward.”

January 22, 2012

Barretts starts its season with modest expectations
By Steve Andersen

Barretts starts its 2012 sale season with a one-day January mixed sale in Pomona, Calif., on Tuesday that features 2-year-olds, breeding stock, horses of racing age, and yearlings.

Unlike the 2010 sale, which included a reduction in horses owned by Jenny Craig, there is no dispersal or reduction in this year’s sale, which begins at 11 a.m.

“The January sale is for us a service sale,” said Kim Lloyd, vice-president of sales at Barretts. “It’s not like a March [2-year-olds in-training] sale where you have great expectations. We expect this sale to be pretty good and kind of solid.”

The 2011 January mixed sale had an average price of $5,310 from 256 horses listed as sold. In 2010, fueled by the Craig reduction, there were 275 horses listed as sold for an average of $7,320.

Lloyd said a reduction in breeding stock in California has fallen enough in recent years that the market could be boosted at Tuesday’s sale. “We’re seeing a little more interest in the market, even with broodmares,” he said. “They can get bought and get sold.”

In addition, the development of the Golden State Series, a newly-formed group of races for California-breds of all ages this year could make statebreds more attractive. “I’m excited about that Golden State Series,” Lloyd said. “It’s well thought out, a good incentive.”

Among the broodmares, there are expectations for Sci Fi Kin, a 13-year-old mare who produced Pretty Unusual, the winner of the Grade 2 El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita in 2010. Sci Fi Kin sells in foal to Unusual Heat, the state’s leading sire by progeny earnings. “Those kinds of horses will sell well no matter where or when,” Lloyd said.

Following Tuesday’s sale, the next event on the Barretts calendar is the March Sale of select 2-year-olds in training on the evening of March. 5. Lloyd said the sale has 140 entries. Last year, there were 106 entries, and 55 horses listed as sold.

Pair of Eclipses for statebreds

For the first time in a decade, there are two California-breds among the list of Eclipse Award winners.

Acclamation was named champion older male, and Amazombie was named champion sprinter. The last time that happened was 2001, when Tiznow was champion older male and Gourmet Girl was champion older female.

Tiznow won the California-bred Horse of the Year title that year, an award that has yet to be decided this year. Voting for statebred horse of the year is underway through the members of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The title will be revealed at organization’s annual awards dinner in Pasadena on Feb. 13.

Cases can be made for both horses. Acclamation won 5 of 7 starts and $1,126,000 in a California-based campaign. Three of the wins were in Grade 1 races – the Charles Whittingham Handicap, Eddie Read Stakes and Pacific Classic.

A 6-year-old horse by Unusual Heat, Acclamation won on turf and on Del Mar’s Polytrack synthetic surface.

Amazombie was at his best in October and November. He won the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes on Oct 1, followed five weeks later by a career-defining win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Overall, Amazombie won 5 of 9 starts and $1,327,000, with all the wins coming in stakes. They ranged in quality from the Sunshine Millions Sprint and Sensational Star for restricted company in the winter to the Grade 1 races in the fall.

It is easy to argue that Amazombie should have had a record of 6 wins in 9 starts. He finished first in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap at Hollywood Park on May 30, but was disqualified and placed third for causing interference in early stretch.

In a way, they both deserve the title. It would not be unheard-of if the title was shared. In 2009, California Flag and Dancing in Silks were recognized as co-California-bred Horses of the Year after season in which they won the BC Turf Sprint and BC Sprint, respectively.

January 15, 2012

Thirtyfirststreet staying closer to home in 2012
By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. – Thirtyfirststreet spent almost as much time on the road in 2011 as he did racing in his home state of California. Of his nine races, four were outside the state, including a win in the Lone Star Derby in Texas last May.

For 2012, there is unlikely to be too many plane flights for the 4-year-old California-bred colt. Thursday at Santa Anita, Thirtyfirststreet won for the first time since May in an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles against open company. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Thirtyfirststreet stalked the pace in early stretch and pulled away in the final furlong to win by 6 1/2 lengths.

“We’ve been waiting for that for a long time,” co-owner Mark Gorman said. “It set up perfect. Bejarano has those magic hands. Now, we have a lot of fun choices.”

The primary choice for Gorman and his partners, Neil Haymes and Sterling Stable, is the $200,000 Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Feb. 4. The race could lead to a start in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 3.

“He likes the track at Santa Anita, and the plan is to keep him on the main track,” Gorman said. “It’s very exciting when you wait a long time for something and it comes to fruition.”

Gorman bred Thirtyfirststreet with trainer Doug O’Neill. A winner of 4 of 13 starts and $345,200, Thirtyfirststreet won the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes in December 2010, but the Lone Star Derby was his only win in nine starts in 2011. The 2011 season also included a second in the Zia Park Derby in New Mexico in December, a 10th in the Virginia Derby in July, and a third in the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap on turf at Del Mar in August.

“When you ship out of town, it can take a toll on a horse,” O’Neill said.

Thirtyfirststreet is by Good Journey out of Avian, a Sky Classic mare. O’Neill trained Avian, who won six races in a six-year career and earned $124,960. Gorman said that there is a yearling full brother to Thirtyfirststreet, named Fortysecondstreet, and that Avian is expected to deliver a foal by Good Journey this spring.

Caracortado eyeing Sensational Star

Caracortado, winner of the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course Jan. 8, may not have long between starts.

Trainer and co-owner Mike Machowsky said the 5-year-old gelding may start in the $100,000 Sensational Star Handicap for statebreds on the hillside turf course Jan. 28, with the $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 3 as a late winter goal.

“If I run in the Cal-bred race, it will give me more time for the Kilroe Mile,” Machowsky said.

After Sunday’s race, Machowsky traveled to Kentucky, where he watched Caracortado’s dam, Mons Venus, sell for $250,000 at Keeneland. Caracortado, by Cat Dreams, is likely to be the last foal of Mons Venus’s that Machowsky trains. He said there is a Giant’s Causeway yearling out of Mons Venus who will sell at Keeneland in September as part of a foal-sharing agreement.

The family includes an unraced 3-year-old filly trained in Southern California by Hector Palma who was sold as a yearling and a 2-year-old at an in-training sale in 2011.

Later this year, Machowsky has the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November as a long-term goal for Caracortado, a winner of 9 of 19 and $864,105.

“I want to give him a couple of races and then give him a break,” Machowsky said Friday. “He went back and jogged today.”

Machowsky has a promising California-bred 3-year-old filly in Twelve Folds, by Cindago, who won a maiden race for statebred fillies over 5 1/2 furlongs in her third start Jan. 8. She is a filly with high expectations, Machowsky said.

“I think she’ll win some stakes,” he said.

January 8, 2012

Unusual Heat again tops California stallions in progeny earnings
By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. – Unusual Heat defended his title as California’s leading stallion by progeny earnings in 2011 with earnings of $4,495,713, slightly edging his 2010 total. The 2011 season was the fourth consecutive year in which Unusual Heat has led the state’s stallions.

In 2011, Unusual Heat’s progeny was led by a nationally prominent horse in Acclamation, who earned $1,126,000 and is a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding older male and outstanding turf male. Acclamation, who won three Grade 1 races in California in 2011, was one of three stakes winners by Unusual Heat, who combined to win eight stakes last year.

In overall 2011 earnings, Unusual Heat finished well clear of runner-up Tribal Rule ($3,488,563), who was followed in the top five by Benchmark ($2,921,641), Kafwain ($2,847,642), and Southern Image ($2,351,448).

Unusual Heat’s 2011 total surpassed his 2010 year-end total of $4,342,128, but well shy of his 2008 mark of $5,827,513, an all-time record for a California-based stallion. Unusual Heat, 22, stands for $20,000 at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif. He is expected to be bred to approximately 60 mares in 2012, or about the same number as in 2011.

The price is the highest in the state for a stallion, but could be more of a value if Acclamation wins an Eclipse Award or two when presentations are made on Jan. 16.

“Let’s see what happens at the Eclipse Award,” said breeder Madeline Auerbach, part of the group that owns Unusual Heat. “At least, he is getting some recognition.”

Awesome Gambler leads freshmen

Awesome Gambler was the leading freshman stallion in California in 2011, and the only one of the first-year group to surpass six figures in progeny earnings.

The bulk of his earnings – $287,692 – was generated by the filly Willa B Awesome, who won 2 of 9 starts and $173,896 in a season highlighted by a win in the Barretts Debutante Stakes at Fairplex Park. Owned by a partnership and trained by Walther Solis, Willa B Awesome was second or third in five stakes from June to September.

Awesome Gambler had 15 runners in 2011, and five winners. Willa B Awesome was his lone stakes winner. Awesome Gambler stands for $5,000 at Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Ranch near Warner Springs, Calif., and will have a much bigger crop of runners in 2012.

“He’s loaded with horses for next year,” Lovingier said.

Lovingier said that Awesome Gambler was bred to 40 mares in 2011, a number that could increase by more than 50 percent this year. “They want to see how that first crop runs,” he said of breeders. “We’ll get 60 or 70 mares to him this year.”

As for Willa B Awesome, she is a 3-year-old in an ideal year this season. The 2012 calendar features the start of the Golden State Series for California-breds, with higher prize money for many divisions. The first major race in the series for 3-year-old fillies is the $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on March 31.

Willa B Awesome earned a break at Lov Acres Ranch after her second-place finish in the filly division of the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. “We give her long enough between races and given her time at the ranch,” Lovingier said.

The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association is holding a stallion season auction on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. The auction will be conducted via telephone at (626) 445-7800, with proceeds going toward the organization’s political action committee.

Awesome Gambler and Southern Image are among the stallions in the auction.

January 1, 2012

Warren gets out of the breeding business
By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ben Warren, one of California’s most prolific owner-breeders in recent years, has stopped breeding and will wind down his racing operation in coming years, he said on Thursday.

Warren does not plan to breed any horses in 2012, but said he will continue to race the approximately 150 horses of racing age and 2-year-olds he owns. In addition, Warren has a crop of horses that will be yearlings in 2012.

“The breeding is done,” he said at Santa Anita.

At one point, Warren said he had approximately 800 horses spread across “seven or eight ranches” in California. The cost related to keeping that many horses was “$750,000 a month,” he said. “It was ridiculous.”

As a breeder, Warren, 78, is well-known for the volume of Thoroughbreds his farms produced, and for naming horses after himself.

On Thursday at Santa Anita, Warren’s Hopeful won the first race for maiden claimers, Warren’s Mad Dawg finished last of seven in a $20,000 claimer, and Warren’s Knockout finished sixth in a $40,000 claimer for turf sprinters. Warren bred all three runners, but does not own Warren’s Hopeful.

He described his upcoming 2-year-old crop as “the best we’ve had.” Warren said he currently has 50 horses in training at Santa Anita with private trainer Jorge Gutierrez.

“We’ve got enough at home for five years,” he said of his future racehorses.

Warren’s operation was at its height in the late 2000s when his stable had more than 100 broodmares. During that time, his breeding farm in Hemet, Calif., had 25 stallions, most of whom he owned. Many of the stallions stood for modest fees, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500. He bought his first horses in the early 2000s, initially getting involved through claiming.

As he wound down his breeding operation in recent months, Warren said he kept only two stallions and disbanded his broodmares.

“I gave them all away,” he said, adding he could not recall where the broodmares and stallions were relocated.

Warren won the 2010 Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar with Warren’s Jitterbug. More recently, his Warren’s Flyer was third in the Melair Stakes at Hollywood Park in April, Warren’s Blossom was second in the Desert Stormer Handicap in June, and Warren’s Amber was third in the filly division of the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes at Santa Anita last Monday.

In business, Warren transports automobiles internationally for the U.S. Army and Navy. He said his firm moved 85,000 cars in 2011. Recently remarried, Warrren said he plans to retire from that job in October 2013.

Two new stallions in California

The stallions Elusive Bluff and Recap will begin their stud careers in California in 2012.

Elusive Bluff, the winner of the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park in 2008, has been moved from Louisiana to E.A. Ranches, in Santa Ysabel, for the upcoming breeding season.

By Elusive Quality, Elusive Bluff will stand for $1,000. He was bred to 22 mares in 2011, according to Jockey Club statistics. Elusive Bluff was unbeaten in two starts at 2, earning $127,380.

Recap, a full brother to the Grade 1 winners Courageous Cat and After Market but winless at the racetrack, enters stud at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona.

Recap is by Storm Cat out of Tranquility Lake, a millionaire and Grade 1 winner on the racetrack. Courageous Cat, who enters stud in Kentucky this year, won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park last July. After Market won the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham and Eddie Read handicaps during his racing career. He stands at stud in Kentucky.

Raced by breeders Marty and Pam Wygod, Recap, who made two starts, will stand complimentary to approved mares. As an incentive to attract mares, a bonus program has been introduced for Recap’s first crop, 2-year-olds of 2015. The registered breeder of the first Grade 1 stakes winner of that crop will receive a $100,000 payment. The breeder of the first stakes winner, in races worth a minimum of $55,000, will receive a $50,000 bonus.

December 26, 2011

Magali Farms hopes Giacomo as popular with mares as he is with fans
By Steve Andersen

In recent months, visitors have arrived unannounced at Magali Farms on Casey Avenue in Santa Ynez, Calif., with one objective – a chance to meet 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.

“It’s amazing the amount of following he has from the general public,” said Magali Farms manager Tom Hudson.

“He’s great with people. We show him in the walking ring and he stands and poses. People get their picture taken with him. Everybody wants to pet a Kentucky Derby winner.”

Having a famous Thoroughbred ambassador is a source of pride for Magali, but it is not the farm’s main objective. Hudson and the rest of the Magali team are hoping that Giacomo is also well-received by California mare owners in the upcoming breeding season.

Giacomo will stand his first season at stud in California in 2012, for a fee of $5,000. He stood at Adena Springs in Kentucky for his first five seasons at stud, and was sent to Magali in the fall. Giacomo, 9, is the only Kentucky Derby winner standing in the state.

California breeders are notorious for arranging matings later in the breeding season than their counterparts in other states, but Hudson says the phones at Magali have been ringing of late.

“We’ve had a lot of calls, which is unusual for this time of year,” he said.

Hudson expects a large group of mares for Giacomo. He said he will be “extremely disappointed” if Giacomo fails to get a book of 70 to 80 mares. Interest in the stallion will be boosted by the familiarity that California owners and breeders have with the horse, who was based in Southern California during his career.

Giacomo won 3 of 16 starts and $2,537,316 in his career. At 2, he was second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity. At 4, he won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

In addition, Giacomo’s current crop of 2-year-olds is promising. Disposable Pleasure overcame trouble to win the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct in late November to become his first graded stakes winner in the United States.

Hudson hopes Disposable Pleasure can give Giacomo a further boost before breeding season begins in mid-February.

“I figure she’ll run one more time before breeding and we can get lucky,” he said.

From a technical point of view, Hudson said that Giacomo’s bloodlines – Holy Bull out of Set Them Free, by Stop the Music – should appeal to breeders whose mares have Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector pedigrees.

“He’s a total outcross,” Hudson said. “He’s a good grade on the nicking pattern.

“He’s unbelievably put together. Out in the pasture, running around on his own, when he’s trotting, he looks like an upper level dressage horse.”

This year, Giacomo has progeny earnings of $1,429,884, which left him ranked 14th among California stallions through Dec. 17. He has 47 winners and four stakes winners this year.

Those statistics mean more to horse racing insiders than the fans who visit Magali. Some have come from as far away as northern San Diego County, Hudson said.

“There was one group of 30 people,” Hudson said. “We tend to have them almost every day. It’s great to have a horse that people remember.”

Giacomo, Heatseeker among 16 new stallions standing in California
By Steve Andersen

The list of stallions joining the ranks of California’s breeding farms for 2012 has created a buzz.

It is not often that new bloodlines at the state’s breeding farms include a Kentucky Derby winner – 2005 winner Giacomo, bound for Magali Farms – or a Grade 1 winner – Heatseeker, on his way to Harris Farms. Both horses stood at farms in Kentucky in 2011 and are part of a group of 16 stallions beginning their stud careers or standing in the state for the first time in 2012.

The list is larger than last year, when there were nine new stallions in the state, including six starting their stud careers. The larger, and more prominent, group for 2012 has left breeders encouraged that incentive programs for California-breds enacted in the last few years have made the state more attractive for young stallions.

Here is a glance at the new stallions and those relocated to the state for 2012.
First-year stallions

Bandido de Amor
Event of the Year-Saros Luck, by Saros
Farm: SK Racing Stable
Fee: Private
This unraced 9-year-old has a pedigree steeped in California racing, particularly on the male side.

Event of the Year, by Seattle Slew, stood at stud in California and was a millionaire on the racetrack, achieving considerable success locally. Bred and raced by Golden Eagle Farm, Event of the Year won the Jim Beam Stakes and El Camino Real Derby in 1998. The following year, he won the Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita and was second to Free House in the Santa Anita Handicap. He stood at stud at Golden Eagle Farms and later at Magali Farms.

Saros Luck did not start. She is the dam of three horses to race, including one winner.

Big Bad Leroybrown
Wild Again-Saboteur, by Corwyn Bay
Farm: Old English Rancho
Fee: $1,500

This 7-year-old gray began his career at 3 and raced until earlier this year, winning 6 of 41 starts and $421,543 throughout California. The highlight was a win in the 2007 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar, the year he was second in the Pomona Derby at Fairplex Park.

At 5, this California-bred placed in three stakes, including the Golden Gate Fields Sprint and Governor’s Cup Handicap at Fairplex Park. His six stakes wins came at distances ranging from six to seven furlongs.

This horse is by top stallion Wild Again, and out of the four-time winner Saboteur, who earned $109,945.

Bold Chieftain
Chief Seattle-Hooked On Music, by Seattle Dancer
Farm: Victory Rose Thoroughbreds
Fee: $3,000

Every season, from his 2-year-old campaign in 2005 through this year, as an 8-year-old, this horse was a race winner in California. He won 18 of 45 starts and $1,653,171, including 14 stakes.

Along the way, he was California’s champion grass horse of 2008, the year he won four stakes, including the Bay Meadows Handicap and California Dreamin’ Handicap at Del Mar. Other career highlights included a win in the 2009 California Cup Classic at Santa Anita, and two lucrative wins in 2010 – the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita and the Grade 2 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields.

Earlier this year, he won the Bull Dog Stakes at Fresno. Hooked on Music was stakes-placed and has produced two other stakes-placed runners.

Informed
Tiznow-Cajun Two Step, by Tabasco Cat
Farm: Ridgeley Farm
Fee: $2,500

His best year came during his 5-year-old season in 2009, the year he won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar and the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park. Overall, he won 6 of 26 starts and $521,349, racing throughout California.

This 7-year-old began his career at 3, the year he won a maiden race over 1 1/16 miles. He raced until earlier this year.

A $500,000 yearling, he was later claimed for $25,000 and went on to win stakes. He is by Tiznow, the only two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, who has developed into a leading national sire.

Noble Court
Doneraile Court-Grey Dawn Grey, by Grindstone
Farm: Magali Farms
Fee: $2,500

He won from six to 7 1/2 furlongs on dirt, turf and synthetic surface in a six-year career that featured 6 wins in 20 starts and earnings of $465,230.

Racing in Southern California, this 7-year-old was most effective on dirt and synthetic tracks, winning the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs in 2007.

His most lucrative season came two years later with a win in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap over 7 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park and placings in two Grade 1 races – a second in the Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar and a third in the Triple Bend Handicap. The same year, he won the Joe Hernandez Stakes on turf at Santa Anita.

Rendezvous
Victory Gallop-Halo Babe, Southern Halo
Farm: Daehling Ranch
Fee: $1,500

He heads to stud following a career of 5 wins in 26 starts and earnings of $447,805.

This 5-year-old had his best season at 3 in 2009, the year he won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, finished second in the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap and was third in two stakes – the El Camino Real Derby and Oceanside Stakes.

Last year, he placed in three stakes, including the Grade 2 Jim Murray Handicap over 1 1/2 miles on turf.

By a stallion who was second in the Kentucky Derby, this horse thrived at distances, winning a maiden race at a mile at 2 and winning at distances ranging from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles later in his career.

Royal Memory
Royal Academy-Memorable Moment, by Secretariat
Farm: SK Racing Stable
Fee: Private

Winless in one start at 3 in 2007, this 7-year-old horse is a rare stallion by Royal Academy standing in California.

Royal Academy was the champion 3-year-old in Ireland and won the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Belmont Park. He is the sire of such notable stakes winners as the Hong Kong Horse of the Year Bullish Luck, the Brazilian champion Top Hat, and the South African champion Eyeofthetiger.

Out of an unraced Secretariat mare, this horse’s dam produced the multiple stakes winner Song of the Moment, who had her greatest success on the Northern California fair circuit.

Run Brother Ron
Perfect Mandate-Aloha Mangos,by Bold Badgett
Farm: Paradise Road Ranch
Fee: $500

His 2-year-old season in 2007 was the highlight of his career. In a seven-race campaign, he won three times – a maiden race at Bay Meadows, the Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity over five furlongs at Pleasanton, and the Beau Brummel Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Fairplex Park. During that season, he was second in the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Overall, this 6-year-old won 6 of 19 starts and $190,781. He was stakes-placed at Mountaineer Racetracki as a 4-year-old in 2009.

His female family is notable. Aloha Mangos placed in six stakes, and produced the stakes-placed Aloha Mangos Kitty.

Scorewithcater
Even the Score-Runaway Cater, by Runaway Groom
Farm: R.M. Master Racing Stables
Fee: $2,000

Sunland Park was the venue of this colt’s biggest win, the Borderland Derby in 2008. In his following start, he finished third in the Sunland Park Derby, behind race winner Kelly Leak, but one position in front of Mine That Bird, who later won the Kentucky Derby.

This 6-year-old won 4 of 18 starts and $332,753, racing throughout western North America. He was second in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby over 1 3/8 miles at Northlands Park in Canada and third in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park.

As a 2-year-old, he won twice at Hollywood Park – over six furlongs and 1 1/16 miles.

Sierra Sunset
Bertrando-Toot Sweet, by Pirate’s Bounty
Farm: Rancho San Miguel
Fee: $2,500

He never had a season without a stakes win. At 2, he won the California Cup Juvenile and Bay Meadows Juvenile. As a 3-year-old, in 2008, he won the Rebel Stakes before being knocked off the Triple Crown trail by injury. In his final racing season as a 4-year-old, he won the Alamedan Handicap at Pleasanton.

By the former leading California stallion Bertando, the now 6-year-old won at distances ranging from 4 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. His dam won twice and placed in two stakes in California.

A $25,000 bonus will be available to the breeder of this stallion’s first graded stakes winner in the United States.

Slew’s Tiznow
Tiznow-Hepatica, by Slewpy
Farm: Rancho San Miguel
Fee: $2,500

From Saratoga to Del Mar, this 6-year-old won four races, including two stakes.

He won a seven-furlong maiden race for 2-year-olds at Saratoga in 2007, the year he was second in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. At 3, he won the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar and set a track record over 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park with a victory in the War Chant Stakes.

As an older horse, he placed in two stakes in 2010 – the Santana Mile at Santa Anita and the Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park.

By top stallion Tiznow, he is a full brother to Slew’s Tizzy, who won three graded stakes and earned $619,619.

Unbridled Justice
Unbridled’s Song-Rose Park, by Plugged Nickle
Farm: Pretty Paint Ranch
Fee: Private
This unraced 7-year-old enters stud with fashionable bloodlines.

Rose Park is the dam of the multiple stakes winner Wild Rush, who won the Met Mile and Carter Handicap in his career; and Almuhathir, who was stakes-placed and earned $233,636.

Rose Park was a stakes winner at Woodbine and Philadelphia Park who earned $217,839.

The male side of the pedigree is equally strong.

Unbridled’s Song is the sire of such stakes winners as Octave, Midshipman, and Splendid Blended and stands for $85,000 in Kentucky. He has sired more than 90 stakes winners.

Relocated stallions

Aragorn
Giant’s Causeway-Onaga, by Mr. Prospector
Farm: Tommy Town Thoroughbreds
Fee: $4,000

His oldest foals are 3-year-old this year, including the two-time West Virginia stakes winner Paco Smart.

A winner of five stakes in California in 2005 and 2006, he previously stood at stud at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles Ky, for $5,000 in 2011. A 9-year-old, he won 6 of 14 starts and $1,529,325. His major stakes wins included the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby in 2005, and two Grade 1 races in 2006 – the Eddie Read and Shoemaker Mile.

He was later second to Miesque’s Approval in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.

Giacomo
Holy Bull-Set Them Free, by Stop The Music
Farm: Magali Farms
Fee: $5,000

Best known for winning the 2005 Kentucky Derby, this 9-year-old won 3 of 16 starts and $2,537,316. As a 4-year-old, he won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

In 2011, Giacomo stood for $5,000 at Adena Springs Farm in Kentucky. He is the only Kentucky Derby winner standing in California.

In his three-year career, he won at 2, 3, and 4, and was second in the Hollywood Futurity in 2004.

His oldest foals are 3-year-olds this year, and are led by Disposable Pleasure, the winner of the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct in November. Other notable progeny include the stakes winner Lady Giacomo and By By Inheritance. His current crop of 2-year-olds includes the Prairie Meadows stakes winner Jake Mo and the Mexican stakes winner Go Vivian Go.

Heatseeker

Giant’s Causeway-Rusty Back, by Defensive Play
Farm: Harris Farms
Fee: $6,500

This 8-year-old’s first foals are 2-year-olds in 2012. By top stallion Giant’s Causeway, he previously stood at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky for $10,000.

On the racetrack, he won 7 of 17 starts and $1,180,233. Third in the Group 1 National Stakes in Ireland in 2005 in his final start in that country, Heatseeker was at his best in early 2008, winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and Californian Stakes and finishing second in the San Antonio and Oaklawn handicaps.

As a 2-year-old in Ireland, he won a maiden race over six furlongs and an allowance race over seven furlongs, both on turf.

Rocky Bar
In Excess-To The Post, by Bold Ego
Farm: E.A. Ranches
Fee: $2,500

Formerly standing at stud at Triple AAA Ranch in Arizona, this 13-year-old is well-known as the sire of the six-time stakes-winning filly Carlsbad, who won 7 of 10 starts and $437,126; and Got an Itch, a three-time stakes winner who won 5 of 19 starts and $162,024.

He has had 10 stakes winners to date, who won primarily in California and the Midwest. This year, his 2-year-old filly Page Springs has won 5 of 6 starts at Turf Paradise.

He won 5 of 24 starts and $236,659 on the racetrack, including the Harry Henson Stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters at Hollywood Park in 2001.

December 18, 2011

Ziebarth maintains her ties with Tiznow
By Steve Andersen

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Tiznow is never far from owner-breeder Pamela Ziebarth’s thoughts, or the bloodlines of her horses.

“There are very few that aren’t related,” she said of her racing and breeding stock.

Ziebarth has a unique perspective of the California-bred Tiznow as a racehorse from a decade ago and as a successful stallion in Kentucky now. Tiznow is the only horse to win two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, in 2000 and 2001, doing so for Ziebarth’s late mother, Cecilia Straub-Reubens.

Ziebarth, of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., has continued the family’s involvement in racing with breeding stock in California and Kentucky and a successful stable of racehorses in California.

On Dec. 11, Tiz Flirtatious, by the Cee’s Tizzy stallion Tizbud, won her first stakes in the $85,800 Cat’s Cradle Handicap for California-bred females at Hollywood Park. Ziebarth bred and owns the 3-year-old Tiz Flirtatious, who is unbeaten in three starts.

Wednesday at Hollywood Park, Ziebarth’s 4-year-old filly Hello Sugar, who is by Cee’s Tizzy, won an optional claimer over six furlongs. The fillies are half-sisters, out of the Victory Gallop mare Masquerade Belle. Cee’s Tizzy is the sire of Tiznow.

“I think we’ll have a busy 2012,” she said.

There may be more to come from the Ziebarth stable in 2011. Trainer Marty Jones is considering a start for Tiz Flirtatious in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes, a Grade 1 for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs Dec. 31.

If Tiz Flirtatious starts in that race, Ziebarth will be seeking her first Grade 1 win since Healthy Addiction won the 2006 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita.

“The reasons to look at that are the distance and what she’s qualified to do in the next few months,” Ziebarth said. “I’m kind of surprised with the Grade 1 jump, but I’m confident with her ability.

“Marty brought her along so slow. She was very relaxed in training at Harris Farms before she came to the track.”

Tiz Flirtatious has won three races, including a maiden and an optional claimer at Santa Anita in October.

“She’s a big filly, and it took her a long time to come into herself,” Jones said after the Cat’s Cradle. “We had to stop and go with her because she was so big. Once she finally seemed to mature, you could see, coming into her first race, she was something nice.”

Tizbud stands at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., while another Ziebarth-owned stallion, Tizdejavu, by Tiznow, stands at Crestwood Farms in Kentucky. Ziebarth raced Tizdejavu with Michael Cooper.

“I’m trying to prove Tizdejavu,” she said. “I’ve got yearlings and 2-year-olds.”

She supports both stallions with her own mares.

“We usually breed 10 to 15 a year,” she said. “Most of them have been bred in California. I sent quite a few back to Kentucky.”

Those trips to Kentucky often include trips to see Tiznow.

Tizbud was bred to more than 30 mares in 2011, Ziebarth said. His status in California’s stallion ranks was boosted with the Cat’s Cradle Handicap win by Tiz Flirtatious.

“We’ve had a lot of Tizbuds that have been halfway successful, but had bad luck with injury,” she said.

Many of the Ziebarth runners race in California, though she has raced to a lesser extent in Kentucky in the past. The decision rests with her proximity to Southern California tracks and the prize money on the local circuit.

“I love the Cal-bred aspect of it,” she said. “I tried to do the racing back there, but the money is better for me here. I enjoy actually seeing them run. I like to tell people that we’re only an hour away from any track.”

December 11, 2011

Rousing Sermon out to become Lucky Pulpit's richest foal this year
By Steve Andersen

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Rousing Sermon will make his graded stakes debut in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity over 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park next Saturday under circumstances that could make him dangerous.

“It’s his third time at the distance, and that’s to our advantage,” said Dan Kiser, racing manger for owner-breeders Larry and Marianne Williams.

Kiser has a right to be biased. He helped raise Rousing Sermon, thought favorably of the colt from the start of his career, and has watched a successful 2-year-old season unfold in 2011.

Approaching the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity, Rousing Sermon has won 2 of 5 starts and $134,000. The highlight has been a win in the California Cup Juvenile over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 29, followed by a second in the Real Quiet Stakes over that distance against open company on Nov. 12.

“I raised him here in Idaho with a group of 19 2-year-olds, and I thought he was the best one,” Kiser said Thursday. “He’s just gorgeous. He’s a big, pretty colt.”

Rousing Sermon has never been worse than third. After winning a maiden race for statebreds over five furlongs at Hollywood Park in June, Rousing Sermon was third in two stakes for California-breds at Del Mar – the Graduation and I’m Smokin Stakes.

“We thought he’d be a better colt going a distance, but he won real easy in his first race,” Kiser said. “Then, we came back in stakes sprinting and it was obvious he needed more ground.”

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Rousing Sermon is one of eight stakes winners among the 14 probable starters for the CashCall Futurity. The final field will be known Wednesday, when entries are due.

Rousing Sermon was bred by the Williamses and is by Lucky Pulpit, whom they raced. Rousing Sermon is out of the Awesome Again mare Rousing Again, winner of six races for the Williamses on the East Coast. Rousing Again also is the dam of a yearling Bertrando filly, but died in 2010 from complications of delivering that foal, Kiser said.

If Rousing Sermon finishes in the first four in the CashCall Futurity, he will pass Luckarack as Lucky Pulpit’s richest foal this year. Luckarack has earned $182,070 this year in a season highlighted by a win in the Jim Kostoff Stakes at Fairplex Park in September.

There are not that many Lucky Pulpits currently on the racetrack. Kiser estimated that the sire was bred to 23 or 24 mares in 2008, his second year at stud. Last year, Lucky Pulpit was the leading freshman stallion in California, a title that led to greater attention for the stallion from breeders earlier this year.

“The first couple of years were pretty small,” Kiser said of the foal crops. “Last year, he was bred to more than 100 mares. We’re pretty tickled.”

Lucky Pulpit stood for $2,500 in 2011 and will stay at that price in 2012. The stallion market in California will become more crowded with the addition of several new prospects in 2012, a reason to keep the fee down, Kiser said.

“I’m sure he’s good enough to stand for $4,000 or $5,000, but we’ve got Heatseeker, Aragorn, and Giacomo coming to California, and they’ll stand in that range,” Kiser said. “We thought we’d be best off to stand for $2,500.”

This could be a big month for the Williamses. Sunday at Hollywood Park, they start Lady Railrider in the $80,000 Cat’s Cradle Handicap. A 6-year-old mare, Lady Railrider has won 9 of 32 starts and $587,230 and could win her fifth stakes in the Cat’s Cradle Handicap for statebred females.

November 20, 2011

Aging sire Unusual Heat will not be overbooked
By Steve Andersen

Unusual Heat, California’s leading sire by progeny earnings since 2008, will stand for $20,000 at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., to a book of approximately 60 mares in 2012, a stud fee unchanged from 2011.

The fee was announced earlier this week. Madeline Auerbach, part of the stallion’s ownership group, said on Thursday that the stallion’s book will be limited again this year.

“I hope we’ll be close to last year when we had 60,” Auerbach said. “Between 50 and 60 mares are good.”

Unusual Heat, 21, is the most expensive stallion in the state. Auerbach said that a larger book of mares, which is customary at some farms in Kentucky, does not suit Unusual Heat.

“I don’t think it’s healthy,” she said. “We did it at 60 and his fertility is good. I don’t want to mess with it.”

Through Thursday, Unusual Heat led California’s stallions with 2011 progeny earnings of $4,070,623, more than $1 million ahead of runner-up Tribal Rule ($3,056,572). Unusual Heat’s total so far this year is close to his 2010 year-end total of $4,342,128, but well shy of his 2008 mark of $5,827,513, an all-time record for a California-based stallion.

This year, Unusual Heat’s leading money-earner has been Acclamation, who has won three Grade 1 races – the Charles Whittingham Handicap, Eddie Read Stakes, and Pacific Classic. Acclamation has earned $1,126,000 this year. Acclamation won two other stakes earlier this year, including the Grade 2 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship at Santa Anita in October, but did not start in the Breeders’ Cup because of a bruised foot.

Despite his absence from the Breeders’ Cup, Auerbach argues that Acclamation, who is owned by a partnership that does not include her, should be part of the Horse of the Year debate along with the multiple stakes winning 4-year-old filly Havre de Grace.

“He belongs in the discussion,” Auerbach said of Acclamation “I know people have said he didn’t win outside of California, but the others did not race in California. So what’s the point? Nothing. Havre de Grace is a wonderful horse.”

Aragorn moves to Tommy Town

Aragorn, the winner of five stakes in California in 2005 and 2006, will stand the 2012 breeding season at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, the farm announced earlier this week.

Aragorn, 9, will stand for $4,000 in 2012. He formerly stood at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Ky. Aragorn’s 2011 stud fee was $5,000.

An Irish-bred by Giant’s Causeway, Aragorn’s oldest foals are 3-year-olds of 2011. This year, Aragorn has been represented by the two-time West Virginia stakes winner Paco Smart. In 2010, the Aragorn colt Fort Hastings was third in a Group 3 stakes in Germany. Fort Hastings is currently in training in Southern California with trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

On the track, Aragorn won 6 of 14 starts and $1,529,325. His 2006 campaign was highlighted by wins in two Grade 1 races – the Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park and Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar – and a second to Miesque’s Approval in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.

October 30, 2011

New Golden State Series provides boost to California breeders
By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. – The proof is in the numbers, the ones that are rising and falling.

In 2012, the newly formed Golden State Series will offer 27 races for statebreds worth $4.65 million. An emphasis has been placed on races for 2- and 3-year-olds, increasing opportunities for those age groups from 12 races worth $1.275 million in 2011 to 18 races worth $3.6 million in 2012.

The timing is vital. The 2011 foal crop for California-breds was 1,762 foals, according to Jockey Club statistics released last month. The foal crop declined 6.8 percent from the 1,891 registered foals in 2010. As recently as 2005, there were 3,707 live foals registered in the state.

Blame the economy, competition from breeding programs in other states, or the cost of keeping breeding stock in California. It does not matter. To racing officials, it was obvious that something needed to be done, and fast, in an attempt to reverse the trend.

“We tend to address things in critical stages,” Hollywood Park racing secretary Martin Panza said earlier this week. “This was something we couldn’t let get to a crisis situation.”

Meetings with racetrack officials, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and Thoroughbred Owners of California led to the development of the Golden State Series, which they hope will spur interest in breeding in the state.

“It’s the first time in a long time we’ve been proactive instead of reactive,” Panza said.

The details were finalized over the summer by CTBA executive director Doug Burge and Panza, who went on a two-man roadshow presenting the concept to the state’s breeders.

For breeders, the plan could offer a boost in interest for their stallions, attract additional mares to the state, and provide much needed capital to the bottom lines of the farms, which have dwindled in numbers at an alarming rate in recent years.

“The goal is to stimulate the breeding and owning of Cal-breds,” said Burge, who has worked for the CTBA since 1995. “When you can expand the purse dollars, and the number of opportunities, and put this out there in front of people, it has to continue to help.

“Long-term, our goal, with proper participation and support, is to expand this to the older horses as well. Right now, it’s geared toward 2- and 3-year-olds. Hopefully in three to five years, we’ll have similar increases from older horses.”

Burge said there are signs of some stability in the California bloodstock market when the foal crop fell by 6 percent, compared to steeper drops such as 14 percent in national leader Kentucky and an alarming 25 percent in registered Florida-breds. As a result, California’s 1,762 ranked second on the Jockey Club list of 2011 foals, behind Kentucky with 11,065.

The Golden State Series is the second financial incentive developed in recent years. Beginning in the fall 2009, a $20,000 bonus was enacted for California-breds who win maiden special weight races on the Southern California circuit. A win in a similar race on the Northern California circuit is worth $10,000.

The Golden State Series will be financed by several sources – drawing some purse revenue from horsemen’s stakes account, the CTBA’s funding, the California Marketing Committee (a fund to promote racing in the state), and through a subscription program.

For 2-year-old California-bred or California-sired runners of 2012 to be eligible, owners must pay a $300 nomination by Feb. 12. A 2-year-old not nominated to the Golden State Series at that time can later be supplemented to a stakes, and made eligible to the program for life, with a $25,000 payment. Horses aged 3 years old or older in 2012 are grandfathered into the program with no nomination costs, but will largely have lower prize money available for at least the first year of the program.

The four richest races in the series in 2012 are existing stakes that will be worth $300,000, with enhanced purses from 2011. The Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds and Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies were worth $150,000 and $125,000 at Hollywood Park last April. Their 2012 purses will reach record levels. Both races will be run at 1 1/8 miles, an increase by a sixteenth-mile for the Melair.

In December 2012, divisions of the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes for 2-year-olds and 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita will be worth $300,000, a massive $200,000 increase from 2010. The distances have been extended from seven furlongs to a mile. (The purses for the 2011 runnings this December have not been announced).

Four of the six new races are preps for those stakes. At Santa Anita on March 31, two $200,000 races over 6 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-olds will be run – the Echo Eddie and the Evening Jewel for fillies. In December 2012, two $200,000 races over seven furlongs for 2-year-olds will be inaugurated at Hollywood Park – the King Glorious and Soviet Problem Stakes for fillies. The other two new stakes – the Campanile for fillies and Silky Sullivan – are $100,000 races for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields in early June.

In addition, the purses of two seven-furlong sprints at Del Mar – the Real Good Deal Stakes and Fleet Treat Stakes for fillies – have been hiked to $200,000, from $100,000 in 2011. The California Cup Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies have been boosted to $250,000 from 2011 levels of $100,000 each.

Purses for older horses have not been increased for 2012, though discussions have taken place about higher prize money in coming years.

Burge and Panza say there are early indications the new series has boosted the prominence of California-breds. They cited an increase in average prices for yearlings at the Barretts October yearling sale earlier this month to $16,811, a 19.4 percent increase over 2010. Earlier this month, there was a flurry of new stallions added to the state. Harris Farms announced that Grade 1 winner Heatseeker would stand in California in 2012. Magali Farms announced that 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and the multiple stakes winner Noble Court will stand at the Santa Ynez farm in 2012.

The real proof that the program is helping, Burge and Panza say, will come next spring if phones begin to ring at farms with mare owners looking to book stallions, if the new series of races can draw attractive fields, and if future sales of California-breds, both public and private, have a stronger market.

“It seemed like the right thing to do to prod along the marketplace,” Panza said. “Certainly, it helps the breeders. You got to these farms, and these people have tremendous commitments financially and emotionally. It’s their way of life.”

October 23, 2011

Giacomo, Heatseeker to stand in California
By Steve Andersen

Five stallions, including 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and the Grade 1 winner Heatseeker, will stand in California in 2012, the farms involved announced in recent days.

Giacomo, who previously stood at Adena Springs farm in Paris, Ky., and Noble Court, a multiple stakes winner retired earlier this year, will stand at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez.

Heatseeker, winner of the 2008 Santa Anita Handicap and two other stakes, will stand at Harris Farms in Coalinga.

Calimonco, a full brother to two Breeders’ Cup winners, will enter stud at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona. Finally, Rocky Bar, a stakes winner at Hollywood Park in 2001 and an established stallion in Arizona, is moving to E.A. Ranches in Ramona.

Giacomo’s oldest foals are 3-year-olds this year.

Raced by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, Giacomo is best known for winning the 2005 Kentucky Derby in a 50-1 upset. A 9-year-old by Holy Bull, Giacomo won 3 of 16 starts and $2,537,316, including the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in 2006.

Giacomo stood for $5,000 earlier this year, but his fee for 2012 has not been announced. His first two crops to race include the stakes winners Lady Giacomo and Jake Mo.

Giacomo will be the only Kentucky Derby winner standing in California.

“As an individual, he’s spectacular,” Magali farm manager Tom Hudson said.

Noble Court won 6 of 20 starts and $465,230 in a career highlighted by wins in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita in 2007 and the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap at Hollywood Park in 2009. A 7-year-old horse by Doneraile Court, Noble Court made his final start in February, finishing fourth in the Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

In summer 2009, Noble Court was third in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap and second in the Grade 1 Pat O’Brien Stakes, both for sprinters.

No fee was announced for Noble Court, who raced for Joy Ride Racing. Giacomo and Noble Court arrived at Magali Farms earlier this week.

Heatseeker previously stood at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky and will stand for $6,500 at Harris Farms.

An 8-year-old by Giant’s Causeway, Heatseeker’s oldest foals are yearlings this year.

On the racetrack, Heatseeker won 7 of 17 starts and $1,180,233. Third in the Group 1 National Stakes in Ireland in 2005 in his final start in that country, Heatseeker was at his best in early 2008, winning the Grade 1 Big Cap and Californian Stakes and finishing second in the San Antonio and Oaklawn handicaps.

At Hill ‘n’ Dale, Heatseeker stood for $10,000.

Calimonco, a full brother to Breeders’ Cup winners Sweet Catomine and Life Is Sweet, has won 4 of 26 starts and $264,466 in his career. Earlier this year at Del Mar, not far from Ballena Vista, Calimonco won the Wickerr Stakes on turf. He was later third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile and seventh earlier this month in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile at Santa Anita.

Sweet Catomine won the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Lone Star Park and was the champion 2-year-old filly for that season. Life Is Sweet won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita.

Calimonco is by Storm Cat. He was bred by Marty Wygod and raced for him for much of his career before Ballena Vista became a partner on the horse earlier this season. Calimonco will stand for $1,000.

Rocky Bar, who previously stood at Triple AAA Ranch in Arizona, will stand for $2,500 in 2012.

A 13-year-old by In Excess, Rocky Bar is the sire of the six-time stakes winning filly Carlsbad, who won 7 of 10 starts and $437,126; and Got an Itch, winner of 5 of 19 starts and $162,024. Got an Itch has won three stakes.

October 16, 2011

Barretts officials heartened by yearling sale results
By Steve Andersen

The recent Barretts October yearling sale had its highest average in four years, leaving sale officials optimistic that growth is looming in the California yearling market.

The two-day sale, held on Tuesday evening and during the day on Wednesday, saw 154 horses sell for $2,599,700, an average of $16,811. The average was 19.4 percent higher than the 2010 average of $14,128, which was boosted by a reduction of yearling owned by Marty and Pam Wygod.

This year was the second consecutive year the average increased; the 2009 sale averaged $12,413.

“We were looking for double-digit increases and we got that,” said Kim Lloyd, Barretts vice-president of sales. “We feel like we have some momentum going.”

This year’s average price was the highest since 2007, which averaged $19,938.

Two horses sold for $100,000, topping Tuesday evening’s session. Wednesday’s session was led by filly who sold for $70,000. She was purchased by trainer Mike Machowsky, whom Lloyd cited as the sort of buyer who thrives in a regional yearling market. Many of the horses bought at the sale eventually race in Southern California.

“Machowsky is a good example,” Lloyd said. “He bought six California-breds. He said, ‘Why look at anything else?’”

Based at Santa Anita, Machowsky’s stable is led by the California-bred Caracortado, a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

The $100,000 yearlings were an Unusual Heat colt bought by trainer Eric Kruljac, acting on behalf of Class Racing Stable, and an Afleet Alex colt bought by trainer Mike Pender on behalf of B.J. Wright. On Oct. 8, Wright and Pender won the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile with Jeranimo, a candidate for the BC Mile on Nov. 5.

Tuesday’s session was the strongest of the week, showing an increase in average price of 47 percent over 2010. Wednesday’s session had an average price that was down 7 percent. One point of concern was the buyback rate, which reached 30 percent. There were 221 horses that went through the ring, with 67 listed as not sold.

Lloyd said the buyback rate was “higher than we expected” but said that 12 of those horses were late sold in private deals.

Before the sale, Lloyd was optimistic that average prices would be higher than 2010, basing his theory on higher purses for California-breds throughout the Southern California circuit, a lucrative stakes program for statebreds that has been redeveloped for 2012, and an existing incentive plan that pays a $20,000 bonus to statebreds who win maiden special weight races in Southern California.

Cal Cup winner His Legacy dies

His Legacy, who won three runnings of the California Cup Starter Handicap in the early 1990s, died of natural causes at Legacy Ranch in Clements, Calif., on Thursday, farm owner Pete Parrella said. He was 26.

His Legacy raced from the ages of 2 to 9 and won 14 of 47 starts. He earned $420,925 in a career best known for wins in the Cal Cup Starter Handicap in 1991, 1992 and 1994 and a second in the 1993 running.

“In his first race at Bay Meadows in 1987, he won by 10 lengths,” Parrella said. “It really got me enthused on the Thoroughbred side. He was real special for me. He was named after the ranch.”

In his retirement years, His Legacy shared a paddock with the retired Quarter Horse multiple stakes winner Griswold, a champion who also raced for Legacy Ranch. Griswold died earlier this year.

“They were buddies,” Parrella said. “They really enjoyed each other

October 9, 2011

California-bred yearlings become more attractive for buyers
By Steve Andersen

A massive boost to stakes purses for California-breds in 2012 is likely to contribute to higher interest in statebred yearlings at this week’s Barretts October yearling sale at Fairplex in Pomona, Calif.

The two-day sale begins on Tuesday with an evening session at 7 p.m., and continues Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. There are 253 yearlings in the sale, predominantly California-breds.

Last year, a two-day yearling sale averaged $14,128 for 160 horses sold, an increase in average price of 14 percent from the 2009 average of $12,413 for 178 horses sold.

Earlier this month, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association announced the formation of the 2012 Golden State Series of 18 races at Golden Gate Fields and in Southern California worth $3.6 million. The series will include four $300,000 races – two for 2-year-olds and two for 3-year-olds; two $250,000 races for 2-year-olds; and six $200,000 races – four for 3-year-olds and two for 2-year-olds. In the series, there is a mix of monies added to existing races and the development of new races.

California-bred or sired foals of 2010 can be made eligible with a $300 payment on Feb. 15, or by a $25,000 payment at time of entry for a race. California-bred or sired foals of 2009 or earlier do not have to pay additional fees to enter the stakes.

With considerable prize money available to 2-year-olds of 2012, the yearling market this week could be a beneficiary, according to Kim Lloyd, the vice president of sales at Barretts. He said the new series, combined with the $20,000 bonus paid to California-breds who won maiden special weight races in Southern California, offers two major incentives to horse owners.

“Those are real opportunities,” he said. “We’ve seen a benefit from the maiden program. Now, there is a more extensive program. You break your maiden and you can get really serious. I think it’s good for the breeders.”

Lloyd describes this week’s catalog as the strongest Barretts has offered.

“I expect a good sale,” he said. “I feel like there are people who need horses. It was a strong sale at Keeneland and that bodes well for the whole market. Plus, we have better horses than we’ve had. This is our best book ever. The physicals are better and the pedigrees are better.

“We expect a rise in average.”

The sale includes 10 yearlings – six colts and four fillies – by Unusual Heat, the leading stallion in the state. Unusual Heat is the sire of Acclamation, the winner of five consecutive graded stakes, and a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.There are California-breds by Candy Ride and Midnight Lute, a first crop sire.

There are also first crop yearlings by Bedford Falls, Belgravia, Brother Derek, Cheroot, Council Member, Cowtown Cat, Crossword, Curlin, Fairbanks, Harlington, Heatseeker, Horse Greeley, Lucky J.H., McCann’s Mojave, Notional, Red Giant, Storm Wolf, Street Boss, Street Hero, War Pass.

Curlin, the 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year, is represented by a filly,who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Nacho Saint.

There are four yearlings by Bedford Falls in the sale. If one of those horses becomes Bedford Falls’s first black-type stakes winner, the owner will receive a $12,500 from the stallion’s owners. The owner of the first Bedford Falls foal to win a graded stakes is eligible for a $25,000 bonus.

“We’re not sure where the sale topper is coming from but we have horses good going in,” Lloyd said.

Slew’s Tiznow will stand at Rancho San Miguel

The two-time stakes winner Slew’s Tiznow will stand at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif., in 2012, according to ranch manager Clay Murdock.

Slew’s Tiznow, 6, retires after winning four of 14 starts and earnings $321,100. By Tiznow, Slew’s Tiznow won the El Cajon Stakes and War Chant Stakes in 2008 and was second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in 2007.

Murdock said that Slew’s Tiznow will stand for $2,500.

October 2, 2011

Shadow of Illinois retired at age 11
By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shadow of Illinois, who won the Grade 3 San Simeon Handicap in 2005 and raced as an 11-year-old this year, has been retired, trainer Anthony Saavedra said.

A winner of 10 of 50 starts and $517,295, the California-bred Shadow of Illinois is currently residing with Saavedra and his wife, Jennifer, at their home near Santa Anita.

“We’re letting him down and getting him ready for the second phase of his life,” Saavedra said Friday. “This will be better for him.”

Aside from the San Simeon Handicap win, Shadow of Illinois was best known for the longevity of his racing career. He made one start at Sunland Park in 2003 and spent the rest of his career in Southern California, racing primarily in turf sprints.

Bred by Barbara Millard, Shadow of Illinois is by Illinois Storm and is out of the Trempolino mare My Annie T.

In recent months, Shadow of Illinois fought abscesses in his feet, Saavedra said. In the last few weeks, the Saavedras have considered training Shadow of Illinois to be a hunter-jumper.

“We might try that, and if it didn’t work out, we’ll find a green pasture for him,” Saavedra said.

Even though he did not win a stakes after 2005, Shadow of Illinois remained competitive throughout the circuit. In 2009, he won turf races at the five Southern California meetings that conduct turf racing – Santa Anita winter-spring, Hollywood Park spring-summer, Del Mar, Oak Tree at Santa Anita, and the Hollywood Park fall meeting.

Shadow of Illinois was winless in 10 starts in 2010 and 2011.

His last racetrack appearance was a sixth-place finish in an optional claimer for statebreds at Hollywood Park on July 8. Shadow of Illinois was entered for a $25,000 claiming price that evening, a level he raced for frequently in the last 18 months.

“Racing at his level is pretty tough,” Saavedra said. “I could find a spot someplace else, but he’s been pretty good to us.”

The abscesses that led to the Saavedras retiring Shadow of Illinois were not a new ailment. Shadow of Illinois wore glue-on shows throughout his career, Saavedra said. He credited farriers Ben Craft and Robert Treasure, exercise rider Daron Long, and veterinarian Vince Baker for caring for Shadow of Illinois, which allowed him to race to an advanced age.

“It was an unbelievable ride,” Saavedra said. “The chances of coming up with another one like him in my career is pretty small. Even though he’s at home, we miss him at the barn.”

Stud plans set for Sierra Sunset

Sierra Sunset, who won three stakes, has been retired to stud at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif., for the 2012 breeding season.

A 6-year-old, Sierra Sunset won 5 of 14 starts and $459,696 in a three-year career that ended in 2009. Earlier this year, Sierra Sunset was in training in Northern California, but did not race.

Trained by Jeff Bonde, Sierra Sunset is best known for winning the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in 2008, his final start of that year. An injury during that campaign prevented him from starting in the Triple Crown races.

As a 4-year-old in 2009, Sierra Sunset won the Alamedan Handicap at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. A California-bred by Bertrando, Sierra Sunset will stand for $2,500, according to Rancho San Miguel ranch manager Clay Murdock.

“He was a precocious 2-year-old,” Murdock said. “He won going 4 1/2 [furlongs]. Also in his 2-year-old year, he won the California Cup Juvenile and the Bay Meadows Juvenile. He could get two turns and he could carry his speed a long way.”

September 4, 2011

Top Cal-bred Acclamation targets Breeders' Cup Turf
By Steve Andersen

DEL MAR, Calif. – Acclamation almost certainly clinched the title of California-bred horse of the year for 2011 with his brave win in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar last Sunday.

Acclamation is the leading California-bred money winner this year, with $1,036,000, and has won three Grade 1 races. Before the Pacific Classic, Acclamation won two Grade 1 races on turf – the Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park and the Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar.

The only other Grade 1 winner among California-breds this year is Ultra Blend, the winner of the Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar last month.

What will be determined in coming months is how far Acclamation can progress on the national stage. The three Grade 1 wins have pushed Acclamation into the debate for top older horse, within range of the New York star Tizway, who won the Met Mile and Whitney Stakes.

As of Thursday, it was unclear whether they would meet this year. While Tizway is a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Acclamation is more likely for the BC Turf, owner-breeder Bud Johnston said.

Race plans have not been made for Acclamation’s fall campaign, but a decision will be needed soon, Johnston said. Johnston said that Acclamation has made a quick recovery from the $1 million Pacific Classic, a race in which he led throughout.

“We need the horse to show up and tell us how he’s doing,” Johnston said. “I can’t believe how well he came out of it. He ate up everything that night. We had to put the tack on him on the third day. He doesn’t act like he ran, which is an amazing thing.

“I expected him to lie down in his stall and take it easy for a few days.”

After the Pacific Classic, Johnston mentioned the $1.5 million Canadian International on turf at Woodbine on Oct. 16, although the proximity to the BC Turf on Nov. 5 is a concern, Johnston said on Thursday.

“I think it’s too close to the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “We may have to skip the race in Toronto. I also have in mind Dubai in March. It’s fun to make all these plans. It’s more fun than waiting for the condition book to come out.”

If the Canadian International is bypassed, one consideration for a BC Turf prep could be the $150,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 2.

Johnston and his wife Judy bred Acclamation, a 5-year-old by Unusual Heat out of Winning in Style, by Silveyville. Winning in Style was bred by the Johnston’s Old English Rancho, but did not race. Her dam, Lady with Style, by Fleet Discovery, was bred by Old English Rancho but did not race.

Aside from Acclamation, Winning in Style had two stakes-placed runners – Strut Your Stuff, who was third in the Cat’s Cradle Handicap at Hollywood Park in 2005 and earned $233,137; and Always in Style, who was second in the 2007 California Cup Juvenile Fillies and is still in training.

Always in Style, who has earned $135,902, was last of six in the Solana Beach Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 21, and will be pointed for the E.B. Johnston Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles at Fairplex Park on Sept. 12. The race is named for Johnston’s late father.

“I have a sentimental attachment to that race,” Johnston said. “We’re getting calls on her back east and if she’s for sale. We’ll probably breed her next year. She’s booked to Unusual Heat. Those are things in the future.”

Winning in Style is 23 and is in foal to Vronsky, who stands at Old English Rancho in Sanger, Calif., Johnston said. “The mare hasn’t been in foal for about four years,” Johnston said. “She’s carrying a Vronsky baby at the moment. So far, knock on wood, she’s been fine. I hope she carries it to term. It would be exciting now to have another out of her.”

August 21, 2011

Solana Beach serves as nice consolation prize for Halo Dolly
By Steve Andersen

DEL MAR, Calif. – Halo Dolly is so highly-regarded in trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s stable that she was entered for Saturday’s $250,000 Del Mar Oaks. Unfortunately, the same idea occurred to the owners and trainers of 12 other 3-year-old fillies, leaving Halo Dolly on the also-eligible list.

As a consolation, Hollendorfer has Sunday’s $100,000 Solana Beach Handicap for statebred fillies and mares over a mile on turf. In that race, Halo Dolly will be favored, and seeking her fifth consecutive win.

A filly by Popular, Halo Dolly is the only 3-year-old in a field of six. She has compiled her winning streak by winning a starter allowance and allowance race at Golden Gate Fields in the spring, an allowance race at Pleasanton on July 3, and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Santa Rosa on July 30.

The winning streak was preceded by a sixth-place finish in the Melair Stakes at Hollywood Park in April, a race that Hollendorfer dismisses.

“She got on the outside and ran off,” Hollendorfer said. “We’ve always liked her and thought she was a filly with promise. The more we worked with her, the better she’s got. We think she’s okay.”

Owned by a partnership, Halo Dolly is best when allowed to stalk the pace, and that scenario should occur in the Solana Beach, with Caitie’s Secret likely to lead. Trained by John Sadler, Caitie’s Secret makes her stakes debut on Sunday.

Warren’s Jitterbug drew the outside post, and is winless in eight starts since the Sandy Blue Handicap here last summer. Owned by breeder Ben Warren, Warren’s Jitterbug is a closer who was a game second in an allowance race against open company at Hollywood Park on June 5.

She emerged from that race with an illness, trainer Jorge Gutierrez said. Ideally, the Solana Beach would be a week or two later in the schedule, he said.

“She’s had her ups and downs,” Gutierrez said. “I wish I had one more work in her. I think she can hit the board. She’ll be coming.”

Average price of yearlings rises at Pleasanton sale

The Northern California yearling sale at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton last Tuesday showed growth in average price compared with a disappointing 2010 sale and was largely even with the 2009 sale.

At the one-day sale, 70 horses were sold for $357,900, an average of $5,113 and a median of $2,700. The average price increased 17 percent from the 2010 figure of $4,359 and was down slightly from the 2009 average of $5,146.

Tuesday, there were 39 horses listed as bought back, compared with 53 in 2010. There were 16 horses withdrawn this year, compared with 20 last year.

For the first time, this year’s sale included a small number of horses of racing age, with 15 offered, 10 listed as being bought back, and five sold for $25,000, an average of $5,000. The highest among that group was a 3-year-old unraced filly by Flame Thrower who sold for $10,000.

Tuesday’s sale topper, purchased for $40,000 by Bob Hess Sr. agent, is a full sister to the 2011 stakes winner Sherman Bartlebort. Sherman Bartlebort was purchased at the 2010 Northern California yearling sale for $6,500, and has won 2 of 5 starts and $71,370 this year, highlighted by a win in the Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity at Pleasanton last month.

The sale topper, by Tannersmyman out of Alpenwald, was consigned by Woodbridge Farm, and was bred by Woodbridge and James Eaton.

The leading colt, a $20,000 purchase, was bought by Jeff Bonde, agent for Sierra Sunset. The colt is by Stormin Fever, and was consigned by Woodbridge Farm and bred by Eileen Madson

August 14, 2011

Northern California sale trying something new
By Steve Andersen

The Northern California yearling sale at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Tuesday has undergone a transformation this year, in an effort to increase interest and boost revenue.

In addition to 90 yearlings, there are 15 horses of racing age being offered for the first time, with most of those unraced 2- and 3-year-olds.

Operated by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the one-day sale begins at noon.

“This has been a service for the breeders in Northern California to provide an outlet and market for the ones that don’t ship south” for sales, said Doug Burge, the general manager of the breeders’ group.

“It’s been a useful sale. A lot of horses do make it to the races and do win.”

Last year, 82 horses were sold for $357,400, an average of $4,359, which was down 15.2 percent from the 2009 average of $5,146. The 2010 median was $3,000, down from $3,250 in 2009. Burge did not predict the business for Tuesday’s sale, but said that the horses of racing age should help increase attendance.

“For this year, because we don’t do inspections, the success of the sale depends on the product,” Burge said. “The horses of racing age have added interest to the sale. We’ve got some horses that have won. People are looking for made horses right now. Hopefully we can pick up and improve on last year.”

The 2010 sale-topper was a Kafwain colt, but the sale did produce Sherman Bartlebort, who won the Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity at Pleasanton last month. Sherman Bartlebort, a gelding by Tannersmyman, was purchased for just $6,500 at the 2010 sale.

For this year’s sale, the California-based stallion Tannersmyman is represented by 10 yearlings, the highest in the sale along with Don’tsellmeshort, whose oldest foals are 2-year-olds this year.

The sale includes yearlings by first-crop stallions Bedford Falls, Crossword, Lucky J.H., McCann’s Mojave, and Mister Acpen. Lucky J.H. and McCann’s Mojave were multiple stakes winners. McCann’s Mojave is best known for winning the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park in January 2008.

Soviet Problem euthanized

Soviet Problem, the California-bred multiple stakes winner who finished second in the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, was euthanized last week because of the infirmities of old age, according to a statement released by Harris Farms on Wednesday.

The 1994 California-bred Horse of the Year, Soviet Problem was 21 and had resided at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif. During her racing career, she won 18 of 20 starts and $905,546 for owners John Harris and Don Valpredo and trainer Greg Gilchrist. Soviet Problem won four other statebred championships – 3-year-old female and sprinter of 1993, and champion older female and turf horse of 1994.

As a broodmare, she produced one stakes winner, Uncle Don, who earned $105,860, and Escape With Me, the dam of current turf sprint star Unzip Me, a winner of 11 of 20 starts and $743,003. Unzip Me was entered in Friday’s Daisycutter Handicap for female turf sprinters at Del Mar, seeking her eighth stakes victory.

Soviet Problem’s last two foals, a 2-year-old by Unusual Heat and the 3-year-old Good to Be King, by Gulch, are currently in training at Harris Farm.

“She gave 100 percent in every race,” Harris said in a statement released by the farm. “We will always have fond memories of all the fun times we had with her. She will live on in pedigrees as the grand dam of Unzip Me, who shows her gameness and speed.”

August 7, 2011

Ruler of Dubai rewards trainer's sharp eye in Graduation
By Steve Andersen

DEL MAR, Calif. – It was a deal that George Papaprodromou thought he had to make.

When Papaprodromou, the trainer of a small stable at Santa Anita, saw Ruler of Dubai gallop for the first time in May, he was determined to reach a private deal with breeder and fellow trainer Julio Canani for the 2-year-old California-bred son of Tribal Rule.

“I liked the way he trained, the way he was bred, and the way he moved,” Papaprodromou recalled.

A private deal for $25,000 was finalized, Papaprodromou said.

Wednesday, Ruler of Dubai gave the 35-year-old trainer his first stakes win in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar, which capped a hectic week for the gelding and his trainer.

On July 27, Ruler of Dubai finished fourth of six in a starter allowance over 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar, a race he essentially lost before it started, the trainer said. Ruler of Dubai sweated significantly before the start and behaved nervously after shipping from Santa Anita, Papaprodromou said.

“When he didn’t ship that well, I decided to try him back in six days,” Papaprodromou said. “Sometimes you need to bring them back and let them know it’s okay. It worked out perfectly.”

Dismissed at 14-1 in the Graduation, Ruler of Dubai was always well-placed under jockey Garrett Gomez. Third for the first three furlongs, Ruler of Dubai was second in early stretch and held off a late threat from the 10-1 first-time starter Three Vases to win by a head.

“The second time he was much better,” Papaprodromou said of Ruler of Dubai’s race in the Graduation. “I took the blinkers off and he was more relaxed.”

A native of Cyprus, Papaprodromou trains Ruler of Dubai for Harout Keshisian of Arcadia, Calif., who has supported the trainer in the decade since he went on his own. “If it weren’t for him, who knows what I’d be doing,” Papaprodromou said.

Papaprodromou previously worked with his father, Andreas, who trained in Southern California until the 1990s, and has returned to Cyprus where he has a Thoroughbred farm.

The win in the Graduation Stakes has led Papaprodromou to plan for a start in the $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds over six furlongs on Sept. 5. The $250,000 Del Mar Futurity against open company is considered too ambitious for Ruler of Dubai, the trainer said.

Canani has not been completely left out of the success. Aside from breeder awards, Canani has two full brothers to Ruler of Dubai, a yearling and weanling. He bred Ruler of Dubai’s dam, O K Topless, to The Pamplemousse earlier this year. The mare has been pronounced in foal, he said.

O K Topless, a California-bred by Old Topper, won 3 of 29 starts and $125,014. She placed in three stakes at Turf Paradise in late 2004 and ended her career in late 2006 running in claiming races.

“She was a beautiful filly,” Canani said.

Ruler of Dubai is O K Topless’s first horse to race.

Points Offthebench, a full brother to the multiple stakes winner Bench Points, makes his debut in Sunday’s second race, a $63,000 maiden special weight race over 5 1/2 furlongs for statebred 2-year-olds.

“I’m excited to get him to the races,” said Tim Yakteen, who also trains Bench Points. “He’s a different individual than Bench Points. We started later on him. At this point, he still has a lot of maturing to do physically and mentally.

Owned by Carl Asadurian and Donnie Crevier, Points Offthebench is part of a field of eight. The gelding is by Benchmark out of Mo Chuisle.

“The 5 1/2 should be okay,” Yakteen said. “He’s not a speedball, but he’s got tactical speed.”

Bench Points has won 5 of 8 starts and $278,280 and was the California-bred champion 2-year-old male of 2010. By Benchmark, Bench Points has won three stakes.

July 31, 2011

Amazombie can boost title chances in Bing Crosby
By Steve Andersen

Amazombie needs a win in Sunday’s $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar to remain in the argument for the 2011 California-bred Horse of the Year title.

With nearly seven months of the season completed, the prize seems firmly in the grasp of Acclamation, who has had an outstanding summer with three consecutive graded stakes wins, the most recent of which was the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar on July 24. A 5-year-old horse by Unusual Heat, Acclamation will attempt to stretch that streak to four stakes wins in the $200,000 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 28.

So far this year, Acclamation is the only California-bred to win a Grade 1, a milestone first achieved with a win in the Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park in June.

Amazombie has an opportunity to join him on that list on Sunday. Owned by trainer Bill Spawr and Thomas Sanford, Amazombie won three stakes from late January to late April, most notably the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita.

He had a tough campaign at Hollywood Park. A 5-year-old gelding by Northern Afleet, Amazombie finished first in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap, but was disqualified and placed third in a controversial decision after bumping a rival in the stretch. He was later third as the 3-2 favorite in the Triple Bend Handicap, finishing 5 1/2 lengths behind Smiling Tiger, who will go favored in the Bing Crosby.

“It will be tough,” Spawr said of the Bing Crosby. “Smiling Tiger is in there.”

The loss in the Triple Bend left Spawr baffled. “We did blood tests and he was good,” Spawr said.

In the Bing Crosby, Smiling Tiger drew the rail, not an ideal position for a horse who tends to run near the front. Amazombie is a closer who drew post 5. Regular jockey Mike Smith retains the mount on Amazombie, who will be making his first start on Del Mar’s Polytrack surface.

Amazombie started twice here last year, finishing first in an optional claimer on turf only to be disqualified and placed fifth in yet another controversial decision regarding a bumping incident. When reminded of that incident earlier this year, Spawr’s blood pressure seemed to visibly rise, and the memory was not helped by the fact that Amazombie returned to finish sixth against a similar field two weeks later at Del Mar.

Since then, Amazombie has improved remarkably, enough to start in his fourth graded stakes of 2011 this weekend. A win on Sunday would revive Amazombie’s season, and make the late summer and fall campaigns for Amazombie and Acclamation even more intriguing.

More stakes for Heleonor Rugby

Trainer A.C. Avila has a two races planned in late summer for Heleonor Rugby, the winner of the $100,000 CTBA Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar on July 22.

Avila would like to start Heleonor Rugby in the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes over six furlongs for statebred 2-year-old fillies on Aug. 31 and then make a relatively quick turnaround for the $110,000 Barretts Debutante over 6 1/2 furlongs at Fairplex Park on Sept. 17.

Sunday’s first race at Del Mar could produce a filly or two capable of challenging Heleonor Rugby, particularly in the Generous Portion Stakes.

Sunday’s race marks the career debut of Lookin for Jonesy, a filly by Purge owned by breeder Tom Capehart. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Lookin for Jonesy is out of the Fabulous Champ mare Champ’s Rocket, who won 4 of 32 starts and $211,029 and was stakes placed.

Lookin for Jonesy is part of a field of seven statebred 2-year-old fillies in a race over 5 1-2 furlongs.
 

July 10, 2011

Hollendorfer may soon be ready to give City Route a shot in Southern California
By Steve Andersen

With two stakes wins and a perfect record after three starts, City Route has become the star 2-year-old in Northern California this summer, a circuit she may be close to outgrowing.

On July 2, City Route won the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton by four lengths, leading throughout. She is expected to start in the $50,000 Wine Country Debutante at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa on Aug. 6. “Then, I’d consider taking her to Southern California,” said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who bred and co-owns the filly.

That could result in a start in the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies at Del Mar on Aug. 31.

For Hollendorfer, the more City Route accomplishes, the greater the benefit, not only in purse earnings and breeder awards, but in the knowledge that the filly’s value is increasing.

Hollendorfer, and his partners no longer own City Route’s mare, Mood Route.

“We did sell the dam,” he said.

City Route is the product of a mating of a stallion and mare – Globalize and Mood Route – who were trained by Hollendorfer. Globalize, 14, was a multiple stakes winner, including a win in the Grade 2 Turfway Spiral Stakes in 2000. He stands at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville, Calif.

Mood Route, 9, won 4 of 10 starts and $104,960 in a two-year career.

Mood Route has changed ownership several times in her life. She was bred in California by Robert Wright, who initially raced her before losing her via claim to trainer Bob Hess Jr. Mood Route made one start for Hess before she was acquired by Hollendorfer, who kept her for the rest of her racing career and raced her with partners George Todaro and Erik Amlie.

City Route is Mood Route’s first foal and was bred by Hollendorfer, his wife, Janet, George Todaro, and Amlie.

Mood Route is currently owned by Jerry Martin of Folsom, Calif. The mare is at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds. She produced a colt by Behrens earlier this year and has been bred to Many Rivers, who stands at Victory Rose.

In her brief career, City Route has yet to be challenged. She won her debut at Golden Gate Fields by 5 1/2 lengths in a maiden race over 4 1/2 furlongs on May 19, and returned to win the Lost in the Fog Stakes over five furlongs against males by 2 1/4 lengths on June 11.

“So far, she’s stepped up and done what we’ve asked her to do,” Hollendorfer said.”She beat the colts when that was the only race available.

“I thought the race on the dirt [at Pleasanton] was fairly impressive. She seemed like she was well in hand and won quite easily.”

Owner-breeder Pete Cristofi dies

Funeral service will be held on Monday for Pete Cristofi, an owner-breeder who campaigned Star Nicholas, a two-time stakes winner.

Cristofi died on July 5 of heart failure, according to a statement released on Thursday by Hollywood Park. He was 74.

Cristofi raced as King Max Farms and campaigned horses in Southern California. For Cristofi and partners, Star Nicholas won the 2008 On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park and the 2009 Windy Sands Handicap at Del Mar. In the fall of 2009, Star Nicholas was third in the California Cup Classic. Star Nicholas continues to race, but was claimed away from Cristofi and partners earlier this year.

Cristofi was also an early supporter of the stallion Unusual Heat, who has led the state in progeny earnings for the last three years.

The funeral will be held at noon Monday at Live Oak Memorial Park in Duarte, Calif.

June 26, 2011

Patience with Lucky Primo pays off
By Steve Andersen
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – There will never be an extensive schedule of races for the California-bred Lucky Primo, who won the second stakes of his career in Thursday’s $71,800 Golden State Cup Stakes at Hollywood Park.

“He’s got a bunch of problems,” said Joshua Litt, who bred, co-owns, and trains the 5-year-old gelding.

“He’s got a funny knee that needs time off. It’s always been a struggle.”

While Litt’s patience has been tested, Lucky Primo has often made it worthwhile for the trainer and his brother Jason, a co-owner. With limited opportunities, Lucky Primo has won 4 of 11 starts and $236,602.

The Golden State Cup, an overnight race restricted to California-breds that had not finished in the first three in a graded stakes, was Lucky Primo’s second stakes win. In October 2008, Lucky Primo won the California Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. It was his last start until March 2010.

Since that return, Lucky Primo has made seven starts – four in 2010 and three this year. He won an allowance race over a mile on turf on June 26, 2010, but did not start again until March of this year.

“He needs two months between starts,” Litt said. “I don’t make future plans with this horse You have to wait and see how he is.”

The Golden State Cup provided its own drama. Lucky Primo, ridden by Tyler Baze, dueled with the 4-year-old filly Logical Single through a quick pace of 23.99 and 46.43 seconds, before taking a clear lead on the turn. Lucky Primo was five lengths in front with a furlong remaining, and finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Norvsky, the 1-2 favorite, in the field of five.

“It looked like they were going too fast,” Litt said. “I was a little worried, because I can’t train him that hard.”

If Litt could make a plan, a race such as the $100,000 California Dreamin’ Handicap for California-breds over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 24 would be a possibility. Another option could be the restricted Harry Brubaker Stakes on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 24.

“It depends on the horse, how he comes out of the race,” Litt said.

Litt has a vested interest in the long-term success of Lucky Primo, who is by Atticus out of Live Free Or Die, by Personal Flag. Litt owns Live Free Or Die, who is the dam of Kingpin Ryno, a 3-year-old gelding by In Excess. Kingpin Ryno, trained by Litt, lost his first five starts and was entered in a maiden race over a mile on turf in Saturday’s ninth race.

The family also includes a 2-year-old gelding by Decarchy who is in training with Litt at Hollywood Park and a weanling filly by Papa Clem. Their values increased with Lucky Primo’s win.

“I own the mare,” Litt said. “The more he makes, the better.”

The 2-year-old A.P. Caution won a $12,500 claiming race for maidens at the San Joaquin County Fair in Stockton on June 17 to give the stallion Under Caution his first winner.

Under Caution, a 10-year-old by A.P. Indy, stands for an advertised fee of $500 at Moon Valley Stallion Station in San Miguel, Calif., and has 30 2-year-olds this year.

A.P. Caution was making his second start June 17 in a race over five furlongs.

June 19, 2011

Acclamation may be Bud Johnston's ticket to Hollywood Gold Cup
By Steve Andersen
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – At 74, California breeder Bud Johnston may be on the verge of a longtime goal, winning the Hollywood Gold Cup.

On July 9, the Gold Cup will be run for the 72nd time at Hollywood Park, and Johnston may have a candidate in Acclamation, the multiple stakes-winning California-bred. From a national perspective, the Gold Cup may be one of several Grade 1 races on a crowded stakes schedule for older horses, but for Johnston, a California native, it is high on his list of trophies he has coveted.

“I’ve never won it and it’s always been one of my desires to win it,” he said on Thursday.

Acclamation may provide that chance. This spring, Acclamation has won two graded stakes on turf at Hollywood Park for the second consecutive year – the Grade 2 Jim Murray Handicap over 1 1/2 miles on May 14 and the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Handicap over 1 1/4 miles on June 11.

Whether Acclamation starts in the Gold Cup over 1 1/4 miles on the synthetic main track depends on how the 5-year-old horse works on the surface last this month.

“I’m going to take him over there and work him at Hollywood Park,” Johnston said. “We’ll see how he likes it and how he handles it. We are considering it.”

Trained by Don Warren, Acclamation is by Unusual Heat out of Winning in Style, a mare by Silveyville. Acclamation was Winning in Style’s final foal; she is pensioned at Johnston’s Old English Rancho in Sanger, Calif. The mare also produced the stakes-placed runners Strut Your Stuff ($233,137) and Always in Style ($135,902).

Acclamation has won 6 of 25 starts and $758,048, racing primarily on turf. He has not started on Hollywood Park’s main track since Nov. 30, 2008, when he finished seventh in a sprint for 2-year-olds. Since then, Acclamation has started in races at a mile or farther, won four stakes on turf and placed in five others on turf, synthetic tracks and dirt.

A back-up plan in the immediate future is the $750,000 United Nations Handicap over 1 3/8 miles on turf at Monmouth Park on July 2, a race in which Acclamation finished a disappointing ninth in 2010.

The Johnston family has come close to winning Southern California’s most important races for older horses. In 1989, Stylish Winner, co-owned by Johnston, finished third in the Santa Anita Handicap. Johnston could not recall this week the last time he had a Gold Cup runner.

“It’s been too long since we had a horse in it,” he said. “I would like to run him in that race if he can handle the racetrack.

“He seems to work well over the dirt racetrack. The thing that is encouraging to me is that there are a number of Unusual Heats that have handled that track well. It’s horses for courses, but it’s not always a cinch.”

Repeatedly this spring, Johnston has said that Acclamation is in the best form of his career. Acclamation won the Murray by seven lengths, after stalking a runaway pacesetter, and won the Murray by 3 1/2 lengths as a heavy favorite, leading throughout.

The results are a turnaround from a last-place finish in the Charles Town Classic on a sloppy sealed track in West Virginia in April.

“He couldn’t handle that mud when we sent him back east,” Johnston said. “I’ve already forgotten about it. I forgot about it three days after.

“He’s already given us a lot of thrills. He’s such a nice sound horse. I think he’s just reaching his peak.”
 

June 5, 2011

Unusual Heat gets fight for top spot among California sires
By Steve Andersen

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The race for leading stallion in California is not a foregone conclusion this year.

In recent seasons, Unusual Heat has been the dominant sire by progeny earnings. He is the current leader, but is being closely pursued by Benchmark and Kafwain, who have been boosted by the success of graded stakes winners in California and the Midwest.

The stallion with a breakout racehorse on the national level may have an edge in the race for the title.

Through Thursday, Unusual Heat led all stallions with earnings of $1,283,923, with the stakes-placed Jax El his leading earner at $161,410 this year. Benchmark was second with $1,228,426, boosted by the success of Bench Points, who has earned $133,680 and won the Grade 3 Laz Barrera Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park last month. Kafwain was third with $1,206,409, aided greatly by the $330,000 earned by Daisy Devine, winner of the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March.

Unusual Heat is on a three-year winning streak as the state’s leading stallion, with progeny earnings of $5,827,513 in 2008, a record for a California sire; $5,184,194 in 2009, and $4,342,128 in 2010.

Not surprisingly, Unusual Heat is the most expensive stallion in the state, at $20,000, with Benchmark ($4,000) and Kafwain ($5,000) priced considerably lower.

Unusual Heat, 21, is standing his first season at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., this year, while Benchmark, 20, is standing his first season at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif. Kafwain is 11, the youngster in the group, and stands at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez, Calif.

Bench Points could be the prominent horse that Benchmark needs to challenge Unusual Heat.

Bench Points is being considered for two six-furlong races for 3-year-olds in early July – the $150,000 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 2 or the $200,000 Carry Back Stakes at Calder on July 9, trainer Tim Yakteen said.

Seventh in the Santa Anita Derby over 1 1/8 miles in April, Bench Points is expected to race in sprints for the foreseeable future. Ballena Vista breeding manager Craig Allen, understandably, is rooting for the horse to succeed on a national basis. So far, Bench Points, the champion 2-year-old California-bred male of 2010, is unbeaten in five career starts around one turn, including two stakes for statebreds last summer at Del Mar.

“He’s been phenomenal at one turn,” Allen said. “He won a graded stakes, and it’s possible that the there is more big money for him. He always tries.”

Allen said that Bench Points’s dam, Mo Chuisle, is at Ballena Vista this spring and will be bred to Benchmark. Bench Points was bred by former Southern California Thoroughbred trainer Gary Rocks, but Mo Chuisle is now owned by prominent owner Gary Broad, Allen said.

Allen said that Benchmark will “breed more than 60 mares this year.” The stallion previously stood at River Edge Farm in Buellton, Calif., but was moved along with three other stallions to Ballena Vista after River Edge ceased as a breeding operation last year.

“He’s doing really well at age 20, getting a high number of mares in foal,” Allen said. “I think that overall, this season went about as we expected. It didn’t exceed expectations, but wasn’t a disappointment.

“He remained very popular.”

Benchmark may have another prominent runner on the horizon. Points Offthebench, a 2-year-old full brother to Bench Points, worked three furlongs in 36.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday. Trained by Yakteen, he is expected to debut this summer.

“He’s coming along nicely,” Yakteen said. “He’s got some big shoes to follow.”