By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 21, 2025) — California-breds of all types are in the limelight Saturday at Santa Anita, from well-regarded 2-year-old fillies making career debuts to a 7-year-old gelding who looks like a slam dunk on a program with five stakes for statebreds worth $100,000 or more. The star on Saturday is Kings River Knight, favored to wire the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes, which goes as race 8. The veteran is the only free square Saturday. The maiden race for 2-year-old fillies and four other stakes on the 10-race card are more competitive. “It’s the Breeders’ Cup for Cal-breds,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “You wish it was a few times a year.” O’Neill starts Bro Bro in race 10, the $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes. His rivals in the mile and one-eighth turf race for 3-year-olds include Cali Cat and Got Soul. Every entrant is racing the farthest distance of their career. It’s a recurring theme Saturday – horses trying something new. :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – Style Cat and Drop Um, 1-2 in the recent Echo Eddie Stakes, meet again in Saturday’s $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes, presented by City National Bank, for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Western Freedom is by American Freedom, out of the Western Farm mare Western Kitty, was bred by KMN Racing, is owned by Legacy Ranch and trained by Brian Koriner. He has two wins and a second in three starts, earnings of $82,200 and is coming off back-to-back wins. Style Cat is by Curlin to Mischief, out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Kittens Trip, was bred by owners J. Kirk & Judy Robison and is trained by Peter Miller. He has three wins in 11 starts, earnings of $229,990 and is coming off a win in the Apr. 5 Echo Eddie. Drop Um is by Far From Over, out of the Include mare Behavioral, was bred by Dr. & Mrs. William Gray, is owned by Gray Farms and trained by Felix Rondan.... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – California-bred champion Kings River Knight, winner of the last two runnings of the race, seeks a three-peat in Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for Golden State Series-eligibles at Santa Anita. Stamp My Passport is by Vancouver, out of the Street Boss mare Sweet Boss, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Shapiro and is trained by Leonard Powell. He has four wins in 15 starts, earnings of $167,412 and is coming off a third in an Apr. 2 optional claimer. Stakes winner Coalinga Road is by Quality Road, out of the Johannesburg mare Coco Ecolo, was bred by owner Harris Farms and trained by Carla Gaines. She has four wins in 34 starts, earnings of $527,182 and is coming off a fifth in a May 3 optional claimer. He was fourth in this race last year and second in 2023. Takes Three is by Nyquist, out of the Square Eddie mare Radish, was bred by Reddam Racing, is owned by Slugo Racing and... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. May 18, 2025) – Stakes winners In the Air Tonight, Om N Joy and Sunset Grazen are entered in Saturday’s $125,000 Melair Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Lady Mendelssohn is by Mendelssohn, out of the Bandini mare Ringmistress, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Out of the Blue Stables and trained by Carla Gaines. She has one win in three starts, earnings of $44,540 and is coming off a third in a Mar. 28 optional claimer. Stakes winner In the Air Tonight is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Sky Mesa mare Angel Allie, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Chacon, Anthony J., Flores, Victor M. and Lovingier, Terry C. and trained by Steve Knapp. She has two wins in 10 starts, earnings of $175,352 and is coming off an eighth in an Apr. 25 optional claimer. Stakes winners Om N Joy is by Om, out of the Hard Spun mare Margie’s Minute, was bred by Jerry Baker... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – Irish O’Brien winner Prancingthruparis and stakes-winning CTBA January Sale topper Shocking Grey are entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Sneaker is by Oscar Performance, out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Lime Beach, was bred by Fountain of Youth Breeding, is owned by R L Stables and trained by George Papaprodromou. She has three wins in 13 starts, earnings of $201,948 and is coming off a third in the Apr. 26 Royal Heroine. She was fifth in this race last year. Cornelia Fort is by Grazen, out of the Unusual Heat mare An Unusual Group, was bred by Nick Alexander, is owned by Greenway Racing Stables LLC, Branch, William A., Catone, Richard and Mathis, Andy and trained by Mathis. She has four wins in 26 starts, earnings of $272,738 and is coming off a second in a May 2 optional claimer. She was third in this race last year. Prancingthruparis is by Sir Prancealot,... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – Seven Golden State Series-eligibles, including Northern California Yearling Sale graduate I’m a Bad Boy, seek their first stakes win in Saturday’s 100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes at Santa Anita. Spiritual Advisor is an Idaho-bred by California stallion Tamarando, out of the Lucky Pulpit mare Angel Diane, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Jeff Bonde. She has two wins in 20 starts, earnings of $173,920 and is coming off an Apr. 19 optional claimer. Private Gem is by Lookin at Lucky, out of the Unusual Heat mare Geode, was bred by C-Punch Ranch, is owned by Sinners or Saints and trained by Mark Glatt. He has three wins in four starts, earnings of $115,090 and is coming off back-to-back wins. Book Smart is by Stanford, out of the With Distinction mare Magic Lily, was bred by Grasshopper Racing Stable, Inc., Jack Fabulich & Jill Fabulich, is owned by Bernal, Eduardo, Buckendorf, Larry S., Bullard, Charlotte A., Harringer, Tyler and... ...

GRAND PRAIRIE, Tex. (May 20, 2025) – Flame McGoon, a registered California-sired daughter of Stanford, is entered in Monday’s $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff Stakes at Lone Star Park. Flame McGoon, out of the More Than Ready mare Lula Talullah, was bred by Branch Thoroughbreds, is owned by Wiest, Clayton, Wiest, Rick and Wiest, Lana and trained by Robertino Diodoro. She has six wins in 16 starts, earnings of $175,655 and is coming off a May 2 allowance win ...

FARMINGTON, N.M. (May 18, 2025) — Let There Be Peace is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s $75,000 Mt. San Juan County Commissioners Stakes at SunRay Park. Let There be Peace is by Stanford, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Minster’sadventure, was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, is owned by Ruben Ramirez and trained by Steve Gomez. He has four wins in 30 starts, earnings of $85,494 and is coming off an Apr. 6 starter optional claimer.     ...

From Del Mar Racing Office DEL MAR, Calif. (May 16, 2025) — We’re excited to announce an exclusive incentive program for horses that have been based at PLN. We truly appreciate your continued support and are thrilled to offer this opportunity. Rules and guidelines are below: Horses must have been based in Northern California since December 1, 2024, and trained by those only based in Northern California during that time. • Guaranteed $500 check for any qualified starter in their first start. • 15% bonus is applied to the qualified horse’s purse earnings for EVERY start during the summer meet. • Purse bonus applies to earnings for places 1-5, excluding stakes races. • Horses may not dual-qualify for Maiden Dirt Bonus and Ship & Win programs. • DMTC reserves the right to determine eligibility & bonuses for qualified starters. For further information, contact the Del Mar Racing office. ...

By DRF.com SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (May 14, 2025) — Smoken Boy, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Catholic Boy, won Wednesday’s $150,000 Caesars Handicap for 3-year-olds at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Smoken Boy scored by a head over 1-2 favorite Chasing Liberty in the Caesars, a big win for owner KEM Stables and trainer Cheryl Winebaugh. Smoken Boy made his first three starts in Puerto Rico, winning the Grade I Clasico Agustin Mercado Reveron Stakes in December. He earned a trip to Florida, where he finished eighth in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Smoken Boy, in his next start, was offered for a $75,000 claiming price, and KEM took him. At 112-1, Smoken Boy ran to his odds in the Florida Derby, but more than earned back his purchase price Wednesday, picking up a check worth $92,733. He has three wins in seven starts and earnings of $164,993. His third dam is Cal-bred multiple graded winner Go Go. Ridden by Manny Esquivel, Smoken Boy tracked the pace of Brodeur... ...

From Legacy Ranch LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 14, 2025) – Viewers can join “All Access with Andy Garcia” for an enlightening and heartfelt look inside Legacy Ranch Inc., where the intricate art and evolving science of thoroughbred breeding converge with an unwavering dedication to nurture the potential champions of tomorrow’s racetracks. Public Television audiences are invited to gain a profound and moving appreciation for the remarkable journey of a racehorse in an upcoming segment of “All Access with Andy Garcia” proudly featuring the esteemed Legacy Ranch Inc. Set to film later this year, this engaging and visually rich program will meticulously delve into the pivotal early stages of a horse’s life. From the strategic and thoughtful selection of breeding stock, considering lineage and genetic potential, to the consistently nurturing and carefully managed environment provided to mares, ensuring their health and well-being, the segment will illuminate every crucial step with owners Pete and Evelyn Parrella. Viewers will also witness the initial, specialized training regimens meticulously designed to build a strong foundation,... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 11, 2025) — The California-bred multiple stakes winner Grand Slam Smile joined trainer Sean McCarthy’s stable earlier this year at Santa Anita and is nearing her first start since late November. Owned and bred by Larry and Marianne Williams, Grand Slam Smile has won 6 of 11 starts and earned $526,400. She was previously trained by Steve Specht, who retired late last year. A 4-year-old filly, Grand Slam Smile was named Cal-bred champion 2-year-old filly for 2023 and champion 3-year-old filly for 2024. She has won five stakes on turf and dirt at Santa Anita since June 2023, including the $200,000 California Cup Oaks for statebred 3-year-old fillies in January 2024. She was given a rest after a second-place finish at 4-5 in the Livermore Valley Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs at Pleasanton on Nov. 30, her sixth start of 2024. “They gave her some time off,” McCarthy said. “She had a good campaign.” :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 10, 2025) – California-bred Lovesick Blues wore down favored Bran in the lane to win Saturday’s $100,000 Siren Lure Stakes at Santa Anita. Lovesick Blues is by Grazen, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Queenofhercastle, was bred by Nick Alexander, is owned by Mia Familia Racing Stable and trained by Librado Barocio. With his first career stakes win, Lovesick Blues has eight wins in 39 starts, earnings of $524,000 and was coming off a third in the Mar. 30 Sensational Star. “I knew he was getting better and better,” said Barocio. “He came off that layoff and ran a great race and last time he ran a great race against good horses and this time I had confidence. I don’t want to sound bragadocious, but I felt good. I just want to thank the good Lord above and Nick Alexander for being such a great breeder and allowing me to buy this horse from him. “He’s a little tough to handle if you don’t know him,... ...

SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (May 10, 2025) – California stallion Sir Prancealot was represented by a black-type earner in the southern hemisphere on Saturday. In Australia, his 4-year-old son Sir Sway placed second in the $1 million, Grade I Goodwood Stakes at Morphettville. Sent off a 61-1 longshot, Sir Sway was overtaken in the stretch by Reserve Bank but held off 2-1 favorite Giga Kick for the place in a field of 13. Sir Sway has eight wins in 18 starts and earnings of $592,185. ...

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (May 9, 2025) — California-bred Arkadelphia, a graduate of the Northern California Yearling Sale, was third in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds. Arkadelphia is from the first crop of Halladay, out of the City Zip mare Chili Petin, was bred by HV Bloodstock, is owned by Harrell Ventures and trained by Luis Mendez. He was raised and consigned by Checkmate Thoroughbreds and was making his racing debut. ...

From Old Friends Farm GEORGETOWN, Ky. (May 9, 2025) – We are sad to share the loss of California-bred Grade I winner Romance Is Diane at 21 to laminitis complications. Romance Is Diane was by In Excess, out of the Prized mare Romantic Fibs, was bred by Swan Equine Service, owned by Senji Nishimura and trained by Mike Mitchell. She had five wins in 16 starts and earnings of $712,718. Among her wins were the Grade I Hollywood Starlet, the Grade II Bayakoa and the California Cup Juvenile Fillies and Cal Cup Matron. As a broodmare prospect in 2008, she was sold to Adena Springs for $1.35 million. She produced five foals and retired to Old Friends in 2020. Her BFF Saudi Poetry will miss her, as will we. ...

By DRF.com CHICO, Calif. (May 9, 2025) — Kathy Walsh, the retired trainer who died on Thursday, was a reluctant pioneer. When she began training in 1970, following the death of her father Jim, female trainers were largely unwelcome. In that regard, Walsh broke barriers. She won training titles at Longacres in Washington State and Canterbury Downs – now Canterbury Park – in Minnesota. She won Grade 1 races in Southern California and had a starter in the Kentucky Derby. Walsh was 85 at the time of her passing at an assisted living facility in Chico, Calif. She had been ill in recent years, her friends said. She had her final starter in the fall of 2021 and her last winner earlier that year. Born in Sonoma, Calif., in March 1940, Walsh won 1,232 races from 8,030 starters who earned more than $19.3 million. She was married in 1980 and did not train for a few years in that decade. She raced under her married name of Kathy Hutchinson from... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 5, 2025) — Juveniles by the prominent California stallion Stay Thirsty won maiden races at Santa Anita last Friday and Sunday, the first races for the division this year. The filly Tapatia Mia, who won on Friday, and Fionello, who won on Sunday, were bred by Terry Lovingier, who retains an ownership interest, and are trained by Steve Knapp. Tiago Pereira rode both winners. Tapatia Mia stalked runaway early leader Still Unwritten before taking the lead in the final furlong. Tapatia Mia, who paid $9.20 as the second choice, ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.60 seconds and won by a length. She is a half-sibling to stake-winner Chulula Lips and a full to stakes-placed Tapatio Mio. Fionello, who was favored and paid $4, disputed the pace with 9-5 Trump Era before pulling clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths, finishing 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.86. He is a full brother to stakes- winner Finneus and a half-sibling to stakes-winner Fi Fi Pharoah. With the wins,... ...

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (May 5, 2025) — California stallion One Bad Boy was represented by his first winner on Friday when Twirling Crown won a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at Hipodromo de las Americas. Twirling Crown is out of the Unusual Heat mare Unusual Stuff, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises. The filly, a $1,000 purchase from the Northern California Yearling Sale, won the 4 1/2-furlong race by 10 lengths. ...

By Punters.com MORPHETTVILLESouth Australia (Apr. 3, 2025) – It was heart in mouth viewing, but a lion-hearted Sir Kingsford, an Australian-bred son of California stallion Sir Prancealot, staved off Victorian raider Basilinna to win Saturday’s Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Piloting the field in his first attempt at 2500m, Sir Kingsford refused to lay down in a toe-to-toe battle with Basilinna, after the mare threw down the gauntlet at the top of the straight. Emotions spilt over for Gawler handler Nicole Searle, who trains in partnership with husband Gary, and daughter, Brianna Callanan. “What a great feeling. To our team at home, well done,” Searle said post-race. “You’ve all worked hard. Gary and Brianna, and to the owners of this horse, it’s been a long journey. “We trained his mum, we lost her, unfortunately, last year. We were really looking forward to the filly that she was carrying but this is a tough horse. “He’s just a really nice horse and probably has taken over the mantle from Lady Silhouette as the best horse we’ve had.”... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 30, 2025) — Eric Kruljac, whose stable included retired two-time Cal-bred Horse of the Year The Chosen Vron, has retired from training. Kruljac, 72, said last weekend that he plans to continue his involvement in the sport as an owner and breeder, and recently transferred his small stable to his son, Ian, 36. Eric Kruljac had his last runner at Santa Anita when Uffda finished fourth in a $20,000 claimer at Santa Anita on March 15. Three of his former runners started for Ian Kruljac at Santa Anita last weekend. He was named 2023 trainer of the year by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “It’s time,” Eric Kruljac said in a recent interview. “I turned my license in. I’ll just be an owner.” :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race day. Access now. Kruljac said he wants to focus on his group of four broodmares and a small number of horses he owns, and move away from training, notably clerical billings. “I still love... ...

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Apr. 26, 2025) – California-bred Majestic Oops, who twice went unclaimed running for a $12,500 tag, outran millionaire odds-on favorite Hoosier Philly to win Saturday’s $200,000 Dig A Diamond Stakes for fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park. Majestic Oops is by Majestic Harbor, out of the Olmodavor mare Miss Oops, was bred by William Dory, Sandy Dory, Gary Kropp & Janet Kropp, is owned by Sublime Stables, Inc. and Kropp, Janet and trained by Dan Ward. “It’s exciting. I’m really grateful to the owner, Bill Dory, and then Ed Moger (the mare’s previous trainer) recommended he give the horse to me. I’m grateful to him, too,” said Ward. “She’s been doing great. It makes the whole meet. She just keeps getting better and better. He (jockey Abel Cedillo) did a great job. I told him: ‘Just let her take you wherever she wants.’ He had the favorite (Hoosier Philly) boxed in, too. That was pretty nice.” It was the first stakes win for the 5-year-old mare, who... ...

OAKBANK, South Australia (Apr. 19, 2025) – Sir Kingsford, an Australian-bred son of California stallion Sir Prancealot, won the $107,205 Coopers Brewery Onkaparinga Cup at Oakbank Racecourse. Sir Kingsford, a 5-year-old gelding, is out of the Al Maher mare Mighty Maher. He won by one-half length and ran the 2150 meters in 2:12.38 on a turf course rated “good” in a field of 12 as the 4-1 faorite.   ...

OCALA, Fla. (Apr. 19, 2025) – A California-bred son of Maxfield, a half-brother to Cal-bred multiple-stakes winner Straight Up G, sold for $100,000 at Friday’s final session of the Ocala Breeders Sales Spring 2-Year-Old in-training sale. The Cal-bred, out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, was bred by Jungle Racing, consigned by Hoppel LLC, agent, and purchased by Amerman Racing. He was timed in a two-furlong breeze in :21.4. Straight Up G won the King Glorious Stakes and Mine That Bird Derby. The colt also is a half-brother to Mansetti, a stakes winner in Canada. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 7, 2025) – Santa Anita Park’s 2024-25 Classic Meet finished strongly on Sunday, April 6, with significant gains in handle, attendance, field size and safety. Bookended by a strong opening week and a robust Santa Anita Derby weekend, the track’s total all source handle topped $510 million. Horseplayers from around the world responded enthusiastically to the player-friendly modifications to Santa Anita’s wagering menu, with the total handle on just Santa Anita’s races increasing 5% from the 2023-24 Classic Meet. The season began on Dec. 26, 2024, with the third largest opening day handle in the track’s 90-year history. The Classic Meet’s final three-day weekend boasted more than $40.6 million wagered on Santa Anita’s races and attracted almost 50,000 people to the track. On track attendance posted a gain of 6% from last year, with more than 340,000 people attending the 49 day meeting, despite losing a weekend in January when the neighboring community was impacted by the Eaton Fires. More than 34,000 were... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2025) – Om N Joy, with Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, provided stallion Om with his first stakes winner, pulling away from a pack in midstretch to win Saturday’s $125,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Om N Joy was last in the early going before steadily making up ground behind splits off 22.43 and 45.52 seconds for a half mile. When the field reached the stretch, Desormeaux appeared loaded with Om N Joy but found himself blocked behind multiple horses. When a seam did open, Om N Joy shot through and drew off to win by 2 ½ lengths. “She got to ‘em,” Desormeaux said. “They were all coming back to her down the stretch. I picked a pocket for her to jump through, she took off like she was going to plow through it if she had to.” Sunset Grazen (12-1) was second followed by Hot Girl Walk (3-1) and Going Deep (7-1). “She was... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2025) – Racing outside and with clear sailing under Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez, Style Cat surged to the front at the top of the stretch and continued on gamely to the wire to score by 2 ¼ lengths in the $125,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-olds going 6 ½ furlongs at Santa Anita. Sent off as the 7-2 third choice, Style Cat was returning to dirt and was also reunited with Hernandez following a try against open 3-year-olds in the Baffle Stakes on the hillside turf course, Feb. 16. He sat just off the pace down the backstretch as multiple horses battled for the lead. Style Cat ranged up to the leaders while widest of all on the turn, and when he reached the quarter pole, the race was down to just himself and Drop Um (9-2) with Kyle Frey aboard. In a two-horse sprint to the wire, Style Cat would finish best to earn his first... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 3, 2025) — Overnight purses will increase at the forthcoming Santa Anita spring and Los Alamitos summer meetings. Santa Anita’s spring meeting runs from April 18 to June 15. The Los Alamitos summer meeting begins a three-week season on June 20. Both tracks will have higher prize money than the corresponding meetings in 2024. The added prize money is available from betting revenue through account wagering and simulcast locations throughout the state that has been consolidated and directed to Southern California tracks and purse accounts at those venues. Previously, part of that money was devoted to Northern California racing. There is no racing scheduled in Northern California in coming months after the permanent closure of Golden Gate Fields last June and the cancellation of a proposed winter-spring meeting on the Alameda county fair grounds in Pleasanton. An autumn meeting at Pleasanton had lower-than-expected business. :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports available... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 30, 2025) – Lonesome Stew headed a Nick Alexander-bred and Grazen-sired trifecta while winning Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for Golden State Series-eligibles at Santa Anita. Lonesome Stew is out of the Maria’s Mon mare Stash, is owned by Linear Bannasch and trained by Mark Glatt. He went last to first through the stretch under jockey Antonio Fresu. “That wasn’t the plan,” Fresu said of his tardy beginning. “He usually shows some speed, but today he was acting up a little bit inside the gate and I didn’t leave the gate very well so I just tried to bide my time and improvise a little bit and get him comfortable going down the hill. “Once the horse was nice and settled, I put him on the outside to not get him in trouble and he just flew home. Amazing job done by Mark and his team.” Glatt claimed Lonesome Stew for $32,000 out of his last-place debut Sept. 1, 2022 from Alexander. He had only four starts... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 16, 2025) — The Chosen Vron, recently voted California-bred Horse of the Year for a second consecutive year, has been retired. Co-owner John Sondereker and trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac said March 17 that the decision has been made to let the 7-year-old gelding continue his rehabilitation and segue into a second career at the appropriate time. “It’s just wear and tear,” Kruljac said of the reasoning behind the decision. “We just don’t want to risk any further injury, especially since he’s 7. He’ll be going up to Katie Fisher’s ranch up in Solvang.” The Chosen Vron had been sidelined with an ankle injury since late last year, and Sondereker said that a recent follow-up MRI performed at Santa Anita showed that it had not yet healed enough for the gelding to return to training. “He’s been the horse of a lifetime for all of us,” Sondereker said. Sondereker, Kruljac, Richard Thornburgh, and Robert Fetkin bred The Chosen Vron in the name of Tiz Molly... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 16, 2025) – Longshot Prancingthruparis caught pacesetter Pushiness in midstretch and won Sunday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Prancingthruparis is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Bellamy Road mare She’s a Big Winner, was bred by owner Ciaglia Racing, SAF Racing and Crusberg and trained by Peter Eurton. “It’s great to breed Cal-breds,” said co-breeder Joe Ciaglia. “Her mom was a little bit crazy. The first time she went to the track, she kicked (jockey Kent) Desormeaux in the chest, so we had to scratch her, he got a big hoofprint on his chest. It was nice that we bred her to Sir Prancealot, so we got a little bit of relax so she wouldn’t be a speedball. It’s pretty exciting to make the right choice.” :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports available now. Prancingthruparis, by Sir Prancealot, races for owners and breeders SAF... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 6, 2025) — Iconic race caller Trevor Denman has announced his retirement after 40 years on the job at Del Mar. Denman will be succeeded at the seaside track by veteran track announcer Larry Collmus, the voice of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders’ Cup for NBC Sports.  Denman, 72, who first started calling races in 1971 in his native South Africa, has been in the booth atop the Del Mar grandstand for all but one summer racing season since 1984. A Southern California racing institution, he also served as the caller at Santa Anita from 1983-2015, and for a time, called races at every stop on the Southern California circuit, including Hollywood Park and Fairplex Park. “This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” Denman said. “But my soul is telling me that now is the time.”  Denman and his colorful story-telling style of race calling effectively changed how the sport was heard in America. Rather than the... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 3, 2025) — The Chosen Vron, winner a year ago, was named the 2024 California-bred Horse of the Year at Monday night’s CTBA Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting at Le Meridien Hotel. The Chosen Vron became the 10th back-to-back winner of the award and also picked up hardware for champion older male and sprinter. The other finalists for Horse of the Year were Big City Lights and Chismosa. The Chosen Vron won seven of eight starts in 2024, including the Grade I Bing Crosby. He is by Vronsky, out of Broodmare of the Year Tiz Molly, was bred by Tiz Molly Partners, is owned by Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker & Richard Thornburgh and trained by Eric Kurljac. Other Cal-bred champions recognized at the banquet: Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Male – Speedy Wilson, bred by owner Nick Alexander and trained by Phil D’Amato.   Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Female – In the Air Tonight, bred by Terry Lovingier, owned by Anthony Chacon, Victor Flores and Terry Lovingier and trained by Steve Knapp.... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2025) — Del Mar is planning across-the-board increases to its overnight purse schedule from its top allowance offerings all the way down to the maiden-claiming ranks for its upcoming summer racing season that kicks off on Friday, July 18. This will be summer #86 in the storied history of the America’s only seaside racing headquarters and it will be conducted for 31 days over eight weeks going forward to Sunday, September 7. All told Del Mar will present approximately 300 races with overnight purses projected to be $15.7 million. That represents a blended increase of 8% over 2024’s purses. Additionally, the track will offer 38 stakes races valued at $7,825,000. Once again the highlight of that schedule will be the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic, a mile and one-quarter test that will be run as part of a sparkling five graded stakes card on Saturday, August 30. Notable in the overnight purse increases is the fact that the vast majority of the track’s owners and... ...

By Bloodhorse.com Multiple graded stakes winner Papa Clem who took his stud career from California to Turkey died recently, according to his owner Reşat Akkan. The son of Smart Strike was 19. Bo Hirsch bred and raced Papa Clem, who was the second foal out of the grade 1 winner Miss Houdini, who Hirsch also bred and raced. Trained by Gary Stute, Papa Clem won at 2 and then blossomed at 3. He ran second in the 2009 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) before grabbing the brass ring in the Arkansas Derby (G2). He would go on to finish a good fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1).  Papa Clem made his only start at 4 a winning one, taking the 2010 San Fernando Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park but came out of the race will filling in his left front ankle. Hirsch decided to retire the horse, who he named after his late father Clement Hirsch, and stood him initially at Pete Parrella’s Legacy Ranch. He retired with a... ...