From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2026) — Santa Anita canceled Saturday’s racing because of a stormy weather forecast and scheduled makeup dates of Thursday, Jan. 8 and Thursday, Jan. 15. It’s the latest schedule disruption for the track, which was also forced to postpone its popular Opening Day event by two days because of a previous storm. ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2026) – Having cancelled racing programs for Wednesday and Thursday because of anticipated bad weather, Santa Anita announced on Thursday afternoon that racing will be held this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. First post will be 12:30 p.m. on Friday, with free admission and parking. First post will be 12 noon on Saturday and Sunday. The track announced earlier that a makeup card would be held on Thursday, January 8. ...
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By DRF.com SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Dec. 31, 2025) — California-bred Express Kid, who picked up 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby with his win in the $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park, will likely advance to another points race, according to trainer Wade Rarick. Express Kid, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is now based at Turf Paradise after his win at Remington, and a race that Rarick is targeting for the horse is the $500,000 Sunland Park Derby on Feb. 15. It also distributes points for the Kentucky Derby. Rarick wants to give Express Kid another shot at a points race to see if he might duplicate his upset win in the Springboard. ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 31, 2025) — Santa Anita canceled its scheduled racing cards for Wednesday and Thursday because of an expected storm, the track announced Wednesday morning. The Wednesday card had been added when a previous storm disrupted last week’s schedule that forced the delay of Opening Day from Friday to Sunday. Wednesday’s card would have featured the $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes, with stakes winner Unrivaled Time and fellow California-bred Third Beer among the entries. The track announced that it has added a makeup card for Thursday, January 8. ...
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CANOVANAS, Puerto Rico (Jan. 2, 2026) – My First Legacy, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Midnight Storm, won Thursday’s $42,480 Versets Jet Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Hipodromo Camarero. It was the first stakes win for My First Legacy, who has three wins in six starts. She is out of the Indian Charlie mare Naughty Matilda. Sent off at odds of 9-1, My First Legacy ran the mile in 1:40.22 and won by three-quarters of a length. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 22, 2025) – Flyover is the lone California-bred entered in Monday’s $200,000 Grade II Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita. Flyover is by Om, out of the In Excess mare First Class Flyer, was bred by Old English Rancho, is owned by The Ellwood Johnston Trust and Ken Tevelde and is trained by John Sadler. He has four wins in seven starts, earnings of $176,638 and is coming off back-to-back optional claiming wins. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2026) – Stakes winner Unrivaled Time and fellow California-bred Third Beer are entered in Thursday’s rescheduled $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita. Unrivaled Time is by Not This Time, out of the Creachadoir mare Margot Machance, was bred by Alfred Pais, is owned by Innergy Racing and Pais and trained by Leonard Powell. He has two wins in three starts, earnings of $97,600 and is coming off a win in the Nov. 30 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes. Third Beer is by Mendelssohn, out of the Curlin mare Siqueira, was bred by Premier Thoroughbreds, is owned by Phillip Lebherz and trained by Tim Yakteen. He has one win in three starts, earnings of $68,000 and is coming off a 12th in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2025) — Consequences of the 2025 closure of Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., as a commercial breeding facility will not be fully known for a few years, but some clues will surface for the state’s breeding industry in coming months. By any measure, the 330-acre farm’s closure is a loss, but it also is an opportunity for other farms to gain a greater role in the region. Harris Farms, centrally located, stood nine stallions in 2025 who were bred to 187 mares, or 14.4 percent of the 1,291 bred in the state, according to The Jockey Club’s report of mares bred. The farm was run by John Harris, who died in July after a lengthy illness. Following his passing, farm officials said the property would no longer stand stallions or board mares. A reduction of racing and breeding holdings was held in August. Replacing that operation will be impossible, according to three prominent farm owners in the state. “It’s a significant blow to the... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2025) — There is plenty of change going on in the California Thoroughbred industry, with an uncertain racing landscape in the northern sector of the state; the death of major breeder John Harris and the dispersal of his stock, including stallions; and a new horse moving to the state who will factor in the stallion ranks. Remaining as constants in the Golden State are its leading sires, Stay Thirsty and Grazen. Grazen, a 19-year-old son of Benchmark, has spent his entire stud career in California since entering the stallion ranks in 2010. Nick Alexander’s Grade 3-winning homebred has resided at Eclipse Thoroughbred Farm in Solvang since the 2024 season. Grazen has ranked among the top 10 California sires by earnings, regardless of progeny conception area, every year since 2019. He claimed the state’s leading general sire title in both 2023 and 2024. Stay Thirsty, a multiple Grade 1-winning son of Bernardini, began his career in 2013 at Ashford Stud in Kentucky and moved to Lovacres... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2025) — Tangling with champions was commonplace for Collected in the late summer and fall of 2017. As a 4-year-old that season, Collected won three stakes, notably the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar, beating Arrogate by a half-length. Arrogate was the champion 3-year-old male of 2016 and later an inductee to racing’s Hall of Fame. In his following start, Collected bravely chased Gun Runner in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, only to finish second by 2 1/4 lengths. Gun Runner was named the 2017 Horse of the Year and also is in the Hall of Fame. Collected was sent to stud in Kentucky in 2019 and was based at Airdrie Farm until last month, when he was moved to Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif., for the 2026 breeding season. Collected, 12, is the most prominent of a small group of stallions that have been moved to the state or are having their first seasons... ...
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By DRF.com TEMECULA, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2025) — In the six decades since Linda Madsen’s parents bought Milky Way Farm in Temecula, Calif., the property has undergone a few transformations. For a time, the focus was on Arabian show horses and later cattle before evolving into its current form as a full-service Thoroughbred breeding farm. There are no plans for further revisions. “It’s been the greatest place to live,” Madsen said in an interview earlier this month. “I wake up and think, ‘How can I be this lucky?’ ” Milky Way Farm had a busy breeding season in 2025, led by the stallion Midnight Storm, who was bred to 82 mares, according to The Jockey Club. No other Thoroughbred stallion was as active in the state. There are high expectations for another busy breeding season in the coming months. Aside from Midnight Storm, the farm will stand Tizamagician, who was bred to 39 mares in 2025; Graydar, who was bred to 15 mares earlier this year; American Theorem, who will... ...
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From Kentuckyderby.com and Remington Park Publicity OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Dec. 20, 2025) – California-bred longshot Express Kid is suddenly on the Kentucky Derby trail after scoring a stunning win in Saturday night’s $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes for 2-year-olds at Remington Park. With the win, Express Kid earned 10 qualifying points for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Express Kid, a $2,000 yearling purchase, is by Bodexpress, out of the Street Sense mare Sensationalize, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Steve Haahr and trained by Wade Rarick. He has three wins in five starts, earnings of $236,902 and was coming off a win in a Nov. 6 allowance. Ridden by Jose Alvarez, Express Kid ran the mile in 1:38.99 and won by 6 1/4 lengths as the second-longest shot in a field of 11 at odds of 34-1. The Wade Rarick trainee was overlooked at odds of 34.50-1 in the grand finale of the Remington Park season. Although Express Kid won his latest start, a Nov. 6 allowance on... ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec.21, 2025) — The opening day of Santa Anita’s Classic Meet will be postponed for two days until Sunday, Dec. 28th, ahead of this week’s declining weather forecast. While it is difficult to predict weather forecasts with certainty more than 48 hours in advance, the current models have an atmospheric river set to dump significant rain on the Southern California area beginning Tuesday afternoon through late Friday. “With the amount of rain being forecast, it’s important to make this call as early as possible to give everyone advance notice,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s General Manager. “Everyone looks forward to Opening Day as it’s traditionally one of our biggest days of the year, so it’s not a decision we make lightly. But after speaking with our stakeholders, adjusting the racing schedule at this time provides the best opportunity to have a great opening to kick off the season.” Santa Anita’s revised Opening Week schedule has live racing Sunday, Dec. 28th and Monday, Dec. 29th,... ...
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Dec. 20, 2025) – Ze’bul, a Kentucky-bred son of new California stallion Collected, closed fast to win Saturday night’s $75,000 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial Stakes at Remington Park. Ze’bul, out of the Empire Maker mare Bahama Bound, ran the mile and 70 yards in 1:43.21 and won by three-quarters of a length. He has six wins in 27 starts with earnings of $225,563. Ze’bul won his third race in his last four starts, making a determined late rush to catch 20-1 longshot Presidential just before the finish. Jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr., knew exactly when to push the right buttons on Ze’bul to get the 5-year-old, out of the Empire Maker mare Bahama Bound, home first. He never had the lead until the last few jumps in the one mile, 70-yard race. The margin of victory for Ze’bul was three-quarters of a length over Presidential, who surprisingly was sent off at long odds despite residing in the barn of top trainer Steve Asmussen. Ze’bul broke seventh in the... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2025) – Multiple stakes winner Speedy Wilson and fellow California-bred Berlin Wall oppose five Bob Baffert-trained heavyweights in Sunday’s $300,000 Grade I Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita. Speedy Wilson is by Tough Sunday, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Queenofhercastle, was bred by owner Nick Alexander and is trained by Phil D’Amato. He has four wins in eight starts, earnings of $294,488 and is coming off a win in a Nov. 29 optional claimer. Berlin Wall is by Practical Joke, out of the Uncle Mo mare Caymanbird, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Thomsen Racing LLC and Halasz, Thomas E. and trained by Steve Knapp. He has two wins in five starts, earnings of $107,860 and is coming off a win in a Nov. 16 optional claimer. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2025) – In his stakes debut, California-bred Vodka Vodka takes on Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Nysos in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes at Santa Anita. Vodka Vodka is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Hard Spun mare Margie’s Minute, was bred by Jerry & Connie Baker, is owned by Mclean Racing Stables, Baker, Connie, Baker, Jerry, Gorman, William, Ordonez, Aggie, Parsons, Anthony, Parsons, Rachel and Williams, Delbert G. and trained by Ordonez. He has three wins in nine starts, earnings of $251,700 and is coming off back-to-back optional claiming wins. ...
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SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Dec. 21, 2025) – Graded stakes-place Positivity and fellow California-breds Tizlightning and Sawasdee are entered in the $65,000 KLAQ Handicap on Jan. 4 at Sunland Park. Positivity is by Paynter, out of the City Zip mare Sam’s Sunny City, was bred by Allen Farm, is owned by Rakoczy Racing and trained by Justin Evans. He has eight wins in 35 starts, earnings of $583,394 and is coming off a second in a Dec. 3 optional claimer. Tizlightning is by Stanford, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Tizadream, was bred by Lori Gallegos, is owned by Battle Born Racing Stable and trained by Dick Cappellucci. He has five wins in 15 starts, earnings of $142,811 and is making his first start since a sixth in a July 12 allowance. He was third in this race last January. Sawasdee is by Desert Code, out of the Congaree mare Scary Fast, was bred by Harris Farms, is owned by Kane Kachur and trained by Isaiah Ortiz. He has nine wins... ...
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By DRF.com RUBIDOUX, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2025) — Rudy Campas, a fixture among California jockeys for 30 years, died on Wednesday after an illness, his friends said. Campas, who resided in Rubidoux, Calif., near Riverside, was 85. Born in Vernon, Texas, Campas had a varied career, and was well known for his success at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona. He won 144 races at the bullring track and was among the 10 all-time leading riders at the venue when it closed in 2013. Campas won 14 stakes at Del Mar, 12 at Hollywood Park, and six at Santa Anita – many on California-breds. His stakes wins at Del Mar included two runnings of the Del Mar Oaks – aboard Cal-breds Pie Queen in 1959 and Greta in 1968 – a division of the 1963 Del Mar Derby on Big Raff, and the Cabrillo and Eddie Read handicaps on Branford Court in 1976. Among his stakes wins at Hollywood Park, Campas won the 1960 A Gleam Stakes on Liberal... ...
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LIMA, Peru (Dec. 14, 2025) – Unbeaten Belmont Collection, a Kentucky-bred son of new California stallion Collected, won Sunday’s overnight handicap at Hipodromo de Monterrico. The 3-year-old colt, out of the multiple stakes-winning Malibu Moon mare Martha’s Moon, ran the 1200 meters in 1:12.19, carrying 136 pounds and winning by 7 ¾ lengths to stay perfect in six career starts. ...
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From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2025) –Owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing LLC picked up a fourth win in the King Glorious Stakes on the final day of the Winter Thoroughbred Meet when 7-2 second choice Smoovin’ Saturday rallied to capture the $101,500 event for Golden State Series -eligible 2-year-olds at Los Alamitos. A son of I’ll Have Another and the Square Eddie mare Smoove It, Smoovin’ Saturday took advantage of a quick pace set by longshot Tommy Norris to win for the second time in as many starts. He graduated at first asking going one mile Nov. 16 Del Mar. The $60,000 payday increased Smoovin’ Saturday’s earnings to $96,000. He completed the eight furlongs in 1:37.31 while defeating runner-up John Metcalfe – who was also second to him four weeks prior – by 1 ¼ lengths. Ridden by Tiago Pereira, the chestnut paid $9.20, $6 and $3.40. Jonathan Thomas saddled the winner Sunday in place of the suspended Michael McCarthy. Reddam’s four other King Glorious victories... ...
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Dec. 14, 2025) – Stakes-placed Express Kid is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes for 2-year-olds at Remington Park. Express Kid is by Bodexpress, out of the Street Sense mare Sensationalize, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Steve Haahr and trained by Wade Rarick. He has two wins in four starts, earnings of $56,902 and is coming off a win in a Nov. 6 allowance. ...
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Dec. 19, 2025) – Lady of Sky is the lone California-bred entered in the Dec. 27 $100,000 Pago Hop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Fair Grounds. She is also entered in a Dec. 26 allowance. Lady of Sky is by Vronsky, out of the Stephen Got Even mare False Statement, was bred by Marron Road Ventures, is owned by Melvin Simonovich and trained by Daniel Simonovich. She has four wins in 11 starts, earnings of $57,120 and is coming off a Dec. 7 claiming win. ...
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From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2025) – Third in the Golden State Juvenile Oct. 31 at Del Mar, Can’t Help Myself will stretch to one mile in the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-olds Sunday at Los Alamitos. Named in honor of the 1988 Hollywood Futurity and 1989 Haskell winner, the King Glorious is restricted to 2-year-olds bred or sired in California and is the main event on the final day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet. Post time is 12 Noon. The King Glorious will be the last of 10 races. Approximate post time is 4:30 p.m. Owned and bred by Pete and Evelyn Parrella’s Legacy Ranch, Inc. and trained by John Sadler, Can’t Help Myself finished 1 ¼ lengths behind Ocean Bear, who was winning his third in a row, in the Golden State Juvenile. A son of Violence and the Uncle Mo mare Snap Out of It, Can’t Help Myself has been worse than third only once in five starts and... ...
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From Equibase LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 10, 2025) — Equibase Company, the Thoroughbred industry’s official database for racing information, today announced the launch of a pilot program, Pocket PPs, to provide complimentary digital past performances in a simplified, 4” x 9” format. The Pocket PPs, which are being sponsored by FanDuel, are available for all tracks and can be found via a link within the entries section of equibase.com. In addition to basic entry information, the Pocket PPs display the horse’s past four races with each line including the date, race, race type, points of call, and finish position, along with abbreviated race description comments. “A primary focus for Equibase is to look at ways we can use data to help introduce new horseplayers to the sport while not overwhelming them with complicated past performance information,” said Equibase President Kyle McDoniel. “Our hope is that these simplified PPs will be a good beginning point to handicapping and a stepping stone to other more robust information.” Users can find the Pocket PPs within the... ...
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By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2025) — Liberation and Cecilia Street, the first two finishers in Sunday’s $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos, are likely to have a rematch next month at Santa Anita. Their respective trainers, John Sadler and Leonard Powell, said on Monday that the $175,000 California Cup Oaks for 3-year-old statebred fillies at a mile on turf is a logical goal. Liberation, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is a winner of 3 of 6 starts, but has yet to start on turf. Sadler said her pedigree “plus her action” are two reasons to give the surface a try. Liberation is by Omaha Beach out of Ponytail, by Lonhro. “I think she’ll like the grass,” he said. Liberation won the mile-long Soviet Problem Stakes by a half-length after setting the pace. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. “The race was better than shown,” Sadler said. “She would have been better off sitting second.” Cecilia... ...
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CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2025) — Odds-on favorite Liberation, headed in mid-stretch by maiden winner Cecilia Street, pulled away from her rival in the final strides to win Sunday’s $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos. Liberation is by Omaha Beach, out of the Lonhro mare Ponytail, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Hall Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, Edwin Barker and Jeffrey Levinson and trained by John Sadler. She has three wins and earnings of $177,600. Liberation ran the mile in 1:38.68 at odds of 3-10 in a field of five. Cecilia Street was second and Tiger Lady. “I thought that was a real gutsy performance considering she had a lot of pressure the whole way,’’ said Sadler’s assistant trainer Juan Leyva. “She showed her class, dug in and prevailed. “We figured we would be on the lead, but not pressured the way we were, but in the end she got the job done. She’s a gutsy filly and it’s really... ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2025)— Horses that win a California-bred first level allowance race will enjoy expanded opportunities beginning with the Dec. 26 opening of the Classic Meet at Santa Anita. The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), in collaboration with Santa Anita, Del Mar, Los Alamitos and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA), have reached an agreement to broaden the available options to include two wins over the same surface in Cal-bred first conditioned allowance races. Under the existing policy, Cal-breds are entitled to two wins in the first level allowance if the wins are recorded on different surfaces (dirt or turf). The new enhancement bolsters this program by permitting two wins on the same surface at two separate distance categories: one win at seven furlongs or less (short) and the other at one mile or longer (long). The agreement to expand the available options is on a one-year trial basis for 2026 with the understanding that the cap of a maximum two wins within the... ...
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From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2025) — Golden State Juvenile winner Ocean Bear tops a dozen 2-year-olds nominated to the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Los Alamitos. A one-mile race restricted to horses bred or sired in California, the King Glorious will be run for the 12th time at Los Alamitos Sunday, Dec. 14, closing day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet. Owned by breeder Richard Barton and trained by George Papaprodromou, Ocean Bear won for the third consecutive time in the Golden State Juvenile Oct. 31 at Del Mar, defeating Sammy Davis and eight others as the 2-1 favorite in the race at seven furlongs. The son of Bolt d’Oro and the Square Eddie mare Ocean Dream was runner-up in his debut Aug. 16, then graduated Sep.7 before capturing an optional claimer at Santa Anita 27 days prior to his Juvenile win. He’s earned $200,350. The other nominees, in alphabetical order: Can’t Help Myself, Cruise Home, Fionello, Flashy Fritz, John Metcalfe, Mo... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2025) — California-bred Om N Joy, a four-time stakes winner since April, is in the midst of a farm rest in central California, and will resume training in mid-December for a 2026 campaign intended to start in the Grade 1 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on March 7. Trainer Aggie Ordonez said on Wednesday that Om N Joy will have a slow build-up to her return to full training. “I’ll jog her for a good long time before I work her,” she said. “I can try to make that race in March. “She’ll need a couple of serious works to be ready for that kind of company.” Om N Joy, a 3-year-old California-bred filly by Om, won three consecutive stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies – the Melair and Fleet Treat Stakes at Santa Anita in the spring and Fleet Treat Stakes at Del Mar in the summer – before winning her first graded stakes in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at... ...
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From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2025)– No worse than third in her five-race career, Liberation will try two turns for the first time in the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 2-year-old fillies Sunday at Los Alamitos. The Soviet Problem is the eighth of nine races. Post time Sunday is 12:30 p.m. Approximate post time for the main event is 4 p.m. Owned by Hall Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds. Edwin Barker and Jeffrey Levinson and trained by John Sadler, Liberation has won twice and finished third in her three defeats. The daughter of Omaha Beach and the Lonbro mare Ponytail, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, was most recently third behind stablemate Mohaven in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31 at Del Mar. Liberation, who will be making her Los Alamitos debut, has banked $117,000. Cecilia Street will return to dirt after graduating at the Soviet Problem distance on turf Nov. 14 for breeder Carliwood Farms, which co-owns with Integrity Thoroughbreds, Mathilde Powell and trainer... ...
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CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 3, 2025) — Cashed is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Starlet for 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos. Cashed is by I’ll Have Another, out of the Shackledord mare Cash Offer, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Doug O’Neill. She has one win in five starts, earnings of $97,450 and is coming off a second in the Oct. 31 Golden State Juvenile Fillies. ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 3, 2025) — California-bred Unrivaled Time, winner of the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes on turf at Del Mar on Sunday, is likely to have a brief rest this winter in advance of a 2026 season geared toward the leading races for 3-year-olds on turf. Trainer Leonard Powell said on Wednesday that the son of Not This Time is unlikely to start in the next stakes for 2-year-olds on turf in California, the $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita on Dec. 28. “We might give him a freshening, looking for a big year next year,” Powell said. “If he’s as good as we hope he is, we’ll have to travel East and he’ll need a little bit of a break. All the big money is East.” In the $101,000 DeMille Stakes, Unrivaled Time closed from third with a rally between runners to win by three-quarters of a length. Unrivaled Time has won 2 of 3 starts, including a maiden race... ...
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From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2025) — Mohaven, a dominant winner of the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31 at Del Mar, is among 10 nominations to the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos. Bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, owned by Pete and Evelyn Parrella’s Legacy Ranch, Inc. and trained by John Sadler, Mohaven, a daughter of Yaupon and the Into Mischief mare Bahama Mischief, won the Golden State Juvenile Stakes by 4 ¼ lengths as the 9-5 choice. She’s won twice in four outings and earned $182,750. If she starts in the Soviet Problem it would be her first race beyond seven furlongs. Sadler also nominated two-time winner Liberation, who most recently was third in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies. Liberation, a daughter of Omaha Beach, was also bred by Richard Barton Enterprises. Other nominees to the Soviet Problem include Cammy’s Girl, Cashed, Cecilia Street, Cee Drew, Danzing Daisy, Druliner, Eighties and Tiger Lady. Entries for the Soviet Problem... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 27, 2025) – California-bred champion Big City Lights and fellow Cal-bred Book Smart are entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Stormy Liberal Stakes at Del Mar. Big City Lights is by Mr. Big, out of the Exchange Rate mare Champagne Exchange, was bred by Bar C Racing Stable, is owned by William Peeples and trained by Richard Mandella. He has seven wins in 14 starts, earnings of $598,420 and is coming off an eighth in the Nov. 1 Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint. 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 Lambert, Jeffrey and trained by Robert Hess, Jr. He has seven wins in 22 starts, earnings of $331,145 and is coming off a third in an Oct. 11 California Flag Handicap, presented by City National Bank. ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 27, 2025) – Unrivaled Time is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Grade III Cecil B. DeMille Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar. Unrivaled Time is by Not This Time, out of the Creachadoir mare Margot Marchance, was bred by Alfred Pais, is owned by Innergy Racing Corp. and Pais and is trained by Leonard Powell. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $37,600 and is coming off an Oct. 19 maiden win. ...
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From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif.—The West Coast introduction of Grade 1 winner and nationally ranked fourth-crop sire Collected will highlight Rancho San Miguel’s 2025 Open House & Stallion Show on Saturday, December 6, a free event which will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All regional Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers and enthusiasts are invited to attend. Collected recently arrived at the San Luis Obispo County farm from Airdrie Stud in Kentucky, which is partnering with Rancho San Miguel and prominent California breeder / owner Marsha Naify to stand the 12-year-old son of City Zip for a $7,500 fee in 2026. From his first four crops to race, the 2017 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner and $2,975,500-earner has sired 20 stakes winners, including seven graded stakes winners, with cumulative progeny earnings of more than $18 million. He enters the California stallion ranks as the state’s new and dominant leading sire, with 2025 progeny earnings of $6.4 million to date. Making his Rancho San Miguel... ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting Wednesday, November 19, at the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel Hearing Room in Sacramento. Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales chaired the meeting, joined by Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Brenda Washington Davis, Thomas Hudnut, and Peter Stern. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcastlink, accessed through the Media Room tab. In brief: In a positive sign for racing in Northern California, the Board allocated dates for a harness meet at the Big Fresno Fair between November 4, 2026, and May 11, 2027. The actual dates the meet will be running will be determined when its operator, Watch and Wager, applies for its license in mid-2026. There was no harness racing in 2025 after the breed’s longtime home, Cal Expo, was permanently closed. In response to a question from Commissioner Hudnut as to whether horsemen who previously raced at Cal Expo will return to California to race in Fresno... ...
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By Bloodhorse.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2025) — Speaking before the California Horse Racing Board during its Nov. 19 meeting in Sacramento, Calif., an executive from the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association spotlighted three incentives aimed at reversing years of contraction in the state’s breeding industry. CTBA president Doug Burge told commissioners that California-breds account for approximately half of the fields in the state, a dramatic shift from decades ago when they played a supporting role. The absence of racing in Northern California and the resulting consolidation to the south have intensified the importance of supporting breeders. With the Thoroughbred foal crop declining in California, as it is in many parts of the country, Burge elaborated on the CTBA’s multipronged strategy, first announced in mid-August. In addition to the $30 million restricted racing and incentive program overseen by the CTBA, beginning with mares bred in 2026, “when those resulting foals hit the ground in 2027 and are registered with The Jockey Club and then Cal-bred registered with us, we’re going to pay... ...
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From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2025) – Due to the unseasonably wet weather in San Diego, and in the interest of safety and maintaining optimal track surface conditions, Del Mar is adjusting its racing schedule. Live racing originally planned on Friday, November 21 is cancelled and a Monday, November 24 card has been added. The shift will allow the main track additional time to dry while also enabling the use of the turf course on Sunday and Monday. Racing will resume Saturday with a post time of 12:30 PT. Del Mar’s fall Bing Crosby season concludes on November 30. ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2025) – Multiple stakes winner Old Pal is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar. Old Pal is by Grazen, out of the English Channel mare Athina Lee, was bred by Ken Miles & Sheridan Jones, is owned by Blinkers On Racing Stable, Corbett, Carolyn, Desai, Jai H., Dizonno, Frederick A., Garcia, Chris, Harris, Cheryl, Hocevar, Craig, Lewis, Tom, Pate, Garrett, Titus, James and Wagner, Les and trained by Mark Glatt. He has four wins in 12 starts, earnings of $346,104 and is coming off a fourth in an Oct. 11 optional claimer. ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2025) – Cee Drew is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar. Cee Drew is by Cistron, out of the Notnowcato mare You’re a Goat, was bred by owner My Way Racing and is trained by Dan Blacker. She won her lone start Oct. 5 with earnings of $36,000. ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2025) — Santa Anita Park will kick off a new season of top-class Thoroughbred racing on Friday, Dec. 26 with opening day of the traditional Classic Meet. From the start of the 48-day Classic Meet until the close of the Hollywood Meet on June 14, Santa Anita will host 81 stakes over 78 race days which include the newly named Grade II D. Wayne Lukas Stakes on Feb. 7, historic GI Santa Anita Handicap on March 7 and the prestigious GI I Santa Anita Derby on April 4. The Santa Anita Park Classic Meet and Hollywood Meet will offer $11.75 million in stakes purses, with overnight race purses slated to increase from the start of last year. As California-breds are a vital component to Santa Anita’s racing program, a total of 14 stakes exclusively for statebreds are on the schedule. California Cup Day is Jan. 17 featuring five stakes led by the California Chrome California Cup Derby and Leigh Ann Howard California... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2025) – California-bred stakes winners Hey Jessie and Cornelia Fort, 1-2 finishers in their most recent race, are entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Grade III Red Carpet Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar. Hey Jessie is by Grazen, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Bea’s Cee, was bred by owner Sayjay Racing and trained by Sean McCarthy. She has three wins in six starts, earnings of $154,038 and is coming off a win in an Oct. 19 optional claimer. 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 five wins in 30 starts, earnings of $374,658 and is coming off a second in an Oct. 19 optional claimer. ...
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From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Nov. 24, 2025) – Four stakes for juveniles – including a pair for Golden State Series eligibles – highlight the 2025 Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos. The six-day season will begin Friday, Dec. 5 and continue through Sunday, Dec. 14. Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday both weeks (Dec. 5-7 and Dec. 12-14). Post time will be 12:30 p.m. The first of the stakes races is the Grade II, $200,000-guaranteed Starlet for 2-year-old fillies. The race at 1 1/16 miles will be run Saturday, Dec. 6. One week later – Saturday, Dec. 13 – the Grade II, $200,000-guaraneed Los Alamitos Futurity will be offered. The race – which will also be run at 1 1/16 miles – is for 2-year-olds. Completing the schedule are a pair of races at one mile for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California. The $100,000 Soviet Problem – for fillies – will be run Sunday, Dec. 7 while the $100,000 King Glorious – for colts and geldings – will... ...
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From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2025) — Eight Rings, a Grade 1-winning son of Empire Maker whose first foals are well-regarded yearlings, has relocated within California to stand at Rancho San Miguel. The 8-year-old stallion’s 2026 fee is $6,000, with a live foal guarantee. Sold for $520,000 as a Keeneland September Yearling, Eight Rings exploded onto the 2-year-old racing scene in 2019 when he parlayed a 6 1/4-length career debut win at 5 1/2 furlongs in Del Mar maiden special weight company into a six-length victory in Santa Anita Park’s $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The precocious colt went on to place in four additional graded stakes races on Southern California dirt over the following three years, topped by a narrow runner-up finish in Del Mar’s 2021 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at six furlongs. From 14 lifetime starts, he earned $474,451. Eight Rings’ first foals have been highly regarded as yearlings... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2025) – Multiple stakes-placed Clouseau is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar. Clouseau is by Distorted Humor, out of the Bernardini mare English Garden, was bred by PT Syndicate #1, is owned by Giddyup JR and trained by George Papaprodromou. He has eight wins in 28 starts, earnings of $429,714 and is coming off a fourth in an Oct. 31 optional claimer. ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Nov. 15, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board will conduct an in-person meeting on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Note that CHRB meetings in Sacramento will no longer be conducted at Cal Expo. The November 15 meeting will be held at the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel Hearing Room #330 at 400 R Street, Sacramento, CA, 95811. These monthly meetings will be open to the public. Those who wish to provide unsolicited public comment on agenda items will be limited to two minutes. Comments must relate specifically to the agenda item. Note that for agenda item Public Session #14, public comment will be limited to thirty minutes. For those who are unable to attend the meetings, a webcast audio link is available on the CHRB website via the Media Room link. The agenda and package of materials are formatted into a single link on the CHRB website: https://www.chrb.ca.gov/meeting_agendas.asp ...
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HOBBS, N.M. (Nov. 18, 2025) – Going Deep is the lone California-bred entered in Tuesday’s $100,000 Zia Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. Going Deep is by Bodexpress, out of the Indian Charlie mare Quick Wampum, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises & Robert Traynor, is owned by Todd Cady and Ty Leatherman and trained by Doug O’Neill. She has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $197,580 and is coming off a win in a Sept. 1 optional claimer. ...
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HOBBS, N.M. (Nov. 18, 2025) – Barbara’s Moon is the lone California-bred entered in Tuesday’s $100,000 Zia Park Princess Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Barbara’s Moon is by Grazen, out of the Malibu Moon mare Andean Moon, was bred by Stormy Hull & Guy Hull, is owned by Joseph Schumer and trained by Dan McFarlane. She has one win in two starts, earnings of $11,710 and is coming off a Nov. 10 maiden optional claiming win. ...
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From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 12, 2025) — Due to the forecast of heavy rain, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has announced the cancellation of Saturday’s race card as a safety precaution. The decision was made in the interest of protecting the welfare of horses, jockeys, and all participants. Additionally, in anticipation of rain on Friday, Del Mar has changed first post time from 12:30 to noon. Track officials have not yet made a determination regarding Sunday’s racing program. Once a decision is reached for the remainder of the weekend, Del Mar will release additional information outlining plans to make up cancelled races as appropriate. Saturday’s cancellation marks only the third time in Del Mar’s 88-year history that racing has been suspended due to weather conditions. ...
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By DRF DEL MAR, Calif. — Lovesick Blues and Big City Lights, California-bred stakes winners who could have given Man O Rose a battle in The Chosen Vron Stakes last Saturday at Del Mar had they not run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, are being pointed to their next starts. Lovesick Blues and Big City Lights finished sixth and eighth, respectively, in the BC Sprint on Nov. 1. The two will head different directions. Lovesick Blues, bred by Nick Alexander, will target the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Feb. 14 in Saudi Arabia; Big City Lights will be nominated to the $100,000 Stormy Liberal, a five-furlong turf sprint on Nov. 30 at Del Mar. Lovesick Blues “pulled up out of the [BC Sprint] in really good shape,” trainer Librado Barocio said. “He went right to his feed tub that night and he’s been good ever since. On a speed-favoring track like that, we probably have to be a little closer than we were.” :: Access the most trusted data... ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 10, 2025) — Applications for The Jockey Club’s paid internship program for college students and recent college graduates and its five academic scholarships opened today. The internship program will accommodate up to three interns and is now available in the summer or fall based on the intern’s preference. Interns will gain exposure to all companies and departments within the organization, and they will have the opportunity to spend additional time in areas that they find to be of particular interest. The program will last eight weeks. The internships will take place in The Jockey Club’s office located in Lexington, Ky. For more information and to view the application, interested candidates should visit bit.ly/tjcinternships. Applications are being accepted through January 5, 2026. Selected interns will be notified in February 2026. The Jockey Club scholarships will apply to the 2026-2027 academic year and are as follows: The Jockey Club Scholarship ($15,000; $7,500 per semester) is for those enrolled full time as an undergraduate or... ...
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By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2025) – Heavily favored Grand Slam Smile won her seventh stakes race Sunday at Del Mar, where she wore down stubborn pacesetter Issa Court to win the $100,500 Betty Grable Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible fillies and mares by 1 1/4 lengths. Sean McCarthy trains Grand Slam Smile ($3.40), who was ridden by William Antongeorgi in the seven-furlong sprint for California-bred fillies and mares. “This filly is just so damn game,” McCarthy said. “You talk about horses around the country, and this is just a Cal-bred stakes, but she’s as game as any racehorse out there right now. She just loves to fight.” Grand Slam Smile had a fight on her hands in the Betty Grable, because longshot pacesetter Issa Court would not quit. Issa Court set the pace through fractions of :22.45 and :45.44, while shadowed by Grand Slam Smile. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Antongeorgi has ridden... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2025) – Heavy favorite Man O Rose ran his stakes win streak to three with a speedy victory in Saturday’s $100,000 first running of The Chosen Vron Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Del Mar. The race, formerly known as the Cary Grant Stakes, was renamed in honor of the two-time Cal-bred Horse of the Year, who won the Cary Grant twice. Man O Rose is by Stanford, out of the Good Journey mare Katherine Rose, was bred by owner B&B Zietz and trained by Jeff Mullins. Under a confident ride by regular rider Edwin Maldonado, 4-5 favorite Man O Rose went to the front of the pack and had early pressure up the back stretch to the quarter pole from long shot Drop Um (26-1) and Kyle Frey. The pair battled head and head past the half mile pole, where they were met by Clovisconnection (8-1), who put his head in front travelling up the rail into the far turn. Man O Rose... ...
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From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2025) — In a watershed announcement for the California breeding and racing industry, Grade 1 winner and prominent young sire Collected will relocate from Airdrie Stud in Kentucky to stand at Rancho San Miguel in California for the 2026 breeding season. His introductory West Coast fee is $7,500, with a live foal stand and nurse guarantee. The 12-year-old son of City Zip enters the state as one of North America’s leading fourth-crop sires, and as the clear-cut, #1 California sire by 2025 progeny earnings with $6,307,233 in purse money amassed through November 5. Collected will be featured during Rancho San Miguel’s 2025 Open House and Stallion Show at its San Luis Obispo County farm on December 6. Breeders are invited to attend this free event. The unique partnership formed to relocate the stallion includes Thoroughbred owner and breeder Marsha Naify, a highly respected businesswoman, philanthropist and former chair of Thoroughbred Owners of California. Saddled by Racing Hall of... ...
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By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2025) – Although she has won twice as often and earned twice as much, Grand Slam Smile has a score to settle with her nemesis Sneaker on Sunday at Del Mar. Seven Golden State Series-eligibke fillies and mares are entered the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes, which is basically a rubber match between two who composed the exacta in recent stakes on turf. Sneaker upset Grand Slam Smile last out in a sprint; Grand Slam Smile beat Sneaker two back in a route. The difference Sunday is footing. The Betty Grable is seven furlongs on dirt, which is fine for Grand Slam Smile. She has won on dirt, turf, and synthetic. Sneaker, however, is uncertain. She has raced exclusively on turf and Sunday will be her first start on dirt. Grand Slam Smile is the 7-5 program favorite, while Sneaker is listed at 3-1. Betty Grable favorites are 3 for 11 since the race was moved from Hollywood Park and renamed. It was formerly... ...
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2025) — A California-bred weanling by Omaha Beach sold for $175,000 at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland November Sale. The colt, out of the stakes-winning Blame mare Flame Mingo, was bred by Checkmate Thoroughbreds and Raymond Salvatore, consigned by Checkmate Thoroughbreds and purchased by Bourbon Meadows. The colt is a half-brother to a pair of stakes-placed fillies. ...
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2025) — California-bred stakes winner Big Pond sold in-foal to Arabian Knight for $320,000 at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland November Sale. The Grade I-placed Big Pond is by Mr. Big, out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Beside Still Water, was bred by Fountain of Youth Breeding, consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent, and purchased by Flying Dutchmen. On the track, Big Pond earned $322,880 with placings in the Grade I La Brea Stakes and Grade III Vagrancy. ...
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2025) — California-bred broodmare Uncontrollable sold for $250,000 at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland November Sale. The Grade I-placed Uncontrollable is by Upstart, out of the Include mare Behavioral, was bred by Fountain of Youth Breeding, consigned byTaylor Made Sales, agent, and purchased by Haif Stud. Uncontrollable is in foal to Arabian Knight. She is the full sister of stakes winner Drop Um, who is entered in Saturday’s $100,000 The Chosen Vron Stakes at Del Mar. On the track, Uncontrollable earned $200,030, with placings in the Grade I Starlet and Grade II Chandelier Stakes. ...
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 4, 2025) — California-bred graded winner Chismosa sold for $375,000 at Tuesday’s session of the Keeneland November Sale. The 5-year-old Chismosa is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Cat Dreams mare You Can Dream, was bred by Jamie Renella, consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Renella, and purchased by Stonestreet Farm as a racing or broodmare prospect. She had six wins, highlighted by the Grade III Las Flores Stakes, with career earnings of $636,750. From the family of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, Chismosa also placed in five other graded stakes. ...
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By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2025) – Back-to-back stakes winner Man O Rose takes on well-traveled Clovisconnection in Saturday’s $100,000 The Chosen Vron Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Del Mar. Surface and distance make no difference to Man O Rose. The veteran gelding does it all – dirt, turf, short, and long. Does he even have a preference? “No,” trainer Jeff Mullins said, as long as he is in the right spot. “Just Cal-breds.” Man O Rose, fresh off stakes victories in a dirt route and turf sprint, can tighten his grip on the California-bred division Saturday at Del Mar. Man O Rose is the 8-5 program favorite in the The Chosen Vron Stakes, a seven-furlong stakes race previously called the Cary Grant, and also the On Trust. By any name, the $100,000 stakes for older statebreds is highly predictable. Favorites have won the last three, and six of 11 since the race moved to Del Mar from Hollywood Park. Man O Rose also is reliable.... ...
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By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 3, 2025) — Streak of Luck, the California-bred dam of unbeaten Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion Ted Noffey, sold Monday night for a sale-topping $6.2 million to Amo Racing at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Streak of Luck, daughter of Old Fashioned, was bred by Roncelli Family Trust and was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, for longtime client Marie Jones, who bred Ted Noffey. The 10-year-old mare was sold in foal to Taylor Made Stallions’ leading sire Not This Time .. Ted Noffey is a three-time grade 1 winner and expected to be named 2025’s champion 2-year-old colt. “We had to wait around, and I kind of knew who was waiting around; it was going to be extremely strong,” said Ben McElroy, who signed the ticket on behalf of Amo Racing USA. “Sales like this, when you bring the elite mares, she was probably the one that came in here with all the momentum. She’s got the champion 2-year-old colt, or champion elect (Ted Noffey). Kentucky Derby... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 31, 2025) – Favored Ocean Bear ran down Sammy Davis in midstretch to win Friday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Del Mar. Ocean Bear is by Bolt D’oro, out of the Square Eddie mare Ocean Dream and was bred by owner Richard Barton Enterprises, which also bred Golden State Juvenile Fillies winner Mohaven earlier on the card. Ocean Bear is trained by George Papaprodromou. Settling in fourth on the rail in the back stretch behind pace setter Sammy Davis (4-1) and Hector Berrios, Ocean Bear saved ground to the inside of the leader who had a half-length advantage with a furlong left to run. With Umberto Rispoli swinging out at the top of the stretch, Ocean Bear responded and started to cut into the margin and overtook the leader by three quarters of a length. Trained by John Sadler, third place finisher Can’t Help Myself (10-1) was unhurried early and kicked on down the lane to just miss... ...
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From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 31, 2025) – Favored Mohaven survived a stewards inquiry and scored a 4 1/4-length win in Friday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Del Mar. Mohaven is by Yaupon, out of the Into Mischief mare Bahama Mischief, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Legacy Ranch and trained by John Sadler. She has two wins in four starts, earnings of $182,750 and was coming off a second in the Sept. 1 Generous Portion. After an early bid for the lead from Cashed (7-1) and Tyler Gaffalione, Mohaven tracked the pacesetter to the outside and launched a big bid down the lane, while slightly drifting into the leader down the stretch, straightened up to kick away. Cashed held on to second by half a length over another filly from the Sadler barn, Liberation (4-1) with Juan Hernandez up. “This filly really impressed me today,” said jockey Hector Berrios. “She moved well at the three-eighths... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2025) – Stakes winner Sammy Davis and graded-placed Pavlovian are among the entries in Friday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar. Mo Holland Drive is by Mo Forza, out of the Summer Front mare Awesome Drive, was bred by River Oak Farm, is owned by Altamira Racing Stable, California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing LLC, Kagele, Tom and McCauley, Nathan and trained by Peter Miller. He has one win in five starts, earnings of $58,680 and is coming off a Sept. 28 maiden win. Ocean Bear is by Bolt D’oro, out of the Square Eddie mare Ocean Dream, was bred by owner Richard Barton Enterprises and is trained by George Papaprodromou. He has two wins in three starts, earnings of $100,600 and is coming off a win in an Oct. 4 optional claimer. Fionello is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Knapp, Steve R., Lovingier, Terry C., Moroney, John and... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2025) – Too Sassy, Mohaven and Liberation, the top three finishers in the Generous Portion Stakes, renew their budding rivalry in Friday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar. My Kat is by Gato Del Oro, out of the Union Rags mare Vegas Strong Baby, was bred by owner JK Racing and is trained by George Papaprodromou. She has one win in five starts, earnings of $37,660 and is coming off a fourth in an Oct. 3 optional claimer. Cee Drew is by Cistron, out of the Notnowcato mare You’re a Goat, was bred by owner My Way Racing and is trained by Dan Blacker. She won her lone start Oct. 5 with earnings of $36,000. Lino’s Angel is by Uncle Lino, out of the Stay Thirsty mare Endless Thirst and was bred by owner and trainer Edwin Alvarez. She has one win in five starts, earnings of $68,900 and is coming off a second in an Oct. 3 optional... ...
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From NTRA LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2025) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today the release of a new campaign advocating for passage of a bill that would repeal an unpopular wagering tax that was part of legislation passed by Congress earlier this year. As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law on July 4, there was a tax change regarding wagering losses – reducing the deduction from 100% to 90%. The change could cost horse racing upwards of a billion dollars annually in pari-mutuel handle, according to some industry estimates. “While there were many victories for our sport in the legislation passed this summer, we noted at the time that work needed to be done to repeal the language that would effectively tax horse players on phantom income. This provision will have a negative impact on our customers who fuel a $36 billion industry responsible for nearly half a million jobs, thousands of small agribusinesses, and millions of acres of open working... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2025) – Grade I winner Lovesick Blues and fellow California-bred Big City Lights are entered in Saturday’s $2 million Grade I Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar. Lovesick Blues earned his way into the race by taking the “Win and You’re In” Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes on July 26 at the same track and six-furlong distance as the BC Sprint. Not originally nominated, Lovesick Blues’ connections must be supplemented for $100,000. Lovesick Blues is a 7-year-old gelding by Grazen, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Queenofhercastle, was bred by Nick Alexander and purchased privately by current trainer Librado Barocio for his Mia Familia Racing Stable. Lovesick Blues has nine wins in 42 starts, earnings of $790,000 and prepped for the Breeders’ Cup with a fast-closing second in the Oct. 11 California Flag Handicap, presented by City National Bank, down the Santa Anita hillside turf course. For his new connections, Lovesick Blues gained his first stakes victory when he captured the Siren Lure... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2025) — Majestic Oops will attempt to become the first California-bred to win Saturday’s $2 million Grade I Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff for fillies and mares at Del Mar. 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 Medallion Racing, Trommer, Evan, Agave Racing Stable and Regan, Sheila and trained by Dan Ward. she will break from post position No. 9 with jockey Umberto Rispoli. She has seven wins in 32 starts, earnings of $616,559 and is coming off a fourth in the Sept. 28 Delaware Handicap for fillies and mares. Majestic Oops ran for a $12,500 claiming tag at Golden Gate two years ago, but her form dramatically improved last year and she posted back-to-back stakes wins this summer at Oaklawn Park and Monmouth Park. Runner-up in a 6-furlong starter allowance at Oaklawn in January, the 5-year-old was fifth stretching out to 1 1/16 miles... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2025) — California-bred Third Beer, the second also-eligible pre-entry, drew into Friday’s $1 million Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf for 2-year-old at Del Mar and will break from the No. 4 post position. Third Beer is by Mendelssohn, out of the Curlin mare Siquiera, was bred by Premier Thoroughbreds, is owned by Phil Lebherz, trained by Tim Yakteen and will be ridden by Antonio Fresu. Third Beer has one win in two starts, earnings of $68,000 and is coming off a second in the Oct. 3 Zuma Beach Stakes. ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2025) – Italio is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar. Italio is by Pavel, out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Pridelander, was bred by owner Larry Odbert and is trained by Marcia Stortz. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $31,320 and is coming off a third in an Oct. 18 starter optional claimer. ...
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By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2025) — California-bred Lovesick Blues ‘ path to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) began with Johnny Podres , both sons of Nick Alexander’s California sire Grazen . In mid-2023, owner/trainer Librado Barocio claimed 6-year-old Johnny Podres with David Bernsen for $40,000 and turned him into a multiple stakes winner. So last year, he went back to the same source for another older Grazen gelding and found Lovesick Blues. “Nick had another horse named Desmond Doss that was on my radar,” Barocio said. “I didn’t think he would part with Lovesick Blues, so I asked him about Desmond Doss.” Alexander breeds extensively to Grazen, who has put the breeder on or near the top of California breeders for the past several seasons. The stallion regularly turns out versatile horses who win on dirt, turf, and synthetic, both short and long. While they may not be precocious, they are durable, often running well after their counterparts have been retired. Desmond Doss, a son of Grazen, had been retired at... ...
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By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2025) — California-bred Big City Lights will start in his first Grade 1 in the $2 million Grade I Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar after a series of fast workouts, trainer Richard Mandella said. Big City Lights is the first alternate among pre-entries. He’s by Mr. Big, out of the Exchange Rate mare Champagne Exchange, was bred by Bar C Racing Stables and is owned by William Peeples. On Saturday at Del Mar, Big City Lights zoomed five furlongs in 58 seconds. The time was close to expectations for a 6-year-old horse who has not raced since a win by 7 3/4 lengths in the California Cup Sprint for statebreds at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 18, trainer Richard Mandella said. “He hasn’t run in awhile,” Mandella said. “We wanted him to do something.” Earlier this month, Big City Lights worked a half-mile in 46 seconds. Big City Lights has won 7 of 13 starts. His lone graded stakes... ...
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 23, 2025) – A California-bred daughter of McKinzie sold for $120,000 at Thursday’s session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. The filly, named Looks Like N Angel, is the first foal out of the Pure Prize mare Close the Show Lo. She was bred by McKinzie Syndicate, Stormy Hull & Guy Hull, consigned by Gainesway, agent, and purchased by Dennis O’Neill, agent. ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 22, 2025) — The Jockey Club today announced the launch of its traceability survey, which records the status of a Thoroughbred, including the horse’s use and location, so that the industry can better understand the whereabouts of Thoroughbreds that have retired from breeding and racing. Respondents can also provide additional information about the horse to help generate data on the lives of retired Thoroughbreds. “With the traceability survey, we hope everyone who owns, leases, or boards a retired or unraced Thoroughbred will voluntarily report the horse’s status to help us improve traceability,” said Kristin Werner, deputy general counsel and director of Industry Initiatives, The Jockey Club. “Understanding where Thoroughbreds go after their racing and breeding careers will advance the entire industry’s aftercare efforts and support welfare, accountability, and public trust in the sport.” The Jockey Club requests all Thoroughbred owners complete the survey, which should take only a few minutes per horse, by June 30, 2026, but the survey will remain open so owners... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2025) – Wink and a Grin is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Wink and a Grin is by Smiling Tiger, out of the Acclamation mare Style Award, was bred by owner Harris Farms and is trained by Carla Gaines. She has two wins in seven starts, earnings of $90,858 and is coming off a 10th in the Sept. 27 John C. Harris Stakes. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2025) – Mining District is the lone California-bred in a field of four entered in Saturday’s $85,000 Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita. Mining District is by Accelerate, out of the Good Journey mare Susan B Good, was bred by owner Ed Delaney and is trained by Doug O’Neill. He has two wins in 14 starts, earnings of $108,076 and is coming off a third in an Oct. 11 optional claimer. ...
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From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2025) —Uptown Rythem, a multiple winner by champion sprinter and sire of sires Speightstown, has been relocated to stand at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, California for the 2026 breeding season. His fee is $1,500, with a live foal guarantee. The 14-year-old stallion previously stood within the state at Harris Farms. He is the property of C-Punch Ranch Inc., an ownership group which has been breeding horses in California for more than four decades, and which is consistently ranked among the top 20 Thoroughbred breeders in the state. Sold for $220,000 as a Keeneland November weanling, Uptown Rythem won a pair of six-furlong dirt sprints at Santa Anita Park. He retired to stud at Harris Farms prior to the 2017 breeding season. He has sired seven winners to date; five have won multiple races, led by the $140,800-earner Rhythem On Stage. Despite his modest-sized foal crops, his Average Earnings Index is among the best in California, at... ...
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DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 17, 2025) – Nominations close Thursday, Oct. 23, for two Golden State Series stakes races to be held on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Friday, Oct. 31 at Del Mar, with additional benefits offered to the connections. The races are the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds and the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Both races will be run at seven furlongs and entries will be taken Monday, Oct. 27. Undercard Benefits Available this year: Complimentary Reserved Seats: 4 seats for owners, 2 seats for trainers allocated Stretch Run Reserved the day your horse runs, with options to purchase more if available. Parking Passes: Preferred parking pass for the day your horse runs. Breakfast Marquee Access: Wednesday, Oct. 29. For additional information, contact David Jerkins, Senior VP of Racing at Del Mar, 858-792-4230 or email: nominations@dmtc.com. ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting Thursday, October 16, at the Department of Consumer Affairs in Sacramento. Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales chaired the meeting, joined by Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Brenda Washington Davis, and Peter Stern. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link, accessed through the Media Room tab. In brief: The Board approved the license application for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to conduct a race meet in Del Mar that will operate from October 30 through November 30. The meet will be highlighted by the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, set for October 31 and November 1. Track President Josh Rubinstein reported there will be a 7-percent increase in purses for this fall meet. The Board approved race-date allocations for quarter horses and thoroughbreds in 2026 that largely mirror the calendar for 2025. The allocations begin December 17, 2025, at Santa Anita, through June 16, followed by dates at Del Mar (July... ...
Read More →From Equibase LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 16, 2025) — Equibase Company, the Thoroughbred industry’s official database for racing information, has launched a new performance-based horse rating that can be used to provide more options for tracks to consider when developing race conditions. The first race using the Equibase Rating will be run on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita. The Equibase Rating – which provides an algorithmically generated predictive performance score based solely on race outcomes and measurable factors such as speed, race strength, track conditions, and trip factors – was developed with the input of industry stakeholders with the goal of simplifying conditions, improving race competitiveness, and creating larger fields. “This has been a truly collaborative effort to improve race competitiveness and give horsemen additional options to complement claiming, especially for horses that have run through their conditions,” said Kyle McDoniel, president and COO for Equibase. “We are happy to partner with 1/ST to card the first race at Santa Anita and are excited about the interest already being generated by the... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2025) – Stakes-placed Mystic Spirit, a graduate of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association January Sale, is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $80,000 Lure Stakes at Santa Anita. Mystic Spirit is by Danzing Candy, out of the Pure Prize mare Rowdy Gal, was bred by Danuario Ramirez, is owned by Tomas Urbina and trained by Edwin Alvarez. The $11,000 purchase at the CTBA January Sale from the Rancho San Miguel consignment has three wins in 13 starts, earnings of $161,019 and is coming off a third in the Sept. 13 E.B. Johnston Stakes. ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2025) — The recent training of the older California-bred sprinter Big City Lights is tempting trainer Richard Mandella into big ideas. A winner of 7 of 13 starts, the 6-year-old Big City Lights is being prepared for a comeback likely to occur in the $100,000 The Chosen Vron Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs on Nov. 8 at Del Mar. However, the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar a week earlier has Mandella’s attention for Big City Lights’s first start since an easy win by 7 3/4 lengths in the California Cup Sprint for statebreds at Santa Anita in January. “He’s coming off a layoff, but he’s always done good off layoffs,” Mandella said. “He looks like he can beat anybody.” :: Bet Santa Anita with confidence! Get DRF All Access Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and more. The BC Sprint may have a full field, led by 2025 stakes winners Bentornato, Imagination, and Straight No Chaser, who won the 2024 running of the BC Sprint.... ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board will conduct an in-person meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Note that CHRB meetings in Sacramento will no longer be conducted at Cal Expo. The October 16 meeting will be held at the Department of Consumer Affairs Hearing Room #186 at 1747 North Market Blvd., Sacramento, CA. Also be advised that the date and location for the November meeting also have changed. The CHRB monthly meeting will be conducted on Wednesday, November 19, at the Cannabis Control Appeal Panel Hearing Room suite #330, 400 R Street, Sacramento, CA 95811. These monthly meetings will be open to the public. Those who wish to provide unsolicited public comment on agenda items will be limited to two minutes. Comments must relate specifically to the agenda item. Note that for agenda item #12, Public Comment on October 16, no further comments will be allowed after thirty minutes. For those who are unable to attend the meetings, a... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 12, 2025) – After coming up a half-length short of Grand Slam Smile in the Solana Beach Stakes going one mile on turf at Del Mar in August, a change in venue and cutback in distance helped turn the tables for Sneaker Sunday at Santa Anita. In the $100,000 California Distaff Handicap for Golden State Series-eligibles fillies and mares sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course, Sneaker (3-1) and Grand Slam Smile (1-1) battled almost stride-for-stride over the final furlong with Sneaker ultimately prevailing by a head under Umberto Rispoli. It was the first official stakes win for Sneaker, a 4-year-old filly by Oscar Performance bred by Fountain of Youth Breeding, owned by RL Stables and trained by George Papaprodromou. Issa Court (15-1) finished another 3 ¼ lengths back in third with Bit’s Tiger Magic (9-5), who set the pace, weakening to fourth. “Going down the hill it’s a little less tactical than going a mile,” said Rispoli, who did not ride Sneaker in... ...
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2025) – California-bred graded winner Om N Joy risks her five-race win streak in Saturday’s $400,000 Grade II Lexus Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland. Om N Joy is by Om, out of the Hard Spun mare Margie’s Minute, was bred by Jerry & Connie Baker, is owned by Baker, Connie S., Baker, Jerry, Golovko, Michael and Scanlan, Terrence J. and trained by Aggie Ordonez. Om N Joy has five wins in 12 starts, earnings of $401,140 and is coming off five consecutive wins, the last being the Aug. 30 Grade III Torrey Pines. ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 11, 2025) – Man O Rose held off a late surge from Lovesick Blues to win Saturday’s $101,000 California Flag Stakes, presented by City National Bank, for Golden State Series eligibles on the hillside turf course by a nose, a result that will lead to divergent stakes at the Del Mar autumn meeting for the older geldings. Man O Rose will be considered for the $100,000 The Chosen Vron Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs on Nov. 8. Lovesick Blues is bound for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at six furlongs on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Lovesick Blues earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Sprint with an 18-1 upset in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 26 at Del Mar. In the California Flag Stakes, Man O Rose was sent off favored and stalked 5-1 Flyover, who set a torrid pace of 20.88 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 42.42 for a half-mile. Man O Rose, ridden by Edwin Maldonado,... ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 11, 2025) — Longtime equine tax attorney Richard Craigo passed away on Oct. 6 in Los Angeles, Calif. He was 91. Born April 30, 1934 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Craigo developed a love of horse racing at an early age. He would often sneak away to watch the races at Oaklawn Park, home of the Arkansas Derby. After earning his B.A. from the University of Arkansas, Richard served three years in the U.S. Air Force. His first civilian summer was spent in Lexington, Ky., working at John D. Hertz’s Stoner Creek Farm as an assistant to the famed farm manager Charlie Kenny. Craigo graduated with honors (Law Review and Order of the Coif) from the University of Southern California Law School and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1967. A certified tax specialist, he devoted his practice almost exclusively to equine matters. He was especially adept at handling IRS challenges under the so-called “Hobby Loss” cases against the IRS, successfully negotiating... ...
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VANCOUVER, B.C. (Oct. 18, 2025) – Stormy Blue, a British Columbian-bred son of California stallion Midnight Storm, won Saturday’s $47,000 Fall Classic Handicap at Hastings Racecourse. Stormy Blue, a 6-year-old gelding out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Bluegrass Gin, has six wins in 24 starts and earnings of $100,817. He ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:15.13 on a sloppy track and won by one length at odds of 8-1. ...
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From NTRA With passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, yearling buyers have access to 100% bonus depreciation for the first time since 2022.This important investment incentive can benefit horse and farm owners who may be purchasing horses, tractors or other assets. The NTRA encourages anyone who is preparing to make such large asset purchases to consult with a tax professional in advance. ...
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