CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 9, 2017) – Soi Phet successfully defended his title in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds at Los Alamitos. Soi Phet, bred by ARCHA Racing, won his fourth stakes at Los Alamitos for the Benowitz Family Trust, Mathilde Powell and Paul Viskovich. Trained by Leonard Powell, the 9-year-old Tizbud gelding is out of the Siberian Summer mare Summer Jersey. He has won 13 of 55 and banked $876,170, capturing a pair of local stakes – the Bertrando and Los Alamitos Mile – in 2014 prior to his half-length score in last year’s Johnston. “This horse means nearly everything to me,” said Powell. “It’s going to be sad when he’s not with me anymore. He loves the long stretch here. He’s a bit of a grinder and he keeps on coming and the stretch here helps him.’’ Soi Phet ran the mile in 1:35.71 and won by one-half length over He Will with El Huerfano third. Even-money favorite Gold Rush Dancer, coming off a win in the... ...

From Ranch Hills Farm SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Sept. 6, 2017) — Big Surf offspring finished the 2017 summer race season winning five races since May at distances from 5 furlongs on the dirt, to 1 mile 70 yards on dirt and all-weather tracks. Over the Labor day weekend, Baku Dance won at the mile by 1 3/4 lengths.  Other Big Surf summer mile winners also include:  Strox, a three time winner at 1 1/16 mile on the dirt, 1 mile 70 yards on the dirt, and a 4 length winner at a mile on an all-weather track; and, Mansoor, a winner at 1 mile 70 yards on a good dirt track.  On August 30, 2017, Aypara (AZE) sprinted to a 2 length win at 5 furlongs in the dirt.  Big Surf is a Cal Bred stallion standing in Southern California. ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2017) — Miss Sunset will be sorry to see Del Mar end. Her love affair with the track continued on Monday’s closing day when she ran her record her to 4 for 4 when beating her elders for the first time in the $99,485 CERF Stakes for older female sprinters. Miss Sunset ($8.40) had won the Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies earlier in the meet on July 30, and last year she won a pair of races here, including the Generous Portion. In the CERF, she stepped out of both her comfort zones, moving into open company and against older competition. The result was the same, but with a slight tweak. Miss Sunset led from start to finish in the Fleet Treat, but this time she sat behind early pacesetter Rockport Babe, surged to the lead entering the lane, then held safe fellow Cal-bred Bad Ju Ju to win by a 1 3/4 lengths. Classy Tune, the even-money favorite off a... ...

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 2, 2017) – Bonita, a Florida-bred daughter of California stallion Bluegrass Cat, rallied from last to win Saturday’s $75,000 Wasted Tears Stakes for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park. The 4-year-old Bonita ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.24 and won by 1 ½ lengths at odds of 9-2 in the field of seven. ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2017) — Bookies Luck, overlooked in the betting at 14-1 after finishing eighth in the Graduation Stakes, took command turning for home and cruised to a handy triumph Friday in the featured $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-olds at Del Mar. With Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, Bookies Luck powered past pace-setting Sir Valentine nearing the stretch and was an easy three and one-quarter length winner in 1:10.62 for the six furlongs. Smokem, 5-2 second choice under apprentice Evin Roman, closed gamely to be second, three and one-quarter lengths ahead of Drizzy. Continental Divide, the 2-1 favorite after his triumph in the Graduation Stakes, was another length back in fourth in the field of seven juveniles. Cono and Get Em Up Scout were withdrawn. Bookies Luck, a son of Lucky Pulpit owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams and trained by Jeff Bonde, returned $30.20, $13 and $5.60 after his notching... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 30, 2017) — Dare to Dream Stable’s Spiced Perfection, unraced since breaking her maiden on opening day, July 19, of Del Mar’s summer season, wore down odds-on favorite Show It N Moe It in the upper stretch and then held off the challenge of Family Girl to score an upset victory in Wednesday’s $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-old fillies. Spiced Perfection, a daughter of Smiling Tiger out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Perfect Feat, was bred by Premier Thoroughbreds and trained by Brian Koriner. She went to the gate at 7-1 and paid $17.20, $5.80 and $3 while earning first money of $57,000. Family Girl returned $4.80 and $2.20, and Show It N Moe It paid $2.10 to show. “We skipped the first stake (CTBA) that most of these horses ran in,” said Koriner. “It seems like the fresher these horses are the better they run. She’s been doing really well since we brought her down here. Every... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2017) –Three yearlings—all California-breds—sold for six figures each at the Barretts select yearling sale Aug. 29 at Del Mar. A daughter of Bodemeister  brought a record $300,000, while an Unusual Heat filly sold for $200,000. The third six-figure horse was the sale’s top-priced colt, a son of Mucho Macho Man  for $120,000. A total of 53 horses grossed $2,177,000 for an average of $41,075 and a median of $32,000. The average rose 10% over the 2016 average of $37,174. The buy-back rate was 34%, with 27 of the 80 horses through the ring not sold. “I was very pleased all the way through, from when we started our selections through showing,” said Kim Lloyd, general manager of Barretts. “It was busy and we had traffic every day. We had people show up from many different places.” The $300,000 filly was the highest-priced yearling Barretts has ever sold.  “We’re trying to establish a market for high-end Cal-breds,” Lloyd said. “It gives the breeders confidence... ...

From DMTC.com DEL MAR, Calif (Aug. 26, 2017)-Bolstered by a series of additions around the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, the seaside track will offer a record fall stakes schedule worth $3,375,000 when racing begins on Wednesday, November 1. Included will be four stakes for Golden State Series-eligibles — the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes on Breeders’ Cup Friday’s Nov. 3 card, the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes on Breeders’ Cup Saturday’s Nov. 4 card, the $100,000 Betty Grable  on Sunday, Nov. 12 and the $100,000 Cary Grant on Sunday, Nov. 19. Twenty-two stakes in total will be presented during the 16-day session with seven of them “undercard” races for the two Breeders’ Cup days, Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4. Twelve of the 22 main events are graded races with a pair of those Grade I, four presented at Grade II and six at Grade III. The Grade I stakes – the $300,000 Hollywood Derby and the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes — will lead... ...

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (Aug. 26, 2017) – Multiple stakes winning California-bred Patriots Rule went from last to first to win Saturday’s $50,000 Brooks Fields Stakes at Canterbury Park. Patriots Rule is by Tribal Rule, out of the Seattle Bound mare Candy Factory, was bred by Dahlberg Farms, is owned by Charles Garvey and trained by Robertino Diodoro. He has eight wins in 31 starts, earnings of $496,773 and was coming off a second in a July 27 optional claimer. Patriots Rule ran the mile in 1:36.17 and won by one-half length at odds of 5-1 in the field of six. The race was run on a muddy dirt track after originally scheduled to be run on the turf. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2017) – California stallion Twice the Appeal was represented by his first winner on Thursday when Twisted Rosie won the sixth race at Del Mar, a $50,000 maiden claimer for fillies and mares. Twisted Rosie is out of the Distinctive Cat mare Hurricane Rose, was bred by Edward Brown, is owned by Edward Brown Jr. and is trained by Jeff Bonde. Twisted Rosie ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.48 and won by 1 ¾ lengths at odds of 5-2. ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2017) –It has been a week for memorable gatherings, beginning Monday morning with the total solar eclipse that captivated awestruck observers in a wide swath of the continental United States Thoroughbred racing has its own way of commemorating such an event. Within the last few days, somebody snapped up the name Path of Totality on the Jockey Club registry, reserving it for some unsuspecting foal of the future. Moon Shadow is already in use, although Umbra – Latin for “shadow” – remains available as of this writing, along with Baily’s Beads, the effect caused by light from the eclipsed sun peeking past the irregular edges of the moon’s surface. That morning on Steve Byk’s radio show, after chewing over the results of last Saturday’s Pacific Classic with Bob Baffert, the conversation landed on the recent death of Baffert’s friend Brad McKinzie, whose memorial service was schedule for noon that day. “He was like the fourth Baffert brother,” Baffert said. “And Mom always... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2017) — California-bred Skye Diamonds, the dominant female sprinter in California this year, will not race again until Nov. 4 at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, a race in which she figures to be a leading candidate. Skye Diamonds won the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos in July and the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap on Aug. 13 at Del Mar. Trainer Bill Spawr said earlier this week that he would prefer to give Skye Diamonds a lengthy break between starts as opposed to adding a race at Santa Anita in October. “She’ll do well off that,” Spawr said of the break. “If we give her six weeks between races, she’s done well. She’s so professional.” Skye Diamonds, a 4-year-old filly by First Dude, has won 9 of 16 starts and earned $509,150. She has won 6 of 8 starts since being claimed for $40,000 last August, a span that includes the Dream of... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 18, 2017) — Returning to competition after more than a year on the sidelines, six-year-old California-bred Tribalist overcame traffic trouble to rally late in the stretch and win Friday’s featured $105,070 Green Flash Handicap for older turf sprinters at Del Mar. Tribalist, running only his sixth race in a career interrupted by various physical infirmities, was shuffled back to last early in the five-furlong dash, found room to rally along the rail going to the far turn but then had to check in traffic under jockey Victor Espinoza. Finally locating room in the final furlong, the gelding responded generously to overhaul the gritty 25-1 longshot Gutsy Ruler in the shadow of the wire to win by a head in :56.93 for the distance. Gutsy Ruler, overlooked in the betting despite a triumph in his most recent race, August 6, was a half-length in front of 3-2 favored Richard’s Boy, with Jimmy Bouncer fourth in the field of eleven horses. Tribalist, Bred by Dutko... ...

PLEASANTON, Calif. (Aug. 15, 2017) – A filly by leading California first-crop stallion Smiling Tiger brought a sale-topping $70,000 and a Lucky Pulpit colt from the same family sold for $50,000 at Tuesday’s 2017 Northern California Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. The high-bid yearling is out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Mulberry Lane. She was bred and consigned by Harris Farms. The second-highest priced sale was also bred and consigned by Harris Farms. That son of Lucky Pulpit, sire of champion California Chrome, is out of the stakes-winning Talkin Man mare Aspen Gal, who also is the second dam of the sale-topper. Both yearlings were purchased by Del Secco DCS, Inc., of Hayward. The top consignor by gross sales was Harris Farms, with eight horses sold for $149,900. The top buyer was Del Secco DCS, Inc., with the two highest-priced yearlings at a total of $120,000. The percentage of horses with reserves not achieved (RNA) improved to 22 percent this year from 33... ...

From Emerald Downs Publicity AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 13, 2017) – Returning to the track where his career began two years ago, California-bred Gold Rush Dancer raced to a dominant 4 ¾-length victory Sunday in the 82nd running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) at Emerald Downs. Ridden by 19-year-old Evin Roman, Gold Rush Dancer ran one mile in 1:33.85 under 120 lbs and returned $8.40, $4.20 and $3.80. Vann Belvoir is the winning trainer for owner/breeder John Parker of Lake Bay, Wash. A 4-year-old California-bred colt by Private Gold-Dances On Water, Gold Rush Dancer earned $110,000 to push his bankroll to $510,613. His record is 6-3-3 in 18 starts including five stakes wins—three vs. state-breds in California and the Longacres Mile and Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs. Mach One Rules, ridden by Isaias Enriquez at high-weight of 123 lbs, rallied from sixth to edge Dedicated to You for second by a head and paid $4.40 and $3.60. Winner of the Budweiser and Mt. Rainier Stakes, Mach One Rules was favored... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2017) – California-bred Skye Diamonds has earned $389,100 for owners Tom Acker, Allen Racing, Bloom Racing, and Jon Lindo since she was claimed for $40,000 at Del Mar last August. The latest installment was the $60,000 first-place purse from Sunday’s Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. The prize money from the $100,000 race may not have been hefty, but there can be no doubt Skye Diamonds is rated among the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here Nov. 4. Whether she starts again before that race was unclear in the immediate aftermath of the Rancho Bernardo. Instead, winning trainer Bill Spawr was focused on the style of her win, closing between rivals in the final three furlongs to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:15.95. Skye Diamonds ($3.60), bred by Dizney Double Diamond, was briefly behind pacesetter Rockport Babe while racing on the inside on the backstretch before winning... ...

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2017) – California-bred Little Doe won Sunday’s 65,075 Wine Country Debutante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at the Sonoma County Fair. Little Doe is by Kodiak Cowboy, out of the Richly Blended mare Baby Doe, was bred by owners Dr. and Mrs. William Gray and is trained by Felix Rondan. Little Doe has two wins in three starts, earnings of $67,990 and was coming off a July 8 maiden win. She ran the six furlongs in 1:11.18 and won by one length over Song From Above at odds of 6-1 in the field of six. ...

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2017) – Bonita, a Florida-bred daughter of California stallion Bluegrass Cat, won Sunday’s $50,000 Panama City Handicap for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park. Bonita ran the mile on turf in 1:36.26 and won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 9-1 in the field of eight. She has four wins in 15 starts, earnings of $127,465 and was coming off a sixth in the May 27 Christmas Past Stakes. ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 11, 2017) — For the second straight year, Majestic Heat and jockey Flavien Prat won the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes, and for the second straight year they won the grass race for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares by the slimmest of margins, a nose. Sent postward the 3-5 favorite, Majestic Heat was well-rated on the lead by Prat, shook off the stalking How Unusual in mid-stretch but then was pushed to the limit to barely resist the last-ditch challenge of the fast-closing Moonless Sky, piloted by Kent Desormeaux. The stewards conducted an inquiry after How Unusual was forced to take up by jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr. when Moonless Sky came through an opening in pursuit of Majestic Heat. However, they ruled that the incident did not warrant a change in the placings. Majestic Heat, a five-year-old daughter of Unusual Heat bred by Madeline Auerbach and Barry Abrams, owned by Auerbach, McCauley and Bardy Farm and trained by Hall of Famer Richard... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 10, 2017) – California Chrome still may be the aberration of all aberrations, but he’s no longer the only winner produced by Love the Chase, the famed mare who broke her maiden for an $8,000 tag. In a mile maiden special weight event for California-bred fillies and mares on the Del Mar turf Aug. 10, R Sunday Surprise, one of three full siblings to the two-time Horse of the Year, just edged Halo Ahead by a head at the wire.  R Sunday Surprise, a 3-year-old filly, is by Lucky Pulpit, out of the Not For Love mare Love the Chase, was bred by Perry Martin & Steve Coburn, is owned by Silver State Racing, Godwin, Melton, Morgan and Mirarchi and is trained by Kristin Mulhall. After a break from the rail in the field of 10, the 3-year-old Lucky Pulpit  filly settled well on the inside to track the early pace in fourth under jockey Israel Ocampo. Ocampo bided his time on the rail... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2017) – Take the One O One, a graduate of the Northern California Yearling Sale, won a 2-year-old maiden special weight race at Del Mar on Sunday. Take the One O One is by Acclamation, out of the Jump Start mare North Freeway, was bred by Thomas Bachman, was consigned by Fairview and was purchased for $47,000 by Terry Knight. He is owned by jay Em Ess Stable and trained by Brian Koriner. Take the One O One, second in his debut July 13, won his second start by 3 ¼ lengths as the 6-5 favorite in the field of eight, running the six furlongs in 1:11.65. Take the One O One is the eighth winner from the 2016 Northern California Yearling Sale. This year’s sale will be held on Tuesday, August 15, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, beginning at noon. ...

By DRF.com SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2017) – Lightly raced California-bred Summersimage ($8.60) scored a hard-earned victory as he made his turf and two-turn debut in the $66,625 Robert Dupret Derby at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa on Sunday. The Slew’s Tiznow colt was bumped badly leaving the starting gate, but was able to bounce away from the trouble to take the lead and was never headed in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Summersimage, a William Hedrick homebred, broke his maiden as a 2-year-old at Santa Rosa but came out of the race body sore and went back to Hedrick’s farm. He did not return to the races until July 4, after being on the sidelines more than 11 months. He responded with an impressive six-length victory that earned him a 90 Beyer rating. “I thought we were in trouble,” trainer Ricardo Perez said of the start of the Dupret. “When he came out of the gate and was getting bumped, I was hoping he didn’t get... ...

By DRF.com and DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2017) — Continental Divide rallied widest of all to win the first race of his career in Saturday’s $101,035 Graduation Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old sprinters at Del Mar, a distance well short of what trainer Jim Cassidy hopes will be his ideal trip. The style of the win left Cassidy impressed that a colt by Animal Kingdom, who won both the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup at 1 1-4 miles earlier this decade, could be effective at 5 1-2 furlongs on dirt. “He wants to go farther,” Cassidy said. “For him to go 5 1-2, you try him out of his element and he still wins.” Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Continental Divide ($9.20) was timed in 1:05.27, and finished three-quarters of a length in front of 3-1 Smokem. Drizzy, the 3-1 favorite, closed from last of nine to finish third, 3 1-2 lengths behind the winner. Espinoza said he was confident Continental Divide could handle a... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2017) — Brad McKinzie, a 30-year executive at Los Alamitos Race Course, a co-founder of the Finish Line Self Insurance Group, and one of the driving forces to bring daytime Southern California Thoroughbred racing back to Los Alamitos, died from renal carcinoma Aug. 6. He was 62. McKinzie served as the vice president and general manager of the Los Alamitos Racing Association since 2014. He oversaw the expansion of the Orange County oval from a five-furlong track to a one-mile oval, as well as the addition of 700 stalls to accommodate Thoroughbreds following the closure of Hollywood Park, and running the track’s Thoroughbred meets. McKinzie started, along with business partner Michael Lyon, the Finish Line Self Insurance Group, which provides worker’s compensation coverage for the jockeys, exercise riders, and grooms for 99% of the California Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing industry. McKinzie was also part of the group that built and opened Sammy’s Original in February of 2014, an upscale restaurant in Lake Forest,... ...

From DMTC Publicity and DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2017) — Fanticola and Scardino’s Long Hot Summer rallied to the lead along the rail in the upper stretch under jockey Joe Talamo and went on to record a one-length triumph in the featured $93,800 Daisycutter Handicap Friday at Del Mar. Long Hot Summer, a five-year-old California-bred daughter of Street Boss, was third, beaten a half-length, in the 2016 renewal of the Daisycutter to So Sweetitiz, but was able to get the job done in convincing style Friday. Bred by Harris Farms and Donald Valpredo, Long Hot Summer has won 6 of 16 starts and $409,194. She won the 2014 Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at the Del Mar summer meeting. The Daisycutter was Long Hot Summer’s first win since an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf here last September. She was later fifth in the California Distaff Handicap on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita last October and seventh in an optional claimer at five furlongs... ...

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif (Aug 2, 2017) — Grade One winning Tom’s Tribute has moved to Rancho San Miguel for his third breeding season. Tom’s Tribute won the Grade 1 Eddie Read in a stellar career that saw him win six of 16 starts and $634,880 under the tutelage of James M. Cassidy. Tom’s Tribute, under the ownership of DP Racing, will join the Rancho San Miguel stallion roster for a fee of $2,000 Live Foal. Tom’s Tribute, a 2010 son of Lion Heart out of Halloween Fun by El Prado, was a $310,000 Ocala juvenile sale graduate that won or placed in seven stakes from 2 to 4, before an untimely fetlock injury while preparing for his five-year-old campaign. Winner of his second lifetime start, Tom’s Tribute was off the board only once as a three-year-old and only twice as a four-year-old. During his four-year-old campaign Tom’s Tribute came roaring down the stretch to win the Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita Park equaling the course... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 2, 2017) — Show It N Moe It, piloted by talented apprentice jockey Evin Roman, wore down 8-5 favored Kimberlea K in the stretch and went on to score a solid triumph in Wednesday’s featured $100,000 C.T.B.A. Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible two-year-old fillies at Del Mar. Always prominent under the 19-year-old Roman, Show It N Moe It moved up determinedly to engage Kimberlea K entering the stretch and responded to urging in the final sixteenth to win by a length and one-half in 1:05.11 for the five and one-half furlongs. Gorgeous Ginny finished third, with Family Girl fourth in the field of eight fillies. Spiced Perfection was withdrawn from the original line-up. Show It N Moe It, a daughter of Grace Upon Grace, is owned by the partnership of breeder Terry Lovingier, Tom London and Eugene Zondlo and trained by Gary Sherlock. The filly broke her maiden in her third attempt, scoring easily by six and one-quarter lengths at Santa Anita. “I... ...

From Magali Farm SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Aug. 2, 2017) — It is with a sad heart Magali Farm announces the passing of 20-year- old stallion Decarchy, a Graded stakes winner of $703,862, who suffered complications of laminitis. A half-brother to proven sires Empire Maker and Chester House, his progeny amassed over $14 million lifetime, led by Graded Stakes winner Stoney Fleece ($600,028). Decarchy’s average earnings per runner is $55,249. “Decarchy passed many wonderful qualities on to his progeny, his individualism, athleticism, willing heart, drive, and kind disposition. It was an honor to be a part of his life he will be truly missed,” said Magali Farms manager Tom Hudson. ...

From Legacy Ranch CLEMENTS, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2017) — Straight Fire, one of the top-rated two year olds of 2016, has been retired and will stand at Pete and Evelyn Parrella’s Legacy Ranch in Clements, CA.  Straight Fire, a son of Dominus, was a $250,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase by Solis/Litt Bloodstock.  He broke his maiden at Del Mar on August 6th by 10 ½ lengths going 6 ½ furlongs in a blistering 1 14 4/5 seconds, earning a 98 Beyer speed figure.  He was 2nd in the G1 Del Mar Futurity and 3rd in the G1 Frontrunner Stakes, with earnings of $146,400. Pete Parrella is excited to stand the grandson of Smart Strike and thinks he’ll be an asset to the California market.  “Straight Fire showed precocity, speed and brilliance in his brief career, all attributes that appeal to California breeders.  He’s a spectacular physical specimen standing at 16 2 and his pedigree is free of Northern Dancer.” Straight Fire has already been syndicated and will be supported by... ...

CHESTER, W. Va. (Aug. 1, 2017) – B Squared is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $750,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby for 3-year-olds at Mountaineer Park. B Squared is by Square Eddie, out of the Ten Most Wanted mare Silar Rules, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Doug O’Neill. He has two wins in six starts, earnings of $178,400 and is coming off a third in the July 15 Los Alamitos Derby. ...

CHESTER, W. Va. (Aug. 1, 2017) – Judge Carr, with a three-race win streak, is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Stakes at Mountaineer Park. Judge Carr is by Mizzen Mast, out of the All Gone mare Gone to Party, was bred by Louis Neve, is owned by Robert Cole, Jr., and is trained by Kevin Patterson. He has 16 wins in 59 starts, earnings of $325,401 and is coming off three consecutive wins. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 30, 2017) – Odds-on favorite Miss Sunset turned back the challenge of Dreamy Gal turning for home and kicked clear to an easy win in Sunday’s $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar. Miss Sunset is by Into Mischief, out of the Trippi mare Tuscan Sunset, was bred by Premier Thoroughbreds and Alan Klein, is owned by Klein or Lebherz and trained by Jeff Bonde. “The owners bought the dam (Tuscan Sunset) in foal to breed later to Smiling Tiger and (Miss Sunset) was the baby that came out,” said Bonde. “She’s just been a wonderful horse and today was the smoothest I’ve seen her run. Taking the blinkers off at (jockey) Mike Smith’s suggestion made a big difference.” Miss Sunset has five wins in nine starts, earnings of $389,430 and was coming off a second in the May 29 Melair. Miss Sunset ran the seven furlongs in 1:224.34 and won by 5 1/2 lengths at odds of 4-5. Queen... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 30, 2017) – California-breds Long Hot Summer, Bad Ju Ju and Desert Steel are entered in Friday’s $75,000 Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares at Del Mar. Long Hot Summer is by Street Boss, out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Hotlantic, was bred by Harris Farms & Donald Valpredo, is owned by Fanticola or Scardino and is trained by Phil D’Amato. She has five wins in 15 starts, earnings of $349,134 and is coming off a fourth in a June 25 optional claiming. She was third in this race last year. Bad Ju Ju is by Desert Code, out of the Snow Ridge mare Ju Ju Baby, was bred by Lo Hi Racing Stable and Dick Barton, is owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller. She has seven wins in 18 starts, earnings of $309,731 and is making her first start since a fifth in the Jan. 21 Santa Monica. Desert Steel is by Desert Code, out of the Cozzene mare Lujien Lujien, was... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (July 29, 2017) – My Italian Babbo won Saturday’s $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Del Mar by a head, his second consecutive win by a slim margin. The California Dreamin’ Stakes was the stakes debut for My Italian Babbo. My Italian Babbo ($7.80) closed from last to catch 9-10 favorite He Will in the final strides. Ridden by Corey Nakatani, My Italian Babbo ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41.91. “It was a good ride from Corey Nakatani,” Baltas said. “We got the bob.” He Will finished two lengths in front of Soi Phet, who was followed by G.G. Ryder and Incredible Luck. My Italian Babbo has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $224,226 for Cafarchia, who bred the 5-year-old gelding by Papa Clem. My Italian Babbo is unbeaten in two starts on turf, and has won three of his last four races. My Italian Babbo will remain on turf, Baltas said. It was not clear on Saturday... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (July 29, 2017) –Trainer Richard Baltas said there’s a good chance Tom Mansor and Tachycardia Stables’ grade 1 winner Big Macher will be retired after a suspensory injury knocked him out of the July 29 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1). The 7-year-old California-bred gelded son of Beau Genius, who won the Bing Crosby in 2014, sustained a similar injury that knocked him out of racing for all of 2016, but he targeted the Bing Crosby again after a quality win in the Thor’s Echo Handicap at Santa Anita Park June 11 to prep for the six-furlong sprint. LARUE: Big Macher Wins Thor’s Echo Off Layoff “He strained the same spot as before—suspensory,” Baltas said. “It’s not really bad, but I’m not going to take any chances. I don’t think he’s going to run again. It’s going to take time, he’s 7, and I’m not going to run him for a claiming price. It just sucks, because he came back so good and he’s staying so good, but... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 28, 2017) – Mr. Hinx outdueled even-money favorite Ann Arbor Eddie through the stretch to win Friday’s $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Del Mar. Mr. Hinx is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Put It Back mare Kitten Exchange, was bred by owner Gary Barber and is trained by Steve Miyadi. “Steve told me Mr. Hinx is still learning and getting better every day,” said Barber. “Steve’s done an amazing job with him. It’s really good because this mare is now in foal to Boisterous in California, I’ve got about 13 mares to him. It’s good for Ministers Wild Cat for the Tommy Town group. I love the Cal-bred company. It really does (pay to be Cal-bred).” He has five wins in eight starts, earnings of $326,548 and was coming off a win in a June 9 optional claimer. “He (Mr. Hinx) was born a racehorse,” said Miyadi. “Mike Allen from Tommy Town and (owner-breeder) Gary (Barber) told... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 28, 2017) – Stakes winner Kimberlea K risks her unbeaten record in Wednesday’s $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar. Mama’s Kid is by Richard’s Kid, out of the Restless Con mare Mama’s Con, was bred by Geri Forrester, is owned by Tricar Stables and is trained by Sal Gonzalez. She has one win in two starts, earnings of $40,600 and is coming off a July 20 maiden win. Empress of Lov is by Empire Way, out of the Not For Love mare Angela’s Love, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by London, Lovingier or Zondlo and is trained by Gary Sherlock. She has one win in three starts, earnings of $53,440 and is coming off a fourth in the July 2 Landaluce. Gorgeous Ginny is by Take Charge Indy, out of the Southern Halo mare Brooke’s Halo, was bred by Mercedes Stable, is owned by Randy Howg and is trained by Robertino Diodoro. She has... ...