By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2016) – Arrogate and California Chrome, both of whom put on a show in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita, emerged from the race in good order and could meet again in January in the inaugural Pegasus at Gulfstream Park, their connections said Sunday morning. Trainer Bob Baffert got his third straight Classic victory with Arrogate’s win. As with last year’s winner, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Arrogate was trained into the Classic after running in the Travers. ”I saw him this morning, gave him a carrot, and thanked him. I told him American Pharoah is proud you’re sleeping in his bed,” said Baffert, who put Arrogate in the stall at his barn that had been occupied by American Pharaoh. “How lucky am I to have a horse like Pharoah, and come back with a horse like this?” Baffert asked. “That race was so exciting. I lost my voice. I thought he could do it. We don’t know how good he... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2016) –After checking in on California Chrome   early Nov. 6 at Santa Anita Park, trainer Art Sherman made his way back to his home base at Los Alamitos Race Course. Losing the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) for the second time Nov. 5 to conquering general Bob Baffert doesn’t change the reality of a Sunday morning. There are still horses to work. “We’ve got workers and things to do,” Sherman said. “That’s what this business is all about. You can’t sit around and cry about it.” Although there was a tinge of disappointment in the trainer’s voice, the ever-present pep Sherman displays whenever he talks about his star chestnut was still underlying. “He’s still a champion in my eyes,” Sherman said of California Chrome’s half-length loss to Arrogate in Saturday’s Classic. “He ran a great race. They were 10 lengths in front of the rest of them. It was a dominant performance by two horses.” NOVAK: Arrogate Upsets ‘Chrome’ in BC Classic The 79-year-old... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2016) — A year ago, jockey Victor Espinoza basked in the glow of an adoring Keeneland crowd after guiding American Pharoah to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, capping an unforgettable season that included the Triple Crown. On Saturday, Espinoza’s emotions were on the opposite end of the spectrum after Arrogate, under Mike Smith, went past California Chrome in the final 20 yards to win the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by half a length, ending California Chrome’s bid for a perfect season. For once, Espinoza was searching for an excuse as he walked back to the Santa Anita jockeys’ room. And he pinned the blame on himself. “Now that I think back, I should have just opened it up a little earlier,” Espinoza said. “I waited a little longer, and the other horse caught me in the end. When I saw California Chrome’s ears pinned back, I said, ‘I’m in trouble,’ and the wire was just a little bit further.” Espinoza said that... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2016) – On Saturday, he took his first step toward doing that by taking the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-olds by three-quarters of a length over Hot Smoke at Santa Anita. It was 2 1/2 lengths farther back to Milton Freewater in third. The win was the fifth from seven starts for California Diamond, a son of Harbor the Gold trained by Peter Miller for Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch, which purchased the colt after his second win in July. He was bred by Stormy Hull out of the Slewdledo mare Carrie’s a Jewel. In winning the Golden State Juvenile under Kent Desormeaux, California Diamond showed he could sit a little bit early and finish. The Golden State Juvenile was his first attempt at seven furlongs. “I think he can stretch,” said Miller, who recorded his meet-leading 17th victory. “Kent’s always thought he could. We’ve been working on getting him to relax and getting him to finish and not pull... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2016) – Bettors jumped off the bandwagon at the wrong time Friday as maiden How About Zero, equipped with blinkers for the first time, registered a one-length victory in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies at odds of 10-1 at Santa Anita. Under Mario Gutierrez, How About Zero settled in fifth position in the early stages of the seven-furlong race and made a three-wide move around the far turn. Straightening away in the stretch, How About Zero made the lead, and despite lugging in during the final furlong, she was able to hold Ms Wakaya at bay near the finish. The result was a reversal of the order of finish of a Sept. 30 maiden race here, where Ms Wakaya beat How About Zero by 2 1/4 lengths. How About Zero, who had debuted in a stakes at Del Mar, was the 1-2 favorite in that Sept. 30 race. “She was bet way down last time,... ...

By RemingtonPark.com OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Nov. 4, 2016)–U S Officer, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion U S Ranger, lodged a big closing move along the rail to pass the pace-setting Divine Kaleb in the final yards to win Friday’s $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park. The race is the final local prep event for 2-year-olds aiming for the Springboard Mile in December. Owned by the Weatherford, Texas partnership of Jerry Durant and Bill Jordan, U S Officer is trained by Danny Pish. Jockey David Cabrera, the only jockey to win on the colt, had the mount for the second race in a row. U S Officer settled near the back of the nine-horse field in the Clever Trevor and was last, nearly 10 lengths from the front, as the field turned for home, with plenty of work to do. “I was not really expecting to be that far back but the race played out like that,” Cabrera said after the trophy presentation. “This horse, he can sit anywhere... ...

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Nov. 6, 2016) — Yo Y Me, an Arizona-bred son of California stallion Dixie Chatter, won Saturday’s $96,645 ATBA Fall Sale Stakes for 2-year-olds at Turf Paradise. Yo Y Me is out of the Bertrando mare Miss Ballard ran the six furlongs in 1:10.92 and won by one length as the even-money favorite in a field of 11. He has two wins in six starts with earnings of $86,858 and was coming off a maiden win Oct. 17. ...

By DRF.com NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 24, 2016) –The China Horse Club, the international horse-racing partnership, has purchased an undisclosed share in 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome, the club said on Twitter. The China Horse Club, which was launched in 2013 and has quickly purchased stakes in horses across the world, said in a tweet Friday that it was “very pleased to join ownership of California Chrome heading into [the Breeders’ Cup] and Pegasus events.” The Pegasus World Cup is a $12 million race scheduled for Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park. Duncan Taylor, the president of Taylor Made Farm, which owns a stake in California Chrome that it has divided into marketable shares, said on Monday at the Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale that the stake purchased by the China Horse Club will give the group a share in the colt’s racing and breeding career. Taylor did not disclose the size of the stake. Last year, Taylor Made purchased a 30 percent share in California Chrome from Steve and Carolyn... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 22, 2016)–Sent hard from the gate, trainer Kenny Black’s Acceptance proved extra game in deep stretch, as he held off a tenacious Richard’s Boy to win Saturday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap for Golden State Series eligibles under veteran Stewart Elliott. Bred in California by Old English Rancho, the 4-year-old colt by Vronsky got 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:11.51. Breaking from post position six in a field of seven California-bred or sired runners three and up, Acceptance out-dueled the runner-up going to the half mile point and was able to secure an inside position at the rail prior to crossing the dirt at the top of the lane. From there, he was all heart to the wire as he fended off serious challenges from both Richard’s Boy and favored Boozer, who ended up finishing fifth. “He was tough today,” said Black, himself a former top apprentice rider in the early 1980s. “I thought they had him two or... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2016)–Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, heavily favored California Diamond rolled to a 2 ¼ length win in Sunday’s $70,000 Speakeasy Stakes, a six furlong affair for 2-year-olds.  Owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller, the son of Harbor the Gold bred in California by Stormy Hull covered six furlongs in 1:10.96. With Crosscheck Carlos and Right Hand Man setting a fast early pace, California Diamond, who came off a restricted stakes win going 6 ½ furlongs at Los Alamitos on Sept. 18, rolled three-wide to the leaders leaving the quarter pole and put Right Hand Man away with consummate ease a sixteenth out. “He’s really talented,” said Desormeaux, who has ridden California Diamond in his last two starts.  “I think the sky’s the limit with him.  I was impressed with his performance today.  He’s quirky when he makes the lead…I think I’ve got it handled and he won very handily today.” Off at 3-5 in a field of six (four of... ...

From Unusual Heat Syndicate COALINGA, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2016) – Unusual Heat, the All Time Leading Sire in California Progeny Earnings has been pensioned from stud at 26. “It is with great emotion that we have to announce the retirement of Unusual Heat”, said Harris Auerbach, managing partner of M. Auerbach, LLC. “He’s been remarkable and even in his final season at stud in 2016 managed to get 25 of 30 bred mares in foal. It’s been an amazing run and I’m happy that “Heat” can now just relax and enjoy the rest of his days just being a horse.” Doug Burge, longtime President of the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association remarked “He’s been the perennial leading sire in California for over a decade and his influence on CA breeding and racing through his sons and daughters will be prevalent for years to come.” Bred by John T. Jones in Kentucky, Unusual Heat is the son of Nureyev and Danish Champion mare Rossard. In 1991, he became the highest priced horse... ...

By Thoroughbred Daily News When Valerie Ashker and Peter Friedman set out to ride two retired Thoroughbreds some 3,500 across the country, they didn’t know what to expect or even if they would complete the journey. But some five months after they started the finish line is nearing, and the horses are holding up fantastically. The same can’t be said for their riders. Their mission is to promote the adoption of off-the-track Thoroughbreds, which they believe are under-appreciated by people looking for a sport horse. They figured if they could show that their two horses, Primitivo and Solar Express, could get through something so grueling and taxing then they could open people’s eyes about the temperament and fortitude of the Thoroughbred. Ashker’s daughter, Laine, is an accomplished equestrian and most of her success has come aboard off-the-track Thoroughbreds. “This has been the hardest thing I have ever done and I have done a lot of hard things,” Ashker said. “It is oppressive day in and day out, just the grind.... ...

By DRF.com FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2016) — Jimmy Bouncer dominated a small field, scoring a wire-to-wire win in the $100,000 Harris Farms Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at the Big Fresno Fair on Saturday. The 5-year-old Jimmy Bouncer ($6.60), a gelding by Square Eddie and a Reddam Racing homebred, took the lead out of the gate and was never seriously challenged by four rivals while setting mundane fractions of 23.03 and 45.22 seconds in the six-furlong race. As he controlled the pace, Jimmy Bouncer extended his margin to four lengths by the eighth pole before galloping home a 3 3/4-length winner under Abel Cedillo. The winning time was 1:10.17. Odds-on favorite Well Measured sat close early and was an easy second, finishing 1 3/4 lengths in front of Cartoonist. :: Enjoy news and analysis from DRF? Get handicapping analysis, real-time coverage, special reports, and charts. Unlock access with DRF Plus. The victory continued trainer Doug O’Neill’s string of success in Northern California. He won the El Camino Real... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2016) –The difference in a year for Masochistic has been noticeable, and in a good way. The California-bred Sought After gelding is still blazing fast, but during morning workouts, he’s learned to settle down. When Masochistic moved to the Ron Ellis barn in 2015, he could hardly be contained in the mornings and would often run off during works. The horse out on the track Oct. 6 at Santa Anita Park, in his fourth work in preparation for the TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I), looked like a different animal. The three-time graded stakes winner relaxed well under exercise rider Balthazar Contreras and finished off his six-furlong drill in 1:12 3/5. His furlong fractions went in :12 4/5, :24 4/5, :36 2/5, :48 1/5, and 1:00 1/5. “He’s much more relaxed now,” Ellis said. “It also depends on who you put on him. (Contreras) has him down pretty good.” Thursday’s drill was Masochistic’s fourth straight bullet work since a dominant 3 3/4-length victory in... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2106)–Forwardly placed throughout, California-bred Ashleyluvssugar got a perfect stalking trip under Gary Stevens and went on to an impressive half length win in the Grade II, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita. Trained by Peter Eurton, the 5-year-old gelding by Game Plan got 1 ¼ miles on turf in 1:58.35. A gate to wire winner of the Grade II, 1 3/8 miles turf Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 20, “Ashley” notched his second consecutive win and his fourth from seven starts over the Santa Anita lawn. Breaking from post position six in a field of 10 and with the temporary inner rail set at 10 feet, Ashleyluvssugar sat a controlled second to longshot El Huerfano the entire trip until assuming command three sixteenths of a mile from home. “This is his kind of track,” said Eurton. “You gotta think this horse is just full of heart. When he’s healthy like he is right now, he’s great…The six hole helped us... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2016)–Superstar California Chrome was sensational yet again at Santa Anita on Saturday, taking the Grade I, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes in gate to wire fashion by 2 ¼ lengths over rival Dortmund, who pressured him early. Ridden by Victor Espinoza and trained by Art Sherman, California Chrome covered 1 1/8 miles while geared down in 1:48.07, and thus served notice to the world that at age five, he is the horse to beat in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at The Great Race Place on Nov. 5. Breaking from the rail, the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit was hustled out of the gate as Dortmund, adding blinkers and to his immediate outside, was sent as well by Rafael Bejarano. The pair were separated by a neck into and around the Club House turn and Espinoza with a look to his outside, stepped on the gas at the 4 ½ furlong pole and the Awesome Again, was for all intents and purposes,... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 5, 2016) –A hard-fought victory against a game Dortmund in the San Diego Handicap and a wire-to-wire domination of a field that included defending champion Beholder in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic made California Chrome the unanimous choice as Del Mar’s Horse of the Meeting for 2016. The 5-year-old, California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit, owned by Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm and trained by Art Sherman, came into the meeting as North America’s all-time earnings leader with more than $12.5 million and added $720,000 to the total with his two wins. With jockey Victor Espinoza providing expert guidance, California Chrome stalked pace-setting Dortmund in the San Diego, took a narrow advantage at the quarter pole and refused to yield to determined Dortmund and ultimately prevailed by a half-length. Drawing the No. 1 post in the Pacific Classic, Espinoza decided to take control of the pace immediately and pursuing Beholder was never closer than 1 ½ lengths as California Chrome drew away... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 2, 2016) –Mo Soul, overlooked in the wagering at 20-1, outbattled 13-10 favored California Diamond in the stretch to win the $150,345 I’m Smokin Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-olds Friday at Del Mar. With Tiago Pereira in the saddle, Mo Soul wore down California Diamond in the stretch to forge a length and one-quarter triumph in the six-furlong sprint. Rinse and Repeat was a distant third in the field of seven first-year runners. “We had a good position, but he’s a little green and I had to push on him to get him going,” said Pereira. “But he responded very well. And he finished with his ears up so he was going easy at the end.” Mo Soul, who won his career debut June 19 in a $50,000 maiden claiming race at Santa Anita but had been idle since then, sped the distance in 1:10.21 and returned $43.20, $12.40 and $6.40 while earning first money of $85,500. The gelded son of... ...

OCEANPORT, N.J. (Aug. 28, 2016) – Jersey Blues, a New Jersey-bred son of California stallion Eddington, won Sunday’s $61,200 Charles Hesse III Handicap at Monmouth Park. Jersey Blues ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.57 and won by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of 7-2 in the field of nine. He has four wins in 12 starts, and earnings of $138,134. “He’s a big horse who’s a funny traveler, but he can run,” said winning trainer John Mazza, who conditions the Hesse winner for Holly Crest Farm. “Paco (Lopez) rode a great race and I guess we got lucky today. It feels great to win such a race at my home track on Jersey-bred Day.”   ...

From DMTC.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 27, 2016) –Miss Sunset, the 1-2 favorite on the basis of her career debut which she won stylishly by four and three-quarter lengths, improved on that performance Saturday with an easy victory in the $150,000 Generous Portion Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-old fillies at Del Mar. Ridden confidently by jockey Fernando Perez, Miss Sunset took charge in the stretch and was not threatened in scoring by five and one-quarter lengths in 1:10.46 for the six furlongs. How About Zero, making her first start, ran creditably to be second, five and one-half lengths in front of Rocketann in the field of six fillies. Miss Sunset, a daughter of Into Mischief bred by Premier Thoroughbreds and Alan Klein, owned by Klein and Lebherz and trained by Jeff Bonde, rewarded her supports with an across the board payoff of $3, $2.60 and $2.20 while earning $85,500. How About Zero, who was piloted by Mario Gutierrez, returned $4.40 and $3.20, while Rocketann paid $5.80 to show.... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 27, 2016) — Masochistic, the overwhelming favorite at 1-5, delivered as expected Saturday with a brilliant front-running victory under jockey Tyler Baze in the featured Grade II $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes. Running versus only two rivals, Masochistic breezed to the front in the first few strides and was on cruise-control for the remainder of the seven-furlong sprint, Baze never uncocking his whip as his mount strolled to the wire three and three-quarter lengths in front of Vyjack, second choice at 5-2, with Indexical a distant third another seven and one-half lengths farther back. Outside Nashville and Cautious Giant were withdrawn from the original field. Masochistic, a six-year-old California-bred gelded son of Sought After, was bred by Francoise Dupuis & Louise Julian, is owned by Los Pollos Hermanos Racing and Jay Em Ess Stable and is trained by Ron Ellis. His time of 1:20.31 narrowly missed the track record of 1:20 flat set by Solar Launch in the 1990 Real Good Deal Stakes. The... ...

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 26, 2016) — The mare who produced 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome will be offered at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, owner Perry Martin said. Love the Chase will be sold through the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment in foal to Tapit. Actually, the first mare of the year confirmed in foal to North America’s leading sire. “I’m keeping 10% of California Chrome  , so that means I’ll need some mares, which means I can’t keep everything,” Martin said. “I plan on selling her and using the proceeds to buy other mares. I’m also breeding horses with the idea of breeding to Chrome. “For tax purposes, what we are doing is a 1031 exchange, which is basically exchanging assets. This is mostly used for real estate but you can use any asset as long as they are similar in kind, and you have window of opportunity to do that.” A key purchase for Martin’s broodmare program down the road was an Ohio-bred Munnings   filly now named Not... ...

  DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2016) – California-bred Magic Mark ($23) disputed the pace throughout the $100,735 second division of Wednesday’s Harry F. Brubaker Strakes at Del Mar to score by 2 1/4 lengths over 18-1 Songforjohnmichael. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Magic Mark was timed in 1:35.55. Trainer Ron Ellis said being near the front is key for Magic Mark. “When he gets dirt in his face, he’s not as brave,” Ellis said. “He’s got a high cruising speed. Drayden did an amazing job.” Magic Mark, 6, races for breeders Dorine and John Lanza. By Benchmark, Magic Mark has won six of 16 starts and earned $325,634. Magic Mark won the Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos in July 2015. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2016) – California-bred Soi Phet won the $99,145 first division of the Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar on Wednesday despite a wide trip throughout the mile under jockey Kent Desormeaux. Soi Phet ($4.20) was three wide in the six path on the backstretch and four wide on the turn before pulling away in the final furlong to win by 2 1/4 lengths over 15-1 Solid Wager. Soi Phet ran a mile in 1:35.05, the second-fastest time of the meeting at the distance. “I was so scared because he was going so wide,” trainer Leonard Powell said. “Kent was waiting and waiting, and I was hoping he had something left. He ran a good time.” Soi Phet is by Tizbud, out of the Siberian Summer mare Summer Jersey, was bred by ARCHA Racing, is owned by Benowitz Family Trust, Powell or Viskovich and is trained by Leonard Powell. He has 10 wins in 47 starts, earnings of $705,096 and was coming off a sixth... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 22, 2016) — You could hear it throughout the stands Saturday at Del Mar. Gasps of “Oh!” as California Chrome took command of the Pacific Classic right from the start and dared anyone to run with him. “Gee” as he bounded along, oblivious to those in pursuit. “Wow” when he burst clear once and for all at the head of the stretch. Oh-gee-wow moments in horse racing are few and far between. They require a race of importance, preferably of some length, with a best-case scenario for unforgettable drama. When it happens, the grandchildren will be told the tale. Still, oh-gee-wow means very little without context, which is why those closest to California Chrome should be taken at their word for the joyous excess of their post-game comments. Art Sherman said Chrome should be heading straight to the Hall of Fame, and Sherman sat on Swaps, which is all the historical context anyone ever needs when it comes to judging horseflesh. Victor... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 21, 2016) — After a nice, late dinner at Chin’s Szechwan Cuisine, 79-year-old Art Sherman felt like getting back on a horse Aug. 21 at Del Mar, a day after California Chrome  ‘s dominant victory in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I). Almost an octogenarian, the former exercise rider for Swaps would just like one chance to get on his brilliant chestnut. “I’d love to just sit on him one time,” Sherman said with his trademark wry smile. “I’ll tell (jockey) Victor (Espinoza), ‘Just don’t make any mistakes, because he might get a different rider.’ “I’ve had dreams of being on that horse.” Barn CC on the Del Mar backside had a party-like atmosphere Sunday morning—with a large group of connections and fans huddled around the 2014 Horse of the Year’s stall—following what Sherman called the best performance of his career. BALAN: California Chrome Superior in Pacific Classic “I knew the race was over at the three-eighths pole, because I know what the horse... ...

From DMTC DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 20, 2016) –California-bred California Chrome, all-time leading money-winner in North America, embellished his growing stature as one of the finest Thoroughbreds to grace the racing scene in recent times with a brilliant triumph in the Grade I $1 million TVG Pacific Classic Saturday. Sent to the lead by jockey Victor Espinoza from his inside post position in the opening strides, the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit cruised along in front setting comfortable fractions of :23.20, 47.29, 1:11.22 and 1:35.69 in the mile and one-quarter race. “Before the race, no matter what strategy I have, everything changes when the gate opens,” said Espinoza. “So, right when I was behind the gate I thought ‘You know what, I’m going to send out of here. I’m going to send hard out of the gate and then move out just a little toward the middle of the track. I tapped California Chrome a couple of times and I was surprised I opened up two or three lengths right... ...

From DMTC DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 20, 2016) –Masterfully-rated on the lead by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, 5-2 favored California-bred Ashleyluvssugar held on desperately in the final strides to nose out rallying Metaboss and win the Grade II $250,000 Del Mar Handicap on the day of the Grade I $1 million TVG Pacific Classic. Ashleyluvssugar, runner-up in the mile and three-eighths grass event a year ago, went to the front shortly after the start, was well in hand while setting a slow pace under Stevens, but was forced to go all out to prevail by the narrowest of margins. Longshot Texas Ryano was third, a length behind Meta Boss, who rallied from last under Rafael Bejarano to just miss, while another longshot, El Huerfano  was fourth in the field of a dozen older horses. “He was waiting on horses,” said Stevens. “I tried to stay busy on him, but he was waiting. They (the other riders) know it and know him. They came at him out in the... ...