By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2016) — California Thoroughbred Breeders Association director Terry Lovingier’s Lost Bus provided a 64-1 stunner in the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 23 at Santa Anita Park. The 4-year-old Bring the Heat filly, who last won in March, 2015 in a California-bred restricted allowance/optional claiming race, dueled with Finest City to set fractions of :22.42 and :44.93 through a half-mile and outlasted her frontrunning rival to the wire. “I’m kinda lost for words,” said Lovingier. “I didn’t expect this and not too many others did either; she was 60-1. We claimed her (for $32,000 three starts back on Nov. 19) because she battled quite a few times with My Fiona (stakes-winning filly owned by Lovingier) when they were both 2-year-olds. I don’t claim that often anymore, but I did claim quite a few horses before I started breeding them.” With jockey Fernando Perez aboard, Lost Bus ran the seven furlongs in 1:21.78 and finished a head in front. Tara’s Tango engaged in the... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 2, 2016)–California-bred San Onofre sat second early to speedy Distinctiv Passion and responded to aggressive handling from Alex Solis to win Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes by a half length while covering 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.82. Breaking from the inside in a field of six older sprinters, the 6-year-old gelding by Surf Cat, who was bred by trainer Bruce Headley, trained by his daughter, Karen, and owned by his wife Aase’s Matson Racing, was hustled from the gate and settled nicely in second going into the far turn. Sitting behind fractions of 21.72, 44.00 and 1:08.53, San Onofre, who was put into a vigorous drive leaving the three eighths pole, took charge a furlong out and held off favored Salutos Amigos late. Off at 4-1, San Onofre paid $10.00, $4.40 and $2.60. “He’s been training really, really good,” said Solis of San Onofre, who had been idle since running fourth in the Grade I Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita... ...

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, CA (Jan. 1, 2016)-Slew’s Tiznow is the top California freshman sire of 2015. From his first crop of twenty-one foals, in 2013, Slew’s Tiznow sired the earners of $185,537. They are highlighted by the Del Mar maiden special daylight winner Tiz Love and multiple winners Tribal Headdress and One Bye Two. Additionally, Slews Tiznow ranks 34th on the Blood Horse North America Freshmen Sire lists. Slew’s Tiznow first crop of yearlings averaged over $20,000 in that sales year. Slew’s Tiznow is a record-setting 1 1/16 miles 1:40.34 performer and a Grade 1 performing multiple stakes winning son of Tiznow that will stand for $2,500 in 2016 at Rancho San Miguel. ...

By America’s Best Racing OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Jan. 2, 2016) — After twice chasing highly regarded Mohaymen in vain last autumn, Flexibility capitalized on his arch-rival’s absence to gain an easy 4 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Jerome Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Watch Video Flexibility — a New York-bred by California stallion Bluegrass Cat — took his debut by 1 3/4 lengths Oct. 10 at Belmont Park before placing second to Mohaymen in a pair of grade II contests at Aqueduct. He fell short by 1 3/4 lengths in the Nashua Nov. 4 and by 1 1/2 lengths a little more than three weeks later in the Remsen. With trainer Kiaran McLaughlin opting for much warmer surroundings and targeting Mohaymen for the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park, Flexibility was left with a golden opportunity to pick up 10 points in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” qualifying series. “It gives you a sigh of relief to not face him right now,” said Cherie... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2015) – California stallion Bold Chieftain was represented by his first winner when I Came to Party won the third race at Los Alamitos on Sunday. I Came to Party is out of the Decarchy mare Onefunsonofagun, was bred by Ellen Jackson, Kevin Nish and Kim Nish, is owned by Robert Bone, John Martin, Joey Platts and William Strauss and is trained by Martin. The 2-year-old gelding ran the mile in 1:39.92 and won by 6 ½ lengths at odds of 9-2 in the field of six. ...

By Bloodhorse.com STEVINSON, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2015) —  Boat Trip, a multiple stakes-winning son of Harlan’s Holiday, will enter stud in 2016 at Running Horse Equine Center near Stevinson, Calif. The fee will be $2,500, with a no fee option. Included among the five victories for the 5-year-old horse trained by Michael Pender for B. J. Wright and James Hirschmann III were the Hollywood Turf Express Handicap and Tsunami Slew Stakes, both on grass. He also finished second in the Eddie D Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Park. He earned $268,410. Boat Trip is one of nine winners from 13 foals produced from the French group III-placed mare Turning Wheel, a daughter of Seeking the Gold who has also produced four stakes-placed runners. Among the stakes horses produced by his third dam, multiple stakes-placed Kankakee Miss, was Clever Trick—the multiple stakes-winning winner of 18 of 29 starts and a sire. ...

From Unusual Heat Syndicate COALINGA, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2015 – Unusual Heat, the six-time leading sire in California (2008-2013) and California’s All Time Leading Stallion in Total Progeny, Turf and Cal-Bred earnings, will stand at John C. Harris’s Harris Farms in Coalinga for the 2016 breeding season.  Unusual Heat is booked full for 2016 at $20,000 and is accepting approved mares to a waiting list. Unusual Heat set the all-time California record for progeny earnings in 2008 with over $5.8 million and was again the California earnings champion for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, achieving the milestone of being leading sire in the state for an unprecedented sixth consecutive season in the modern era.  In 2015 Unusual Heat achieved an unmatched ninth consecutive season of over $3 million in progeny earnings and also his astounding 12th consecutive California-bred North American Turf Earnings Championship. He has sired one Eclipse Award winner and 14 California champions. Unusual Heat made his mark in 2015 as a broodmare sire adding six new stakes... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2015) — Even-money favorite Found Money welcomed a return to the California bred or sired ranks on Saturday with a 1 1/4 length victory in the $101,000 King Glorious Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Los Alamitos Race Course. Watch Video Never far off the pace while kept in the clear by jockey Mario Gutierrez, the 2-year-old son of Square Eddie   and the General Meeting mare Chanel My Belle won for the third time in seven starts for owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing. Fourth in the Delta Jackpot (gr. III) three weeks earlier in Louisiana, Found Money completed the mile in 1:37.46 while increasing his earnings to $286,100. He paid $4, $3 and $2.60. “All credit to Mario,” said trainer Doug O’Neill. “He rode him with confidence. He felt he was on the best horse and rode him accordingly. Mario’s ridden well at this track. It’s a long straightaway and you have to conserve your horse and he did just that.” Glory Bound, a 16-1 outsider... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2015) – California stallion Noble Court was represented with his first winner when Noble Edition won the second race for California-bred maiden 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos on Friday. Noble Edition is out of the Skip Away mare Chloe’s Edition, was bred by Willow Tree Farm, is owned by Geoff Holly, Dean Pederson and Paige Schvaneveldt and is trained by Pederson. Noble Edition ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.67 and won by 5 ¾ lengths at even money in her racing debut. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2015) – Dave McGlothlin, Jim & Pat Thompson, Fran’s Valentine and Nostalgia’s Star have been elected into the California Racing Hall of Fame by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The winners will be inducted at the CTBA’s annual awards dinner, to be held Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, at the Westin Pasadena. McGlothlin has been manager of the horse division at Harris Farms, which has tripled in physical size and quadrupled in equine population during his nearly four decades of service. The farm has produced more than 50 stakes horses, including double classic winner and Horse of the Year California Chrome. Jim & Pat Thompson are synonymous with the operation of Ridgeley Farm in Hemet. Among the stakes-producing stallions that have stood there were Memo and Iam the Iceman. The newest stallion arrival is stakes winner He Be Fire N Ice. Fran’s Valentine won several Cal-bred championships, along with 14 races and earnings of more than $1.3 million for trainer Joe Manzi and the Green Thumb Farm of auto... ...

From Magali Farms SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2015) — Barton Thoroughbreds is pleased to announce that five-time Grade I winner Einstein (Spend a Buck—Gay Charm, by Ghadeer) will be added to the Magali Farms stallion roster and stand in California for the first time, starting in 2016. Einstein comes to stand in California as a multiple graded stakes winner of nearly $3,000,000 over dirt, turf, and synthetic tracks. His first crop of 3-year-olds has placed him among the top three third crop sires in Canada. His runners already include stakes horses on dirt and synthetics, and winners on all three surfaces. His top runners include 4-year-old Graded Stakes-placed Winner Rankhasprivileges ($206,878), 3-year-old Multiple Stakes-placed Winner E Equalsmcsquared ($77,603) and 2-year-old stakes placed Scholar Athlete ($52,550). With three crops of racing age, his current runner earnings total $1,384,267. A 2-year-old colt by Einstein sold for $150,000 in the 2015 Barretts May sale, third-highest sale price overall. During his racing career, Einstein earned triple digit Beyers on dirt, turf and all-weather... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2015) – Roo’s Valentine led all the way to win Saturday’s $100,500 Soviet Problem Stakes for 2-year-old Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos. Roo’s Valentine is by Vronsky, out of the Cindago mare Black Valentine, was bred by owner Kretz Racing and is trained by Kristen Mulhall. She has two wins in five starts, earnings of $116,240 and was coming off a Nov. 5 maiden win. Roo’s Valentine ran the mile in 1:37.75 and won by one-half length at odds of 5-2. Favored Just Google Me was second and Run for Retts was third in the field of seven. ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2015) –Mana Strike ($22.20), an easy winner in his debut here before running sixth behind the undefeated Smokey Image in his stakes debut, rallied from last to score an impressive 2 1/4-length victory Saturday in the $75,105 Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. Mana Strike — a Washington-bred son of California stallion Papa Clem — was last as maiden Mad Bum set the pace for six furlongs in the one-mile race for 2-year-olds. He began to move up while three wide on the second turn. As the field left the quarter pole turning for home, jockey Pedro Terrero swung Mana Strike into the clear as Algenon opened a two-length lead at the eighth pole. Mana Strike had all the momentum as he quickly collared the leader and pulled clear to win in 1:38.36. Algenon, who never has finished off the board and had placed in his three previous stakes attempts, was an easy second as the field paraded home. Marqula, the longest shot... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2015) — Race caller Trevor Denman, the voice of Santa Anita Park since 1983, has announced his retirement from the Southern California track. He will not return for the 2015-16 race meet, which begins Dec. 26. “After calling the races for 44 years, 33 at Santa Anita, I have come to the decision that it is time for me to kick back, relax and enjoy the rest of my life on my farm in Minnesota and do some travelling both throughout American and overseas,” said Denman, 63. “It is time to stop counting dollars and to start counting the stars.” Racing fans will still hear Denman at Del Mar next summer, as the seaside oval’s shortened schedule will fit into his retirement plans, Santa Anita said in a release. “We knew this situation would come one day,” said Keith Brackpool, chairman of Santa Anita Park, “but we were selfishly hoping it would be many years down the line. We have had the privilege of... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 1, 2015) — The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association thanks the many stallion owners for their donations that made the Tuesday night Annual Stallion Season Auction a success. Nearly $60,000 was raised in the auction, with the entire proceeds by law going strictly toward the lobbying expenses of the CTBA, working in support of legislation that favorably impacts California Thoroughbred breeders. The sale featured seasons donated by these farms: Ballena Vista Farm, E.A. Ranches, Daehling Ranch, Fruitful Acres Farm, Harris Farms, Legacy Ranch, Lovacres Ranch, Magali Farms, Milky Way Farm, Oak Hill Farm, Ocean Breeze Ranch, Old English Rancho, Paradise Road Ranch, Rancho San Miguel, Special T Thoroughbreds, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, Victory Rose Thoroughbreds and Woodbridge Farm. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 29, 2015) — Silver Ranch Stable and Wachtel Stable’s California-bred Poshsky rallied in the stretch and just got up to defeat longshot Pepper Crown in the $100,000 Grade III Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 29. Ridden by Russell Baze for trainer Peter Miller, Poshsky shipped in from Southern California after a Nov. 6 victory in an allowance race on the grass at Del Mar. The 5-year-old gelding by Vronsky, out of the Bold Badgett mare Pinky’s Posh, was bred by Old English Rancho and Berumen. He had won once on a synthetic surface before, and is now one-for-one on the Tapeta at Golden Gate. Poshsky tracked in third while Ankeny Hill set fractions of :24.03 for the opening quarter-mile and :48.40 for the half-mile. The leader picked up the pace through six furlongs in 1:11.93, but his advantage began to diminish after a mile in 1:36.35. Pepper Crown, last at the half-mile mark, moved up on the rail and grabbed a one-length in... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 29, 2015) — Nearly three decades of service in the Del Mar stewards’ booth will come to an end for steward Tom Ward after the final race Nov. 29 at the California racetrack. Ward came down from Northern California and started work at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meet in 1986. He has been a fixture in the booth at Santa Anita since then and—except for a few summer seasons in the 1990s and early 2000s when he worked the Northern California fair circuit—at Del Mar. In 2004 Ward was called to work at Del Mar when steward Dave Samuel had health problems, and has missed only the 2014 season, for the fair circuit, since then. After the meet ends, Ward will take on a year-round assignment at Los Alamitos Race Course for both the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred meets. “It’s an idyllic setting, basically a stone’s throw away from the blue Pacific,” the 69-year-old Ward said of his days at Del... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2015) — Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer won the 7,000th race of his career whenKiss N Scat, who he co-owns with Steve Taub and George Todaro, won the first race at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 26 (VIDEO). Hollendorfer is now third on the all-time list of trainers by wins behind the late Dale Baird and Steve Asmussen. Kiss N Scat, a 2-year-old Scat Daddy  filly, easily captured an entry-level allowance race to kick off the card at the Northern California track. She won the one-mile race by 13 lengths under jockey Ricardo Gonzalez and paid $2.20 to win as the heavy favorite. “I’m very grateful to be able to do something like this,” Hollendorfer said by telephone from Del Mar. “I’ve had a lot of good people help me. I want to thank the horses, the owners, and the help I’ve had. All of my staff, including (my wife) Janet, have done such a good job. They’re the people who do most of the work.” ...

SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 24, 2015) — Rousing Sermon, the Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old by Lucky Pulpit, has been retired and will stand at Rancho San Miguel. The multiple stakes winner of $821,572 was the Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old primarily due to his dominant Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile Stakes win and his photo finish for the win when second in the Grade I CashCall Futurity. Rousing Sermon went from Cal-bred Champion juvenile onto the Kentucky Derby trail, finishing third in both the Grade II Bob Lewis and the lucrative Grade II Louisiana Derby. Rousing Sermon was quick enough to break his maiden first out going five panels in June of his juvenile campaign and continued on winning at distances in excess of a mile. Rousing Sermon was trained throughout his career by Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “Rousing Sermon was a horse with heart and determination to compete and win in the upper levels of racing. He is an attractive and balanced horse with a beautiful stride. We are expecting a load of inquires due to the overwhelming success his sire line has... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2015) – Longshot Solid Wager rallied from last through the middle of the stretch to win Sunday’s $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Del Mar. Solid Wager is by Birdonthewire, out of the Valid Wager mare G Ma, was bred by Madera Thoroughbreds, is owned by Gary and Cecil Barber and Stanford Stables and trained by Peter Miller. He has six wins in 24 starts, earnings of $330,606 and was coming off an Oct. 8 optional claiming win. Jockey Joe Talamo, who was married Friday, inherited the mount on Solid Wager when Victor Espinoza, originally named on the 4-year-old gelding, called in ill Sunday and was excused from his lone mount on the program. “Well, isn’t this sweet. Nice way to end the week,” said Talamo. “He’s a nice horse and he was a runner today. Peter didn’t give me any special instructions. He just said ride him. He said he’ll lay back and to keep him clear. He was way... ...

By Bloodhorse.com HEMET, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2015) — Pat Thompson of Ridgeley Farms announced Nov. 19 that young stallion He Be Fire N Ice   has moved to Southern California and will stand at Ridgeley Farm in Hemet. He Be Fire N Ice will stand the 2016 season for $2,500, stands and nurses. He Be Fire N Ice stood his initial season this year at Ranch San Miguel near San Luis Obispo, Calif. “We have been raising high class Thoroughbreds in the Hemet valley for over 50 years and we are extremely pleased to be adding ‘Fire’ to our stallion roster.” Thompson said. “I wanted to have him here before the stallion tour and he’s been here now for a little more than a month. He’s settled in nicely and is a great addition to our farm. We enjoy raising big horses here and we see He Be Fire N Ice a big part of our future.” The California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association will hold a stallion tour of Riverside County Farms... ...

SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2015) — Curlin to Mischief (Curlin–Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek), an unraced half-brother to two-time champion Beholder and Into Mischief, will be retired to stud in 2016 at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, California, Feld Family Stallions announced Wednesday. In homage to Beholder and Into Mischief’s owner Spendthrift Farm, there will be the opportunity to purchase lifetime breeding rights via the “Share the Upside” program. Breeders can earn a lifetime breeding right by paying a nominal, non-refundable fee, breed a mare, having a resulting foal and paying a $5,000 stud fee. The 4-year-old will stand for $3,500, stands and nurses. “We are very excited of having Curlin to Mischief stand in the state where his family has and will hopefully continue to thrive” said Sean Feld of Feld Family Stallions. “We are excited to offer California breeders the opportunity to breed to the half-brother of Beholder and proven sire Into Mischief,” Clay Murdock of Rancho San Miguel said. “We welcome the son of Curlin,... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2015) — My Monet, the 2-1 favorite, gamely held off the late challenge of Kiss at Midnight to win Sunday’s $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Del Mar, as daughters of Decarchy swept the top three places. My Monet took command in midstretch and persevered in the late stages to win by a half-length over Kiss at Midnight, who rallied from last place under Rafael Bejarano to narrowly miss victory. Longshot Ashley’s Sassy, 24-1 with Alonso Quinonez in the saddle, was third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up and one and one-quarter lengths in front of fourth-place Wild in the Saddle in the field of eight runners. My Monet, a 4-year-old daughter of Decarchy, out of the Lord Avie mare Madam, was bred by Ridgeley Farm, is owned by the KM Racing Enterprises, Inc. of Kenji Morinaga of Arcadia, Ca and trained by Ricky Agarie, who was scoring his first success in a stakes... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2015) – Global Hottie, a graded-stakes placed California-bred daughter of Dixie Chatter, sold at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $100,000 on Saturday. Global Hottie, a 4-year-old out of the Desert God mare Sonora Desert, was bred by Baseline Equine and sold to Brian Kahn in foal to Midnight Lute. She has four wins in seven starts and earnings of $168,490. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2015) — Multiple stakes winning California-bred Go West Marie sold for $180,000 to Calumet as a racing or broodmare prospect at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The 4-year-old daughter of Western Fame won the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint, the Fran’s Valentine, Irish O’Brien and Fleet Treat stakes. She has earned $557,520. On Wednesday, Cayllano, a Kentucky-bred stakes-winning daughter of California stallion Bluegrass Cat, sold in foal to Cross Traffic for $120,000, bought by Spendthrift Farm. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 1, 2015) – Let Faith Arise, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Kafwain, and California-bred Grade I winner Spanish Queen brought hefty returns at Sunday’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Let Faith Arise, out of the El Corredor mare Babe Hall, sold for $2.1 million to Marie Jones. She is a Grade I-winner of $488,250 in foal to Tapit on a Feb. 15 cover. Spanish Queen is a 3-year-old California-bred daughter of Tribal Rule, out of the Unusual Heat mare Spanish Bunny, who sold for $500,000 to Haruya Yoshida. She won the Grade I American Oaks and Grade II Honeymoon Stakes with earnings of $423,600 and sold as a racing or broodmare prospect. She was bred by Jack Nakkashian, Harry Bederian & Harout Kamberian and owned by Nakkashian. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2015) – California-bred Uzziel went wire to wire to score a game win in Sunday’s $200,250 Grade II Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar. Uzziel is by Harlington, out of the Lord At War mare Pretti Woman, was bred by owners James and Tammy McKenney and is trained by J. Keith Desormeaux. “Keith told me that the way to win with her today was to just let her roll,” said jockey Kent Desormeaux, Keith’s brother. “To just come away from there and keep on going. Her demeanor today was so much better than last time. She let me ride her today; she was an angel. Other times she gets too aggressive; she wants to fight you. But today she just did it. She tries every time. You’ve got to love her for that. The only way they beat her is to be better than her. But today it was her day.” Uzziel gave everybody a scare when she overheated after the race... ...