ARCADIA, Calif. (June 10, 2025) — Stakes winner Lovesick Blues is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita. Lovesick Blues is by Grazen. Out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Queenofhercastle, was bred by Nick Alexander. Is owned by Mia Familia Racing Stable and trained by Librado Barocio. He has nine wins in 40 starts, has earnings of $531,570 and is coming off a win in the May 10 Siren Lure. He was third in this race in 2013. ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 10, 2025) — The Jockey Club today announced the Racing Regulatory Veterinarian Fellowship, a loan repayment program that will award up to $25,000 in veterinary school loan repayment to an employed racing regulatory veterinarian. A racing regulatory veterinarian is defined as a licensed veterinarian who works for a government agency, racing commission, racetrack, or racing association to oversee the health and safety of the horses racing. “The racing industry suffers from a prominent shortage of equine veterinarians, something we must actively try to change to continue to improve the safety and integrity of our sport,” said Kristin Werner, deputy general counsel and director of Industry Initiatives, The Jockey Club. “We hope this fellowship will incentivize recent veterinary college graduates to pursue or continue pursuing a career as a racing regulatory veterinarian by providing some relief from their veterinary school loans.” To qualify for this program, an applicant must: Be employed at least half-time as a racing regulatory veterinarian in the U.S., Canada, or... ...
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From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. – Three stakes worth a combined $400,000 highlight the 2025 Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos. The initial stakes race of the season is the $100,000 Bertrando for 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California. The one-mile race will be run Saturday, June 21. The nine-day season will begin Friday, June 20 and continue through Sunday, July 6.Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday (June 20-22, June 27-29 and July 4-6) all three weeks. Post time will be 1 p.m. The richest of the stakes races is the Grade II, $200,000-guaranteed Great Lady M. Stakes. The race at 6 ½ furlongs for fillies and mares – 3-year-olds & up – will be offered Saturday, July 5. The other stakes is the $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles. The Derby will be run Saturday, June 28. Grandstand admission is $3 and $2 for seniors 62 and older. Admission to Burgart’s and Vessels Club is $10. Tickets can also be purchased on... ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 9, 2025) — The Jockey Club announced today the recipients of its five academic scholarships, which will be awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year. Lauren Maas was selected to receive The Jockey Club Scholarship ($7,500 per semester), which is awarded to a student on an academic path toward employment in the equine industry. Lauren has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with an equine emphasis from UC-Davis and has also earned her Master of Science in Animal Biology from UC-Davis with the thesis, “Arrhythmogenesis and Sudden Cardiac Death in Thoroughbred Racehorses.” She is attending veterinary school at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England, and plans to return to the United States upon graduation to find employment as a racetrack veterinarian. The Jockey Club Advancement of Women in Racing Scholarship ($10,000 per semester) is being awarded to Sophia Vega. Sophia plans to graduate from the University of Kentucky in the spring of 2026 with a degree in Animal Science / Pre-Vet with... ...
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SEOUL, So. Korea (June 6, 2025) — California-bred Guema Eminent won a $24,200 Class 3 handicap race Saturday at Seoul. Guema Eminent is a 3-year-old gelding by Smiling Tiger, out of the Coil mare Recoiling, and was bred by Martin Bach & Daniel Weiner. He is a full brother to the stakes-placed Blevys Tiger. ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (June 5, 2025) — Friends and family of Kathy Walsh, who died in May at the age of 85, will gather at Santa Anita on Sunday to remember the former trainer. A race will be named in Walsh’s honor and a reception will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in the 100-to-1 room. Walsh, who trained from 1970 to 2021 and won 1,232 races, won training titles at Longacres in Washington state and Canterbury Downs in Minnesota. She also won Grade 1 races in Southern California and had a starter in the Kentucky Derby, Hanuman Highway, who finished eighth behind Real Quiet in 1998. ...
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LODI, Calif. (June 3, 2025) — Matt Butterworth, owner of West 12 Ranch and longtime member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, passed away last week after a long illness. He was 65. Buttersworth’s widow, Barbara, posted this on her Facebook page: “We are planning to have the celebration of life for Matt on Wednesday, June 25 at 1 p.m. at Faith Community Church, followed by a reception at 18621 N. Hwy 99, Acampo, CA 95220. “You are welcome to write down a story, or what the world needs to know about Matt, or what Matt meant to you personally and email it to: West12ranch@gmail.com by June 16. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 28, 2025) – California-bred defending champion Chismosa faces three rivals in Sunday’s $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Chismosa, a graded stakes winner, is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Cat Dreams mare You Can Dream, was bred by owner Jaime Renella and is trained by Rafael DeLeon. She has six wins in 23 starts, earnings of $580,250 and is coming off an eighth in the May 17 Mizdirection Stakes. ...
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From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 28, 2025) — The NTRA’s Legislative annual report is now available. Click here to view. Features of the Legislative annual report include: A federal legislative summary of issues that affect horse racing and breeding A list of contributors to the NTRA’s Legislative Action Campaign through the ¼% Check-off Program and other related NTRA fundraising programs Calendars of NTRA sales company partners Biographies of NTRA Legislative team members Member discount information from NTRA partners (John Deere, Big Ass Fans, Sherwin-Williams, ODP Business Solutions, Farmers Insurance, and Pets Best) Thank you to all who supported the NTRA’s federal legislative effort in Washington, DC, by giving to the ¼% Check-off Program, the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour or through a direct contribution. Please share this report with others who have an interest in Thoroughbred racing and breeding and who share your enthusiasm for the sport of horse racing. With Appreciation, Joe Bacigalupo Sr. Vice President of External Affairs ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 27, 2025) — TJC Innovations (TJCI) today announced several enhancements to TLore, a racehorse management service that offers web-based and app versions for trainers and owners. TLore now automatically provides the microchip number and the name of the last recorded manager of the digital certificate of foal registration. The name of the certificate manager on record with The Jockey Club will enable the trainer to quickly know the location of the horse’s digital certificate in the event the certificate needs to be reassigned, as horses move between racetracks and/or sales companies during their careers. TLore also now provides searchable condition books. Without leaving the TLore platform, trainers can quickly search for races of interest in a national database maintained by TJCI’s InCompass Solutions Inc., the leader in software systems used by every racing office in the United States and Canada. Races can be searched by state, track, and date range and filtered by traditional race conditions such as age, sex, race type, distance,... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 25, 2025) — The five winners of stakes for California-breds at Santa Anita on Saturday are bound for the Del Mar summer meeting, with one prominent runner likely to also start at Los Alamitos next month. Not all are likely to run in stakes in their next appearances. Private Gem, winner of Saturday’s $100,500 Thor’s Echo Stakes for sprinters, and Santa Barbarian, the surprise winner of the $126,500 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf, will be considered for allowance races. Sneaker, who won the $101,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for fillies and mares on turf, is likely to run in the $100,000 Osunitas Stakes, a restricted race at a mile on turf, on July 20. Om N Joy, the dramatic winner of the $125,500 Melair Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, will be pointed to the $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for 3-year-old statebred fillies at Del Mar on July 25. Kings River Knight, who won Saturday’s $101,000 Crystal... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 25, 2025) — California stallion Listing was represented by his first winner on Sunday when Saul Elliott, also his first starter, won on debut at Santa Anita. A 2-year-old colt out of the Indian Charlie mare Cryptic, Saul Elliott won the fifth race, a maiden special weight for California-breds, running the 4 1/2 furlongs in :51.96, winning by 2 1/4 lengths as the 3-2 favorite in a field of eight. Listing, standing at Ocean Breeze Ranch, is by Square Eddie. Saul Elliott was bred by Reddam Racing, is owned by Here We Go Brothers and is trained by Doug O’Neill. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2025) – Odds-on favorite Kings River Knight continued his stranglehold on the Crystal Water Stakes on Saturday, winning the $100,000 race for Golden State Series-eligibles for the third consecutive year at Santa Anita. Kings River Knight is by Acclamation, out of the Poteen mare Seasontoperfection, was bred by Old English Rancho, is owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, The Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth Tevelde and is trained by John Sadler. “We loved it, to see him out here run like a 1-9 shot should, that’s great,” said Leonard Miranda, part owner. “I’m just happy to be a part of it, with the Johnstons, who bred this horse and of course Ken.” Kings River Knight has 11 wins in 18 starts, earnings of $710,330 and was coming off a sixth in the Mar. 30 Sensational Star. “The late great Mel Stute said, ‘Any horse that wins more than he loses is a really good horse,’” said Sadler. “And he fits that. He’s a wonderful horse and he’s... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2025) – Santa Barbarian, the longest shot in the field at 43-1, reeled in Cali Cat in deep stretch to win Saturday’s $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes, presented by City National Bank, for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Santa Barbarian is by Bodexpress, out of the Storm Victory mare Ebony Cat, was bred by owner Richard Barton Enterprises and is trained by Ryan Hanson. He was the third winner on the card for the breeder. Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Santa Barbarian was last early, ranged up into mid-pack down the backstretch, then ran down leader Cali Cat (2-1) inside the final furlong to beat that rival by a half-length. Got Soul (9-2) finished third with Drop Um (15-1) completing the superfecta. He won in a time of 1:49.80. For Kimura, the win capped a lucrative day at the office. He also won the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes aboard Sneaker ($6.60) for trainer George Papaprodromou and the eighth race, an allowance/optional claimer, with No Cap ($16.40) for... ...
Read More →Santa Barbarian wins $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes, presented by City National Bank. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2025) – Sneaker took them wire to wire in winning Saturday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Sneaker is by Oscar Performance, out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Lime Beach, was bred Fountain of Youth Breeding, is owned by R L Stables and trained by George Papaprodromou. “We are really proud, we believe in Cal-breds,” said Gayle Van Leer of the ownership group. “This filly just really fit the R L Stable program and we are happy to be a winner today.” She has four wins in 14 starts, earnings of 261,948 and was coming off a third in the Apr. 26 Royal Heroine. “She loves to get the lead, that is her style, but she stepped a little slow from the gate,” jockey Kaz Kimura said. “That’s why I had to hustle a little bit from the gate to stay on the (rail). I was confident. Last time she finished well in the Grade 3, so she... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2025) – Left at the gate and nine lengths behind at the quarter pole, favored Om N Joy rallied along the rail through the stretch for an improbable win in Saturday’s $125,000 Melair Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Om N Joy is by Om, out of the Hard Spun mare Margie’s Minute, was bred by Jerry and Connie Baker, is owned by Baker, Golovko or Scanlan, et al and trained by Aggie Ordonez. “When she broke badly, I just said, ‘Well, let’s see. She likes to come from behind. Does she have anything left?” said Jerry Baker. “And when Kent started moving down the rail, I said, “Oh my gosh, she has a shot.’ What a tremendous ride, he was patient and he did it.” Sent off at 2-1, Om N Joy has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $225,640 and was coming off a win in the Apr. 5 Evening Jewel. “That is why you ride Kent Desormeaux,”... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2025) – With odds-on favorite Book Smart and Tapatio Leo tiring from a duel up front, Private Gem slipped through along the rail at the top of the stretch and won Saturday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita. Private Gem, the 5-2 second choice, is by Lookin At Lucky, out of the Unusual Heat mare Geode, was bred by C-Punch Ranch, is owned by Saints or Sinners and trained by Mark Glatt. “I think he had a really nice set up,” said Glatt. “We were hoping that somebody would go with Book Smart because when he shakes loose on the lead he is hard to beat. We got lucky they went fast and he had to unhook that Book Smart. Umberto (Rispoli) rode a perfect race, saved the ground and they floated off the turn a little to continue to save ground. I think he got to goofing around a little in the stretch, but he ran well. “Any time... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 21, 2025) — California-breds of all types are in the limelight Saturday at Santa Anita, from well-regarded 2-year-old fillies making career debuts to a 7-year-old gelding who looks like a slam dunk on a program with five stakes for statebreds worth $100,000 or more. The star on Saturday is Kings River Knight, favored to wire the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes, which goes as race 8. The veteran is the only free square Saturday. The maiden race for 2-year-old fillies and four other stakes on the 10-race card are more competitive. “It’s the Breeders’ Cup for Cal-breds,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “You wish it was a few times a year.” O’Neill starts Bro Bro in race 10, the $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes. His rivals in the mile and one-eighth turf race for 3-year-olds include Cali Cat and Got Soul. Every entrant is racing the farthest distance of their career. It’s a recurring theme Saturday – horses trying something new. :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – Style Cat and Drop Um, 1-2 in the recent Echo Eddie Stakes, meet again in Saturday’s $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes, presented by City National Bank, for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Western Freedom is by American Freedom, out of the Western Farm mare Western Kitty, was bred by KMN Racing, is owned by Legacy Ranch and trained by Brian Koriner. He has two wins and a second in three starts, earnings of $82,200 and is coming off back-to-back wins. Style Cat is by Curlin to Mischief, out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Kittens Trip, was bred by owners J. Kirk & Judy Robison and is trained by Peter Miller. He has three wins in 11 starts, earnings of $229,990 and is coming off a win in the Apr. 5 Echo Eddie. Drop Um is by Far From Over, out of the Include mare Behavioral, was bred by Dr. & Mrs. William Gray, is owned by Gray Farms and trained by Felix Rondan.... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – California-bred champion Kings River Knight, odds-on winner of the last two runnings of the race, seeks a three-peat in Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for Golden State Series-eligibles at Santa Anita. Kings River Knight, 7 years old, enters off a sixth-place comeback, the lowest finish of his career. “A bit of an odd race,” trainer John Sadler acknowledged, referring to the Sensational Star Stakes, a turf sprint. “Off the [10-month] comeback, he might have needed it, but he’s trained really good since. I expect him to run like the old Kings River Knight.” He gets ideal conditions. Kings River Knight is the only front-runner in the Crystal Water. He also is the most accomplished horse on a Saturday program with five stakes for California-breds. Kings River Knight, a six-time stakes winner and 10 for 17 overall, is the 4-5 program favorite in the Crystal Water, race 8. :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. May 18, 2025) – Stakes winners In the Air Tonight, Om N Joy and Sunset Grazen are entered in Saturday’s $125,000 Melair Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Lady Mendelssohn is by Mendelssohn, out of the Bandini mare Ringmistress, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Out of the Blue Stables and trained by Carla Gaines. She has one win in three starts, earnings of $44,540 and is coming off a third in a Mar. 28 optional claimer. Stakes winner In the Air Tonight is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Sky Mesa mare Angel Allie, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Chacon, Anthony J., Flores, Victor M. and Lovingier, Terry C. and trained by Steve Knapp. She has two wins in 10 starts, earnings of $175,352 and is coming off an eighth in an Apr. 25 optional claimer. Stakes winners Om N Joy is by Om, out of the Hard Spun mare Margie’s Minute, was bred by Jerry Baker... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – Irish O’Brien winner Prancingthruparis and stakes-winning CTBA January Sale topper Shocking Grey are entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Prancingthruparis is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Bellamy Road mare She’s a Big Winner, was bred by owners SAF Racing, Ciaglia Racing LLC & H. Crusberg and trained by Peter Eurton. She has five wins in 13 starts, earnings of $294,050 and is coming off a win in the Mar. 16 Irish O’Brien. Shocking Grey was briefly at the center of attention in California racing in mid-January. She won the first stakes of her career in the $126,500 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Jan. 18 in her 14th start. Three days later, she was purchased for $170,000 at the CTBA Winter Mixed Sale in Pomona, the most expensive hip of the one-day auction. Trainer George Papaprodromou is hopeful that the one-mile distance of... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 18, 2025) – Seven Golden State Series-eligibles, including Northern California Yearling Sale graduate I’m a Bad Boy, seek their first stakes win in Saturday’s 100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes at Santa Anita. Spiritual Advisor is an Idaho-bred by California stallion Tamarando, out of the Lucky Pulpit mare Angel Diane, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Jeff Bonde. She has two wins in 20 starts, earnings of $173,920 and is coming off an Apr. 19 optional claimer. Private Gem is by Lookin at Lucky, out of the Unusual Heat mare Geode, was bred by C-Punch Ranch, is owned by Sinners or Saints and trained by Mark Glatt. He has three wins in four starts, earnings of $115,090 and is coming off back-to-back wins. Book Smart is by Stanford, out of the With Distinction mare Magic Lily, was bred by Grasshopper Racing Stable, Inc., Jack Fabulich & Jill Fabulich, is owned by Bernal, Eduardo, Buckendorf, Larry S., Bullard, Charlotte A., Harringer, Tyler and... ...
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From DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 23, 2025) — The 2024 stakes winners Shea Brennan and Speedy Wilson are noticeable absentees from Saturday’s program for California-breds at Santa Anita, but are in training for summertime comebacks, trainer Phil D’Amato said. Both colts are by Tough Sunday and are owned and bred by Nick Alexander. Speedy Wilson has not raced since a win in the Golden State Juvenile for 2-year-old statebreds at seven furlongs at Del Mar last November. He missed a scheduled start in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos in December because of an elevated temperature, D’Amato said at the time. :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race day. Access now. Speedy Wilson has worked three furlongs twice this month at Santa Anita. Shea Brennan finished first in the California Cup Derby for statebreds at Santa Anita in January, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference in the stretch. The winner of the King Glorious Stakes in December, Shea Brennan was taken out of training briefly... ...
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GRAND PRAIRIE, Tex. (May 20, 2025) – Flame McGoon, a registered California-sired daughter of Stanford, is entered in Monday’s $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff Stakes at Lone Star Park. Flame McGoon, out of the More Than Ready mare Lula Talullah, was bred by Branch Thoroughbreds, is owned by Wiest, Clayton, Wiest, Rick and Wiest, Lana and trained by Robertino Diodoro. She has six wins in 16 starts, earnings of $175,655 and is coming off a May 2 allowance win ...
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FARMINGTON, N.M. (May 18, 2025) — Let There Be Peace is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s $75,000 Mt. San Juan County Commissioners Stakes at SunRay Park. Let There be Peace is by Stanford, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Minster’sadventure, was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, is owned by Ruben Ramirez and trained by Steve Gomez. He has four wins in 30 starts, earnings of $85,494 and is coming off an Apr. 6 starter optional claimer. ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 16, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting Thursday, May 15, at Cal Expo. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, 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: The Humboldt County Fair made another appeal to have dates allocated to its racing program in Ferndale in 2025 – this after the Board failed in a 3-2 vote to allocate those dates at the April meeting. Humboldt gained a vote from newly appointed commissioner Peter Stern, joined by Vice Chair Gonzales and Commissioner Davis, but with only three affirmative votes, one short of the required majority, the motion failed. Commissioner Castellanos, who did not attend the April meeting, added his negative vote to those of Chairman Ferraro and Commissioners Alfieri and Hudnut, making the vote 4-3... ...
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From Del Mar Racing Office DEL MAR, Calif. (May 16, 2025) — We’re excited to announce an exclusive incentive program for horses that have been based at PLN. We truly appreciate your continued support and are thrilled to offer this opportunity. Rules and guidelines are below: Horses must have been based in Northern California since December 1, 2024, and trained by those only based in Northern California during that time. • Guaranteed $500 check for any qualified starter in their first start. • 15% bonus is applied to the qualified horse’s purse earnings for EVERY start during the summer meet. • Purse bonus applies to earnings for places 1-5, excluding stakes races. • Horses may not dual-qualify for Maiden Dirt Bonus and Ship & Win programs. • DMTC reserves the right to determine eligibility & bonuses for qualified starters. For further information, contact the Del Mar Racing office. ...
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By DRF.com SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (May 14, 2025) — Smoken Boy, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Catholic Boy, won Wednesday’s $150,000 Caesars Handicap for 3-year-olds at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Smoken Boy scored by a head over 1-2 favorite Chasing Liberty in the Caesars, a big win for owner KEM Stables and trainer Cheryl Winebaugh. Smoken Boy made his first three starts in Puerto Rico, winning the Grade I Clasico Agustin Mercado Reveron Stakes in December. He earned a trip to Florida, where he finished eighth in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Smoken Boy, in his next start, was offered for a $75,000 claiming price, and KEM took him. At 112-1, Smoken Boy ran to his odds in the Florida Derby, but more than earned back his purchase price Wednesday, picking up a check worth $92,733. He has three wins in seven starts and earnings of $164,993. His third dam is Cal-bred multiple graded winner Go Go. Ridden by Manny Esquivel, Smoken Boy tracked the pace of Brodeur... ...
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From NTRA WASHINGTON, DC. (May 14, 2025) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) praises the House Ways and Means Committee for passing a tax bill through their committee that includes 100% bonus depreciation. This is one of the first hurdles the bill needed to cross to become law. According to the bill, bonus depreciation will be retroactive to January 20, 2025, and continue unchanged (no phasedown of rate) for five years. “100% bonus depreciation is essential for our sport,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “I praise the House Ways and Means committee for swiftly passing this bill. While it’s not permanent bonus depreciation, restoring 100% bonus depreciation for the next five years is a huge step in the right direction. It will give the Thoroughbred industry the increased cashflow and flexibility it needs to thrive. I would also like to applaud the work of our partners in this effort, the Economic Investment Alliance (EIA), for all that they have done in making sure 100% bonus depreciation was included... ...
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From Legacy Ranch LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 14, 2025) – Viewers can join “All Access with Andy Garcia” for an enlightening and heartfelt look inside Legacy Ranch Inc., where the intricate art and evolving science of thoroughbred breeding converge with an unwavering dedication to nurture the potential champions of tomorrow’s racetracks. Public Television audiences are invited to gain a profound and moving appreciation for the remarkable journey of a racehorse in an upcoming segment of “All Access with Andy Garcia” proudly featuring the esteemed Legacy Ranch Inc. Set to film later this year, this engaging and visually rich program will meticulously delve into the pivotal early stages of a horse’s life. From the strategic and thoughtful selection of breeding stock, considering lineage and genetic potential, to the consistently nurturing and carefully managed environment provided to mares, ensuring their health and well-being, the segment will illuminate every crucial step with owners Pete and Evelyn Parrella. Viewers will also witness the initial, specialized training regimens meticulously designed to build a strong foundation,... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 13, 2025) – Stakes-placed Miso Phansy is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s 100,000 Grade III Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Miso Phansy is by Karakontie, out of the Souvenir Copy mare Sandy Cheeks, was bred by Ciaglia Racing, is owned by Ciaglia Racing and Robin Christensen and trained by Leonard Powell. She has two wins in five starts, earnings of $130,050 and is coming off a win in an Apr. 18 optional claimer. ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 13, 2025) — The CHRB will hold an in-person meeting this Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Cal Expo in Sacramento, with public comment limited to two minutes on specific agenda items, and a webcast audio link is available for those unable to attend. The meeting will be held despite the temporary closire of the headquarters of the CHRB, located at 1010 Hurley Way, Sacramento, from May 13 to May 16 due to a fire that occurred in the building May 11. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the CHRB office itself was not damaged. Despite this temporary closure, the public can continue to access CHRB services and resources via our website: https://www.chrb.ca.gov/. For further inquiries or assistance—such as submitting forms, fees, or other requests—please contact us atinformation@chrb.ca.gov. Your request will be promptly routed to the appropriate staff member. We appreciate your patience as we work through this temporary disruption. ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2025) — The Jockey Club Information Systems in association with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities have published the 2025 International Cataloguing Standards Book, also known as The Blue Book. The book is produced annually and provides a listing of stakes races from each country that will be accorded Group/Graded or Listed status in sales catalogs using standards approved by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers. The 2025 version of The Blue Book and a link to books from 1998 through 2024 can be found here: ifhaonline.org/default.asp?section=Resources&area=8. Publication of The Blue Book is coordinated by the International Grading and Race Planning Committee with input from racing authorities worldwide. The first book was published in 1983. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 12, 2025) – Graded stakes winner Chismosa returns from a six-month break in Saturday’s $100,000 Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Chismosa is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Cat Dreams mare You Can Dream, was bred by owner Jaime Renella and is trained by Rafael DeLeon. She has six wins in 22 starts, earnings of $579,750 and is returning after winning the Nov. 10 Betty Grable Stakes. She was third in this race last year. ...
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From NTRA WASHINGTON, DC. (May 12, 2025) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) continues to work actively on Capitol Hill to help to expand investments in the sport of Thoroughbred racing. The NTRA is an active supporter of the Regulation Advancement for Capital Enhancement (RACE) Act of 2025, which makes it easier for everyone to experience the thrill of owning a horse. The Act will automatically approve offering statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – simplifying the registration process. This change will allow for more Americans to invest in the industry through fractional ownership of Thoroughbred racehorses. “Thanks to companies like MyRacehorse, thousands of people across the country get to experience the excitement of owning a winning horse,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “Thoroughbred racing is America’s best and oldest sport, and we need to encourage more people to get involved. We can’t penalize individuals and companies interested in fractional participation due to excessive federal regulations. The RACE Act is one way we can ensure... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 11, 2025) — The California-bred multiple stakes winner Grand Slam Smile joined trainer Sean McCarthy’s stable earlier this year at Santa Anita and is nearing her first start since late November. Owned and bred by Larry and Marianne Williams, Grand Slam Smile has won 6 of 11 starts and earned $526,400. She was previously trained by Steve Specht, who retired late last year. A 4-year-old filly, Grand Slam Smile was named Cal-bred champion 2-year-old filly for 2023 and champion 3-year-old filly for 2024. She has won five stakes on turf and dirt at Santa Anita since June 2023, including the $200,000 California Cup Oaks for statebred 3-year-old fillies in January 2024. She was given a rest after a second-place finish at 4-5 in the Livermore Valley Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs at Pleasanton on Nov. 30, her sixth start of 2024. “They gave her some time off,” McCarthy said. “She had a good campaign.” :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted... ...
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From Santa Anita ARCADIA, Calif. (May 11, 2025) — Nominations close today, May 11, for the five Golden State Series stakes on the Saturday, May 24 Gold Rush Day card at Santa Anita. The state-bred showcase offers a total of $550,000 in purses for the quintet of Golden State Series-eligible stakes, and here’s the lineup: $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes, 3 YO, 9 F (T) $125,000 Melair Stakes, F, 3 YO, 8 1/2 F $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes, 3 & UP, 6 F $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes, 3 & UP, 8 F (T) $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes, F/M, 3 & UP, 8 F (T) ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 10, 2025) – California-bred Lovesick Blues wore down favored Bran in the lane to win Saturday’s $100,000 Siren Lure Stakes at Santa Anita. Lovesick Blues is by Grazen, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Queenofhercastle, was bred by Nick Alexander, is owned by Mia Familia Racing Stable and trained by Librado Barocio. With his first career stakes win, Lovesick Blues has eight wins in 39 starts, earnings of $524,000 and was coming off a third in the Mar. 30 Sensational Star. “I knew he was getting better and better,” said Barocio. “He came off that layoff and ran a great race and last time he ran a great race against good horses and this time I had confidence. I don’t want to sound bragadocious, but I felt good. I just want to thank the good Lord above and Nick Alexander for being such a great breeder and allowing me to buy this horse from him. “He’s a little tough to handle if you don’t know him,... ...
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SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (May 10, 2025) – California stallion Sir Prancealot was represented by a black-type earner in the southern hemisphere on Saturday. In Australia, his 4-year-old son Sir Sway placed second in the $1 million, Grade I Goodwood Stakes at Morphettville. Sent off a 61-1 longshot, Sir Sway was overtaken in the stretch by Reserve Bank but held off 2-1 favorite Giga Kick for the place in a field of 13. Sir Sway has eight wins in 18 starts and earnings of $592,185. ...
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (May 9, 2025) — California-bred Arkadelphia, a graduate of the Northern California Yearling Sale, was third in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds. Arkadelphia is from the first crop of Halladay, out of the City Zip mare Chili Petin, was bred by HV Bloodstock, is owned by Harrell Ventures and trained by Luis Mendez. He was raised and consigned by Checkmate Thoroughbreds and was making his racing debut. ...
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From Old Friends Farm GEORGETOWN, Ky. (May 9, 2025) – We are sad to share the loss of California-bred Grade I winner Romance Is Diane at 21 to laminitis complications. Romance Is Diane was by In Excess, out of the Prized mare Romantic Fibs, was bred by Swan Equine Service, owned by Senji Nishimura and trained by Mike Mitchell. She had five wins in 16 starts and earnings of $712,718. Among her wins were the Grade I Hollywood Starlet, the Grade II Bayakoa and the California Cup Juvenile Fillies and Cal Cup Matron. As a broodmare prospect in 2008, she was sold to Adena Springs for $1.35 million. She produced five foals and retired to Old Friends in 2020. Her BFF Saudi Poetry will miss her, as will we. ...
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By DRF.com CHICO, Calif. (May 9, 2025) — Kathy Walsh, the retired trainer who died on Thursday, was a reluctant pioneer. When she began training in 1970, following the death of her father Jim, female trainers were largely unwelcome. In that regard, Walsh broke barriers. She won training titles at Longacres in Washington State and Canterbury Downs – now Canterbury Park – in Minnesota. She won Grade 1 races in Southern California and had a starter in the Kentucky Derby. Walsh was 85 at the time of her passing at an assisted living facility in Chico, Calif. She had been ill in recent years, her friends said. She had her final starter in the fall of 2021 and her last winner earlier that year. Born in Sonoma, Calif., in March 1940, Walsh won 1,232 races from 8,030 starters who earned more than $19.3 million. She was married in 1980 and did not train for a few years in that decade. She raced under her married name of Kathy Hutchinson from... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (May 7, 2025) – Multiple graded-stakes placed Lovesick Blues is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Siren Lure Stakes. Lovesick Blues is by Grazen, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Queenofhercastle, was bred by Nick Alexander, is owned by Mia Familia Racing Stable and trained by Librado Barocio. He has seven wins in 38 starts, earnings of $464,000 and is coming off a third in the Mar. 30 Sensational Star. ...
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (May 7, 2025) – Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Arkadelphia makes his racing debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Arkadelphia is by Halladay, out of the City Zip mare Chili Petin, was bred by HV Bloodstock, is owned by Harrell Ventures and is trained by Luis Mendez. ...
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (May 7, 2025) – California-breds Rumpus in Paradise and Just a Little Bit make their racing debuts in Saturday’s $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park. Rumpus in Paradise is by Rumpus Cat, out of the Union Rags mare Paradise Reunion, was bred by Noman Tavares, is owned by Chad Calvert and trained by Luis Mendez. Just a Little Bit is an also-eligible by Stanford, out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Drop Sis, was bred by Stormy Hull & Guy Hull is owned by Chris Coleman and trained by Luis Mendez. ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 5, 2025) — Juveniles by the prominent California stallion Stay Thirsty won maiden races at Santa Anita last Friday and Sunday, the first races for the division this year. The filly Tapatia Mia, who won on Friday, and Fionello, who won on Sunday, were bred by Terry Lovingier, who retains an ownership interest, and are trained by Steve Knapp. Tiago Pereira rode both winners. Tapatia Mia stalked runaway early leader Still Unwritten before taking the lead in the final furlong. Tapatia Mia, who paid $9.20 as the second choice, ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.60 seconds and won by a length. She is a half-sibling to stake-winner Chulula Lips and a full to stakes-placed Tapatio Mio. Fionello, who was favored and paid $4, disputed the pace with 9-5 Trump Era before pulling clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths, finishing 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.86. He is a full brother to stakes- winner Finneus and a half-sibling to stakes-winner Fi Fi Pharoah. With the wins,... ...
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MEXICO CITY, Mexico (May 5, 2025) — California stallion One Bad Boy was represented by his first winner on Friday when Twirling Crown won a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at Hipodromo de las Americas. Twirling Crown is out of the Unusual Heat mare Unusual Stuff, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises. The filly, a $1,000 purchase from the Northern California Yearling Sale, won the 4 1/2-furlong race by 10 lengths. ...
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By Punters.com MORPHETTVILLESouth Australia (Apr. 3, 2025) – It was heart in mouth viewing, but a lion-hearted Sir Kingsford, an Australian-bred son of California stallion Sir Prancealot, staved off Victorian raider Basilinna to win Saturday’s Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Piloting the field in his first attempt at 2500m, Sir Kingsford refused to lay down in a toe-to-toe battle with Basilinna, after the mare threw down the gauntlet at the top of the straight. Emotions spilt over for Gawler handler Nicole Searle, who trains in partnership with husband Gary, and daughter, Brianna Callanan. “What a great feeling. To our team at home, well done,” Searle said post-race. “You’ve all worked hard. Gary and Brianna, and to the owners of this horse, it’s been a long journey. “We trained his mum, we lost her, unfortunately, last year. We were really looking forward to the filly that she was carrying but this is a tough horse. “He’s just a really nice horse and probably has taken over the mantle from Lady Silhouette as the best horse we’ve had.”... ...
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By Racing.com KAROONDA, South Australia (May 2, 2025) — With a population of about 300, the tiny South Australian town of Karoonda isn’t much more than a dot on the map. There’s a small pub, some popular silo art and a struggling footy club. But after Saturday, it might also be home to Australia’s newest Group 1 winner. Local Darryl Hewitt will carry the hopes of the proud community, and indeed those of the broader South Australian racing industry, when he saddles up emerging three-year-old Snoopy Now in the $1 million SA Derby at Morphettville. The gelding — an Australian-bred son of California stallion Sir Prancealot — has already done his trainer proud with a win in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) last month, before hitting the line off a sedate tempo in last week’s G3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m). The Hewitt name is synonymous with sporting success in South Australia but a G1 win would set a new benchmark. Hewitt, his brother Glynn and his father Max were all... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 30, 2025) — Eric Kruljac, whose stable included retired two-time Cal-bred Horse of the Year The Chosen Vron, has retired from training. Kruljac, 72, said last weekend that he plans to continue his involvement in the sport as an owner and breeder, and recently transferred his small stable to his son, Ian, 36. Eric Kruljac had his last runner at Santa Anita when Uffda finished fourth in a $20,000 claimer at Santa Anita on March 15. Three of his former runners started for Ian Kruljac at Santa Anita last weekend. He was named 2023 trainer of the year by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “It’s time,” Eric Kruljac said in a recent interview. “I turned my license in. I’ll just be an owner.” :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race day. Access now. Kruljac said he wants to focus on his group of four broodmares and a small number of horses he owns, and move away from training, notably clerical billings. “I still love... ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 30, 2025) — Peter Stern, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Stern has been Chief Revenue Officer at Skedulo and an Advisor at Berkeley SkyDeck since 2025. He held several roles at Authorium from 2024 to 2025, including Advisor and Executive Vice President. He was the Co-Founder of VoiceBrain from 2021 to 2023. He was a Commissioner at California State Lottery Commission from 2019 to 2022. He held several positions at Inxeption from 2017 to 2021, including Executive Vice President of Business Operations and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. Stern was the Airport Commissioner at the San Francisco International Airport from 2010 to 2019. He was Chief Revenue Officer at Skedulo from 2015 to 2017. Stern was the Chief Revenue Officer at Autopilot from 2013 to 2015. Stern was the Vice President of Sales at Kenandy, Inc. from 2011 to 2013. He held numerous positions at Salesforce from 2007 to 2011, including Vice President of... ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Apr. 29, 2025) — Applications for The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program’s (T.I.P.) two annual awards, the Thoroughbred of the Year Award and the Young Rider of the Year Award, are now available online at tjctip.com. Applications are due June 30, 2025. The T.I.P. Thoroughbred of the Year Award recognizes a Thoroughbred that has excelled in a non-competitive career, such as equine-assisted services or police work. The award includes a $5,000 grant to the non-profit organization associated with the horse or, if no organization is associated with the horse, to a horse-related charity chosen by The Jockey Club. To apply for the T.I.P. Thoroughbred of the Year Award, owners can go to bit.ly/3REPP4f. The T.I.P. Young Rider of the Year Award recognizes young riders, 18 or under, as of January 1, 2025, who own or lease a Thoroughbred for use in 4-H, Pony Club, or other activities. The winner(s) will be determined through an essay contest with a total award of $5,000. Award funds can be applied... ...
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By Jay Privman Gregson Foundation ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 29, 2025) – There are many adjectives that could describe Zavina Castaneda, but perhaps the most appropriate is “determined.” At age 12, she was in a horrific car crash and nearly lost her life, yet her determination to get well brought her back to full health. Later, as a teenager, she was determined to advocate for a younger nephew with autism; he finally was properly diagnosed, and has subsequently received appropriate education. And now, in her early 20s, she is earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Riverside, and this fall intends to start law school, en route to becoming the first in her family to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree. Her journey has been aided by the Gregson Foundation, which provides scholarships for children of backstretch workers. Castaneda was determined to get the organization’s support, and said the financial and emotional backing have been invaluable. She will graduate free of student-loan... ...
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Apr. 27, 2025) – Multiple stakes-placed Boss Sully is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $600,000 Grade II Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes, presented by Accenture at Churchill Downs. Boss Sully is by Street Boss, out of the Candy Ride mare Eternally, was bred by PT Syndicate #1, is owned by Edward Brown, Jr., Philip Lebherz and Alan Klein and is trained by Brian Koriner. He has four wins in 13 starts, earnings of $248,372 and is coming off a Mar. 15 optional claimer. ...
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Apr. 26, 2025) – California-bred Majestic Oops, who twice went unclaimed running for a $12,500 tag, outran millionaire odds-on favorite Hoosier Philly to win Saturday’s $200,000 Dig A Diamond Stakes for fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park. Majestic Oops is by Majestic Harbor, out of the Olmodavor mare Miss Oops, was bred by William Dory, Sandy Dory, Gary Kropp & Janet Kropp, is owned by Sublime Stables, Inc. and Kropp, Janet and trained by Dan Ward. “It’s exciting. I’m really grateful to the owner, Bill Dory, and then Ed Moger (the mare’s previous trainer) recommended he give the horse to me. I’m grateful to him, too,” said Ward. “She’s been doing great. It makes the whole meet. She just keeps getting better and better. He (jockey Abel Cedillo) did a great job. I told him: ‘Just let her take you wherever she wants.’ He had the favorite (Hoosier Philly) boxed in, too. That was pretty nice.” It was the first stakes win for the 5-year-old mare, who... ...
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From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Apr. 23, 2025) — Three stakes, including the $100,000 Bertrando for 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California, highlight the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos. The nine-day season will begin Friday, June 20 and continue through Sunday, July 6. Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday (June 20-22, June 27-29 and July 4-6). Post time will be 1 p.m. The one-mile Bertrando will be run Saturday, June 21. The richest event on the calendar is the Grade II, $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies & mares at 6 ½ furlongs. Won by Sharp Azteca in track record time in 2024, the Great Lady M. will be offered Saturday, July 5. The $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby, which was won a year ago by the Bob Baffert-trained Wynstock, will be contested Saturday, June 28. Baffert has won the Derby eight consecutive years and nine times since the race – which was formerly called the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park – has been run... ...
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PHOENIX, Ariz. (Apr. 24, 2025) – California-breds Ooh Baby It’s Me, Tommy Norris and Marking Broadway are entered in Saturday’s $60,000 Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity for 2-year-olds. Ooh Baby It’s Me is a filly by Cat Burglar, out of the Dialed In mare Maximum Edge, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Monica Ruether and trained by Wade Rarick. She is coming off a third in an Apr. 10 trial. Tommy Norris is a gleding by Stanford, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Minster’sadventure, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Justin Evans. He is coming off a second in an Apr. 10 trial. Marking Broadway is a colt by Marking, out of the Real Solution mare Lights On Broadway, was bred by Harry Bettis, Tosch Keshian & Cheryl Keshian and is owned by trainer Dewey Williams. He is coming off a sixth in an Apr. 10 trial. ...
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PHOENIX, Ariz. (Apr. 22, 2025) — Graded-stakes winner None Above the Law and fellow California-bred Capiat are entered in Saturday’s $50,000 Richard Hazelton Stakes at Turf Paradise. None Above the Law is by Karakontie, out of the Northen Aflert mare Legally Blanca, was bred by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, is owned by Les Blake and trained by Peter Miller. He has seven wins in 42 starts with earnings of $673,302 and is coming off a seventh in a Mar. 28 optional claimer. Capiat is by Anthony’s Cross, out of the Mr. Big mare Big Alice, was bred by owner James Dixon and is trained by W.L. Matt. He has one win in 19 starts, earnings of $25,486 and is coming off a third in a Mar.19 claimer. ...
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Apr. 20, 2025) – Multiple stakes-placed Majestic Oops is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Dig a Diamond Stakes for fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park. Majestic Oops is by Majestic Harbor, out of the Olmodavor mare Miss Oops, was bred by William Dory, Sandy Dory, Gary Kropp & Janet Kropp, is owned by Sublime Stables, Inc. and Kropp, Janet and trained by Dan Ward. She has five wins in 27 starts, earnings of $262,559 and is coming off an Apr. 6 allowance win. ...
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OAKBANK, South Australia (Apr. 19, 2025) – Sir Kingsford, an Australian-bred son of California stallion Sir Prancealot, won the $107,205 Coopers Brewery Onkaparinga Cup at Oakbank Racecourse. Sir Kingsford, a 5-year-old gelding, is out of the Al Maher mare Mighty Maher. He won by one-half length and ran the 2150 meters in 2:12.38 on a turf course rated “good” in a field of 12 as the 4-1 faorite. ...
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By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Professor Gordon Jones died April 18, only four days after his 95th birthday. Jones was a pioneer of speed and pace handicapping. His best-selling book, “Gordon Jones to Win,” inspired his popular prerace handicapping seminars attended by legions of race goers. He brought his numbers to the track at a time when people would laugh at him, and he would hide his spiral notebook. Speed numbers are now a common barometer. He graduated from Whittier College, where his father had been president for several years. He went on to get his master’s degree from the University of Oregon. Jones taught journalism at the University of Southern California and Arizona State University. He was awarded the Top Banana Award several times by his students at USC, which was awarded to their favorite professor. Many of his students went on to say that he was the reason they went on to successful careers as journalists. Renown sportscaster Al Michaels has said numerous times that Jones was his favorite professor. He... ...
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OCALA, Fla. (Apr. 19, 2025) – A California-bred son of Maxfield, a half-brother to Cal-bred multiple-stakes winner Straight Up G, sold for $100,000 at Friday’s final session of the Ocala Breeders Sales Spring 2-Year-Old in-training sale. The Cal-bred, out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, was bred by Jungle Racing, consigned by Hoppel LLC, agent, and purchased by Amerman Racing. He was timed in a two-furlong breeze in :21.4. Straight Up G won the King Glorious Stakes and Mine That Bird Derby. The colt also is a half-brother to Mansetti, a stakes winner in Canada. ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 19, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting Thursday, April 17, at Cal Expo. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Brenda Washington Davis, and Thomas Hudnut. 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: Two requests for date allocations in Northern California failed to pass, meaning that as things stand, there will not be any thoroughbred or fair racing in the north this year. There will be harness racing at Cal Expo. A request for thoroughbred dates at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton was rejected outright by a 4-1 vote with Vice Chair Gonzales casting the only vote in support. (Commissioner Damascus Castellanos did not attend, and the Board has six appointed members, one short of the normal seven.) Chairman Ferraro stated the prevailing opinion of the Board majority when he declared at the... ...
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Fédération Equestre Internationale Press Release ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 15, 2025) — Santa Anita Park has been confirmed as the venue of the equestrian events of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. “Santa Anita Park will be a spectacular venue for the LA28 Olympic equestrian events,” Fédération Equestre Internationale president Ingmar De Vos said. “The FEI has very fond memories of Santa Anita, which had hosted the equestrian events at the 1984 Olympic Games. The venue is set to offer a breathtaking stage for all the Olympic equestrian competitions, and the proximity to LA city will undoubtedly attract many spectators to Santa Anita. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with LA28 to deliver spectacular equestrian events at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.” “I would like to thank the FEI on behalf of the IOC for the active engagement in all the discussions regarding the venue,” International Olympic Committee sports director Kit McConnell said. “We have created a strong partnership with the Organizing Committee and the city of Los Angeles, which enjoys the... ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Apr. 15, 2025) — The PDF of the 2025 edition of The American Racing Manual, which contains historical data on Thoroughbred racing through 2024, is now available through The Jockey Club Fact Book. The Fact Book is a statistical and informational guide to Thoroughbred breeding, racing, and auction sales in North America. ...
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FARMINGTON, N.M. (Apr. 14, 2025) – Graded stakes-placed Alotaluck and fellow California-breds Sawasdee and Joe Don Looney are entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Kendrick Inaugural Stakes at Sunray Park. Alotaluck is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Lucks Mine mare Colinda Dawn, was bred by owner Eleanor Martin and trained by Ty Garrett. He has four wins in 10 starts, earnings of $298,788 and is coming off a second in the Feb. 7 Winsham Lad. 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 seven wins in 31 starts, earnings of $285,130 and is coming off a third in a Mar. 27 starter optional claimer. Joe Don Looney is by Boisterous, out of the Old Topper mare Carrie Rose, was bred by Nick Alexander, is owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Justin Evans. He has eight wins in 38 starts, earnings of $282,866 and is coming off three consecutive wins. ...
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From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 12, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board will conduct an in-person meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Cal Expo in Sacramento. This meeting 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 #8, Public Comment, no further comments will be allowed after thirty minutes. For those who are unable to attend the meeting, a webcast audio link is available on the CHRB website via the Media Room link. The agenda and package of materials have been newly formatted into a single link: https://www.chrb.ca.gov/meeting_agendas.asp These materials are also available on the CHRB website. ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 7, 2025) – Santa Anita Park’s 2024-25 Classic Meet finished strongly on Sunday, April 6, with significant gains in handle, attendance, field size and safety. Bookended by a strong opening week and a robust Santa Anita Derby weekend, the track’s total all source handle topped $510 million. Horseplayers from around the world responded enthusiastically to the player-friendly modifications to Santa Anita’s wagering menu, with the total handle on just Santa Anita’s races increasing 5% from the 2023-24 Classic Meet. The season began on Dec. 26, 2024, with the third largest opening day handle in the track’s 90-year history. The Classic Meet’s final three-day weekend boasted more than $40.6 million wagered on Santa Anita’s races and attracted almost 50,000 people to the track. On track attendance posted a gain of 6% from last year, with more than 340,000 people attending the 49 day meeting, despite losing a weekend in January when the neighboring community was impacted by the Eaton Fires. More than 34,000 were... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2025) – Om N Joy, with Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, provided stallion Om with his first stakes winner, pulling away from a pack in midstretch to win Saturday’s $125,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Om N Joy was last in the early going before steadily making up ground behind splits off 22.43 and 45.52 seconds for a half mile. When the field reached the stretch, Desormeaux appeared loaded with Om N Joy but found himself blocked behind multiple horses. When a seam did open, Om N Joy shot through and drew off to win by 2 ½ lengths. “She got to ‘em,” Desormeaux said. “They were all coming back to her down the stretch. I picked a pocket for her to jump through, she took off like she was going to plow through it if she had to.” Sunset Grazen (12-1) was second followed by Hot Girl Walk (3-1) and Going Deep (7-1). “She was... ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2025) – Racing outside and with clear sailing under Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez, Style Cat surged to the front at the top of the stretch and continued on gamely to the wire to score by 2 ¼ lengths in the $125,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-olds going 6 ½ furlongs at Santa Anita. Sent off as the 7-2 third choice, Style Cat was returning to dirt and was also reunited with Hernandez following a try against open 3-year-olds in the Baffle Stakes on the hillside turf course, Feb. 16. He sat just off the pace down the backstretch as multiple horses battled for the lead. Style Cat ranged up to the leaders while widest of all on the turn, and when he reached the quarter pole, the race was down to just himself and Drop Um (9-2) with Kyle Frey aboard. In a two-horse sprint to the wire, Style Cat would finish best to earn his first... ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Apr. 4, 2025) — The Jockey Club announced today that the 2025 edition of the Fact Book is available in the Resources section at jockeyclub.com. The online Fact Book is a statistical and informational guide to Thoroughbred breeding, racing, and auction sales in North America, which is updated quarterly. Later this year, many of the statistics in the fact book will begin to be updated on a weekly basis, and new statistics will be added. The Jockey Club is continually seeking ways to provide information in novel formats concerning the Thoroughbred industry. Please email Shannon Luce, vice president, Communications, with your ideas: sluce@jockeyclub.com. The 2025 State Fact Books, which feature detailed breeding, racing, and auction sales information specific to numerous states, Canadian provinces, and Puerto Rico, are also available on The Jockey Club website. The State Fact Books are updated monthly. The 2025 edition of The American Racing Manualwill be available as part of the Fact Book in the coming weeks. ...
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YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (Apr. 3, 2025) – A special screening of the documentary “Meet Martha Miller,” longtime member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and a Yosemite icon, will be held at the Yosemite Exploration Center Theater on Friday, Apr. 11, at 5 p.m. In addition to her role as a breeder, the documentary chronicles her life and contributions as one of Yosemite National Park’s longest-serving employees. The film follows her journey from Tuolumne Meadows Lodge to her influential tenures at The Ahwahnee Hotel and Badger Pass, as well as a distinguished career in opera production and racing. A meet-and-greet reception will be held in her honor following the screening. For more information, email fvvld@islllc.com. ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 3, 2025) — Overnight purses will increase at the forthcoming Santa Anita spring and Los Alamitos summer meetings. Santa Anita’s spring meeting runs from April 18 to June 15. The Los Alamitos summer meeting begins a three-week season on June 20. Both tracks will have higher prize money than the corresponding meetings in 2024. The added prize money is available from betting revenue through account wagering and simulcast locations throughout the state that has been consolidated and directed to Southern California tracks and purse accounts at those venues. Previously, part of that money was devoted to Northern California racing. There is no racing scheduled in Northern California in coming months after the permanent closure of Golden Gate Fields last June and the cancellation of a proposed winter-spring meeting on the Alameda county fair grounds in Pleasanton. An autumn meeting at Pleasanton had lower-than-expected business. :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports available... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 2, 2025) – Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby card is filled with California-breds. Illustrating the critical role state-breds play in the California Thoroughbred ecosystem, six of the 12 races carded on the track’s marquee day are exclusively for Cal-breds, totaling $512,000 in purses, with an average field size of 11.16. Cal-breds make up two-thirds of all Saturday entries at the Great Race Place. That includes the pair of $125,000 stakes – the Echo Eddie for 3-year-olds and the Evening Jewel for 3-year-old fillies, which will be run as races 2 and 6, respectively. In addition, race 1 is a $65,000 maiden special weight race for Cal-bred 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs on the turf; race 7 is a $65,000 maiden special weight race for Cal-bred 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs on the turf (a split of the oversubscribed race 1, with 12 entered in both); race 8 is a $65,000 maiden special weight race for Cal-bred 3-year-olds at six furlongs on dirt with 13 entered; and race 9... ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Apr. 2, 2025) — The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced that it has authorized expenditure of $2,693,312 to fund 16 new projects and 10 continuing projects at 17 universities as well as two career development awards. The 2025 slate of research brings Grayson’s totals since 1940 to more than $44.4 million to underwrite more than 450 projects at 48 universities. “I’m very proud of Grayson’s commitment to furthering the research and development of projects that affect all horses, no matter their breed or discipline,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson. “We are equally ecstatic that we could offer our two career development awards to this year’s recipients, continuing to cultivate a future for young researchers.” Among the grants are three associated with UC Davis: Organoid Model For Equine Placentitis Research Pouya Dini, University of California-Davis This project’s aim is to develop an in vitro model of equine placentitis to advance the study of this condition, ultimately improving diagnostics, treatments, and... ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 2, 2025) – Santa Anita Park’s 2024-25 Classic Meet is heading into the homestretch by maintaining the strong gains in on track attendance and total all-sources handle that began on the Opening Day of the track’s 90th year. This year’s Classic Meet comes to a close this weekend, which features the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday. The season kicked off Dec. 26, 2024, with the largest non-weekend or holiday opening day crowd in 34 years. Attendance kept that momentum, despite the local community being severely impacted by January’s Eaton Fire, with last weekend’s on-track crowd up over 30%. To date, Santa Anita has hosted more than 293,000 visitors during the Classic Meet, a gain of more than 8% over last year. The total all-sources mutuel handle has been paced by the opening day number of more than $21.4 million, the third highest for an opening in the track’s history. Horseplayers on-track and around the world have continued to back Santa Anita’s races, wagering... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 2, 2025) – California-breds Triple Diamonds and Cali Cat are entered in Sunday’s $100,000 John Shear Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Triple Diamonds is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Smiling Tiger mare Florentine Diamonds, was bred by Paula Capestro, is owned by Saints or Sinners or Seahawk Racing and is trained by Mark Glatt. He has two wins in three starts, earnings of $71,000 and is coming off a fifth in the Feb. 16 Baffle Stakes. He’s also entered in Saturday’s Echo Eddie Stakes. Cali Cat is by American Pharoah, out of the More Than Ready mare Ready for Romance, was bred by Thomas Bachman, is owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler. He has two wins in five starts, earnings of $94,800 and is coming off a win in a Feb. 17 optional claimer. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 30, 2025) – Lonesome Stew headed a Nick Alexander-bred and Grazen-sired trifecta while winning Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for Golden State Series-eligibles at Santa Anita. Lonesome Stew is out of the Maria’s Mon mare Stash, is owned by Linear Bannasch and trained by Mark Glatt. He went last to first through the stretch under jockey Antonio Fresu. “That wasn’t the plan,” Fresu said of his tardy beginning. “He usually shows some speed, but today he was acting up a little bit inside the gate and I didn’t leave the gate very well so I just tried to bide my time and improvise a little bit and get him comfortable going down the hill. “Once the horse was nice and settled, I put him on the outside to not get him in trouble and he just flew home. Amazing job done by Mark and his team.” Glatt claimed Lonesome Stew for $32,000 out of his last-place debut Sept. 1, 2022 from Alexander. He had only four starts... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 31, 2025) – CTBA January Sale graduate Safa is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Monrovia Stakes, presented by Don Julio, for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Safa is by Grazen, out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Hadarra, was bred by Derek Lawson, is owned by Bisharat or Khoury and is trained by Gary Stute. The $23,000 purchase at the CTBA January Sale has four wins in 20 starts, earnings of $344,600 and is coming off a second in a Mar. 7 optional claimer. ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 31, 2025) – Sharp maiden winner Gold Currency takes on a trio of stakes winners in Saturday’s $125,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Om N Joy is by Om, out of the Hard Spun mare Margie’s Minute, was bred by Jerry Baker & Connie Baker, is owned by Baker, Golovko or Scanlan, et al and is trained by Angel Ordonez. She has one win in eight starts, earnings of $75,640 and is coming off a Mar. 14 maiden win. Big Soiree is by Mr. Big, out of the Tapizar mare Silver Soiree, was bred by owner Paradox Stables and is trained by Jorge Bautista. She has two wins in six starts, earnings of $57,158 and is coming off a 12th in the Jan. 18 Leigh Ann Howard Cal Cup Oaks. America’s Mark is by American Pharoah, out of the Benchmark mare Marks Mine, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Mike Puype. She has... ...
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 31, 2025) – Stakes winners R Heisman and Drop Um lead a field of eight entered in Saturday’s $125,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Triple Diamonds is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Smiling Tiger mare Florentine Diamond, was bred by Paula Capestro, is owned by Saints or Sinners or Seahawk Racing and is trained by Mark Glatt. He has two wins in three starts, earnings of $71,000 and is coming off a fifth in the Feb. 16 Baffle Stakes. Northern California Yearling Sale graduate I’m a Bad Boy is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Roman Ruler mare Donita’s Ruler, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by C T R Stables and is trained by Luis Mendez. The $18,000 purchase at the Northern California Yearling Sale has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $188,780 and is coming off a Feb. 28 optional claiming win. Stakes winner R Heisman is a Kentucky-bred by California stallion Far From Over, out... ...
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Mar. 31, 2025) – Multiple graded-placed Sabertooth, a Maryland-bred son of California stallion Grazen, is entered in the $600,000 Grade III Transylvania Stakes for 3-year-olds, presented by Keeneland Select, rescheduled for Monday at Keeneland. Sabertooth is out of the Johannesburg mare Hard to Resist, was bred by 2500 Determine Stud, is owned by George Sharp and trained by Brittany Russell. He has one win and six seconds in nine starts, earnings of $136,500 and is coming off a Mar. 18 maiden win at Fair Grounds. ...
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From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 25, 2025) – California-bred champion turf horse Kings River Knight returns from nearly 10 months on the bench in Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita. Kings River Knight is by Acclamation, out of the Poteen mare Seasontoperfection, was bred by Old English Rancho, is owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, LLC, The Ellwood Johnston Trust and Tevelde, Kenneth A. and trained by John Sadler. He has 10 wins in 16 starts, earnings of $649,830 and is making his first start since winning the May 25 Crystal Water Stakes. Prior to the layoff, he dominated the California-bred turf division. In 2023 and 2024, Kings River Knight racked up six stakes wins against statebreds. “We’re really excited to have him back,” Sadler said. “He’s won so many races for us.” Kings River Knight has a win and a second in two starts on the hillside turf course, both statebred stakes. In the 2023 Sensational Star, he finished just a... ...
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(Updated Mar. 25, 2025) — Pleasanton Trainers: Post Time Self Insurance Group will be extending your workers’ compensation coverage until midnight on March 28th, to allow trainers time to vacate the Pleasanton facility. From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 23, 2025) — Licensees and Stakeholders: Please be aware that as of March 25 at midnight, Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton will no longer be an approved auxiliary training facility of Santa Anita Park. The agreement between the Southern Stabling and Vanning Committee (TOC and the southern tracks), the California Authority of Racing Fairs, and the Alameda County Fair will end on that date. From a regulatory standpoint, California Horse Racing Board rules will no longer be applicable to Pleasanton. Racing rules will apply for horses shipping to tracks from non-regulated facilities (i.e. Pleasanton). Importantly, Post Time workers’ compensation insurance policies only cover activity at approved training facilities, meaning your policy will no longer cover activity at Pleasanton beginning March 26. ...
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From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Mar. 19, 2025) — The Jockey Club today announced the new Off-Track Thoroughbred Profile, the first equineline.com report centered on Thoroughbreds in their second careers. The report, 9OT, provides information customized to off-track Thoroughbred owners and those shopping for a Thoroughbred. Based on feedback received from off-track Thoroughbred owners, the report contains a bespoke summary of the horse’s race record, including comments, owners, and trainers for each race; the last 10 workouts; a list of the horse’s siblings; auction history; and, if applicable, the subject mare’s produce record. To encourage the promotion of Thoroughbreds in their second career, this report is shareable through SMS messaging and email and across multiple platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. Equineline product 9OT is available for purchase for any registered Thoroughbred at equineline.com. The report will be available for free to all off-track Thoroughbreds with a T.I.P. number as a benefit to those participating in The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.). OTTB Profiles for existing T.I.P. numbers can be accessed... ...
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By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 16, 2025) — The Chosen Vron, recently voted California-bred Horse of the Year for a second consecutive year, has been retired. Co-owner John Sondereker and trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac said March 17 that the decision has been made to let the 7-year-old gelding continue his rehabilitation and segue into a second career at the appropriate time. “It’s just wear and tear,” Kruljac said of the reasoning behind the decision. “We just don’t want to risk any further injury, especially since he’s 7. He’ll be going up to Katie Fisher’s ranch up in Solvang.” The Chosen Vron had been sidelined with an ankle injury since late last year, and Sondereker said that a recent follow-up MRI performed at Santa Anita showed that it had not yet healed enough for the gelding to return to training. “He’s been the horse of a lifetime for all of us,” Sondereker said. Sondereker, Kruljac, Richard Thornburgh, and Robert Fetkin bred The Chosen Vron in the name of Tiz Molly... ...
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From Gregson Foundation ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 17, 2025) — Tom Reynolds, a horse owner and long-time racing fan who had a successful career in sales and marketing in the food service industry, has been named to the board of directors of the Gregson Foundation, the organization’s president, Jenine Sahadi, announced Monday. The Gregson Foundation, named for the late Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Eddie Gregson, provides scholarships for the children of backstretch workers in California. The 501(c)(3) charity has been in existence for nearly 25 years. “I greatly admire what the Gregson Foundation accomplishes for the backstretch families,” Reynolds said. “I strongly believe that as a society, our biggest mission is to educate our children.” “Tom has been a passionate and long-time supporter of the Gregson Foundation, and we are thrilled to have him join our board,” Sahadi said. Reynolds retired after working for nearly 35 years as a sales and marketing executive for the Quaker Oats Company, Gatorade, and PepsiCo. Reynolds started the Gatorade business in Europe, ran the Gatorade business... ...
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By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 16, 2025) – Longshot Prancingthruparis caught pacesetter Pushiness in midstretch and won Sunday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Prancingthruparis is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Bellamy Road mare She’s a Big Winner, was bred by owner Ciaglia Racing, SAF Racing and Crusberg and trained by Peter Eurton. “It’s great to breed Cal-breds,” said co-breeder Joe Ciaglia. “Her mom was a little bit crazy. The first time she went to the track, she kicked (jockey Kent) Desormeaux in the chest, so we had to scratch her, he got a big hoofprint on his chest. It was nice that we bred her to Sir Prancealot, so we got a little bit of relax so she wouldn’t be a speedball. It’s pretty exciting to make the right choice.” :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports available now. Prancingthruparis, by Sir Prancealot, races for owners and breeders SAF... ...
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