ALBANY, Calif. (May 1, 2016) – Cheekaboo, far behind early, rallied wide in the stretch to win Sunday’s $101,125 Campanile Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies at Golden Gate. Cheekaboo is by Unusual Heat, out of the Souvenir Copy mare Sandy Cheeks, was bred by Madeline Auerbach, Richard Rosenberg & Barry Abrams, is owned by Ciaglia Racing, Alesia or Burns and is trained by Peter Eurton. “She broke a little slow,” jockey Juan Hernandez said. “I didn’t move; I just stayed in position and waited to the stretch. You can do whatever you want with her. I took her outside, she kicked strongly, and we won the race.” She has two wins in six starts, earnings of $137,680 and was coming off a fifth in a Mar. 17 allowance. She ran the mile on turf in 1:38.19 and won by one length at odds of 4-1 in the field of 11. How Unusual finished second and The Spiral Jetter was moved up to third when Patriotic Diamond was... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (May 1, 2016) — Gold Rush Dancer pulled away in midstretch to win Sunday’s $100,450 Silky Sullivan Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Gold Rush Dancer is by Private Gold, out of the In Excess mare Dances On Water, was bred by owner John Park and is trained by Vann Belvoir. “It was his first time on the turf, but I wasn’t worried,” jockey Flavien Prat said. “He showed he was a good horse. He’s still a little bit green. Down the lane when I was on the lead he was lugging out and lugging in, but he won pretty easily.” He has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $184,423 and was coming off a second in the Apr. 9 Echo Eddie. He ran the mile on turf in 1:37.07 and won by 1 ¼ lengths at odds of nearly 9-1. Odds-on favorite Tough It Out was second and Midnight Ming was third in the field of eight. ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 30, 2016) — Millionaire California-bred Alert Bay continued the string of Northern California success in Golden Gate Fields’s top race for older horses, the Grade 3, $101,800 San Francisco Mile on Saturday, as he withstood Gabriel Charles’s strong finish to win by a neck. The race, which had 13 runners after the scratch of Home Run Kitten, was competitive throughout as defending champion G.G. Ryder wound up on the lead ahead of Royal F with Alert Bay, who broke from post 11 for trainer Blaine Wright, sitting a close third just outside Kenjisstorm. “Blaine sharpened him up. We wanted to show more speed and sit a little closer because of the outside post position,” said winning jockey Tyler Baze. Alert Bay ($9.80) sat outside G.G. Ryder and inched up to engage him at the half-mile pole. The pair battled on even terms but G.G. Ryder opened a 1 1/2-length lead at the quarter pole. But Baze continued on as G.G. Ryder began to falter in his... ...

By Online Poker Report SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 28, 2016) — A California legislative committee passed a bill that would legalize and regulate online poker for the second straight year. The bill — AB 2863 — passed the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee unanimously, 19-0, on Wednesday. “The question of how to regulate iPoker has been in front of the Legislature for nearly a decade,” committee chair and and bill sponsor Adam Gray said in a press release after the vote. “We have not rushed this process. We have taken the time necessary to thoroughly understand and respond to the concerns put forth by stakeholders. Through this process, we have created a coalition that is willing to acknowledge the problem and support a comprehensive solution.” Progress on the online poker bill At the start of the hearing, Gray presented the bill, saying he believes a lot of progress has been made on generating support on the two main sticking points: the horse racing industry’s involvement, and the so-called “bad actor” provision. The former provision was backed up by... ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Apr. 16, 2016) – Boozer won his stakes debut on dirt in Saturday’s $100,345 Bertrando Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Los Alamitos, giving veteran jockey Edwin Maldonado the first stakes double of his career. Boozer is by Unusual Heat, out of the Cape Canaveral mare Kitty and Boo, was bred by Abrams, Loverso, Perez, Huston Racing, et al, is owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood and trained by Mark Glatt. Boozer has won 7 of 22 starts and earned $538,792. Maldonado, 33, won the Grade 3 Los Angeles Stakes on San Onofre earlier on the program. Maldonado, who won his first race in 2002, had won stakes on consecutive days in the past, but never two on the same program. The milestone was in jeopardy in deep stretch of the Bertrando Stakes at a mile. Boozer ($8) led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong to go, and was challenged in the final furlong by 3-2 favorite Soi Phet. “I thought that horse was... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Apr. 16, 2016) — Matson Racing’s California-bred San Onofre held off  Wild Dude through the stretch and won the $100,000 Los Angeles Stakes (gr. III) April 16 at Los Alamitos Race Course, giving jockey Edwin Maldonado a fourth successive win in the race. Bred in California by trainer Karen Headley’s father, trainer Bruce Headley, San Onofre is out the Native Regent mare Marrakech Gold. His record improves to 6-4-0 from 13 career starts with earnings of $402,385, including his first graded score in the Midnight Lute Stake (gr. III) in January at Santa Anita. A 6-year-old Surf Cat gelding who broke from the outside post 7, San Onofre finished 5 1/2 furlongs in a swift 1:02.04 while adding a second grade III win to his record. He was a neck second to Distinctiv Passion, guided by Maldonado, in last year’s Los Angeles, which was run at Santa Anita Park. Maldonado also won the Los Angeles aboard Comma to the Top in 2013 at Hollywood Park and... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 16, 2016) — Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze suffered a broken right collarbone in a third-race spill April 16 at Golden Gate Fields. Baze was unseated when his mount, Hewearsthefoxhat, broke down and fell in the final sixteenth of a mile. The rider walked off the track and was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland for evaluation. Tests revealed a collarbone fracture, according to track physician Dr. David Seftel. Baze leads all jockeys with 12,812 wins in North America. He has captured 53 riding titles at Golden Gate Fields. JR Racing and Ron Brewer’s Hewearsthefoxhat, a 3-year-old son of Old Topper–Miss Pitz, by Cadeaux Genereux, was euthanized. ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Apr. 15, 2016) — Los Alamitos Race Course owner Ed Allred April 15 distributed a letter to “participants and employees” that said he plans to run races at the Cypress, Calif. racetrack for at least 10 more years. “God willing, let’s plan on 10 years … and at that time, reevaluate the status of my health and proceed as indicated,” the 79-year-old Allred wrote. A leading Quarter Horse breeder, Allred wrote in the letter that Los Alamitos is planning to present a local ballot measure to develop portions of the racetrack and the now-closed Cypress Golf Course, which he also owns. “The remaining 170 acres is a combination of the racetrack property and the ‘old back nine’ of the golf course,” Allred wrote. “Fifty to 60 acres could be developed of the 170 acres without disrupting the Quarter Horse program.” Los Alamitos expanded its track to a mile in 2014 to accommodate occasional daytime Thoroughbred meets, which now accompany its year-round Quarter Horse racing season. “I... ...

By San Diego Union Tribune DEL MAR, Calif. (Apr. 12, 2016) — The price tag has been set for California Chrome to run in Del Mar’s Pacific Classic this summer: $2 million. “The Pacific Classic is on our agenda,” said Art Sherman, California Chrome’s trainer, on Monday, “but we hope they raise the purse to $2 million. That would get us there. “There are a lot of other tracks out there that want us.” The Grade I Pacific Classic, scheduled for Aug. 20, has a purse of $1 million. A purse increase would take some negotiating with the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “The horse is certainly worth it,” said Joe Harper, president and CEO of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. “Now the question is whether we can afford it. We’ll have to see. We’d love to have him. Maybe I can get Art down to $1.5 million.” California Chrome is coming off a victory last month in the $10 million Dubai World Cup, his third win in as many starts this... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 9, 2016) — When What a View went into the first turn of Saturday’s $102,070 Thunder Road Stakes on turf at Santa Anita, trainer Kenny Black was surprised at the 5-year-old gelding’s position. Instead of being on or near the lead, What a View was sixth in a field of 11. “I was not happy,” he said. Black expected Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux to have What a View near the front. The field was on the final turn, with What a View fighting for the lead, when the trainer’s point of view changed. “I liked it when I saw him going to the lead at the quarter-pole,” said Black. “That’s why he’s in the Hall of Fame and I’m not. To be that far back with no pace in the race, on paper, I did not see that coming.” What a View, a California-bred by Vronsky, has won 6 of 12 starts and earned $592,148. He has been in the best form of... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 9, 2016)–Nick Alexander’s homebred Tough It Out came with a late rush to take command a sixteenth of a mile out en route to winning Saturday’s $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Santa Anita by 4 ½ lengths. Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Joe Talamo, the 3-year-old Grazen gelding got 6 ½ furlongs over a sloppy track in 1:17.60. “This is just a tremendous feeling,” said D’Amato, who registered his second win of the day and now has a commanding five win lead (39-34) in the Winter Meet trainer standings with just one day remaining. “Mike Mitchell (his late mentor) and Nick Alexander. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.” Off at 5-1 in a field of nine California-bred or sired horses, Tough It Out paid $12.20, $5.80 and $3.40. Out of the Marquetry mare Mark Set Go, Tough It Out picked up $120,000 for the win, more than doubling his earnings to $212,790.... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 9, 2016)–Under true sloppy conditions at Santa Anita, favored Pacific Heat took charge a half mile from home and held on to win Saturday’s $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies by 1 ¼ lengths under Flavien Prat. Trained by Peter Eurton, the 3-year-old filly by Unusual Heat got 6 ½ furlongs on 1:17.38. “I prefer a fair track,” said Prat. “She wasn’t really comfortable on this sloppy track today, but she has so much talent that didn’t even matter. Her talent made all the difference.” Off at 6-5 in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies bred or sired in California, Pacific Heat, who notched her third career stakes win, paid $4.40, $3.80 and $3.00. Bred by Harris Farms and Donald Valpredo and owned by Sharon Alesia, Mike Burns Ciaglia Racing, LLC and Taylor Legan, Pacific Heat picked up $110,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $366,280. She now has four wins from six starts. Longshot Run for... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 8, 2016) — Trainer Tim McCanna picked up the 2,000th victory of his career April 8 at Golden Gate Fields, when Whiskey Prince captured the third race. Ridden by jockey Frank Alvarado, Whiskey Prince made a three-wide bid from just off the pace to take the $12,500 conditioned claiming event for 3-year-olds and older by a length. “It was a lot of work, in a lot of ways,” the 54-year-old McCanna said of the accomplishment. A native of Spokane, Wash., McCanna has successfully competed in Northern California and in the Northwest. He established a full-time Northern California presence in 2012 after previously splitting the year between the Golden State and Washington. “I raised three kids (in Washington),” McCanna said. “I always had it in my mind to come to (Northern California). I just wanted to get that done. Once they were raised, I came down here. I’m going to keep most of my horses here. I’ll have a few (horses at Emerald Downs) for owners... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity BRADBURY, Calif. (Apr. 8, 2016) — Keith L. Stucki, trainer of one of the greatest California-breds of all-time, Ancient Title, passed away at his home in nearby Bradbury this past Tuesday at age 96, according to his granddaughter, Shannon Hinkley. “He lived a full 96 years, believe me,” said Hinkley. “He shared the same birthday as John Wayne, May 26, and he was always so proud of that. He met John Wayne on the backside here at Santa Anita many years ago. My grandpa would have been 97 next month.” Stucki, patriarch of a fun-loving racetrack family that included three daughters and two sons, was born May 26, 1919, in Paris, Idaho. The son of a trainer, Stucki aspired to be a jockey and his first “big time” racetrack experience, according to Hinkley, came at Longacres, near Seattle. Stucki then gravitated to Southern California, where he galloped the immortal Seabiscuit for trainer “Silent” Tom Smith. Selected for induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall... ...

By Bloodhorse.com SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Apr. 8, 2016) –Robert Naify, who with his wife, Jan Van de Bos Naify, races in the name of Ran Jan Racing, died April 7 at his home in San Francisco. He was 94. Ran Jan Racing was a partner in multiple graded stakes winner Cambiocorsa and has continued to breed horses from the mare and her daughters. Homebred Moulin de Mougin, by Curlin   out of Cambiocorsa, won the 2014 John C. Mabee Stakes (gr. IIT); while homebred Schiaparelli, by Ghostzapper   out of Cambiocorsa, captured the 2013 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT). Robert and his brother, Marshall, grew up in the San Francisco area after their parents emigrated from Syria and Lebanon. The brothers founded the United Artists Theater Chain of movie theaters in the 1920s and later expanded into cable television. Before his death in 2000, Marshall raced such runners as champion Bertrando, and Robert and Jan entered the racing business when they decided to buy a few horses from Marshall’s estate. Those horses... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 19, 2016)–With blinkers removed, Reddam Racing’s homebred Smoove It rallied four-wide turning for home to win Saturday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles by 3 ¼ lengths over favored Velvet Mesquite. Ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Doug O’Neill, the 5-year-old California-bred mare by Square Eddie got 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.83 and survived a stewards’ inquiry into an incident at the top of the stretch. Breaking from post position three in a field of five older fillies and mares bred or sired in California, Smoove It relaxed well under Prat and was next to last after the first half mile. As the field approached the quarter pole, she was set down and rallied strongly crossing the dirt at the top of the lane, but ducked in a bit approaching the furlong pole, causing Kent Desormeaux to steady sharply aboard Velvet Mesquite. “Once she crossed the dirt, she wanted to go down towards... ...

PASADENA, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2016) – The late Gimme Da Lute, a two-time graded winner bred and owned by the partnership of Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman, was named California-bred Horse of the Year for 2015 by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The son of Midnight Lute was named champion at Wednesday night’s annual CTBA Awards Dinner at the Westin Pasadena, outpolling the other two finalists, California Chrome and Spanish Queen. Gimme Da Lute earlier had been named champion Cal-bred 3-year-old male and sprinter. Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes accepted the award on behalf of the winning connections. A five-time stakes winner, Gimme Da Lute had won five consecutive stakes when he suffered a catastrophic training injury. He won six of nine career starts, including victories in the Grade II Los Alamitos Derby and Grade III Affirmed Stakes, with earnings of $627,560. The other champions presented at the dinner: Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings – Tribal Rule, property of The Tribal Rule Syndicate. Champion Sire of... ...

By Paulick Report SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2016) — California assemblyman Adam Gray has filed a bill that is offering racetracks in the state an annual payment of $60 million in exchange for giving up the opportunity to be a part of the proposed online poker market. He has begun to flesh out the bill, AB 431, according to calvinayre.com, detailing a 15 percent tax rate and $15 million upfront deposit for poker licenses. Over 95 percent of the $60 million payment would go to California racetracks, to be split with horsemen for purse payments and breeders incentives on a formula similar to current revenue sharing. Racetrack employee pension funds would also benefit. The other five percent would support state agricultural fairs. While the racetracks’ participation in the online poker industry has been directly opposed by local tribal casinos, Gray has not been able to garner the full support of those tribes for his bill. A Thursday meeting with the tribes left some leaders feeling as though progress had been made, but others... ...

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2016) – Catholic Cowboy, a Florida-bred son of California stallion Heatseeker, won Monday’s $60,000 Old Hickory Starter’s Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Catholic Cowboy, out of the Meadowlake mare Kombat Lake, ran the 1 1/16 miles I 1:43.22 and won by three-quarters of a length as the 6-5 favorite. He has five wins in 28 starts and earnings of $403,876. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2016)–With the red and white colors of California’s legendary Old English Rancho flying proudly, What a View assumed command turning for home and took Saturday’s $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic, presented by City National Bank, for Golden State Series eligibles, by an impressive 3 ¼ lengths under Kent Desormeaux. Trained by former rider Kenny Black, the 5-year-old California-bred gelding by Vronsky got a mile and one eighth on turf in 1:47.39. A restrained second to pacesetter Image of Joplin into and around the far turn, What a View made the lead well within himself a quarter mile from home and was clearly best among a field of 12 older horses bred or sired in the Golden State. “Kent knows what’s he’s doing, he’s won a few more of these than I have,” said Black, who registered his biggest win as a conditioner in the Classic. “He knows this horse. I always thought he was better when he (What a View) has one... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2016)–Harris Farms’ homebred Velvet Mesquite rallied four-wide at the top of the stretch to take Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint for Golden State Series eligibles by 1 ¾ lengths under Kent Desormeaux. Trained by Blake Heap, the 6-year-old mare by In Excess outran 10 other older fillies and mares and got 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:13.14. Although winless in seven starts last year, Velvet Mesquite, who’s five career wins had all come over the hillside turf, was the 5-2 post time favorite and paid $7.80, $4.60 and $3.20. Today’s race was her 19th career start and with the winner’s share of $90,000, she increased her earnings to $433,446. A close third while under restraint past the half mile pole, Velvet Mesquite took charge a furlong out and was clearly best. “She just strutted her stuff today,” said Desormeaux. “I was so confident after only 50 yards…This is the first time going to... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2016)–Sunday Rules, scratched out of last Saturday’s Grade II Santa Monica Stakes, took on the boys for the first time in her nine-race career and responded with a rollicking 2 ¼ length win in the $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint for Golden State Series eligibles today at Santa Anita. Trained by Phil D’Amato, the Nick Alexander homebred 5-year-old mare by Tribal Rule was ridden by Edwin Maldonado and stopped the timer for six furlongs in a rapid 1:08.42. “She’s a small filly, but she has such a long stride,” said Maldonado, who hadn’t ridden her since August of 2013 at Del Mar. “I just want to thank Phil and Nick Alexander for giving me the opportunity to get back on her…I was confident she could win this race.” The second choice at 9-5 in a field of seven, Sunday Rules paid $5.80, $4.80 and $3.80. Out of the General Meeting mare Sunday Dress, she picked up her eighth career win and... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2016)–Unbeaten Smokey Image, in his first try around two turns, annihilated six California-bred rivals en route to a 8 ½ length win in Saturday’s $250,000 California Cup Derby for Golden State Series elibigles at Santa Anita. Ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza and trained for the first time Carla Gaines, the California-bred colt by Southern Image got a mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.49 and no-doubt stamped himself a ticket to the Kentucky Derby trail in his next start. Breaking from post position two, Smokey Image easily out-footed Glory Bound to the first turn and set comfortable fractions of 23.49, 47.48 and 1:11.63. “He reminds me of California Chrome!” said Espinoza. “I was expecting him to run a big race today. I worked him the other day and he worked unbelievably. I was very impressed. For me, I don’t look at it like Cal-bred or not. I just look at him and ask where he has potential…The way he ran... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2016)–In her first-ever try on turf, heavily favored Pacific Heat responded with a resounding 5 ¼ length win in Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Oaks for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Peter Eurton, the California-bred daughter of Unusual Heat got one mile in 1:35.75. Pacific Heat was bred in California by Harris Farms and Donald Valpredo. Attentive to the pace throughout, Pacific Heat took command going to the quarter pole and the Oaks was, for all intents and purposes, over. “She was relaxed going down the backside,” said Prat. “But when a horse came up on her outside (Run Like the Boss, with Joe Talamo), she grabbed the bit and was a little bit aggressive after that. I think it was just because she is a ton of horse and she doesn’t know much yet. She’s pretty impressive.” Off at 4-5 in a field of eight, she paid $3.80, $2.80 and $2.20. “The way she... ...

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... ...