ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2013)—Although he nearly clipped heels and was carried eight-deep turning for home, California-bred Gervinho kept to his task and proved best in Thursday’s Grade II, $200,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes, winning by a head over longshot Procurement while getting one mile on turf in 1:33.47. Well back early in a field of nine, Gervinho sat mid pack early under confident handling. “He took the path I wanted,” said winning trainer Carla Gaines. “I just told Rafael to settle into stride and make a run at the quarter pole on the outside.  He did exactly as I asked, but someone got in his way (approaching the quarter pole).  When the other horse (Si Sage) got in the way, I thought we were done, so I was so happy to see him re-rally. “He’s such a big horse, he’s huge.  He’s been delightful…We’ll see how he comes out of this, but obviously we would think about the Cal-bred race next month ($250,000, 1 1/8 miles turf California Cup Turf... ...

By Paulickreport.com INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2013) — When has a horse done enough? That was the question many people were asking a week ago when Cost of Freedom, a 10-year-old California-bred gelding by Cee’s Tizzy with career earnings of $1,018,799, was entered in an $8,000 claiming race on the final weekend of racing at Betfair Hollywood Park. http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/a-holiday-tale-rallying-to-help-old-warrior-cost-of-freedom/ ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2013) – California-bred Grade 1 winner Tiz Flirtatious will stay in training in 2014, trainer Marty Jones said last weekend. A 5-year-old mare, Tiz Flirtatious is likely to race in the spring at Santa Anita. “We’ll run her next year,” Jones said. “She’ll get a couple of months off and it will take her a couple of months to get ready. You’ll see her in April or May.” A six-time stakes winner, Tiz Flirtatious has won 8 of 14 starts and earned $779,800. She won the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita in September, and was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf there on Nov. 2. Tiz Flirtatious, owned by breeder Pamela Ziebarth, was fifth in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes on Dec. 1 in her last start. “She’s a pretty special horse,” Jones said. “It came down to Pam wanting to see her run another year.” ...

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Dec. 21, 2013) — California-bred Warrens Venedalucy prevailed in a long stretch duel to win Saturday’s $50,080 Bold Ego Handicap for fillies and mares at Sunland Park. Warren Venedalucy is by Doc Gus, out of the Carson City mare State the Obvious, was bred by Benjamin Warren, is owned by Ace Racing Stable and trained by Justin Evans. She has five wins in 22 starts, earnings of $135,490 and was coming off a win in a Nov. 6 optional claimer. For Warrens Venedalucy’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/warrens+venedalucy. ...

By Bloodhorse.com Santa Anita Park, with the approval of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, will reduce the takeout on its Daily Double wager to 18% during the upcoming season, and will offer the bet three times daily. The track also announced it will offer a guaranteed $500,000 pool for the Late Pick Four wager on its opening day nine-race card Dec. 26. The Daily Double was first introduced at Santa Anita in 1961, one of the first so-called “exotic” wagers requiring bettors to pick consecutive winners on the first and second races daily. The minimum $2 bet later became a “rolling double” available on all races. Santa Anita’s new Daily Double will be offered each day on three separate occasions—on races one and two; four and five; and on the final two races. “After consulting with many of our best customers and the TOC, we felt it was time to make some ‘player-friendly’ adjustments to this iconic wager,” said Tom Ludt, Santa Anita senior vice president for racing and gaming,... ...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 19, 2013) – Stakes-winning highweights Alpine Luck, Aotearoa and Better Bet are part of an 11-horse field entered in Sunday’s $200,000 King Glorious Stakes for Golden State Eligible 2-year-olds, the final stakes race at Betfair Hollywood Park. Smoove It is by Square Eddie, out of the Distorted Humor mare Smoove, was bred by J. Paul Reddam, is owned by Reddam Racing and trained by Doug O’Neill. He has one win in five starts, earnings of $58,510 and is coming off a second in a Nov. 22 allowance. Pray Hard is by Kafwain, out of the Songandaprayer mare Unbridled Prayer, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. He has earnings of $62,100 and is coming off a maiden win in his fifth start. Ghost of Harrenhal is by Singletary, out of the Free House mare Special Smoke, was bred by C Punch Ranch, is owned by Mark Mandala, Mike Peterson, Joseph Schneider and Helen Meredith and is trained by Derek Meredith. He... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2013) — The board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California unanimously voted to appoint owner William Strauss to fill a vacancy on the board created by the recent resignation of Dennis Cardoza. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82477/bill-strauss-elected-to-serve-on-toc-board ...

By Bloodhorse.com                 INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2013) — A 20-foot long monument within the garden paddock at Betfair Hollywood Park that marks the burial place of the great Native Diver will be moved, along with his remains, to Del Mar in the next few weeks. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82472/native-diver-monument-moving-to-del-mar ...

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Dec. 18, 2013) – The Tom Squad is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Riley Allison Futurity for 2-year-olds at Sunland Park. The Tom Squad is by Old Topper, out of the Foresty mare Lexie Miss, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Johnnie Nall. He is coming off a maiden win in his fourth start with earnings of $24,368. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 13, 2013) — The CTBA 2014 Stallion Directory, with Tribal Rule on the cover, is now available and online here The 220-page hard-copy version, ranging from Eclipse Award winner Acclamation to World Renowned,  can be purchased for $15 + tax + shipping fee   ...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2013) — California-bred Teddy’s Promise cruised to a deceptively easy win in Sunday’s $100,000 Playa del Rey Stakes for fillies and mares at Betfair Hollywood Park. Teddy’s Promise is by Salt Lake, out of the Capote mare Braids and Beads, was bred by owners Ted and Judy Nichols and is trained by Ron Ellis. She has 11 wins in 28 starts, earnings of $882,397 and was coming off an eighth in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Teddy’s Promise ran the six furlongs in 1:09.66 and won by 1 1/4 lengths at odds of 3-5. For Teddy’s Promise’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/teddys+promise. ...

From Betfair Hollywood Park Publicity INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2013)—In commemoration of the closing of Betfair Hollywood Park, mutuel tickets purchased on the final day of racing – Sunday, Dec. 22 – will have special messages highlighting some of the unforgettable achievments from legendary performers – both human and equine – during the 75-year history of the legendary track. Known as the Home of Champions and the Track of the Lakes and Flowers, Hollywood Park has been the playground of thoroughbred superstars such as Seabiscuit, winner of the inaugural Hollywood Gold Cup in 1938, Noor, Citation, Swaps, Round Table, Affirmed, Ferdinand, Ack Ack, Native Diver, Lava Man, Skip Away, Cigar, John Henry and Zenyatta. Many of the game’s greatest jockeys and trainers have added to their glowing resumes at Hollywood Park, including numerous Hall of Famers. Laffit Pincay, Jr. and Bill Shoemaker are the runaway leaders in terms of wins among riders at Hollywood Park, having combined for 5,465 victories – 568 coming in stakes. Other Hall of Famers who... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2013) –California’s seven racing commissioners voted unanimously Thursday for Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Winner to serve as Chairman of the California Horse Racing Board beginning January 6, 2014, the date that current Chairman David Israel’s final term will expire. The commissioners also elected Commissioner Bo Derek to serve as 1st vice chair and Commissioner Richard Rosenberg to serve as 2nd vice chair. Chair Elect Winner presented Chairman Israel with a framed gavel on behalf of their fellow commissioners and thanked him for his years of service on the Board, especially for his tireless efforts this last year as chairman, indicating that “everybody who has anything to do with horse racing owes you a debt of gratitude.” Chairman Israel was appointed to the CHRB in July 2008 and reappointed in March 2010, marking 5 ½ years of service. His parting advice to his colleagues and the industry was to “keep the sport clean and safe and it will find its audience.” CHARLES WINNER – Vice Chairman in 2013…Appointed... ...

By DRF.com                 INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2013) — Once there was a very special racetrack, a bold, proud, brassy sporting palace of lakes, flowers, and an exotic species known as the goose girl, conjured up by movie moguls, frequented by celebrities, beloved by the masses. It was the place to see or be seen, whether you were a celebrity, a political figure, an industry titan, horse owner, or racing fan. http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-park-what-run-it-had ...

By DRF.com INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2013) – Betfair Hollywood Park will be dismantled rapidly after the final day of racing in track history on Dec.  22. Hollywood Park president Jack Liebau said earlier this week that the track is making plans to hold a general auction of its holdings in January; that some basic equipment will be moved to Los Alamitos, which will host five weeks of Thoroughbred racing for the first time in 2014; and that arrangements have been made to move the graves of the prominent racehorses Landaluce and Native Diver who are buried on the property. The remains of Great Communicator, the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, also will be relocated, but a site has not been determined. Hollywood Park will be developed for residential and commercial uses in 2014. After the Dec. 22 closing day of the current meeting, the grandstand will no longer be used. Simulcasting will shift to the adjacent casino, which is being remodeled to accommodate more racing customers. An auction of racetrack... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 13, 2013) – California stallion Chhaya Dance was represented by his first winner on Friday when D D Dancer won the eighth race at Golden Gate Fields, a maiden claimer for 2-year-old fillies. D D Dancer is out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Water Trade, was bred by Eagle Oak Ranch, is owned by trainer Jose Bautista. She ran the six furlongs in 1:12.84 and won by 2 ½ lengths at 20-1. ...

POMONA, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2013) — The catalog for Barretts 2014 January Mixed Sale is now on-line and will be mailed soon.  This auction will be held on Monday, January 27 in the Hinds Pavilion located on the grounds of Fairplex Park in Pomona, California beginning at 11:00 a.m.   You can view the catalog now at: http://www.barretts.com/sales/Catalogs/catjan2014/catalog.asp Among the sires of the yearlings and two-year-olds in the catalog are such stallions as Awesome Gambler, Cape Blanco, Colonel John, Cyclotron, Desert Code, Desert Party, Dixie Chatter, Forestry, Giacomo, Henrythenavigator, Limehouse, Lucky Pulpit, Majestic Warrior, Marino Marini, Midnight Lute, Midshipman,  Northern Afleet, Old Fashioned, Papa Clem, Parading, Scat Daddy, Sierra Sunset, Square Eddie, Surf Cat,, Stormin Fever, The Pamplemousse, Tiz Wonderful, Tribal Rule and Unusual Heat. Among the covering stallions in the catalog are such stallions as Atticus, Calimonco, Coil, Decarchy, Desert Code, Dialed In, Dixie Chatter, Good Journey, Hansen, Heatseeker, Informed, Lucky Pulpit, Marino Marini, Midnight Lute, Papa Clem, Sierra Sunset, Slew’ Tiznow, Square Eddie, The Pamplemousse, Thorn Song, Tizbud, Tribal... ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2013) – Los Alamitos Race Course received approval from the Cypress City Council on Monday evening to expand its racetrack to a mile in circumference to accommodate Thoroughbred racing in 2014, a construction project track officials said was to begin Tuesday. The council voted 5-0 to approve the expansion after hearing 50 minutes of testimony in favor of the project. There were no speakers in opposition of the plan. Los Alamitos will host five weeks of Thoroughbred racing in 2014, two weeks in July and three weeks in December. The racing dates are part of a revamped Thoroughbred racing schedule in Southern California following the permanent closing of Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 22. Santa Anita and Del Mar also will have expanded racing schedules in 2014. Brad McKinzie, a consultant at Los Alamitos who is leading the track’s new Thoroughbred operation, said after Monday’s meeting that the track will begin removing trees Tuesday on the property. The property for the redesigned racetrack is west... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 9, 2013) –The CTBA website now includes a Breeders Spotlight feature that will be updated regularly. If you would like to be considered for inclusion, please forward us your answers to the following questions along with a photo: When and how did you first get involved in the Thoroughbred breeding industry? How does your professional background influence your Thoroughbred breeding plan? What has been the highlight of your career in the industry, and what are your ultimate goals? If you could make one change to the industry what would it be? How do you think it would benefit both your business plan and that of others? In five years, do you anticipate having more, less or the same degree of involvement in the industry, and please explain why? Please email responses and photo to: ctbaken@aol.com. ...

                ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2013) – The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association has redesigned its website, CTBA.com, to be more user-friendly and efficient.                 The redesign has made the site cleaner and more accessible, minimizing clicking and maximizing the user experience for all devices – desktop, smartphone and tablet. The new site utilizes color and navigation schemes to improve the overall ease of use, with a modern look and a horizontal navigation bar. Among the additions is a dedicated front-page breeder spotlight.                 Data from the previous site has been preserved and integrated into the new site, with a fully functional search tool.                 The site was designed by Mad Haus Creative of Monrovia, Calif. ...

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2013) — Eight stakes were elevated in or to graded status and 11 were downgraded for 2014 during the meeting of the American Graded Stakes Committee Dec. 4 in Lexington. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82327/eight-stakes-elevated-in-status-for-2014 ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2013) — The California Horse Racing Board is to hold its final meeting of 2013 on Dec. 12 at Santa Anita Park with several items on the agenda related to racing in the state next year after the closure of Betfair Hollywood Park. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82330/chrb-to-meet-as-hollywood-park-closure-nears ...

From Magali Farms SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2013) –Millionaire and multiple GI winner, Richard’s Kid  (Lemon Drop Kid – Tough Broad, by Broad Brush) has been retired and relocated to Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, where he will stand the 2014 season for $4,500. Richard’s Kid won multiple GI races, including the prestigious Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar in back to back years (2009 and 2010) while earning $2,482,259. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to stand Richard’s Kid,” said Tom Hudson of Magali Farms. “I loved this horse as a racehorse. He is a brand in himself. He made 47 starts in his career, which shows great heart and soundness. He ran and won at multiple distances ranging from 1 to 11/2 miles. This coupled with his pedigree and conformation makes him a great choice for California breeders.” Contact Hudson at Magali Farms for an appointment to see Richard’s Kid and the rest of the Magali Farms stallion roster. ...