From Santa Anita Publicity   ARCADIA, Calif. (March 14, 2015)–California-bred Warren’s Veneda firmly established herself as the West Coast’s top older filly or mare with a sensational 7 ¼ length win in Saturday’s Grade I, $400,000 Santa Margarita Stakes, as she negotiated 1 1/8 miles under Tyler Baze in 1:48.73.   Conditioned by Craig Lewis, the 5-year-old chestnut mare by Affirmative registered her third win in-a-row and followed up on a career-best 2 ¾ length win in the Grade II Santa Maria Stakes on Feb. 14. Drawn outside in a field of six older fillies and mares, Warren’s Veneda was hung three-wide while last into the Club House turn and cruised to the leaders while in-hand under Baze going to the far turn. Three-wide turning for home she lengthened her considerable stride and put her competition away with a furlong to run.   “The last three times I’ve ridden her, she just does things so easy,” said Baze. “I haven’t gotten to the bottom of her yet. There’s so much horse... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 19, 2014)–In one of the most impressive efforts of the current Autumn Meet, California-bred Red Outlaw ran his unbeaten streak to six in taking Sunday’s $75,000 Uniformity Stakes geared down by 2 ½ lengths under Edwin Maldonado, getting 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:11.92. Trained by Peter Miller and heavily favored 4-5, Red Outlaw rocketed out of the gate and led throughout while smoking through fractions of 21.30, 43.36 and 1:05.97. He paid $3.80, $3.00 and $2.40. Challenged momentarily as the field of eight sophomores made the dirt crossing at the top of the lane, Red Outlaw accelerated when called upon and left many onlookers thinking the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint could be a possibility on Nov. 1. “He always breaks good,” said Maldonado, who has ridden Red Outlaw to four of his victories. “I knew we were going fast, but I wanted him to be by himself so I just let him roll. He definitely... ...

By SFGate.com ALBANY, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2014) — California-bred Luscious Lonna got the trip she adores in Saturday’s $65,480 Miss America Stakes, and the result was her third wire-to-wire win in a stakes event for fillies and mares on the Golden Gate Fields turf. “Those were relatively soft fractions, and that was perfect,” trainer and co-owner Nick Sloan said. “She got a softer trip than it looked like she would, and she’s pretty game like that.” With Need You Now, Loveintheshadows, and Wink and Wish not showing their usual early speed, Luscious Lonna gained a clear lead soon after a bit of a slow start in the 11/16-mile race. Central Heat offered only modest pressure from second place, so Luscious Lonna cruised through even fractions of 24.03 seconds, 48.28, and 1 minutes, 12.59 seconds while maintaining a 1-length lead down the backstretch. Luscious Lonna opened up 3 lengths on Central Heat in mid-stretch and withstood that foe’s late charge to win by three-quarters of a length. “She broke a little... ...

By DRF.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Oct. 14, 2014) – California-bred Alert Bay wrapped up local Horse of the Year honors with a hard-fought win over longshot Mysterious Soul in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers at Hastings on Monday.  The Grade 3 British Columbia Derby winner, who was sent off as the favorite in Monday’s 1 3/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, paid $5.50. “I had a perfect trip,” Rico Walcott said between breaths following the race. “I had to work hard to get him to relax, but I had a lot of horse the whole way. He fought back when he was challenged, and I was pretty confident they weren’t going to get past him once he made the lead.” Alert Bay stalked Prohibition and Mysterious Soul, who battled through reasonable interior fractions and were lapped onto each other after six furlongs in 1:12.96. Walcott moved into serious contention on the stretch turn and outdueled a very game Mysterious Soul to win by a neck. Shooting Jacket came from well back... ...

FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 12, 2014) – California-bred Downtown C. T. led throughout to win Sunday’s $75,560 Bull Dog Handicap at Fresno. Downtown C. T. is by Crafty C. T., out of the Bertrando mare Downtown Tali, was bred by Ellen Jackson, is owned by Carina Jauregui and Stuart Kesselman and is trained by O.J. Jauregui. He has six wins in 26 starts, earnings of $187,371 and was coming off a third in a Sept. 12 allowance. Downtown C. T. ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.62 and won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 3-1. For Downtown C. T.’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/downtown+c+t ...

BENSALEM, Pa. (Oct. 11, 2014) – Winning Image, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Southern Image, won Saturday’s $77,500 Cornucopia Stakes for fillies and mares at Parx. Winning Image is a multiple stakes winner out of the Apollo mare Harvest Girl. She has 14 wins in 32 starts with earnings of $729,237. She ran the six furlongs in 1:10.12 and won by one-half length at odds of 5-1. For Winning Image’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/winning+image2. ...

By DRF.com FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2014) — Marino’s Wild Cat  had the best speed and used that to full advantage in scoring his first stakes victory in the $100,250 Harris Farm Stakes on Sunday at the Big Fresno Fair. Even-money favorite Ain’t No Other broke sharply and immediately when to the lead in the six-furlong race for California-breds, but Marino’s Wild Cat ($7.80), making only his second stakes start, quickly pushed past him to hold a one-half length lead through a 22.86-second opening quarter. As Silvio Amador sat completely still, Marino’s Wild Cat picked up the pace with a 21.91 second quarter, maintaining his one-half length advantage at the quarter pole. But as the field of five turned into the stretch, Marino’s Wild Cat kept going as Ain’t No other began to fade and no other runner could muster a rally. He continued on for a 5 3/4-length (win over longshot A Toast to You, covering six furlongs in 1:08.61. Spirit Rules was another 1 1/4  lengths back in... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2014) – California-bred Big Bane Theory is rounding into career-best form at an ideal time this fall. Saturday, Big Bane Theory won the first stakes of his career in the $201,500 City of Hope Stakes over a mile on turf. The victory could lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile here on Nov. 1. Big Bane Theory was ridden by Joe Talamo, his third win on turf on Saturday at Santa Anita. Sent off favored, Big Bane Theory ($7.60) raced on the rail throughout. Talamo had Big Bane Theory in fifth on the backstretch and closed steadily on the turn to take the lead in early stretch. “We were able to stay on the rail the whole way,” Talamo said. “The fractions were pretty good. I tried to be a good pilot and point him in the right direction.” Big Bane Theory led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining and held off Mr. Commons to win the same margin. Jockey Tyler... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2014)–Top Kisser, the lone California-bred in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita, broke from the rail in a field of six and sailed home under Elvis Trujillo to win by 3 ¾ lengths as previously unbeaten Stoppshoppingdebbie checked in a disappointing fifth as the 2-1 favorite. The final time for 6 ½ furlongs was 1:14.84. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the 5-year-old mare by Old Topper sat third behind rapid fractions of 21.48, 44.22 and 1:08.47 before taking command a furlong out. Top Kisser is by Old Topper, out of the Cherokee Run mare Cherokee Kiss, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. She has seven wins in 14 starts, earnings of $407,100 and was coming off a second in the Sept. 3 C.E.R.F Stakes. “It was a good race,” said Trujillo. “She broke sharp, we had a good position and I knew they were going too fast on the front end–21, 44... ...

TORONTO, Canada (Sept 20, 2014) – Longshot Surtsey, an Ontario-bred daughter of California stallion Heatseeker, rallied from last to win Saturday’s $127,400 Avowal Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine. Surtsey is a 4-year-old with four wins in 13 starts and earnings of $312,652. This was her third stakes win. Surtsey ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.58 and won by one-half length at odds of 16-1 in the field of seven. For Surtsey’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/surtsey4 ...

By Bloodhorse VANCOUVER, B.C. (Sept. 14, 2014) — Favored Alert Bay took command in the drive and posted a comfortable two-length win in the $135,225 British Columbia Derby (Can-III) (VIDEO) at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver Sept. 14 as owner Peter Redekop won the race for a third straight year. The California-bred Alert Bay ran the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds in 1:49.12 on a fast track. It was the second straight win in Hastings’ signature race for trainer Anita Bolton and jockey Rico Walcott, who teamed in 2013 with Redekop’s Title Contender. Redekop also won the 2012 renewal with Second City, and previously won the race in 1994 with Squire Jones. Alert Bay, stalking on the outside of front-running Del Rio Harbor and 74-1 shot Off the Top, was always in position for Walcott as the pacesetter unfurled fractions of :22.90, :47.16, and 1:12.08 over the Hastings bullring. The 3-2 favorite, swinging wide around the final bend to get the advantage, took command in the stretch after a 1:36.37 mile and... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 14, 2014) — Unbeaten Wake Up Nick rallied to win the $103,900 Barretts Juvenile by 2 3/4 lengths Sept. 14 at Los Alamitos Racecourse, improving to 5-for-5 in his young career. Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, California-bred Wake Up Nick ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.60 and paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.20 as the 11-10 favorite. The victory gave trainer Doug O’Neill a sweep of the weekend stakes. He won the $93,850 Barretts Debutante for 2-year-old fillies a day earlier with Sharla Rae, who was ridden by Trujillo. Owned by Reddam Racing, Wake Up Nick has four stakes victories among his five wins. Breaking from the inside, Wake Up Nick was shuffled back and was ahead of just two other horses after the opening half mile. But Trujillo found a seam with an eighth of a mile to go and pulled clear late. “He’s such a cool horse,” O’Neill said. “Elvis did a brilliant job. Watching it unfold I thought we might be in serious trouble... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 7, 2014) – Tribal Gal, an Arizona-bred daughter of the late California stallion Tribal Rule, scored a game win in Sunday’s $75,250 Orange County Stakes for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos. Tribal Gal is out of the Western Fame mare Famous Gal, was bred by owner John Pendergast and is trained by Kory Owens. She has eight wins in 19 starts, earnings of $301,505 and was coming off a win in the June 28 Oak Tree Distaff. Tribal Gal ran the six furlongs in 1:08.73 and won by one-half length as the 6-5 favorite in the field of six. For Tribal Gal’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/tribal+gal.   ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 6, 2014) — After scoring the first stakes win of career earlier in the summer at Los Alamitos Race Course, California-bred Soi Phet returned to the one-mile oval to register a 7 1/4-length romp in the inaugural $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile Sept. 6. The 6-year-old California-bred son of Tizbud   completed the distance in a record 1:33.95 over Los Alamitos’ new one-mile oval, eclipsing the time of 1:34.50 he established in winning the Bertrando Stakes July 3. Kent Desormeaux was once again aboard Soi Phet, who rebounded from a seventh-place finish in the San Diego Handicap (gr. II) in his most recent start July 26 at Del Mar with Mike Smith riding. “The first thing I asked the outrider was if we broke the track record because it felt like it,” Desormeaux said. “He was like a machine out there, begging me to let him go and he took off when I let him.” Leonard Powell trains Soi Phet for the partnership of Gerald Benowitz, Sandra Powell,... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 6, 2014) – California-bred Uzziel held off the challenge of Ramona’s Wildcat to post a wire-to-wire win Saturday’s $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos. Uzziel is by Harlington, out of the Lord at War mare Pretti Woman, was bred by owners James and Tammy McKenney and is trained by Mike Puype. She has four wins in eight starts, earnings of $107,638 and was coming off a third in the Aug. 8 Daisycutter. She ran the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.70 and won by a length at odds of 4-1. For Uzziel’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/uzziel2 ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 5, 2014) – Odds-on favorite Patriots Rule rallied steadily through the stretch to take a desperate nose decision over Eddie’s First in Friday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at Los Alamitos. Patriots Rule is by Tribal Rule, out of the Seattle Bound mare Candy Factory, was bred by Dahlberg Farms, is owned by Charles Garvey and trained by Robertino Diodoro. He has three wins in nine starts, earnings of $186,680 and was coming off a second in the Aug. 1 Real Good Deal. Patriots Rule ran the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.60 at odds of 4-5 in the field of five, with longshot Arctic Code finishing third. For Patriots Rule’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/patriots+rule. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2014) – Longshot Pepper Crown rallied along the rail to take the lead then held off fellow California-bred Salah Champ to win Monday’s $63,170 Rolling Green Stakes at Golden Gate. Pepper Crown is by Peppered Cat, out of the Crowning Storm mare Crown This Lady, was bred by owner and trainer Alex Paszkeicz. He has six wins in 14 starts, earnings of $210,933 and was coming off a fourth in the Aug. 3 Joseph T. Grace. Pepper Crown ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.54 and won by a head at odds of 10-1. For Pepper Crown’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/pepper+crown.   ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2014) – Perfect in four races, California-bred Red Outlaw embellished his spotless record Friday with a wire-to-wire romp in the featured $100,500 El Cajon Stakes at one mile over Del Mar’s main track. Jockey Edwin Maldonado sent the son of Tribal Rule to the lead shortly after the start and beautifully rated the chestnut gelding until the top of the stretch.  Turning for home, Red Outlaw spurted away from his six three-year-old rivals to win by almost four lengths at the wire. “This is a really nice horse,” said Maldonado. “And I’ll tell you something else: he’s going to be better going longer. He’ll love it when we go long.” Toowindytohaulrox rallied from last place to be second, 2 ¾ lengths in front of the lukewarm 5-2 favored Conquest Two Step, with Home School fourth. Scratched from the original field were Daraybi, Indexical, Knock Em Flat and Van Fraassen. “He’s our poor man’s Shared Belief,” trainer Peter Miller said later, “and I’d like to have a... ...

By Bloodhorse.com AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 24, 2014) — Jim and Mona Hour’s Stryker Phd, a Washington-bred son of pensioned California stallion Bertrando, unleashed his usual rally from far back to post a game half-length victory over Boyett in the $200,000 Longacres Mile (gr. III) (VIDEO) Aug. 24 at Emerald Downs. Off as the 13-10 choice in the 12-horse field going a mile over the main track, Stryker Phd was settled last for the opening half mile by Leslie Mawing. Scat Daddybaby sprinted to a clear lead at the outset, setting quick fractions of :22.52, :44.83, and 1:08.42 through the first three-quarters of a mile while leading by 2 1/2 lengths. Stryker Phd made his move while five-wide rounding the second turn and took charge leaving the furlong pole while holding off a tenacious Boyett for the final margin. “We knew there was going to be a lot of speed, so I let him break on his own,” Mawing said after his first Longacres Mile win. “I wanted to be in a comfortable... ...

By Bloodhorse.com TORONTO, Canada (Aug. 23, 2014) – Making just her third career start, Speed Seeker became a stakes winner when she rallied from off the pace to take the $154,417 Ontario Colleen Stakes (Can-IIIT) over the Woodbine turf course Aug. 23 (VIDEO). Speed Seeker is a Florida-bred daughter of California stallion Heatseeker. Sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies, Speed Seeker split pacesetter Executive Allure and stalking Daring Kathy approaching midstretch under jockey Luis Contreras before pulling away from the pack to score by 4 3/4 lengths. Owned by Robert K. Johnson, Frank Coniglio, Richard Rendina, and Frank Ferrigine, the Heatseeker   filly finished a close fifth in the grade II Lake George Stakes at Saratoga Race Course July 23, beaten by 2 1/4 lengths in her initial stakes try. She easily broke her maiden in her debut by 7 3/4 lengths June 8 at Woodbine over the E.P. Taylor turf course. “The first time she showed a lot of speed and finished really... ...

EDMONTON, Canada (Aug. 16, 2014) — California-bred Time for a Memory closed determinedly to run her win streak to four in Saturday’s $48,860 Sonoma Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Northlands Park. Time for a Memory is by Time to Get Even, out of the Rio Verde mare Making Memories, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Ed Maier and trained by Tim Rycroft. She has seven wins in 20 starts, earnings of $79,704 and was coming off three consecutive claiming wins. She ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.87 and won by one-half length at odds of 5-1. For Time for a Memory’s pedigree, click  http://www.pedigreequery.com/time+for+a+memory. ...

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Aug. 10, 2014) – California-bred Truely Quick survived an inquiry to win Sunday’s $64,505 Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds at Santa Rosa. Truly Quick is by Yes It’s True, out of the Golden Missle mare Quick Emotions, was bred by owners George Schmitt and Philip Lebherz and is trained by Jeff Bonde. He has won both career starts and has earnings of $56,800. Truly Quick ran the six furlongs in 1:12.12 and won by 1 ¾ lengths at odds of 2-1. For Truly Quick’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/truely+quick ...

OCEANPORT, N.J. (Aug. 10, 2014) – Joya Real, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Eddington, won Sunday’s $58,800 Fort Monmouth Stakes for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park. Exiting a turf sprint victory at Parx last out, Joya Real raced near the back of the pack through the initial stages then unleashed a flying finish to take the 5½-furlong turf sprint by a length, three-fifths off the course record in time of 1:01 3/5. “After her last race at Parx, we decided it was time to take a chance at some black type,” said winning trainer Kathleen DeMasi. “I was confident about mid-stretch. When she started making her run, I knew she’d get a piece. It was just a matter of how big of a piece.” Owned by Pewter Stable, Joya Real won for the fourth time in her last five races. A 5-year-old daughter of Eddington, out of the Regal Classic mare Regal Locket, bred in Kentucky by G. L. Zwerling LLC, Joya Real now boasts a career record... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 27, 2014) – California-bred Big Macher held off odds-on favorite Goldencents to win Sunday’s $300,000 Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. The Bing Crosby Stakes is part of the Breeders’ Cup’s “Win and You’re In” series, so all B.C. entry fees for Big Macher will be paid. Big Macher is by Beau Genius, out of the Kris S mare Insight, was bred by Ballena Vista Farm, is owned by Tom Mansor and Tachycardia Stables and is trained by Richard Baltas. “This is my first Grade I. It’s my dream … my dream,” said Baltas. “The horse has been nothing but spectacular, getting better and better. He had a little setback (quarter crack) after his last race that really wasn’t much. Tyler had more confidence in the horse than I did. You can’t teach heart to a horse, he either has it or he doesn’t. You just do the best you can do and hope the horse has the will to win. This horse does.... ...

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (July 27, 2014) – California-bred Sing and Tell held on for a game wire-to-wire win in Sunday’s 64,800 Luther Burbank Handicap for fillies and mares at Santa Rosa. Sing and Tell is by Alymagic, out of the Avenue of Flags mare Refreshing Song, was bred by Daehling Ranch, is owned by Joe Daehling and Holly Evans and is trained by Evans. She has seven wins in 23 starts, earnings of $238,252 and was coming off a June 7 allowance win. Sing and Tell ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.72 and won by three-quarters of a length over favored Cal-bred Halo Dolly at odds of 5-2. For Sing and Tell’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/sing+and+tell ...