From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (May 23, 2015)–Nick Alexander’s homebred Sunday Rules kept her perfect record intact with a facile three length win in Saturday’s $150,000 Spring Fever Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares, as she covered six furlongs in gate to wire fashion under Tyler Baze in 1:08.93. (The Spring Fever was the first of five Golden State Series races run Saturday at Santa Anita for horses bred or sired in California). Conditioned by Phil D’Amato, the 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Tribal Rule now has five wins from as many starts. Heavily favored at 1-5 in a field of six older fillies and mares, she paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. With the winner’s share of $90,000, she increased her earnings to $314, 880. “Nice filly,” said an emphatic Baze. “She runs with her head a little low but…she’s not real fast that first jump out of the gate, but after that she’s a monster. She’s a train really, she just goes. Those first strides, she just... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 14, 2015) — ”It was an ugly race on my part, but a great result.” So said Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens following Go West Marie’s half length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita, a race in which the California-bred filly trained by Eddie Truman overcame seemingly insurmountable traffic trouble en route to negotiating 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:12.90. “I didn’t think she’d overcome that traffic that late in the race,” said Truman. “No shot. Gary was just waiting (to find an opening). Any time, right?…and then when they closed the hole coming across the dirt, what’s he going to do? He tried out, he tried in again, and then, zoom. That’s a race horse. What a heart. She is something.” Go West Marie was bred by Summer Mayberry out of the Swiss Yodeler mare Marie Rose. Off at 7-5 in a field of seven... ...

From Del Mar Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2014) — Reddam Racing’s More Complexity, the 7-2 second choice under jockey Mario Gutierrez, collared Sweet Marini with less than a sixteenth of a mile remaining and went on to score a half-length victory in Sunday’s featured $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for Golden State Series eligible older fillies and mares. More Complexity, well-placed in mid-pack in a field of nine distaff sprinters in the early stages of the seven-furlong race, responded gamely to overtake Sweet Marini who had swept to the lead in the upper stretch under jockey Martin Garcia but then was unable to withstand the winner’s challenge. Sweet Marini held on to nose out Warren’s Veneda for runner-up honors, with Meinertzhageni another half-length back in fourth. More Complexity, a three-year-old daughter of Square Eddie trained by Edward Freeman, ran the distance in 1:22.51 and returned $9.20, $5.80 and 4.20. First money of $57,000 after the filly’s fourth win in ten starts increased her earnings to $214,970. More Complexity is out of... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2014)–Although he broke tardily from the rail, favored Acceptance was quickly into contention under Elvis Trujillo and fought off all challenges to win Saturday’s $200,000 Golden State Juvenile for Golden State Series eligible by 1 ¼ lengths while covering seven furlongs in 1:21.70. Trained by Donald Warren and owned by Judy Johnston, Bud Johnston and Robert Riggio, the 2-year-old California-bred colt by Vronsky was bred by the Johnston family’s Old English Rancho. A 13 ¼ length first-out maiden winner on Oct. 5, Acceptance faced winners for the first time in the Golden State Juvenile which attracted a field of seven juveniles that were Golden State eligible. “He was very impressive from the day we picked him, and right from the day we started breaking him,” said Johnston. “We named him Acceptance, and the ACC is no accident, because it’s like (Eclipse Award winner) Acclamation. “I was very concerned about the inside post and like usual, he did not break very well, and... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 31, 2014) –Under confident handling, 6-5 favorite My Fiona rallied at the rail around the far turn en route to an impressive three quarter-length win in Friday’s $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies, for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano and trained by Walther Solis, the daughter of Ghostzapper got the distance in 1:23.16. For HRTV video: http://www.hrtv.com/videos/race-replay-2014-golden-state-juvenile-fillies-/?VideoCategoryId=0 Bred by Terry Lovingier and owned by Lovingier, Beckerle and Navarro, My Fiona paid $4.60, $3.20 and $2.60. “I knew she likes to come from behind, but with the way speed is playing today, I didn’t want to be too far back,” said Bejarano, who rode the filly for the first time. “I put her where I felt comfortable. I decided to follow (eventual third place finisher) Stormy Adieu because I knew she would still be there in the stretch. I stayed close to the rail and when we got to the stretch, I finally got through and she showed me a big... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2014)–Heavily favored Boozer made an easy lead and never looked back en route to a 2 ½ length win in Saturday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap for Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, he got 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:12.36 following moderate fractions of 22.89, 45.16 and 1:06.74. Boozer is by Unusual Heat, out of the Cape Canaveral mare Kitty and Boo, was bred by Abrams, Loverso, Perez, Huston Racing and Auerbach, is owned by Al and Saundra Kirkwood and trained by Mark Glatt. He has five wins in 12 starts, earnings of $292,672 and was coming off an Aug. 31 allowance win. “I didn’t expect to get the lead too easy,” said Bejarano. “I thought Super Ability (ridden by Martin Garcia) would go straight to the lead but he broke a little slow, so I took us straight to the front and was able to sit comfortably. I didn’t have any pressure... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 11, 2014)–In her first added money foray, favored Velvet Mesquite took Saturday’s $100,000 California Distaff Handicap for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares by a half length under Mike Smith while negotiating 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.39. An absolute course specialist, Velvet Mesquite, a Harris Farms homebred 4-year-old filly by In Excess, notched her fifth win from six tries over Santa Anita’s unique hillside layout in virtual gate to wire fashion as she rocketed past eventual third place finisher Go West Marie early and cut out fractions of 22.17, 44.16 and 1:06.33. Trained by Blake Heap, Velvet Mesquite broke a bit sluggishly from the nine post in a field of 10 California-bred or sired fillies and mares, but was soon in command under Smith. “She’s a big filly and she broke a little slow,” said Smith. “She’s so tall, that it took her longer to get up after slipping a little at the start. It took... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2014) – Odds-on favorite Wake Up Nick kept his perfect record intact with a game half-length win in Monday’s $150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-olds at Del Mar. Wake Up Nick is by Cindago, out of the Lion Hearted mare Storm Hearted, was bred by Lee & Susan Searing, is owned by Reddam Racing and trained by Doug O’Neill. “Undefeated so far and hopefully we’ll keep it going,” said O’Neill.  “I would think we’ll stay in the Cal-bred series.” Wake Up Nick has won all four starts with earnings of $251,100 and was coming off a win in the July 30 Graduation Stakes. He ran the six furlongs in 1:11.25 and went off as the 2-5 favorite. Global Magician was second and Cardiac third in the field of eight. For Wake Up Nick’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/wake+up+nick. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 27, 2014) –Fanticola and Scardino’s Long Hot Summer responded to the brisk urging of jockey Joe Talamo to prove best in a three-horse stretch battle in the featured $150,000 Generous Portion Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-old fillies Wednesday at Del Mar. Rallying on the far outside in the stretch, Long Hot Summer wore down 5/2 My Fiona and 2-1 favored Lost Bus to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:10.94 for the six furlongs on the main track. My Fiona, winner of the C.T.B.A. Stakes this season over Lost Bus, again prevailed over her rival, this time by a nose for runner-up honors. Easter Fever was a distant fourth in the field of eight fillies. Scratched from the race were Desert Steel and Do The Danse. Long Hot Summer, a daughter of Street Boss purchased for $260,000 at the Barretts sale last May, is now two-for-two in her brief career,  having broken her maiden at first asking August 9 at Del Mar. She is... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 17, 2014) – Heat Du Jour rallied resolutely through deep stretch to win Sunday’s $151,000 Solana Beach Handicap for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Del Mar. Heat Du Jour is by Unusual Heat, out of the Half a Year mare Style of the Year, was bred by Madeline Auerbach, is owned by Jerry Hollendorfer, Mark Schlaich and George Todaro and trained by Hollendorfer. She is a full sister to stakes winner Lennyfromalibu. She has five wins in 23 starts, earnings of $252,998 and was coming off a sixth in a July 25 optional claimer. Heat Du Jour ran the mile on turf in 1:34.73 and won by three lengths at odds of 9-1. Qianoa was second and favored Kathleen Rose third in a field of 10. Multiple graded stakes winner Doinghardtimeagain, also trained by Hollendorfer, pulled up on the second turn and was vanned off. For Heat Du Jour’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/heat+du+jour. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2014) – Red Outlaw returned from a six-month layoff and kept his perfect record intact with a wire-to-wire win in Friday’s $201,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Del Mar. Baffle Stakes winner Red Outlaw is by Tribal Rule, out of the Slewpy mare Anachristina, was bred by Liberty Road Stables, is owned by Blinkers On Racing Stable, Aurelio, Bizovi, Coons, Dizonno et al and is trained by Peter Miller. “The plan was to go to the front,” said Miller. “The speed had been holding and he’s such a game horse. It didn’t look like there was much pace in the race and my horse has more speed than the rest. I told [jockey Edwin] Maldonado that if he could get him to the lead, they wouldn’t get by him. I knew his speed and his tenacity would work for him. It doesn’t matter what surface he runs on, this horse can run. “We might look at the El Cajon... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 30, 2014) – Wake Up Nick,  the 3-5 favorite under jockey Mario Gutierrez, extended his perfect record to 3-for-3 Wednesday with an impressive triumph in the featured $100,000 Graduation Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-olds at Del Mar. Wake Up Nick took command from the outside entering the stretch and then drew out to score by 4 ¼ lengths in the added money event that was won by future Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion  California Chrome last summer. Atta’ Boy Woody, the 5-2 second choice, rallied to be second, a length in front of Global Magician in  the field of six young horses. Colorado Strong was a late scratch from the field. Wake Up Nick is by Cindago, out of the Lion Hearted mare Storm Hearted, was bred by Lee & Susan Searing, is owned by Reddam Racing and trained by Doug O’Neill.  “He’s so professional,” said O’Neill. “He gives you 110 percent all of the time and how do you not love a horse... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 27, 2014) – Rock Me Baby rallied three-wide into the stretch and drew off to win Sunday’s $150,500 California Dreamin’ Handicap for Golden State Series eligibles at Del Mar. Rock Me Baby is by Rock Hard Ten, out of the Tale of the Cat mare Barbara Orr, was bred by Mercedes Stable, is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Craig Dollase. He has six wins in 15 starts, earnings of $361,802 and was coming off a third in the July 3 Bertrando Stakes. He was second in this race last year. Rock Me Baby ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.88 and won by 3 ¼ lengths at odds of 2-1. Starspangled Heat was second and Ethnic Dance third in the field of eight. The race was run on Polytrack after originally being carded for the turf. For Rock Me Baby’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/rock+me+baby6. ...

By UTSanDiego.com DEL MAR, Calif. (July 18, 2014) — CTBA Director Terry Lovingier and Walther Solis not only have ranches across from each other in Warner Springs, but the two men are friends and partners in developing race horses. On Friday night, one of those horses, a 2-year-old Ghostzapper filly, My Fiona, delivered their first stakes win ever at Del Mar, the $100,500 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes (CTBA) for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies. Favored My Fiona, ridden by Fernando Perez, battled trainer Blake Heap’s Lost Bus, with jockey Victor Espinoza, down the stretch and won by a neck. “It’s really amazing,” said Solis, who once was director of horse operations at Golden Eagle Farm and served as assistant to Ceasar Dominquez for eight years before going on his own. “We thought a lot about this filly when she was growing up. We thought we were onto something special. Right now she’s still learning how to run, so there’s no telling. She’s been training at Los Alamitos, and I... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (June 8, 2014)—Ridden for the first time by Kent Desormeaux, Unusual Heatwave overhauled favored Mega Heat late to win Sunday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds by three quarters of length, covering one mile on turf in 1:34.17. Trained by Alexis Barba, Unusual Heatwave had been winless in his last six starts, with his most recent victory coming in the Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 3, 2012. “He had a bit of problem with his breathing, but we’ve got that addressed now,” said Barba. “We felt he was doing well coming into this race and it was great to see him run well.” With Ethnic Dance, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, showing the way through splits of 23.69, 47.30, 1:10.80 and 1:22.39, Desormeaux had his mount sitting a close third at the rail, just inside of favored Mega Heat, who was ridden by Corey Nakatani. “My biggest concern was, ‘Does Corey have any horse,’” said Desormeaux. “I was just trying to... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (June 8, 2014) — Snow Chief Stakes winner Awesome Return, bottled up in mid-stretch, persisted late to nose out Alert Bay in the last jump and win Sunday’s $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Golden Gate. Awesome Return is by Decarchy, out of the Mr. Broad Blade mare Awesome Broad, was bred by owner Richard Kritzski and trained by Mike Puype. “He was real courageous,” said jockey Joe Talamo. “Look at his form. He’s never run a bad race. I think he has a real bright future.” He has three wins in seven starts, earnings of $256,108 and was coming off a win in the Apr. 26 Snow Chief Stakes. “Great race for the horse today,” said Puype. “He just continues to improve.” Awesome Return ran the mile on turf in 1:36.03 and won by a nose over Alert Bay with Patriots Rule finishing third. For Awesome Return’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/awesome+return.   ...

ALBANY, Calif. (June 8, 2014) — Odds-on favorite Magic Spot led all the way to post a game win in Sunday’s $100,000 Campanile Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies at Golden Gate. Magic Spot is by Papa Clem, out of the Generous mare Sweet Spot, was bred by Royalty Stables and BG Stables, is owned by BG Stables and Hector Palma and is trained by Palma. She has four wins in eight starts, earnings of $179,060 and was coming off a win in a May 24 optional claimer. Magic Spot ran the mile on turf in 1:36.36 and won by one-half length as the 7-10 favorite with Chati’s On Top second and Global Rule third in the field shortened to four by the scratch of Versye. For Magic Spot’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/magic+spot.   ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 26, 2014) – Maiden winner Awesome Return burst out of the pack turning for home and won Saturday’s $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds on the Gold Rush card at Santa Anita. Awesome Return is by Decarchy, out of the Mr. Broad Blade mare Awesome Broad, was bred by owner Richard Kritzki, is trained by Mike Puype and was ridden by Joe Talamo. He has two wins in six starts and earnings of $211,108. “I’ve done a lot of good with the Decarchys and all my Cal-breds have been good to me, so I can’t complain,” said Puype. “Richard Kritzki is a small breeder, one or two at a time, max. He’s small, so this is very exciting for him. These races give the little guy a chance.” Awesome Return ran the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.88 and won by a length at odds of 4-1, with Patriots Rule second and Alert Bay third in a field of eight. Puype said... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 26, 2014) – Rovenna outgamed Wonderful Lie in a stretch-long duel to win Saturday’s $250,000 Melair Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies on the Gold Rush card at Santa Anita and run her win streak to three. Rovenna is by Vronsky, out of the Northern Afleet mare Amadamprez, was bred by owner Donald Dizney, was trained by Michael Machowsky and ridden by Victor Espinoza. “I told Victor in the paddock, ‘Be a little aggressive and ride her like California Chrome,'” Machowsky said. “Now she’s got some seasoning, she’s getting better and better. We’re still eligible for open non-winners. With the Cal-bred program, it’s great. This is back in three weeks and I’ve always kind of spaced her races out a little bit more, but this type of money, how do you pass it up?” She has four wins in nine starts, earnings of $407,760 and was coming off a win in the Evening Jewel on Apr. 5. Rovenna ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.86... ...

By Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 26, 2014) – Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ homebred Top Kisser, returning froma nine-month layoff to race on dirt for the first time, ran down pacesetter Marks Mine to win Saturday’s $125,000 Spring Fever Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares on the Gold Rush card at Santa Anita Park.   Top Kisser is a 5-year-old mare by Old Topper, out of the Cherokee Run mare Cherokee Kiss, is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and was ridden by Corey Nakatani.   “We thought we had her ready,” said Hollendorfer. “She was in the clear and responded when asked to run. We got lucky and got out of the game good, too. The Tommy Town facilities (owned by Tom and Debi Stull) are real nice and we turn a lot of horses out there, so we turned her out there and gave her some time and she came back and responded.”   Nakatani was riding Top Kisser for the first time. It was Top Kisser’s... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 26, 2014)—Golden Eagle Farm’s homebred Storm Fighter dispatched heavily favored Rousing Sermon turning for home and went on to an impressive 3 ¼ length win in Saturday’s $125,000 Tiznow Stakes for older horses bred or sired in California. Ridden by Edwin Maldonado and trained by Bruce Headley, the 4-year-old colt by Stormin Fever covered a flat mile in 1:35.06. Breaking from post position three in a field of five, Storm Fighter broke sharply and assumed command into the Club House turn and controlled the race throughout, carving out fractions of 23.20, 46.45, 1:10.00 and 1:22.30. “There was no speed in the race, so we thought we would take advantage of that,” said Maldonado. “I thought one of Hollendorfer’s horses would go with me to pressure us, but we made the lead easy and it was all him.” Off as the second choice at 5-2, Storm Fighter paid $7.60, $3.40 and $2.60. Bred by the late Larry Mabee, son of Golden Eagle founders John... ...