By DRF.com BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — The death toll in the San Luis Rey Downs fire in Bonsall, Calif., on Thursday is likely to surpass 40 horses, according to California Horse Racing Board chairman Chuck Winner, who toured the devastated property on Friday morning. In a phone interview, Winner said the number of horses lost cannot be immediately known because so many runners were taken to different farms in the area, sent to Del Mar, or perished in barn fires at San Luis Rey Downs. “We don’t know how many yet,” Winner said. “The estimates are above 40 to 42, I think. Those are just estimates. The problem is the vans were taking those horses in the night and taking them to farms around Bonsall. Some of them haven’t been accounted for yet.” Some horses arrived at Del Mar and local farms without lip tattoos, making identifications difficult. Three farms in the direct vicinity of San Luis Rey Downs were housing approximately 150 horses on Thursday and into... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — What this reporter witnessed Thursday was the end destination of the mass fire evacuation of the horses and people from San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in north San Diego County. The horses were transported by an impromptu caravan of horse trailers, from commercial big rigs to backyard two-stalls, to the empty stables of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which opened its doors and mustered a remarkably efficient operation of volunteers and professional handlers. It was difficult to contemplate, even in the midst of an emergency. I know just about every inch of San Luis Rey, from the old days 40 years ago when Charlie Whittingham stabled a powerful second string there, through its fallow years as an underused stepchild of the L.A. tracks, to its more recent renaissance under the ownership of The Stronach Group as a vital part of the Southern California stabling capacity. Its setting was idyllic. The air pristine, feathered by afternoon ocean breezes making their... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — When the last van from San Luis Rey Downs arrived Thursday night at Del Mar, the horse Dream Police stepped off, the last of three runners whom owner Jeff Bloom had at San Luis Rey Downs, which was hit by a devastating fire Thursday. One by one they had trickled in – first A Red Tie Day, then Sassy Ashley, and finally Dream Police – and now all were safely relocated. “When he got here,” Bloom said Friday, “the whole place erupted.” There was cause for both joy and tears in the aftermath of the fire, which left this racing community shell-shocked but also brought out the very best. Bloom was one of scores of people at Del Mar on Friday morning helping to care for the horses, some of whom had burn marks, could not be immediately identified, or both. “It’s like puzzle pieces,” said Bloom, who lives in nearby Oceanside and runs the Bloom Racing partnership. “There were so... ...

By Bloodhorse.com BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — The California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation has set up the website cthfcares.org to accept donations to help people and horses affected by the Southern California fire that destroyed much of the San Luis Rey training center. Cliff Goodrich, executive director of the CTHF, which runs the Noble Threewitt Health Center on the Santa Anita Park backstretch, is coordinating funds to that website so that CTHF can help get money to those most in need. Many grooms who work at San Luis Rey lost everything in the fire, even as they risked their lives to save the horses. “When something like this happens, everybody pulls together and wants to help however they can,” said Goodrich, “whether it’s hospitalization costs, blankets, or temporary housing. Our part in this is that people can donate at the site. The home page has information on what to do to donate.” The donations to the CTHF website for the fire victims are tax-deductible. Many organizations are stepping in to... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — Del Mar’s backstretch area has provided safe haven for more than 800 horses escaping a wind-blown, fast-moving fire that ripped through the North County area of San Diego Thursday. The first group of horses arrived at the Del Mar Fairgrounds late Thursday afternoon and vans continued to flow in throughout the night. By Friday morning more than 800 head – both Thoroughbreds and other breeds — had been bedded down in the 40-plus barns located on the grounds that are capable of holding as many as 1,600 horses. Other animals, including goats and pigs, also were brought on board to the 350-acre Fairgrounds. Approximately 250 of the 450 horses that had been stabled at the San Luis Rey training center just over 30 miles to the northwest of Del Mar had been moved to the Fairgrounds after that facility was hit directly by the fire with as many as 30 horses deaths reported and several of their barns burned. There... ...

From CARMA ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — CARMA is working in partnership with the racing and equestrian communities to collect monetary donations to be given directly to Thoroughbred horses affected by the Southern California wild fires. Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends and families that have been so greatly impacted by this terrible natural disaster. The board and staff at CARMA are heartsick over the loss of the life and devastation at San Luis Rey Downs. We will do everything we can to ensure those in need receive the help and support they desperately need. To help the horses, donations can be made to CARMA online at www.carma4horses.org/make-a-donation. Checks can be made out to CARMA and mailed to 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia CA 91007. Please designate your donation by including “fire relief” in the memo line or notes. ...

By Bloodhorse.com BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — Trainer Martine Bellocq suffered second- and third-degree burns over 50% of her body while trying to rescue her horses during the Dec. 7 fire at San Luis Rey Training Center in Bonsall, Calif. Bellocq’s brother-in-law, Remi Bellocq, reported Dec. 8 that Martine was air-lifted to UC San Diego Medical Center where she is being treated for the burns. Doctors have put her in an induced coma as they treat her. “She’s in intensive care right now,” Remi Bellocq said Friday morning. He added that doctors examined Martine’s lungs and found no significant damage. Martine’s husband and Remi’s brother Pierre Bellocq Jr. also was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. “They had six horses at the training center and she was trying the best she could to save them,” Remi Bellocq said. “The fire hit so fast and where they were in one of the lower barns. Three of their horses died for sure and they’re not sure where the other three are. They ask... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) – Two farms have offered to accept horses displaced by the Lilac Fire in San Diego County. The farms are: EF1 Farms in Hemet area, which has an on-call veterinarian, a MASH unit, as well as handling lay-ups and training. The farm is offering help in shipping. Contact Eric Yohan, 310-383-0055; Nadine Anderson, 951-201-2278 or Sam, 310-755-5221. Dignitary Downs, in the Anza area, reports it can accept 300 horses. The farm has 200 fully fenced acres, a 40-stall training barn, a 5/8-mile track with some housing available for people. Contact Sergio Salazar, 951-858-9589. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) – California-breds Fiery Lady and Central Heat are entered in Sunday’s $50,000 Miss America Stakes for fillies and mares at Golden Gate. Fiery Lady is by Unusual Heat, out of the Ride the Rails mare Lady Railrider, was bred by owners Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Steve Specht. She has three wins in eight starts, earnings of $79,570 and is coming off a third in a Nov. 17 optional claimer. Central Heat is by Unusual Heat, out of the Smart Strike mare Miss Boomtown, was bred by Abrams, Huston Racing, Matties Racing and Auerbach, is owned by William Delia or Dana Rocheford and is trained by Delia. She has 18 wins in 42 starts, earnings of $454,477and is coming off a fifth in a Nov. 18 optional claimer. She was second in this race in 2014. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2017) – Fast and Foxy will attempt to defend her title in Saturday’s $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes for fillies and mares bred or sired in California at Golden Gate. Run for Retts is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Jump Start mare Mrs. Began, was bred by owners Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Steve Miyadi. She has three wins in 24 starts, earnings of $220,712 and is coming off a fifth in the Nov. 12 Betty Grable. Princess Ashlyn is by Cyclotron, out of the Perugino mare Palace Royale, was bred by Old English Rancho & Berumen, is owned by Troy Onorato and is trained by John Martin. She has six wins in 22 starts, earnings of $140,995 and is coming off a seventh in an Oct. 21 allowance. Spring Heat is by Coil, out of the Unusual Heat mare Heatology, was bred by M. Auerbach & Barry Abrams, is owned by GCCI and trained by Cliff DeLima. She has seven wins in... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2017) – Perennial leading sire Unusual Heat and longtime Los Alamitos Race Course executive Brad McKinzie have been elected into the California Hall of Fame and will be inducted posthumously at the annual meeting and awards banquet of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, to be held February 12, 2018, in the Chandelier Room at Santa Anita Park. Unusual Heat, a six-time leading stallion in California, passed away in May due to complications of arthritis-induced laminitis at the age of 27. McKinzie, a 30-year Los Alamitos executive and co-founder of Finish Line Self Insurance, died in August from renal carcinoma at the age of 62. Unusual Heat, a son of Nureyev claimed for $80,000, was pensioned last year after becoming the all-time leading California sire by progeny earnings (more than $55 million from 17 crops). He sired 15 California champions and three millionaires, including Eclipse Award winner Acclamation, and is the leading California sire in progeny turf earnings this year. He was owned by a syndicate that included Madeline Auerbach, trainer Barry... ...

FRESNO, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2017) – Multiple graded stakes winner Sircat Sally will be bred to all-time leading earner Arrogate, Sircat Sally’s owner and breeder Joe Turner said on Monday. Sircat Sally, a California-bred daughter of Surf Cat, won her first seven races, six of them stakes, before suffering a career-ending sesamoid fracture while finishing third in the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar in July. Turner said she has completely healed from surgery. Turner said he will bring Sircat Sally back from Kentucky with plans for her to be bred back in California and make the Arrogate foal a California-bred. “The people at Juddmonte (where Arrogate stands) saw Sircat Sally win the Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos by 12 lengths on dirt the same day California Chrome won by 12 lengths and they didn’t know why we kept running her on grass,” Turner said. “They are looking for mares that can run on dirt. She could run on anything.” Sircat Sally finished her career with $552,860, the first... ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif.(Dec. 3, 2017) – Three weeks after an easy win in her dirt debut, Majestic Heat became a graded stakes winner on the surface with another decisive victory in the $201,035 Bayakoa Sunday at Los Alamitos. After dispatching of fellow California-breds by 3 ¼ lengths going seven furlongs in the Betty Grable Nov. 12 at Del Mar, the 5-year-old Unusual Heat mare prevailed by 2 ½ lengths when stretched to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade II, which was run Sunday at Los Alamitos for the first time since 2014. Reserved off the quick early pace set by eventual runner-up Champagne Room, Majestic Heat began to rally wide nearing the stretch under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, easily collared the leader  and went on to her seventh victory in 16 starts. The 3-1 third choice in the field of eight, Majestic Heat, who is owned by Bardy Farm, Ron McCauley and Madeline Auerbach and trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, completed the distance... ...

By Bloodhorse.com HEMET, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2017) — The Stronach family has started following through on its commitment to build up the California-bred program by sending three stallions to the Golden State for the 2018 breeding season. The highest-profile horse of the group will be multiple grade 1 winner and Canadian champion Shaman Ghost, who Frank Stronach said will stand in California next year. “He will be very exciting for the California breeders,” Stronach said Dec. 2 in an exclusive interview with BloodHorse Daily. “I don’t know where he will stand yet. I will be out there next week to look at a few farms. We’ll make a decision in the next week or so.” Stronach said he’ll stand the son of his homebred 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper for $10,000. “We have Ghostzapper in Kentucky and I really want to do something out in California,” Stronach said of his decision to start out Shaman Ghost on the West Coast. “This is a horse that won the Santa Anita... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2017) – Favored One Fast Broad remained undefeated on dirt with a last-to-first victory in the $101,380 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies Saturday at Los Alamitos. Anchored well off the pace by jockey Corey Nakatani, the daughter of Decarchy and the Mr. Broad Blade mare Awesome Broad rallied wide into the stretch, gained the lead in deep stretch and prevailed by three-quarters of a length over 5-2 second choice Spiced Perfection. Bred by Richard Kritzski and AGR Racing and owned by trainer Mick Ruis’ Ruis Racing LLC, One Fast Broad completed the mile in 1:38.26. Her third win – all on the main track – in five starts increased her earnings to $229,000. The 11-10 favorite, One Fast Broad returned $4.20, $2.80 and $2.20. Spiced Perfection, who also finished second behind One Fast Broad in last month’s Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar, paid $3.40 and $2.60 while finishing four lengths in front of pacesetter and 8-1 shot Twisted Rosie.... ...

NORCO, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2017) – California stallion Street Life has been relocated to Bean Acres to stand the 2018 breeding season. The 8-year-old son of Street Sense, a multiple stakes winner, entered stud in 2013 and previously stood at Milky Way Farm. For further information, contact Bean Acres at 951-37-1566. ...

PIRU, Calif. (Nov. 28, 2017) — California stallion Roi Charmant has been relocated to Rancho Temescal in Ventura County. The 16-year-old son of Evansville Slew entered stud in 2010 after earning $337,678 on the track, winning races from ages 2 to 8. Among Roi Charmant’s progeny is Princess Roi, third in this year’s California Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2017) – Hall of Fame jockey Alex Solis announced his retirement on Sunday. Solis, 53, said his decision was based on a slow recovery from August hip replacement surgery and the desire to spend time with his family, including two grandchildren. Solis was elected to the Racing Hall of Fame in 2015. He retired with 5,035 races won and horses he rode earned more than $238 million, 10th on the all-time list. Solis, a native of Panama, won three Breeders’ Cup races and the 2004 Dubai World Cup aboard Pleasantly Perfect, but told TVG that not winning a Kentucky Derby was his greatest career disappointment. He rode California-bred Snow Chief to a win in the 1986 Preakness Stakes. He won the 2006 Santa Anita Derby aboard Cal-bred Brother Derek. Since 2015, Solis has served on the California Horse Racing Board, filling a seat vacated by actress Bo Derek. He said he would take some time before determining his next career move, but said he wants... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2017) — Masterfully-ridden by jockey Corey Nakatani, longshot California-bred How Unusual spurted between horses at the top of the stretch to enter contention and outfinished 2-1 favored Responsibleforlove in the final sixteenth to win the featured Grade III $100,000 Red Carpet Handicap on Thanksgiving holiday Thursday at Del Mar. How Unusual, sent to the gate at 9-1 for the mile and three-eighths grass marathon, was outrun in the early stages, but showed an impressive turn of foot when cut loose by Nakatani to score by a half-length in 2:14.92 for the distance. Responsibleforlove, with Joe Talamo in the saddle, was runner-up, a half-length in front of Laseen, with La Manta Gris fourth in the field of 12 older fillies and mares. Galileo’s Song and Lottie were withdrawn from the original field. How Unusual, bred by Madeline Auerbach and Barry Abrams, owned by the partnership of Fetkin, Sill and St. Hilaire and trained by Mike Pender, scored her fifth victory in 19 outings... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2017) – Camino Del Paraiso, a graduate of the Northern California Yearling Sale, is now graded-stakes placed after finishing third in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Berkeley Handicap, bringing his career earnings to $161,367. The son of Suances, out of the Successful Appeal mare Loni’s Appeal, was bred by Red Baron’s Barn, is owned by Glen Road Racing and Herb Moniz and sold for $5,000 at the 2014 Northern California Yearling Sale. ...

By Bloodhorse.com WARNER SPRINGS, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2017) — Multiple grade 1 winner and top-10 second-crop sire Stay Thirsty  has been sold and will relocate to Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Ranch near Warner Springs, Calif. “Stay Thirsty brings a ton of pedigree and is a big alternative to a lot of stallions out here,” said Lovingier, who bought the stallion outright from Ashford Stud, where the stallion retired to stud in 2013. “He is arguably the best stallion out here in terms of his race record. He provides one more opportunity for California breeders to get a good horse.” Lovingier had put out the word he was looking for a really good stallion because he needed a California breed-back option for some top-shelf mares, including California champions My Fiona and Lost Bus. My Fiona was bred this year to American Pharoah , while Lost Bus is in foal to Will Take Charge . “I reached out for different stallions, but Stay Thirsty is the one who became available and it made sense for both parties,”... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2017) — Edwards Going Left, the 2-1 betting choice, spoiled Solid Wager’s bid for a third consecutive victory in the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles on Sunday, holding on gamely in the final sixteenth to win the seven-furlong sprint by a half-length. Regular rider Tyler Baze was aboard Edwards Going Left for his sixth victory in nine lifetime races as the three-year-old gelding accomplished the distance in 1:22.98. Solid Wager turned in a game performance under Victor Espinoza, rallying from last place in the ten-horse field to narrowly miss a successful defense of his two-time title. Third was California Diamond, three and one-half lengths behind stablemate Solid Wager from the barn of trainer Peter Miller, with Smokey Image a nose away in fourth. Edwards Going Left is a son of Midnight Lute out of the Broken Vow mare Dypsy, was bred by Red Baron’s Barn & Vaya Con Suerte, is owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John... ...

By PaulickReport.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2017) — When the 5-year-old Tough Sunday held off a late challenge to win Thursday’s fourth race at Del Mar by a half-length, it was more than just another trip to the winner’s circle for owner/breeder Nick Alexander. The California-bred son of his own stallion Grazen, Tough Sunday was born with symptoms of what is known as dummy foal syndrome; the colt could not see or hear, and he had no nursing instinct. As originally reported by the Pasadena Star-News, Alexander rushed Tough Sunday and his dam Sunday Dress (General Meeting) to the veterinary hospital for treatment, but after a week had gone by the young colt had little improvement to show. Forced to make a costly decision about the colt’s future, Alexander walked past his stall one more time. He noticed that Tough Sunday was tracking movement with his eyes – the colt could see. Affectionately called “Bruiser” by his owner, Tough Sunday did regain his sight but not his hearing – the colt... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2017) — There will be a new voice of racing by the San Francisco Bay Dec. 26, as Golden Gate Fields announced the hiring of Matt Dinerman as track announcer Nov. 17. Dinerman, 25, has served as track announcer for the past three years at Emerald Downs. Employed just four summers ago as a press box steward at Del Mar, Dinerman began calling races into a tape recorder at age 20. “A home run for Golden Gate Fields and California racing,” is how Emerald Downs director of media relations Vince Bruun  described Dinerman’s ascent to the Golden Gate announcer’s booth. “Matt was in the stable area every morning talking to horsemen, getting to know the horses, and putting out good stuff on social media—in addition to being a great young talent.” A paddock and handicapping analyst at Golden Gate since late 2016, Dinerman’s first job in racing was as a summertime hot walker for trainer John Sadler in 2008. “I’m very excited to be working at Golden Gate... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2017) – Rockingham Ranch’s Stormy Liberal and California-bred Richard’s Boy, 1-2 finishers in the recent Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, could resume the rivalry in the Dec. 10 Group I Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin, according to a report in Bloodhorse.com. Stormy Liberal has been accepted for the race and Richard’s Boy, who lost to Stormy Liberal by a head in the Turf Sprint, is awaiting an invitation. Both are trained by Peter Miller. “(There’s) something about this horse that just likes to run,” said Rockingham Ranch racing manager Brian Trump. “So we have asked for an invite and the Hong Kong Jockey Club is waiting on the results of their trial race this weekend to see if Richard will get an invite.” Richard’s Boy is by Idiot Proof, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Marissa’s Joy and was bred by Harold and Pamela Tillema. He has nine wins in 27 starts, earnings of $848,440 and has won races at five different... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2017) — Tim Ritvo is prepared to roll the dice in Northern California. After the California Horse Racing Board meeting Nov. 16 at Del Mar, The Stronach Group’s chief operating officer said, even though it might result in a significant loss to Northern California’s Thoroughbred population, the current plan for the 2018 season is to shut down Golden Gate Fields as an auxiliary stabling facility for about two months of fair racing during the summer. It would be a shift from business as usual in the region, where Golden Gate has remained open as a training facility when the circuit moves to fair stops at Pleasanton, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, and Ferndale. “Yes. We will close, but will continue to negotiate if they want to negotiate with us,” Ritvo said of the move, which would close Golden Gate from mid-June to mid-August and save an estimated $1 million to $1.2 million. “But from hearing (California Authority of Racing Fairs interim executive director Larry Swartzlander), he says he’s... ...

From AHC WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 16, 2017) –As Congress continues to negotiate a final spending package for FY2018, the horse industry and its allies have an opportunity to assure that lawmakers include H-2B guest worker visa relief in the final bill.   Federal lawmakers must address this issue prior to the expiration of the FY2017 appropriations measure, which occurs on December 8.  This creates a three week window to contact your elected officials in Washington and tell them you need common-sense, guest worker visa flexibility. Please contact your federal lawmakers today and urge them to support any provision that will provide H-2B visa cap relief within the context of FY2018 appropriations bills.           ...

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 16, 2017) — The Barton family has two goals as they’ve been shopping for mares at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. They want mares with the potential to continue raising the profile of their freshman sire and grade 1 winner Champ Pegasus, and they want those mares carrying foals by higher-profile  Kentucky sires that can bolster the ranks of California-breds. Their search this year has been tougher than anticipated. “We came two days earlier this year to start buying,” said Kate Barton, the youngest of Richard and Beth Barton’s six children and the family’s racing manager, on day eight of the 12-day sale. “Yesterday, we only came away with two open mares. It was really hard yesterday. It is still pretty crowded here, and it’s competitive.”   Last year, the Bartons bought 46 mares for an average price of $4,600. The top price they paid was $18,000 for a Ghostzapper daughter named Tart’s Knickers, who was in foal to Airdrie Stud’s Cairo Prince. This... ...

From Tommy Town Thoroughbreds SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2017) – Ruis Racing has announced that Saburo and War Envoy will enter stud at Tom and Debi Stull’s Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez. They will be the first sons of leading sires Medaglia d’Oro and War Front, respectively, to stand in the Golden State. The Medaglia d’Oro son Saburo was purchased by Ruis at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Old in Training Sale for $600,000, the second highest-priced colt at the auction. He’s out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Kid Majic, who hails from the family of Eclipse champion Proud Spell. She’s also the dam of Miss Mischief, a multiple stakes winner of over $500,000. “I purchased Saburo because I loved the way he moved and because I love the family, which is still very active,” said Mick Ruis. “His dam has a Bernardini and some nice Tapits in the pipeline. A little further back is the two-year-old stakes winner Dak Attack, who is undefeated and should be on... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2017) — Unveiling a new dimension to her ability, Majestic Heat, whose 14 previous races had been run on grass, made the first start of her career on a dirt surface and romped to an impressive triumph in the featured $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares Sunday. Surging to the lead bending into the stretch under jockey Flavien Prat, Majestic Heat cruised to the wire three and one-quarter lengths on top, with Barbara Beatrice getting up for second, two and one-half lengths ahead of Late ‘n Left. How About Zero, the lukewarm 3-1 favorite, was fourth in the field of eight older fillies and mares. Majestic Heat, a five-year-old daughter of Unusual Heat owned by breeder Madeline Auerbach, McCauley and Bardy Farm and trained by Richard Mandella, had won five turf races and $353,329 prior to Sunday. Among her triumphs were victories in the Solana Beach Stakes during Del Mar’s 2016 and ’17 summer meetings. Time... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2017) – Dee Dee Birtie, a mare by California stallion Bluegrass Cat, sold for $285,000 at Friday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Dee Dee Birtie, a 5-year-old, is out of the multiple stakes-winning De Niro mare De Bertie, who produced stakes winner Uptown Birtie, Whirlie Birtie and Get Ready Birtie, the latter two having alreadyproduced stakes-placed prodigy. Dee Dee Birtie is in foal to More Than Ready, was consigned by Paramount Sales, agent for the complete dispersal of McCauley Farms, and was purchased by Three Chimneys Farm. ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2017) – California-bred Skye Diamonds, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last week, will make her next start in late January in the Santa Monica, a seven-furlong graded stakes race for older female sprinters at Santa Anita, trainer Bill Spawr said Thursday. Santa Anita has yet to release its stakes schedule for the winter meeting, but the Santa Monica usually is run in late January – it was run this year on Jan. 21 – and the timing suits Spawr, who likes to space Skye Diamonds’s races. “It’s seven furlongs, and the timing is good,” Spawr said. “And it’s back at her home base.” Skye Diamonds had a productive 2017 campaign, with five wins in seven starts, including the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos and Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar. She was beaten 3 1/2 lengths in the Filly and Mare Sprint, whose first three spots were taken by horses 18-1 and higher. “I thought... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2017) – California-bred stakes winner Singing Kitty sold for $750,000 at Wednesday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Singing Kitty is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Natural Singer R N, was bred by Tommy Town Throughbreds, was consigned by James Keough, agent, and purchased by Spendthrift Farm. She is in foal to Medaglia d’Oro. Singing Kitty had five wins, including the China Doll and Unzip Me stakes, and earnings of $398,478. ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2017) – One Fast Broad will not race until early 2018 after winning the first stakes of her career in the $200,345 Golden State Juvenile Fillies last Friday at Del Mar. Owner and trainer Mick Ruis said One Fast Broad will be pointed to the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. Bolt d’Oro, the beaten favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Saturday, will have the same schedule as One Fast Broad. “We’ll give her 60 days, like Bolt d’Oro,” Ruis said. “We’ll let her grow up and get ready for her 3-year-old campaign. She deserves a little break.” One Fast Broad closed from last in a field of nine to win the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile Fillies for statebreds by a length over Spiced Perfection. One Fast Broad has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $172,000. By Decarchy, One Fast Broad was second in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 4 and fourth in the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. – Bookies Luck will be pointed to a third consecutive stakes win against California-breds in the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes on Dec. 16 at Los Alamitos, trainer Jeff Bonde said Sunday. Bookies Luck is in the midst of an excellent year, having won the I’m Smokin Stakes on Sept. 1 at Del Mar and the Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar last Saturday. In the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile, Bookies Luck led throughout and held off a late run from an unlucky Smokem to win by a nose as the 8-5 favorite. Smokem raced in traffic on the turn and closed well to just miss. The Golden State Juvenile was the longest race of Bookies Luck’s career. The King Glorious Stakes is run at a mile and could be a test, although Bonde said conditions at Los Alamitos could be in the colt’s favor. “That’s a quick track, too,” Bonde said. “That might help a little bit.” Owned by breeders Larry and Marianne Williams, Bookies... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2017)  – Trainer Peter Miller posted his first Breeders’ Cup victory and did so in memorable fashion Saturday at Del Mar, sending out both the winner, Stormy Liberal, and runner-up, California-bred Richard’s Boy, in the $1 million Turf Sprint. Stormy Liberal, who had won all four of his previous starts this year on the West Coast, had not raced since finishing a tiring eighth behind the record-setting performance of Disco Partner in the Grade 3 Jaipur at Belmont Park on June 10. On Saturday, Stormy Liberal benefitted from a perfect ride by Joel Rosario, who let him settle along the inside within easy striking distance of the leaders during the early stages of the five-furlong Turf Sprint. Stormy Liberal tipped out for clearance once settling into the stretch and ultimately wore down stablemate Richard’s Boy, by a head, in the final strides. Richard’s Boy forced the pace from the outset, gained command between calls nearing midstretch, and just failed to last. Disco Partner,... ...

By PaulickReport.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2017) — Multiple graded stakes winner Masochistic has returned to training after getting a well-deserved summer break. The Daily Racing Form reports that the 7-year-old gelding was transferred from trainer Ron Ellis to Bob Baffert. The Hall of Fame trainer told the DRF that Masochistic was currently at Los Alamitos, and would be sent to Santa Anita in the near future. Masochistic has not raced since finishing off the board in the G2 Churchill Downs Stakes May 6. Afterwards, he was given a break and sent to Taylor Made Farm. Masochistic finished second in the 2016 G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but was later disqualified after his bloodwork showed the presence of a banned steroid. Masochistic has won eight of 16 starts and has earnings of $857,550. ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2017) — Under a typically vigorous ride by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, Bookies Luck held on tenaciously in the final strides to nose out the hard-charging Smokem in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes Saturday, the second of 12 races on the second day of the Breeders’ Cup Championships at Del Mar. Bookies Luck, the narrow 8-5 favorite over Smokem, who also went to the post at 8-5, scored his third win in six starts in a game performance for breeders and owners Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams and trainer Jeff Bonde. “The outside post helped us a lot,” said Bonde. “This is a really deep track and you’ve got to have something left at the end.  I think Kent (Desormeaux) did a really good job of rationing his speed and it was really close at the end.” Smokem, who was piloted by Evin Roman, finished four and one-half lengths in front of third-place Lucky Romano, with Campaigner fourth in... ...

From DMTC DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2017) — One Fast Broad, patiently ridden by veteran Corey Nakatani after a slow start, rallied from last place to win the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar Friday, the first of two days of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. One Fast Broad, a daughter of Decarchy bred by owned by Ruis Racing and trained by Mick Ruis, overhauled 2-1 favored Spiced Perfection in the final sixteenth to score by a length in 1:24.78 for the seven furlongs. “Corey (Nakatani) never panicked,” said Ruis. “He waited with her and rode a great race. We knew she could run on dirt. She’s got a brother that won half a million on turf, so we started her there. I’m going to give her about 60 days off now and bring her back as a really good 3-year-old, and I do believe she’ll run on.” Show It N Moe It was third, a length behind the runner-up and almost four lengths in front... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2017) — Under a masterfully-timed ride by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, California-bred He Will, a lukewarm 5-2 favorite, rallied from next-to-last turning for home to charge to the lead in the final strides and win the featured $93,580 Lure Stakes Thursday at Del Mar. In a blanket finish with five horses separated by only a length at the wire, He Will prevailed by a neck over Tequila Joe, who nosed out A Red Tie Day for second. Forever Juanito was only a half-length farther back in fourth place, a nose in front of Eckersley in the field of nine older horses. Withdrawn from the race was Dimension. “I didn’t get away from there as quick as I wanted,” Said Smith. “He was moving when they sent them and I was just a little behind. I didn’t want to put him up in the race, so I just took a hold and saved some ground on that first turn.  I said ‘Let... ...

From Ballena Vista Farm RAMONA, Calif (Oct. 31, 2017)- Warren Williamson’s homebred and multiple stakes winner Texas Ryano has been retired and will stand at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif., as the property of a partnership for a $3,500 fee. Texas Ryano is a 6-year-old son of leading sire Curlin that earned $455,045; he took the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (Gr. 2) by three and three quarters lengths as well as the King Pellinore Stakes and overall captured five races and hitting the board eleven of  his twenty-two starts. Texas Ryano broke his maiden in his debut in impressive form at three years of age in January of that season, and as a result was named a TDN rising star.  Texas Ryano is out of the graded stakes winner Blending Element ($448,483); who is a multiple stakes producer of five blacktype winners and two additional blacktype placers from nine foals to race, all winners. Blending Element’s nine foals to race have earnings in excess of $2.1 million. As the... ...

From Milky Way Farm TEMECULA, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2017) — Heaven’s Glory, a son of leading sire Tapit, will stand the 2018 breeding season at Linda Madsen’s Milky Way Farm in Temecula for a $2,500 fee. Bred in Japan, Heaven’s Glory is out of the Danehill mare Peeping Fawn, a European champion. Peeping Fawn won the Darley Irish Oaks (G1), Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1), Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (G1), and Blue Square Nassau Stakes (G1). A training injury precluded Heaven’s Glory from racing. Peeping Fawn’s foals include 2017 English stakes winner September. The family goes back to Blush With Pride, Heaven’s Glory’s third dam and winner of the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Blush With Pride is a half sister to Irish champion Malinowski, and she produced grade 2 stakes winner Better Than Honour, the dam of two Belmont Stakes (G1) winners: champion 3-year-old filly Rags to Riches and Jazil ...

SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2017) — Millionaire and multiple G1 winner, Richard’s Kid (Lemon Drop Kid–Tough Broad, by Broad Brush) has relocated to Rancho San Miguel where he will stand for $2,500 in 2018. Richard’s Kid won multiple G1 races, including the prestigious Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar in back to back years (2009 and 2010) while earning $2,482,259. Retiring sound after 47 starts and twelve wins he had his first winner when Mama’s Kid won a juvenile maiden special at Del Mar this past July. That filly now has won two races and earned $75,850. Rancho San Miguel farm manager Clay Murdock believes that by injecting Richard’s Kid traits of soundness and longevity he is a stallion that would improve the California-breds. For more information, contact Clay Murdock at Rancho San Miguel 805-467-3847 email: info@ranchosanmiguel.net or Tom Hudson at 805-886-2804 email: Tom-hudson@hotmail.com ...

By BloodHorse.com NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2017) — Beverly Lewis, who with her husband, Bob, campaigned four classic winners from 1995-2000, died Oct. 20 at the age of 90 after a lengthy illness. After her husband Bob Lewis died in February 2006, Beverly Lewis, along with their son Jeff Lewis, retained a continuing ownership interest in Thoroughbred racing and breeding. In recent years Beverly Lewis served on the board of the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation, which works to assist backstretch employees and their families. After the Lewises won their first Kentucky Derby (G1) in 1997 with Silver Charm, winning trainer Bob Baffert noted, “No one deserves it more than they do. It couldn’t happen to two more beautiful people.” Bob Lewis noted that his wife readily adopted his passion for racing. The couple spent their honeymoon at Caliente and Del Mar. They purchased their first horses in 1990. As they reached racing’s heights, their love of the sport radiated at the nation’s biggest races and for all to see... ...

By DRF.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2017) — A pair of California girls did battle in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland, with Miss Sunset scoring a half-length victory over a game Chalon. Miss Sunset ($8.80) had been trouncing her fellow California-breds as of late, coming in off a 5 1/2-length victory in the Fleet Treat Stakes and a 1 3/4-length score in the C.E.R.F. Stakes, both at Del Mar. Owners Alan Klein and Phil Lebhen opted to scratch her out of last week’s California Distaff and ship her in for this spot. “My owners [still] own the mare, so they thought it was in their interests to try to get this horse graded placed,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. Chalon, stakes-placed in California for trainer Peter Miler and Rockingham Ranch, was making her second start at this Keeneland meet, wheeling back after finishing a creditable second to Finley’sluckycharm in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on Oct. 7. On Saturday, Chalon and Paco Lopez led... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2017)–Beaten a combined 39 ½ lengths in his last two starts in Oklahoma and West Virginia, Reddam Racing’s homebred B Squared tried a new game Saturday at Santa Anita as he rolled from off the pace to take the $100,000 California Flag Handicap for Golden State Series eligibles under Mario Gutierrez. Trained by Doug O’Neill, the 3-year-old California-bred colt by Square Eddie got 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:11.38. Although he was shortening up out of six consecutive routes, most recently the Grade III Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 24 and the Grade III West Virginia Derby Aug. 5, B Squared was attentive to the early pace while under restraint, was a menacing third a quarter mile from home as he wheeled three-wide at the dirt crossing and won in convincing fashion over a well-meant Richard’s Boy. “I don’t think we could imagine a better race than that,” said Gutierrez. “He broke nice and sharp and after that, I... ...

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Oct. 19, 2017) — Danzing Candy will be standing at Tom and Nancy Clark’s Rancho San Miguel for the 2018 season at a fee of $5,000 LFSN, as property of a syndicate. The deal was brokered between Brett Lindenbaum and Checkmate Thoroughbreds.  Multiple Grade II winner of three graded races Danzing Candy, a son of Twirling Candy, earned $700,930 with his six wins from eleven starts and is the leading earner of his sire. The four-year-old horse is out of Talkin and Singing (Songandaprayer); this is the female family of $4 million earner Better Talk Now and millionaire Medaglia Beat. Bred by Halo Farms, the colt raced for the partnership of Jim and Dianne Bashor and Halo Farms.  Clay Murdock farm manager, “Danzing Candy was a highly successful sophomore runner on the Derby Trail and followed that season with  multiple grade two wins as a four-year-old. His four-year-old campaign saw him go wire-to-wire in the Grade 2 Lone Star Park Handicap as well... ...

From Harris Farms COALINGA, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2017) — Mr. Big, sire of Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes winner Big Score, will move to John Harris’ Farm for the 2018 breeding season.  Owned and campaigned by George Krikorian, the son of Dynaformer is out of the stakes winning G2 placed Fappiano mare, Fashion Delight. Mr. Big’s first two dams are both stakes winners and stakes producers. From only 16 foals of racing age, Mr. Big has sired eight winners with combined earnings of $1,228,097 for average earnings per starter of $122,810.  Five of his runners are six digit earners. He is represented by G3 Transylvania Stakes and Zuma Beach S. winner Big Score ($436,300) and Torrey Pines S. G3 runner-up, Big Book. John Harris said “I am delighted to stand this very nice stallion at Harris Farms.  He has sired several top horses already, and his best crops will run in the next few years. I have always liked to see Turn To on a stallion page, as well as Roberto... ...

By Bloodhorse.com POMONA, Calif. (Oct. 17, 2017) — Stormy Hull once hoped he would one day sell a horse for $50,000. At the Oct. 17 Barretts October fall mixed sale in Pomona, Calif., Hull topped the sale with a $220,000 yearling filly he hauled to Southern California from Washington state himself. “It’s beyond my dreams—it’s surreal,” Hull said. The filly, named Smiling Diamonds, has plenty of pedigree. Consigned as Hip 94 from Hull and Ginger Samples’ Critter Creek Farm, she is out of Hull’s stakes-placed Slewdledo mare Carrie’s a Jewel, who is already the dam of California Diamond, champion California-bred 2-year-old male of 2016. The sale topper is by Smiling Tiger, California’s leading first-crop sire. Steve Gasparrelli, who already has promising Smiling Tiger runners in his arsenal, bought the sale topper. Advised by his trainer, Mike Puype, Gasparrelli bought the filly in the name of his Slugo Racing. Gasparrelli bought last year’s sale topper, a $190,000 son of Smiling Tiger—Erica’s Smile, by Williamstown. “I like Smiling Tiger a lot, and... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 17, 2017) — Nominations for Breeders’ Cup Undercard Stakes Close Oct. 19th. Don’t miss out! Nominate today!!     Eight open stakes races and two Cal-bred restricted stakes close Thursday!   Contact the Del Mar racing office: (858) 792-4230        CLOSES / RUNS RACE / CONDITIONS PURSE / DISTANCE Thu. Oct. 19th Wed. Nov. 1st Let It Ride Stakes  Three-year-olds, N/W S/S of $60,000 at 1 M o/o since April 1 $75,000 Added One Mile (Turf) Thu. Oct. 19th Thu. Nov. 2nd Lure Stakes  Three-year-olds & up, N/W S/S of $60,000 at 1 M o/o since July 1 $75,000 Added One Mile (Turf) Thu. Oct. 19th Fri. Nov. 3rd SENATOR KEN MADDY STAKES (GR III) Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up $150,000 Guaranteed 5 Furlongs (Turf) Thu. Oct. 19th Fri. Nov. 3rd THE MARATHON STAKES (GR II) Three-year-olds & up $200,000 Guaranteed 1 3/4 Miles Thu. Oct. 19th Fri. Nov. 3rd DAMASCUS STAKES Three-year-olds & up $200,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs Thu. Oct. 19th Fri. Nov. 3rd GOLDEN... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2017)–In a race reduced to six runners with three program scratches, late running Barbara Beatrice uncorked a big turn of foot to register her first-ever stakes win in taking Saturday’s $100,000 California Distaff Handicap by three quarters of a length under Tiago Pereira. Trained, bred and owned in-part by Phil D’Amato, the 5-year-old California-bred daughter of Grazen got 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.56. With morning line favorite Miss Sunset opting to run on dirt next weekend at Keeneland, it appeared on paper that today’s Distaff would be devoid of early speed, however longshot Late ‘n Left sped to the early lead and held sway until collared in final 50 yards by Barbara Beatrice. “I took ahold of her out of the gate and she rated very kind with me today,” said Pereira, who also registered his second win of the afternoon. “At the half mile pole, Kent Desormeaux (aboard 3-2 favorite Moonless Sky) started to move,... ...

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2017) — Taylor Made Sales Agency will consign multiple graded stakes winner Skye Diamonds at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton sale Nov. 6 in Lexington, Ky., on behalf of owners Bloom Racing, Allen Racing, Tom Acker, and Jon Lindo. Under the care of trainer Bill Spawr, Skye Diamonds has developed into one of the top female sprinters on the West Coast. She is a winner of five of six starts this year including the Great Lady M Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos, the Rancho Bernardo (G3) at Del Mar, and the Dream of Summer Stakes at Santa Anita Park.  Her defeat of Eclipse champion Finest City and grade 1 winner Constellation in the Great Lady M came in a swift 1:14.79 for 6 1/2 furlongs, just .31 off the track record. Now with earnings of $489,150, she will make her next in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar. “We have had a tremendous run with Skye Diamonds since acquiring her in August of last year,” said Jeff Bloom, a 35-year industry veteran... ...

FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2017) – Go Bobby Go, a graduate of the Northern California Yearling Sale, won a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds in his racing debut at the Fresno Fair on Sunday. Go Bobby Go is by Stormin Fever, out of the Siberian Summer mare Shalmarie, was bred by Shirley Ann Ragle, is owned by Robert Jones and trained by Faith Taylor. Go Bobby Go sold for $6,000 at last year’s Northern California Yearling Sale. He ran the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.40 and won by one-half length at odds of 2-1. ...

By DRF.com FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 7, 2017) — Tribal Storm ($29.40) was content to sit far off the pace before unleashing a strong stretch run to win the $100,675 Harris Farms Stakes for Golden State Series eligible on Saturday at the Big Fresno Fair. The 3-year-old Papa Clem ridgling, bred and owned by longtime California breeders Curt and Lila Lanning, had only favored Solid Wager beaten down the backstretch of the six-furlong stakes for Cal-breds. Prime Issue set a legitimate pace with fractions of 22.86 and 45.33, while Irving Orozco didn’t push Tribal Storm, who was coming off an Aug. 27 sprint victory against older. Tribal Storm was still seventh in the field of nine at the quarter pole, but he was beginning to make his move. Jimmy Bouncer, defending winner of the Harris Farms, stuck his head in front of Prime Issue at the eighth pole, but Tribal Storm seemed to have momentum on his side. He dug in and continued to make up ground, beating Jimmy Bouncer by... ...

By PaulickReport.com Frank Stronach said the decision to put his family’s Adena Springs farm in Paris, Ky., on the market is based on a desire to improve racing in the states where he owns major racetracks. Though he mentioned California, Florida and Maryland, his primary focus seems to be in California, where he owns Santa Anita Park in Arcadia and Golden Gate Fields in Albany. His announcement will not affect the 2018 breeding season at Adena Springs, he said. “I want to sit down with the racing community – the owners, breeders and racing commission – to see what we can do to improve racing in California,” Stronach told the Paulick Report. “We have small fields because we haven’t got enough horses. We’ve got to see if we can do something about that. What can we do to have more California-breds and make the quality better? We need better stallions and a program to increase the number of California-breds. “I want to bounce some ideas off the racing commission, the breeders... ...

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2017) – A Swift Air flight carrying nearly 20 tons of hay cubes and veterinary supplies departed from Miami at 4:30 a.m. today and landed in San Juan, Puerto Rico at approximately 7 a.m.  The plane, funded by The Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Charities of America’s Horses First Fund, is the result of a week-long effort undertaken by numerous equine groups to get aid to the more than 800 Thoroughbreds at the Camarero Race Track and to begin assisting other horses on the island. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation, Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), The Jockey Club, Brookledge’s Horse America, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, and the Texas Equine Veterinary Association (TEVA) worked closely with Ranch Aid, a FEMA appointed organization that assists with logistics and care for large animals during natural disasters. The Humane Society of the United States also assisted by facilitating the federal approval of the shipment.  “There were many, many challenges but we are thrilled to see feed and vet supplies finally... ...

From Tommy Town Thoroughbreds SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2017) — Tommy Town Thoroughbreds is excited to introduce Stanford for the 2018 breeding season.   Multiple stakes winner of the $1.25 million G2 Charles Town Classic and debut winner sprinting at two, he earned over $1.3 million, is the second leading earner of Malibu Moon. He set a new track record for 8.5 furlongs and is out of the family of sires Tale of the Cat, Pulpit and Johannesburg. Stanford will be the only stallion sired by Malibu Moon standing in California.   He will stand at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds for $5,000 stud fee, stands and nurses.   ...

By BloodHorse Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 25, 2017) — The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced Sept. 25 that they will formally adopt modernized regulations regarding the withholding and reporting of pari-mutuel proceeds. The new rules were posted Monday afternoon as a Public Inspection Document. They are scheduled to be officially published in Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register and will go into full effect no later than Nov. 14, giving racing associations, totalisator companies, and advance deposit wagering operators up to 45 days to implement these important changes; however, some may elect to start as soon as Thursday. “These landmark U.S. Treasury regulations will have an enormously positive impact on horseplayers, the racing industry, and the federal government,” said NTRA president and CEO Alex Waldrop. “I am extremely proud of the NTRA’s legislative team for spearheading this effort, which will prove to be among the most meaningful regulatory advances made by our industry in decades. The results of this much-needed measure will be horseplayers keeping more... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 23, 2017) – California stallions Uh Oh Bango and Gig Harbor were represented by their first winners on Saturday. Uh Oh Baby, a colt by Uh Oh Bango, won Saturday’s first race at Los Alamitos, a maiden special weight for California-bred 2-year-olds. He is out of the Five Star Day mare Eight Daughters, was bred by NP Thoroughbreds, is owned by PH Thoroughbred Racing and is trained by Craig Dollase. The colt ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.18 and won by 1 ¾ lengths as the 3-2 favorite. Uh Oh Bango currently ranks fifth on the California First-Crop Sire list. Perfect for Me, a filly by Gig Harbor, won Saturday’s seventh race at Oak Tree at Pleasanton, a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies. She is out of the Royal Academy mare Noe Valley, was bred by Christy Wiebe & Dennis Patterson, is owned by Patterson and trained by Steven Specht. She ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:06.35 and won by one length at odds... ...

From The Jockey Club LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2017) — Helen “Penny” Chenery, owner of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who became a well-loved figure in her own right as a champion of Thoroughbreds and women in business and sports, died on Saturday, Sept.16, in her Colorado home following complications from a stroke. She was 95. Penny’s children announced her death through Leonard Lusky, her longtime friend and business partner. Following Secretariat’s retirement from racing, Penny became an ambassador for Thoroughbred racing and remained so even after the champion’s death in 1989. She served as the first female president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. She became one of the first women admitted to The Jockey Club, helped found the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) and created the Secretariat Vox Populi Award annually honoring racing’s most popular horse, as well as the Secretariat Foundation, which assists and supports various charities within the racing community. Penny received the 2006 Eclipse Award of... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Sept. 17, 2017) – California broodmare Coastal Skimming had plenty to root for on Friday, when three of her Cal-bred offspring raced in the state, two of them winning. Seaside Song won the fourth race at Golden Gate, a maiden claimer. The 2-year-old filly by California stallion Thorn Song, an Idaho-bred, was bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams and trained by Jack Steiner. She ran a mile in 1:41.90 and won by five lengths as the 2-1 favorite. Swiss Skimmer won the third race at Los Alamitos, a claiming contest. The 5-year-old mare was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams, is owned by Firsthome Thoroughbreds and Mark and Madison Rose and was trained by Adam Kitchingman. She ran the mile in 1:37.71 and won by four lengths at odds of 5-2. Bennett Mtn. Gal finished eighth in the sixth race at Golden Gate, a maiden special weight race. The 3-year-old filly is by McCann’s Mojave, was bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry... ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 16, 2017) — Favored California-bred Ismelucky won Saturday’s $100,000 Barretts Debutante at Los Alamitos.  Overcoming trouble at the start and traffic trouble along the way, Ismelucky, a 2-year-old Lucky Pulpit filly out of the Tribal Rule mare Ismene, rallied along the rail to overtake 14-1 shot Shaken Memories near the wire. Bred by Stephen Ferraro and owned by trainer Jeff Bonde and Jerome Russell, Ismelucky completed the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.84. The win was her second in three starts and increased her earnings to $108,420. The Debutante was the first race for Ismelucky since she defeated maidens by 2 ½ lengths May 18 at Santa Anita. “We backed off on her after she won because I thought she was a nice filly and she had some tightness in her hind end,’’ said Bonde. “We cranked her up again to get her ready for this race.’’ Bonde was pleased with how Ismelucky had trained leading into Saturday, but was apprehensive when she drew... ...

LAUREL, Md. (Sept. 16, 2017) – Unbeaten Wise Gal, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Einstein, won Saturday’s $100,000 Selima Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Laurel Park. Wise Gal, out of the Not For Love mare Spirited Game, ran the six furlongs in 1:09.43 and won by 4 ¼ lengths at odds of 2-1 in a field of eight. Wise Gal has won both career starts with earnings of $82,800. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Sept. 17, 2017) – California stallion Ball Bearing was represented by his first winner on Sunday when Let’s Play Ball won the fourth race at Golden Gate. Let’s Play Ball is out of the In Excess mare Puritan Baker, was bred by David Farr and Billie Farr, is owned by Billie Farr and trained by Michael Lenzini. The 2-year-old colt ran the five furlongs in 1:05.73 and won 1 ¼ lengths at odds of 2-1 in the field of five. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2017) – Meeny Miney Mo, a California-bred colt by Uncle Mo, sold for $390,000 at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Meeny Miney Mo is out of the Distorted Humor mare Abou, was bred by Gene Tenbrink, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent, and purchased by Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Moss. ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 9, 2017) – Soi Phet successfully defended his title in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds at Los Alamitos. Soi Phet, bred by ARCHA Racing, won his fourth stakes at Los Alamitos for the Benowitz Family Trust, Mathilde Powell and Paul Viskovich. Trained by Leonard Powell, the 9-year-old Tizbud gelding is out of the Siberian Summer mare Summer Jersey. He has won 13 of 55 and banked $876,170, capturing a pair of local stakes – the Bertrando and Los Alamitos Mile – in 2014 prior to his half-length score in last year’s Johnston. “This horse means nearly everything to me,” said Powell. “It’s going to be sad when he’s not with me anymore. He loves the long stretch here. He’s a bit of a grinder and he keeps on coming and the stretch here helps him.’’ Soi Phet ran the mile in 1:35.71 and won by one-half length over He Will with El Huerfano third. Even-money favorite Gold Rush Dancer, coming off a win in the... ...

From Ranch Hills Farm SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Sept. 6, 2017) — Big Surf offspring finished the 2017 summer race season winning five races since May at distances from 5 furlongs on the dirt, to 1 mile 70 yards on dirt and all-weather tracks. Over the Labor day weekend, Baku Dance won at the mile by 1 3/4 lengths.  Other Big Surf summer mile winners also include:  Strox, a three time winner at 1 1/16 mile on the dirt, 1 mile 70 yards on the dirt, and a 4 length winner at a mile on an all-weather track; and, Mansoor, a winner at 1 mile 70 yards on a good dirt track.  On August 30, 2017, Aypara (AZE) sprinted to a 2 length win at 5 furlongs in the dirt.  Big Surf is a Cal Bred stallion standing in Southern California. ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2017) — Miss Sunset will be sorry to see Del Mar end. Her love affair with the track continued on Monday’s closing day when she ran her record her to 4 for 4 when beating her elders for the first time in the $99,485 CERF Stakes for older female sprinters. Miss Sunset ($8.40) had won the Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies earlier in the meet on July 30, and last year she won a pair of races here, including the Generous Portion. In the CERF, she stepped out of both her comfort zones, moving into open company and against older competition. The result was the same, but with a slight tweak. Miss Sunset led from start to finish in the Fleet Treat, but this time she sat behind early pacesetter Rockport Babe, surged to the lead entering the lane, then held safe fellow Cal-bred Bad Ju Ju to win by a 1 3/4 lengths. Classy Tune, the even-money favorite off a... ...

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 2, 2017) – Bonita, a Florida-bred daughter of California stallion Bluegrass Cat, rallied from last to win Saturday’s $75,000 Wasted Tears Stakes for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park. The 4-year-old Bonita ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.24 and won by 1 ½ lengths at odds of 9-2 in the field of seven. ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2017) — Bookies Luck, overlooked in the betting at 14-1 after finishing eighth in the Graduation Stakes, took command turning for home and cruised to a handy triumph Friday in the featured $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-olds at Del Mar. With Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, Bookies Luck powered past pace-setting Sir Valentine nearing the stretch and was an easy three and one-quarter length winner in 1:10.62 for the six furlongs. Smokem, 5-2 second choice under apprentice Evin Roman, closed gamely to be second, three and one-quarter lengths ahead of Drizzy. Continental Divide, the 2-1 favorite after his triumph in the Graduation Stakes, was another length back in fourth in the field of seven juveniles. Cono and Get Em Up Scout were withdrawn. Bookies Luck, a son of Lucky Pulpit owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams and trained by Jeff Bonde, returned $30.20, $13 and $5.60 after his notching... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 30, 2017) — Dare to Dream Stable’s Spiced Perfection, unraced since breaking her maiden on opening day, July 19, of Del Mar’s summer season, wore down odds-on favorite Show It N Moe It in the upper stretch and then held off the challenge of Family Girl to score an upset victory in Wednesday’s $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-old fillies. Spiced Perfection, a daughter of Smiling Tiger out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Perfect Feat, was bred by Premier Thoroughbreds and trained by Brian Koriner. She went to the gate at 7-1 and paid $17.20, $5.80 and $3 while earning first money of $57,000. Family Girl returned $4.80 and $2.20, and Show It N Moe It paid $2.10 to show. “We skipped the first stake (CTBA) that most of these horses ran in,” said Koriner. “It seems like the fresher these horses are the better they run. She’s been doing really well since we brought her down here. Every... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2017) –Three yearlings—all California-breds—sold for six figures each at the Barretts select yearling sale Aug. 29 at Del Mar. A daughter of Bodemeister  brought a record $300,000, while an Unusual Heat filly sold for $200,000. The third six-figure horse was the sale’s top-priced colt, a son of Mucho Macho Man  for $120,000. A total of 53 horses grossed $2,177,000 for an average of $41,075 and a median of $32,000. The average rose 10% over the 2016 average of $37,174. The buy-back rate was 34%, with 27 of the 80 horses through the ring not sold. “I was very pleased all the way through, from when we started our selections through showing,” said Kim Lloyd, general manager of Barretts. “It was busy and we had traffic every day. We had people show up from many different places.” The $300,000 filly was the highest-priced yearling Barretts has ever sold.  “We’re trying to establish a market for high-end Cal-breds,” Lloyd said. “It gives the breeders confidence... ...

From DMTC.com DEL MAR, Calif (Aug. 26, 2017)-Bolstered by a series of additions around the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, the seaside track will offer a record fall stakes schedule worth $3,375,000 when racing begins on Wednesday, November 1. Included will be four stakes for Golden State Series-eligibles — the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes on Breeders’ Cup Friday’s Nov. 3 card, the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes on Breeders’ Cup Saturday’s Nov. 4 card, the $100,000 Betty Grable  on Sunday, Nov. 12 and the $100,000 Cary Grant on Sunday, Nov. 19. Twenty-two stakes in total will be presented during the 16-day session with seven of them “undercard” races for the two Breeders’ Cup days, Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4. Twelve of the 22 main events are graded races with a pair of those Grade I, four presented at Grade II and six at Grade III. The Grade I stakes – the $300,000 Hollywood Derby and the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes — will lead... ...

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (Aug. 26, 2017) – Multiple stakes winning California-bred Patriots Rule went from last to first to win Saturday’s $50,000 Brooks Fields Stakes at Canterbury Park. 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 eight wins in 31 starts, earnings of $496,773 and was coming off a second in a July 27 optional claimer. Patriots Rule ran the mile in 1:36.17 and won by one-half length at odds of 5-1 in the field of six. The race was run on a muddy dirt track after originally scheduled to be run on the turf. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2017) – California stallion Twice the Appeal was represented by his first winner on Thursday when Twisted Rosie won the sixth race at Del Mar, a $50,000 maiden claimer for fillies and mares. Twisted Rosie is out of the Distinctive Cat mare Hurricane Rose, was bred by Edward Brown, is owned by Edward Brown Jr. and is trained by Jeff Bonde. Twisted Rosie ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.48 and won by 1 ¾ lengths at odds of 5-2. ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2017) –It has been a week for memorable gatherings, beginning Monday morning with the total solar eclipse that captivated awestruck observers in a wide swath of the continental United States Thoroughbred racing has its own way of commemorating such an event. Within the last few days, somebody snapped up the name Path of Totality on the Jockey Club registry, reserving it for some unsuspecting foal of the future. Moon Shadow is already in use, although Umbra – Latin for “shadow” – remains available as of this writing, along with Baily’s Beads, the effect caused by light from the eclipsed sun peeking past the irregular edges of the moon’s surface. That morning on Steve Byk’s radio show, after chewing over the results of last Saturday’s Pacific Classic with Bob Baffert, the conversation landed on the recent death of Baffert’s friend Brad McKinzie, whose memorial service was schedule for noon that day. “He was like the fourth Baffert brother,” Baffert said. “And Mom always... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2017) — California-bred Skye Diamonds, the dominant female sprinter in California this year, will not race again until Nov. 4 at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, a race in which she figures to be a leading candidate. Skye Diamonds won the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos in July and the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap on Aug. 13 at Del Mar. Trainer Bill Spawr said earlier this week that he would prefer to give Skye Diamonds a lengthy break between starts as opposed to adding a race at Santa Anita in October. “She’ll do well off that,” Spawr said of the break. “If we give her six weeks between races, she’s done well. She’s so professional.” Skye Diamonds, a 4-year-old filly by First Dude, has won 9 of 16 starts and earned $509,150. She has won 6 of 8 starts since being claimed for $40,000 last August, a span that includes the Dream of... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 18, 2017) — Returning to competition after more than a year on the sidelines, six-year-old California-bred Tribalist overcame traffic trouble to rally late in the stretch and win Friday’s featured $105,070 Green Flash Handicap for older turf sprinters at Del Mar. Tribalist, running only his sixth race in a career interrupted by various physical infirmities, was shuffled back to last early in the five-furlong dash, found room to rally along the rail going to the far turn but then had to check in traffic under jockey Victor Espinoza. Finally locating room in the final furlong, the gelding responded generously to overhaul the gritty 25-1 longshot Gutsy Ruler in the shadow of the wire to win by a head in :56.93 for the distance. Gutsy Ruler, overlooked in the betting despite a triumph in his most recent race, August 6, was a half-length in front of 3-2 favored Richard’s Boy, with Jimmy Bouncer fourth in the field of eleven horses. Tribalist, Bred by Dutko... ...

PLEASANTON, Calif. (Aug. 15, 2017) – A filly by leading California first-crop stallion Smiling Tiger brought a sale-topping $70,000 and a Lucky Pulpit colt from the same family sold for $50,000 at Tuesday’s 2017 Northern California Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. The high-bid yearling is out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Mulberry Lane. She was bred and consigned by Harris Farms. The second-highest priced sale was also bred and consigned by Harris Farms. That son of Lucky Pulpit, sire of champion California Chrome, is out of the stakes-winning Talkin Man mare Aspen Gal, who also is the second dam of the sale-topper. Both yearlings were purchased by Del Secco DCS, Inc., of Hayward. The top consignor by gross sales was Harris Farms, with eight horses sold for $149,900. The top buyer was Del Secco DCS, Inc., with the two highest-priced yearlings at a total of $120,000. The percentage of horses with reserves not achieved (RNA) improved to 22 percent this year from 33... ...

From Emerald Downs Publicity AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 13, 2017) – Returning to the track where his career began two years ago, California-bred Gold Rush Dancer raced to a dominant 4 ¾-length victory Sunday in the 82nd running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) at Emerald Downs. Ridden by 19-year-old Evin Roman, Gold Rush Dancer ran one mile in 1:33.85 under 120 lbs and returned $8.40, $4.20 and $3.80. Vann Belvoir is the winning trainer for owner/breeder John Parker of Lake Bay, Wash. A 4-year-old California-bred colt by Private Gold-Dances On Water, Gold Rush Dancer earned $110,000 to push his bankroll to $510,613. His record is 6-3-3 in 18 starts including five stakes wins—three vs. state-breds in California and the Longacres Mile and Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs. Mach One Rules, ridden by Isaias Enriquez at high-weight of 123 lbs, rallied from sixth to edge Dedicated to You for second by a head and paid $4.40 and $3.60. Winner of the Budweiser and Mt. Rainier Stakes, Mach One Rules was favored... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2017) – California-bred Skye Diamonds has earned $389,100 for owners Tom Acker, Allen Racing, Bloom Racing, and Jon Lindo since she was claimed for $40,000 at Del Mar last August. The latest installment was the $60,000 first-place purse from Sunday’s Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. The prize money from the $100,000 race may not have been hefty, but there can be no doubt Skye Diamonds is rated among the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here Nov. 4. Whether she starts again before that race was unclear in the immediate aftermath of the Rancho Bernardo. Instead, winning trainer Bill Spawr was focused on the style of her win, closing between rivals in the final three furlongs to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:15.95. Skye Diamonds ($3.60), bred by Dizney Double Diamond, was briefly behind pacesetter Rockport Babe while racing on the inside on the backstretch before winning... ...

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2017) – California-bred Little Doe won Sunday’s 65,075 Wine Country Debutante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at the Sonoma County Fair. Little Doe is by Kodiak Cowboy, out of the Richly Blended mare Baby Doe, was bred by owners Dr. and Mrs. William Gray and is trained by Felix Rondan. Little Doe has two wins in three starts, earnings of $67,990 and was coming off a July 8 maiden win. She ran the six furlongs in 1:11.18 and won by one length over Song From Above at odds of 6-1 in the field of six. ...

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2017) – Bonita, a Florida-bred daughter of California stallion Bluegrass Cat, won Sunday’s $50,000 Panama City Handicap for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park. Bonita ran the mile on turf in 1:36.26 and won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 9-1 in the field of eight. She has four wins in 15 starts, earnings of $127,465 and was coming off a sixth in the May 27 Christmas Past Stakes. ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 11, 2017) — For the second straight year, Majestic Heat and jockey Flavien Prat won the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes, and for the second straight year they won the grass race for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares by the slimmest of margins, a nose. Sent postward the 3-5 favorite, Majestic Heat was well-rated on the lead by Prat, shook off the stalking How Unusual in mid-stretch but then was pushed to the limit to barely resist the last-ditch challenge of the fast-closing Moonless Sky, piloted by Kent Desormeaux. The stewards conducted an inquiry after How Unusual was forced to take up by jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr. when Moonless Sky came through an opening in pursuit of Majestic Heat. However, they ruled that the incident did not warrant a change in the placings. Majestic Heat, a five-year-old daughter of Unusual Heat bred by Madeline Auerbach and Barry Abrams, owned by Auerbach, McCauley and Bardy Farm and trained by Hall of Famer Richard... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 10, 2017) – California Chrome still may be the aberration of all aberrations, but he’s no longer the only winner produced by Love the Chase, the famed mare who broke her maiden for an $8,000 tag. In a mile maiden special weight event for California-bred fillies and mares on the Del Mar turf Aug. 10, R Sunday Surprise, one of three full siblings to the two-time Horse of the Year, just edged Halo Ahead by a head at the wire.  R Sunday Surprise, a 3-year-old filly, is by Lucky Pulpit, out of the Not For Love mare Love the Chase, was bred by Perry Martin & Steve Coburn, is owned by Silver State Racing, Godwin, Melton, Morgan and Mirarchi and is trained by Kristin Mulhall. After a break from the rail in the field of 10, the 3-year-old Lucky Pulpit  filly settled well on the inside to track the early pace in fourth under jockey Israel Ocampo. Ocampo bided his time on the rail... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2017) – Take the One O One, a graduate of the Northern California Yearling Sale, won a 2-year-old maiden special weight race at Del Mar on Sunday. Take the One O One is by Acclamation, out of the Jump Start mare North Freeway, was bred by Thomas Bachman, was consigned by Fairview and was purchased for $47,000 by Terry Knight. He is owned by jay Em Ess Stable and trained by Brian Koriner. Take the One O One, second in his debut July 13, won his second start by 3 ¼ lengths as the 6-5 favorite in the field of eight, running the six furlongs in 1:11.65. Take the One O One is the eighth winner from the 2016 Northern California Yearling Sale. This year’s sale will be held on Tuesday, August 15, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, beginning at noon. ...

By DRF.com SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2017) – Lightly raced California-bred Summersimage ($8.60) scored a hard-earned victory as he made his turf and two-turn debut in the $66,625 Robert Dupret Derby at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa on Sunday. The Slew’s Tiznow colt was bumped badly leaving the starting gate, but was able to bounce away from the trouble to take the lead and was never headed in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Summersimage, a William Hedrick homebred, broke his maiden as a 2-year-old at Santa Rosa but came out of the race body sore and went back to Hedrick’s farm. He did not return to the races until July 4, after being on the sidelines more than 11 months. He responded with an impressive six-length victory that earned him a 90 Beyer rating. “I thought we were in trouble,” trainer Ricardo Perez said of the start of the Dupret. “When he came out of the gate and was getting bumped, I was hoping he didn’t get... ...

By DRF.com and DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2017) — Continental Divide rallied widest of all to win the first race of his career in Saturday’s $101,035 Graduation Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old sprinters at Del Mar, a distance well short of what trainer Jim Cassidy hopes will be his ideal trip. The style of the win left Cassidy impressed that a colt by Animal Kingdom, who won both the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup at 1 1-4 miles earlier this decade, could be effective at 5 1-2 furlongs on dirt. “He wants to go farther,” Cassidy said. “For him to go 5 1-2, you try him out of his element and he still wins.” Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Continental Divide ($9.20) was timed in 1:05.27, and finished three-quarters of a length in front of 3-1 Smokem. Drizzy, the 3-1 favorite, closed from last of nine to finish third, 3 1-2 lengths behind the winner. Espinoza said he was confident Continental Divide could handle a... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2017) — Brad McKinzie, a 30-year executive at Los Alamitos Race Course, a co-founder of the Finish Line Self Insurance Group, and one of the driving forces to bring daytime Southern California Thoroughbred racing back to Los Alamitos, died from renal carcinoma Aug. 6. He was 62. McKinzie served as the vice president and general manager of the Los Alamitos Racing Association since 2014. He oversaw the expansion of the Orange County oval from a five-furlong track to a one-mile oval, as well as the addition of 700 stalls to accommodate Thoroughbreds following the closure of Hollywood Park, and running the track’s Thoroughbred meets. McKinzie started, along with business partner Michael Lyon, the Finish Line Self Insurance Group, which provides worker’s compensation coverage for the jockeys, exercise riders, and grooms for 99% of the California Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing industry. McKinzie was also part of the group that built and opened Sammy’s Original in February of 2014, an upscale restaurant in Lake Forest,... ...

From DMTC Publicity and DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2017) — Fanticola and Scardino’s Long Hot Summer rallied to the lead along the rail in the upper stretch under jockey Joe Talamo and went on to record a one-length triumph in the featured $93,800 Daisycutter Handicap Friday at Del Mar. Long Hot Summer, a five-year-old California-bred daughter of Street Boss, was third, beaten a half-length, in the 2016 renewal of the Daisycutter to So Sweetitiz, but was able to get the job done in convincing style Friday. Bred by Harris Farms and Donald Valpredo, Long Hot Summer has won 6 of 16 starts and $409,194. She won the 2014 Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at the Del Mar summer meeting. The Daisycutter was Long Hot Summer’s first win since an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf here last September. She was later fifth in the California Distaff Handicap on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita last October and seventh in an optional claimer at five furlongs... ...

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif (Aug 2, 2017) — Grade One winning Tom’s Tribute has moved to Rancho San Miguel for his third breeding season. Tom’s Tribute won the Grade 1 Eddie Read in a stellar career that saw him win six of 16 starts and $634,880 under the tutelage of James M. Cassidy. Tom’s Tribute, under the ownership of DP Racing, will join the Rancho San Miguel stallion roster for a fee of $2,000 Live Foal. Tom’s Tribute, a 2010 son of Lion Heart out of Halloween Fun by El Prado, was a $310,000 Ocala juvenile sale graduate that won or placed in seven stakes from 2 to 4, before an untimely fetlock injury while preparing for his five-year-old campaign. Winner of his second lifetime start, Tom’s Tribute was off the board only once as a three-year-old and only twice as a four-year-old. During his four-year-old campaign Tom’s Tribute came roaring down the stretch to win the Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita Park equaling the course... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 2, 2017) — Show It N Moe It, piloted by talented apprentice jockey Evin Roman, wore down 8-5 favored Kimberlea K in the stretch and went on to score a solid triumph in Wednesday’s featured $100,000 C.T.B.A. Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible two-year-old fillies at Del Mar. Always prominent under the 19-year-old Roman, Show It N Moe It moved up determinedly to engage Kimberlea K entering the stretch and responded to urging in the final sixteenth to win by a length and one-half in 1:05.11 for the five and one-half furlongs. Gorgeous Ginny finished third, with Family Girl fourth in the field of eight fillies. Spiced Perfection was withdrawn from the original line-up. Show It N Moe It, a daughter of Grace Upon Grace, is owned by the partnership of breeder Terry Lovingier, Tom London and Eugene Zondlo and trained by Gary Sherlock. The filly broke her maiden in her third attempt, scoring easily by six and one-quarter lengths at Santa Anita. “I... ...

From Magali Farm SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Aug. 2, 2017) — It is with a sad heart Magali Farm announces the passing of 20-year- old stallion Decarchy, a Graded stakes winner of $703,862, who suffered complications of laminitis. A half-brother to proven sires Empire Maker and Chester House, his progeny amassed over $14 million lifetime, led by Graded Stakes winner Stoney Fleece ($600,028). Decarchy’s average earnings per runner is $55,249. “Decarchy passed many wonderful qualities on to his progeny, his individualism, athleticism, willing heart, drive, and kind disposition. It was an honor to be a part of his life he will be truly missed,” said Magali Farms manager Tom Hudson. ...

From Legacy Ranch CLEMENTS, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2017) — Straight Fire, one of the top-rated two year olds of 2016, has been retired and will stand at Pete and Evelyn Parrella’s Legacy Ranch in Clements, CA.  Straight Fire, a son of Dominus, was a $250,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase by Solis/Litt Bloodstock.  He broke his maiden at Del Mar on August 6th by 10 ½ lengths going 6 ½ furlongs in a blistering 1 14 4/5 seconds, earning a 98 Beyer speed figure.  He was 2nd in the G1 Del Mar Futurity and 3rd in the G1 Frontrunner Stakes, with earnings of $146,400. Pete Parrella is excited to stand the grandson of Smart Strike and thinks he’ll be an asset to the California market.  “Straight Fire showed precocity, speed and brilliance in his brief career, all attributes that appeal to California breeders.  He’s a spectacular physical specimen standing at 16 2 and his pedigree is free of Northern Dancer.” Straight Fire has already been syndicated and will be supported by... ...

CHESTER, W. Va. (Aug. 1, 2017) – B Squared is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $750,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby for 3-year-olds at Mountaineer Park. B Squared is by Square Eddie, out of the Ten Most Wanted mare Silar Rules, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Doug O’Neill. He has two wins in six starts, earnings of $178,400 and is coming off a third in the July 15 Los Alamitos Derby. ...

CHESTER, W. Va. (Aug. 1, 2017) – Judge Carr, with a three-race win streak, is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Stakes at Mountaineer Park. Judge Carr is by Mizzen Mast, out of the All Gone mare Gone to Party, was bred by Louis Neve, is owned by Robert Cole, Jr., and is trained by Kevin Patterson. He has 16 wins in 59 starts, earnings of $325,401 and is coming off three consecutive wins. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 30, 2017) – Odds-on favorite Miss Sunset turned back the challenge of Dreamy Gal turning for home and kicked clear to an easy win in Sunday’s $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar. Miss Sunset is by Into Mischief, out of the Trippi mare Tuscan Sunset, was bred by Premier Thoroughbreds and Alan Klein, is owned by Klein or Lebherz and trained by Jeff Bonde. “The owners bought the dam (Tuscan Sunset) in foal to breed later to Smiling Tiger and (Miss Sunset) was the baby that came out,” said Bonde. “She’s just been a wonderful horse and today was the smoothest I’ve seen her run. Taking the blinkers off at (jockey) Mike Smith’s suggestion made a big difference.” Miss Sunset has five wins in nine starts, earnings of $389,430 and was coming off a second in the May 29 Melair. Miss Sunset ran the seven furlongs in 1:224.34 and won by 5 1/2 lengths at odds of 4-5. Queen... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 30, 2017) – California-breds Long Hot Summer, Bad Ju Ju and Desert Steel are entered in Friday’s $75,000 Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares at Del Mar. Long Hot Summer is by Street Boss, out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Hotlantic, was bred by Harris Farms & Donald Valpredo, is owned by Fanticola or Scardino and is trained by Phil D’Amato. She has five wins in 15 starts, earnings of $349,134 and is coming off a fourth in a June 25 optional claiming. She was third in this race last year. Bad Ju Ju is by Desert Code, out of the Snow Ridge mare Ju Ju Baby, was bred by Lo Hi Racing Stable and Dick Barton, is owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller. She has seven wins in 18 starts, earnings of $309,731 and is making her first start since a fifth in the Jan. 21 Santa Monica. Desert Steel is by Desert Code, out of the Cozzene mare Lujien Lujien, was... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (July 29, 2017) – My Italian Babbo won Saturday’s $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Del Mar by a head, his second consecutive win by a slim margin. The California Dreamin’ Stakes was the stakes debut for My Italian Babbo. My Italian Babbo ($7.80) closed from last to catch 9-10 favorite He Will in the final strides. Ridden by Corey Nakatani, My Italian Babbo ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41.91. “It was a good ride from Corey Nakatani,” Baltas said. “We got the bob.” He Will finished two lengths in front of Soi Phet, who was followed by G.G. Ryder and Incredible Luck. My Italian Babbo has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $224,226 for Cafarchia, who bred the 5-year-old gelding by Papa Clem. My Italian Babbo is unbeaten in two starts on turf, and has won three of his last four races. My Italian Babbo will remain on turf, Baltas said. It was not clear on Saturday... ...