ALBANY, Calif. (May 14, 2016) – Central Heat successfully defended her title in Saturday’s $61,025 Golden Poppy Stakes for fillies and mares at Golden Gate, extending her win streak to seven. 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 15 wins in 34 starts, earnings of $364,101. Central Heat ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.54 and won by one-half length as the 7-10 favorite in the field of eight. The 2016 Golden Poppy was one of two wins on the card for Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, who was returning from a four-week absence. Baze, who leads all jockeys with 12,814 wins in North America, suffered a right collarbone fracture in a spill April 16.   After leaving from post position 1, Central Heat raced five lengths off the pace in sixth through an opening... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 12, 2016) — Grade I winning California-bred Masochistic recorded his first timed workout of 2016 on Thursday, going three furlongs in :37 1/5. Los Pollos Hermanos Racing and Jay Em Ess Stables’ Masochistic, last year’s Triple Bend (gr. I) winner, has been off to recover from a fractured hind cannon, which trainer Ron Ellis thinks occurred during his 14th-place run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Keeneland. In his first work, the 6-year-old Sought After gelding was aided a bit by a slight dose of tranquilizer. Masochistic has a tendency to speed through his works, so Ellis wanted to make sure he didn’t go too fast, too soon. “If I didn’t have him a little tranquilized, he’d be a little tough, because he still has that determination to get going,” Ellis said. “I just didn’t want him to go to fast too soon and pull a ligament or a muscle. He’ll go out there and think he’s going to do (five furlongs in)... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (May 4, 2016) — Barry Abrams has turned in his trainer’s license and is taking a leave of absence due to health problems. “I might go back to training, I might not. At this point, I’m officially not training any horses,” said the 62-year-old Abrams, who has battled cancer for the past 11 years. Wednesday morning, back at his usual table at Clockers’ Corner, Abrams was barely audible as he explained his dire circumstances, resulting from inoperable throat cancer that first surfaced in 2005. “I had to turn in my license,” Abrams said. “Otherwise I can’t run horses that I own, even though I only own pieces of horses now. I turned over my four horses to Tim Yakteen.” Abrams also is minority owner of the remarkable 26-year-old stallion Unusual Heat, who stands for $20,000 at the Harris Ranch in Coalinga. Surgery in 2005 cost Abrams half of his voice box. He has no taste buds, can’t swallow, uses a feeding tube, can’t eat,... ...

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

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

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

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

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Apr. 22, 2016) — First-time starter Milton Freewater got up in the final stride in the first race at Los Alamitos Race Course April 22 to become the first winner for grade I winner and classic-placed Creative Cause. A 7-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway out of grade I winner and millionaire California-bred Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer, Creative Cause stands for a 2016 fee of $15,000 at Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky. There are 86 2-year-olds in his first crop. Creative Cause is a full brother to Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) winner Destin, a hopeful for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Creative Cause posted a 4-2-3 career line from 10 starts and earned $1,039,000. At age 2, he captured the 2011 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) and finished second the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) and third in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I). At age 3, he took the 2012 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) and... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 21, 2016) — Despite multiple board members expressing frustration with the way the process was handled, the California Horse Racing Board approved a reallocation of dates within the Northern California fair circuit April 21 during a meeting at Golden Gate Fields. The board approved a proposal that will move six race dates assigned to the San Joaquin County Fair in Stockton (Sept. 21-Oct. 4) to the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, which already has a meet scheduled for June 15-July 5. San Joaquin County Fair chief executive officer Kelly Olds said the 2015 meet at Stockton lost money, and the fair could not afford to run the meet in 2016. “The 2014 season was only marginally profitable for Stockton,” Olds said. “I can’t say that about the 2015 races. We lost money and our fair cannot stand to lose again. The race dates that have been allocated to Stockton come at a really bad time in our county. It’s harvest season, kids are back in school,... ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Bloodhorse.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2016) — California Authority of Racing Fairs announced April 5 that executive director Christopher Korby will retire as of Nov. 1 after 29 years. During his years of service, Korby was instrumental in leading the organization through an era of significant growth, CARF said in a release, noting he launched simulcast operations for live horse racing from fairs and played a key role in establishing California’s state-wide satellite wagering network. Korby has served as CARF’s executive director for 16 years. “We’ve been fortunate to have Mr. Korby with us for so many years,” said John Alkire, chairman of the CARF board of directors. “He’s brought foresight, energy and innovation to his service here. His contributions have been invaluable.” “I’d like to express my appreciation to our board of directors for the opportunity to serve for all these years,” Korby said. “It’s been both challenging and rewarding to be a part of the racing industry and the fair industry during years of dynamic changes to... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com Two young horses were strutting their stuff for prospective buyers last Wednesday at Del Mar, where Barretts was holding its sale of 2-year-olds, and there was David Lanzman, watching one of them walk. Lanzman knows what it’s like to buy a champion at Barretts, like he did with Squirtle Squirt in 2000. Having seen enough, he turned to the gathered group and pointed to the guy who was eyeballing the other horse. “I’ll do whatever he says to do,” Lanzman said. Everybody laughed because “he” was Art Sherman, making his first domestic appearance since winning the $10 million World Cup the previous Saturday in Dubai, and right now, everybody in horse racing wants to have whatever Art is having. At that particular moment, it was a jet-lagged high of delirious satisfaction over winning the world’s richest race, complemented by a steady gauntlet of backslaps, handshakes, and kisses bestowed upon the 79-year-old trainer by his Southern California constituency. Too bad he wasn’t running for something. Casually dapper... ...

OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Apr. 2, 2016) – Toledo Eddie, an Idaho-bred son of California stallion Ministers Wild Cat, won Saturday’s $73,500 Stud Muffin Stakes at Aqueduct. Toledo Eddie, bred by Billingsley Ranch and owned by trainer David Jacobson, ran the mile in 1:37.43 and won by 2 ¼ lengths. He has 14 wins in 42 starts and earnings of $440,551. ...

OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Apr. 2, 2016) – California-bred Sweetrayofsunshine took command turning for home and won Saturday’s $70,000 Xtra Heat Stakes for fillies and mares at Aqueduct. Sweetrayofsunshine is by Benchmark, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Tialinga, was bred by Black Diamond Racing and is owned by trainer David Jacobson. She has 11 wins in 24 starts, earnings of $276,462 and was coming off a second in a Mar. 13 allowance at Santa Anita. ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Apr. 1, 2016) — The unraced colt Snow Proof has proven to be popular at sales in California in the last year. Last August, Snow Proof was the most expensive hip at the Northern California Yearling Sale, selling for $72,000 to John Brocklebank, agent for Dickman Legacy Ranch. Wednesday, Snow Proof was purchased for $150,000 by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert at the Barretts March select sale of 2-year-olds in-training at Del Mar. Snow Proof was the most expensive hip among the 16 California-breds listed in the catalog of the one-day sale. Of those, eight were withdrawn and five sold for an average of $89,000. Three were listed as bought back. The overall sale averaged $124,558. The leading hip at the sale was a colt by The Factor who was purchased for $460,000 and is bound for Japan. Baffert signed the sale ticket, as agent, for Snow Proof, indicating the colt will race for one of his clients. Snow Proof is by Idiot Proof... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Mar. 31, 2016) — Golden Gate Fields will offer increased purses, free shipping to and from Santa Anita Park, and guaranteed late Pick 4 pools during its inaugural three-week Turf Festival. Golden Gate will be the only track in California with turf racing from April 14 through May 1, as Santa Anita installs a new grass course. During that time an extra $125,000 will allocated to turf races. BLOOD-HORSE STAFF: Santa Anita to Install New Turf Course Free shipping from Santa Anita to Golden Gate will be provided during the Turf Festival. Bob Hubbard Horse Transportation will have two vans going north and two vans going south every week during the event. “The Golden Gate Fields Turf Festival will benefit horsemen throughout California by bolstering purses in the North and giving Southern California horsemen a place to run their grass horses,” said Joe Morris, senior vice president of West Coast operations for The Stronach Group, which owns both Santa Anita and Golden Gate. “It’s our goal... ...

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Mar. 30, 2016) – California-breds Whine for Wine and Real Heat are entered in Monday’s $75,000 Winsham Lad Stakes at Sunland Park. Whine for Wine is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Jump Start mare Mrs. Began, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Johnnie Nall. He has three wins in 18 starts, earnings of $175,500 and is coming off a fifth in the Mar. 20 Bill Thomas Memorial. Real Heat is by Unusual Heat, out of the Ole mare Chi Chi Nette, was bred by Madeline Auerbach and Barry Abrams, is owned by Class Racing Stable and trained by Bret Hone. He has five wins in 29 starts, earnings of $172,246 and is coming off a win in a Mar. 5 starter’s allowance. ...

By Sid Fernando + Observations What a change in the perception and accomplishments of California Chrome from a year ago, huh? Second in the Dubai World Cup, he was then taken from the popular trainer that had developed him and sent to Newmarket to prepare for … well, you know the strange and unflattering story that ended with Chrome’s return to the States amidst disharmony and social media outrage, etc., and news that he’d suffered a bone bruise and was done. Enter Taylor Made Farm, which bought out one of the bickering partners, Steve Coburn — a minority shareholder with a Trumpesque voice that was prone to braggadocio and was the ownership face of the horse until majority owner Perry Martin decided to call the shots, including the failed attempt to race in Europe — to ostensibly stand the horse at stud. But after vet reports indicated the Derby and Preakness winner by Lucky Pulpit would be okay to race again after some rest and relaxation on the farm, a new chapter... ...

By DRF.com DUBAI, U.A.E. (Mar. 27, 2016) — California Chrome had a quiet Sunday at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates a day after his dramatic win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup. Alan Sherman, assistant trainer to his father, trainer Art Sherman, said in an email that California Chrome “came out of his race great.” California Chrome won the Dubai World Cup at 1 1/4 miles on dirt by 3 3/4 lengths in a stellar field. He won even though his saddle slipped, creating an awkward situation for jockey Victor Espinoza and causing concern for his backers in the stretch. The saddle was visibly farther down California Chrome’s back when he reached the wire than it was at the start. The win was worth $6 million for owners Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farms, who race as California Chrome LLC. The 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome has won 12 of 21 starts and earned $12,532,650, a record for a North American-based Thoroughbred. Curlin, the Horse... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 27, 2016)–In a determined stretch drive, Sheer Pleasure, under Martin Garcia, wore down pacesetter Swissarella and held off favored Kiss At Midnight to prevail by a half length in Sunday’s $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Conditioned by Phil D’Amato, Sheer Pleasure got one mile in 1:36.82. “She has a lot of speed, you can put her wherever you want to,” said Garcia, who was a close fourth with the 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Birdonthewire mid-way around the far turn. “I was pretty lucky to be able to ride her again today. They didn’t give me any instructions because I know her well, so I took advantage of that fact.” Off at 4-1 in a field of nine California-bred or sired fillies and mares, Sheer Pleasure, who was bred by Madera Thoroughbreds, is owned by Little Red Feather Racing and R/M Racing, paid $10.20, $4.60 and $3.20. “The Cal-bred program is so rewarding,”... ...

The Racing Post DUBAI, U.A.E. (Mar. 26, 2016) — Victor Espinoza’s saddle may have slipped but California Chrome had the talent to ensure his connections’ dreams of finally landing the world’s richest race did not go the same way at Meydan on Saturday. As if defying a wide draw was not enough of a challenge for last year’s runner-up, Espinoza was forced to send the five-year-old for home as he felt his saddle retreating down his mount’s back. Trainer Art Sherman had boasted his Kentucky Derby winner was five-lengths better than last year and so it proved, as California Chrome streaked clear in the straight to land a decisive and impressive win. Mubtaahij bounced back to form to finish second, beaten three and three quarters of a length, with Hoppertunity running third for America’s Bob Baffert. “He has done everything right, it was perfect,” said Espinoza. The rider added: “Sometimes it’s better to stay a little bit further wide than being stuck inside but everything went well. “I sent him... ...

OAKBANK, South Australia (Mar. 28, 2016) — Scratchy Lass, an Australian-bred daughter of California stallion U.S. Ranger, won Saturday’s $100,300 Ubet Oakbank Stakes. She has six wins in 10 starts and earnings of $133,761. Scratchy Lass ran the 1100 meters in 1:05.52 and won by a nose at odds of 2-1. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 22, 2016) — Jockey Santiago Gonzalez will be sidelined for six weeks because of a broken jaw, agent Craig Stephen said March 21. Gonzalez sustained the injury March 20 at Santa Anita Park, where he fell off Follini in the fifth race after the Western Fame gelding stumbled in the turn during the six-furlong claiming race. Gonzalez appeared to fall right into the path of two horses, but Stephen said he was unsure whether the jockey was struck by one of the trailing runners. Follini, owned by William Branch, Cory Wagner, and trainer Mark Glatt, appeared to emerge from the incident unharmed and was corralled by a Santa Anita outrider. Gonzalez was immediately transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., where he was treated for his injuries. Gonzalez is second in Santa Anita’s jockey standings, with a 47-34-33 record from 269 mounts and nearly $1.9 million in purse earnings during the meet that began in late December. He only trails perennial leading jockey Rafael... ...

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

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 17, 2016) — Ag Day at the California Capitol was held Wednesday and California Thoroughbred Breeders Association was there, representing breeders and offering legislators information on the vital role the Thoroughbred industry plays in the state’s agricultural economy. CTBA past Presidents Sue Greene and Leigh Ann Howard, along with event coordinator Christy Chapman promoted the sport and educated visitors to the CTBA booth on general horse facts and Thoroughbred racing and breeding in California. Among the legislators that visited the booth were: Assemblymembers Brian Jones, Steven Bradford, Brian Maienschein, Devon Mathis, Frank Bigelow, James Gallagher, Brian Dahle, Jim Cooper, Matthew Harper, Mike Gipson, Marc Steinorth, Speaker of the House Toni Atkins, Senators Andy Vidak, Cathleen Galgiani, Mike Morrell , Patricia Bates, Ted Gaines and CTBA lobbyist Robyn Black. Legislators were able to visit with a 20-year-old retired Thoroughbred racehorse named Viva Pentelicus. He is now part of an organization called Healing Arenas and works as a therapy horse with veterans with PTSD. For a photo gallery of... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 12, 2016) – California Cup turf Classic winner What a View led all the way to score a win in Saturday’s $400,000 Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes at Santa Anita. What a View is by Vronsky, out of the Manilla mare Oceans N Mountains, was bred by Old English Rancho, Patsy Berumen & Sal Berumen, is owned by Finish Line Racing, Ellwood Johnston Trust or Bermen et al and is trained by Kenny Black. “He’s in the skybox, up there cheering for us.”,” co-breeder Judy Johnston said of her late husband, Buddy. He has five wins in 11 starts, earnings of $532,148 and was coming off a win in the Jan. 30 California Cup Turf Classic. “We’ve had some issues with his feet and I just wanted to keep him on the grass,” said Black. “There were some really tough horses in here: Bolo, Bal a Bali and Om, so we knew we were going to have to run big to win.” “He was loaded... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Mar. 11, 2016) — William Mahorney, a former jockey and trainer in Northern California, died March 10 after contracting pneumonia. He was 75. Mahorney was born Oct. 22, 1940, in Washington, D.C., and he was introduced to horse racing by his father, James Mahorney, who was a bookmaker. After riding Quarter Horses in the early 1960s, he switched to Thoroughbreds in 1965 and was that year’s leading apprentice jockey in wins. Mahorney severely injured both of his knees in a 1965 automobile accident. He made a successful return from the accident, winning riding titles in Chicago and New York, but the accident required him to undergo numerous knee surgeries. Mahorney eventually received an artificial knee, earning him the nickname “Bionic Bill.” He won the 1975 Golden Gate Fields riding title with 72 wins and on four other occasions finished among the top three jockeys at Golden Gate or Bay Meadows. His major wins in Northern California include the 1966 Golden Poppy (Gala Host), 1971 Golden Poppy... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 11, 2016) –As the rain subsided at Santa Anita Park March 11 following a short but heavy rainstorm, track officials announced the final three races of the Friday card would be canceled because of concerns expressed by the jockeys about standing water on the dirt main track. Included in the canceled races was the $75,000 San Pedro Stakes, which Santa Anita racing secretary Rick Hammerle said could be rescheduled as soon as next week. “It was just the standing water on it. With the big day tomorrow, it’s best to stop now and make sure we’re set,” said Joe Morris, senior vice president of West Coast operations for The Stronach Group, referencing the 11-race card March 12 that features the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) and the San Felipe (gr. II). Morris, who estimated the Arcadia, Calif. track experienced an inch of rain in a span of about an hour and 15 minutes, said he was not concerned with the dirt track’s condition for Saturday,... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 3, 2016) — Santa Anita Park has announced it will begin installation of a completely new Bermuda turf course on June 20, which will be ready for use in advance of Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet which begins in late September. “With the impact of additional racing dates and increased demand for turf racing, the replacement of the course is something we have been anticipating and planning for several months,” said Joe Morris, Senior Vice President, West Coast Operations for The Stronach Group. “The new course will be very tight-knit and uniform, and we’re confident that we can have it fully installed by early July, which will give it the time it needs during optimum growing conditions. “Turf racing is extremely popular with our fans and horsemen, and with our expanded racing calendar, we are placing demands on this course that have never before existed. The new turf is designed to be robust enough to handle the additional use. The horsemen are fully supportive... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 27, 2016) – Boozer caught Richard’s Boy in the final strides to win his first stakes in 16 months in Saturday’s $102,070 Sensational Star Handicap for Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita. Boozer ($14) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:13.03. Boozer had endured a seven-race losing streak since winning the 2014 California Flag Handicap for state-breds on the hillside turf course in October, 2014. Boozer, a 6-year-old gelding by Unusual Heat, has won 6 of 20 starts and earned $461,192. Owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood, Boozer has had three starts at this meeting, finishing fifth in an optional claimer on dirt on Jan. 3, and third in the $251,000 California Cup Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 30. Boozer was bred by Abrams, Loverso, Perez, Huston Racing and Auerbach and he gave jockey Gary Stevens his seventh stakes win of the winter-spring meeting. He leads all riders in that category, three of clear... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com In order to fully appreciate California Chrome’s race in Dubai on Thursday evening, UAE time, it was necessary to perform a few calculations and cultural translations. As breakfast was served, and with more than two hours to post (9:55 a.m. Pacific), there still was plenty of time. The race is on the dirt course at Meydan at 2,000 meters. The dirt course at Meydan is laid out inside the turf course. One meter is equivalent to 0.000621371 miles, which multiplied by 2,000 is 1.24.26, close enough to call it a mile and a quarter, the distance of the $10 million World Cup on March 26, which is why California Chrome is there in the first place. The race is called the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy. Trans Gulf Electromechanical Construction is part of the Dubai-based Al Naboodah Group, which sponsored all the racing on Thursday’s program. Al Naboodah and its subsidiaries played a key role in the construction of the Meydan complex that includes the racecourse. The... ...

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

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

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

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 2, 2016) — One of America’s top apprentice jockeys in the early 1980s, Kenny Black was at times overcome with emotion yesterday following his biggest training achievement to date–a brilliant 3 ¼ length win in Saturday’s $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic by Old English Rancho-bred What a View, who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux. What made the win especially emotional was the fact that E.W. “Bud” Johnston, who had headed the farm’s breeding and racing operation (which was founded in California in 1948 by his father, E.B. “The Pie Man” Johnston and his wife, Betty) dating back to 1957, passed away unexpectedly one day shy of his 78th birthday last year on May 5. “I’ll be forever grateful to Buddy Johnston and his family for the opportunity they’ve given me,” said Black, who was hired by Johnston as the farm’s private trainer following the retirement of longtime conditioner Don Warren last year. “Buddy has had his horses here in the same stalls since... ...

By John Cherwa Los Angeles Times ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2016) — The numbers are startling, the reality is staggering. If California’s first-class horse racing tracks are to survive, they are in large part dependent on a third-place breeding program. A track such as Santa Anita needs inventory, and if it didn’t have California breds running, it probably would be racing only two days a week. Under that scenario, it wouldn’t be long before the track would be turned into a residential or retail development. Or a sports stadium. Doug Burge, president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Assn., took up the challenge of figuring out a way to essentially bribe people to breed, buy and race here. “We have these carrots we put out there to give people a reason to breed in California,” he said. Among those are a $30-million program of incentives, awards and purses that go to California breds racing here. Part of that is the Golden State Series of 40 stakes races with at least $6... ...

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

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

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

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

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

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2016) — California Thoroughbred Breeders Association director Terry Lovingier’s Lost Bus provided a 64-1 stunner in the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 23 at Santa Anita Park. The 4-year-old Bring the Heat filly, who last won in March, 2015 in a California-bred restricted allowance/optional claiming race, dueled with Finest City to set fractions of :22.42 and :44.93 through a half-mile and outlasted her frontrunning rival to the wire. “I’m kinda lost for words,” said Lovingier. “I didn’t expect this and not too many others did either; she was 60-1. We claimed her (for $32,000 three starts back on Nov. 19) because she battled quite a few times with My Fiona (stakes-winning filly owned by Lovingier) when they were both 2-year-olds. I don’t claim that often anymore, but I did claim quite a few horses before I started breeding them.” With jockey Fernando Perez aboard, Lost Bus ran the seven furlongs in 1:21.78 and finished a head in front. Tara’s Tango engaged in the... ...

From Legacy Ranch CLEMENTS, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2016) – Grade II stakes winner Gervinho has relocated for his second season to Legacy Ranch in Clements. A stakes winner at 2 and 3, and a California Champion at 3, Gervinho won Santa Anita’s $200,000 grade II Sir Beaufort Stakes along with Del Mar’s $100,000 Oceanside Stakes. Gervinho earned over $420,000 and was on the board in eight of nine career starts, including the $250,000 grade I Hollywood Derby, the $250,000 grade II Del Mar Derby and Santa Anita’s $150,000 grade III Twilight Derby. A 6-year-old son of the remarkable Unusual Heat out of Foreverinthegame, by Out of Place, although raced primarily on the turf, Gervinho possess solid credentials for racing on multiple surfaces. “One of the best horses I have ever trained, Gervinho had an amazing turn of foot and an incredible mind. It’s very disappointing we never had the chance to try him on the dirt as he trained brilliantly on it,” said trainer Carla Gaines. “Gervinho is absolutely gorgeous... ...

PHOENIX, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2016) – Somethings Unusual, the lone California-bred in the field, rallied from next to last to win Saturday’s $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile at Turf Paradise. Somethings Unusual is by Vronsky, out of the Unusual Heat mare Unusual Prospect, was bred by Old English Rancho, is owned by Bruce Treitman and trained by Michael McCarthy. He ran the mile on turf in 1:37.01 and won by a head at odds of 8-1 in the field of nine. ...

By Paulick Report BONSALL, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2016) — Severe storms have battered Southern California this week, one of which spawned a small tornado which damaged one of the barns at San Luis Rey Training Center. The Daily Racing Form reports that trainer Peter Miller’s barn was damaged late Wednesday afternoon when an apparent tornado ripped the roof off several stalls. Miller told the Form that none of his horses or employees were injured. All of the horses in the damaged barn have been relocated. Miller believes that the damage is so extensive that the barn will have to be torn down. “It’s miraculous that no person or horse was injured,” Miller said early Thursday. “I’ve had to move the entire barn. The barn is compromised.” ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 2, 2016)–California-bred San Onofre sat second early to speedy Distinctiv Passion and responded to aggressive handling from Alex Solis to win Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes by a half length while covering 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.82. Breaking from the inside in a field of six older sprinters, the 6-year-old gelding by Surf Cat, who was bred by trainer Bruce Headley, trained by his daughter, Karen, and owned by his wife Aase’s Matson Racing, was hustled from the gate and settled nicely in second going into the far turn. Sitting behind fractions of 21.72, 44.00 and 1:08.53, San Onofre, who was put into a vigorous drive leaving the three eighths pole, took charge a furlong out and held off favored Salutos Amigos late. Off at 4-1, San Onofre paid $10.00, $4.40 and $2.60. “He’s been training really, really good,” said Solis of San Onofre, who had been idle since running fourth in the Grade I Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita... ...

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, CA (Jan. 1, 2016)-Slew’s Tiznow is the top California freshman sire of 2015. From his first crop of twenty-one foals, in 2013, Slew’s Tiznow sired the earners of $185,537. They are highlighted by the Del Mar maiden special daylight winner Tiz Love and multiple winners Tribal Headdress and One Bye Two. Additionally, Slews Tiznow ranks 34th on the Blood Horse North America Freshmen Sire lists. Slew’s Tiznow first crop of yearlings averaged over $20,000 in that sales year. Slew’s Tiznow is a record-setting 1 1/16 miles 1:40.34 performer and a Grade 1 performing multiple stakes winning son of Tiznow that will stand for $2,500 in 2016 at Rancho San Miguel. ...

By America’s Best Racing OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Jan. 2, 2016) — After twice chasing highly regarded Mohaymen in vain last autumn, Flexibility capitalized on his arch-rival’s absence to gain an easy 4 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Jerome Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Watch Video Flexibility — a New York-bred by California stallion Bluegrass Cat — took his debut by 1 3/4 lengths Oct. 10 at Belmont Park before placing second to Mohaymen in a pair of grade II contests at Aqueduct. He fell short by 1 3/4 lengths in the Nashua Nov. 4 and by 1 1/2 lengths a little more than three weeks later in the Remsen. With trainer Kiaran McLaughlin opting for much warmer surroundings and targeting Mohaymen for the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park, Flexibility was left with a golden opportunity to pick up 10 points in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” qualifying series. “It gives you a sigh of relief to not face him right now,” said Cherie... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 30, 2015)–Favored California-bred Sunday Rules made short work of seven rivals in storming to a 4 ¼ length win in Wednesday’s $98,850 Kalookan Queen Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Owned and bred by Nick Alexander, the 4-year-old daughter of Tribal Rule got 6 ½ furlongs under Mike Smith in 1:14.77. Blessed with an abundance of natural speed, the Phil D’Amato-conditioned Sunday Rules broke running from post position five, shook clear of longshot Dancinthenightaway leaving the quarter pole and cruised home to her seventh win from eight lifetime starts. Off at 4-5, Sunday Rules paid $3.80, $2.80 and $2.40. “Once we jumped well and she got a clear lead, I felt confident that she was going to run well, but you also never know how fast they’re going to push you,” said Smith. “The track is playing really quick and although we were running fast, it was well within her scope and she was fine. When Dancinthenightaway came up to me... ...

FLORENCE, Ky. (Dec. 29, 2015) – Tribal Custom, a Kentucky-bred by California stallion Tribal Rule, scored win No. 12 on the year Sunday in a Turfway Park starter’s allowance, topping all North American Thoroughbreds in wins for 2015. Tribal Custom is a 5-year-old out of the Bertrando mare Villa Marqurite, and was bred by Pam and Marty Wygod. She has earnings of $89,203 this year. ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2015) – California stallion Bold Chieftain was represented by his first winner when I Came to Party won the third race at Los Alamitos on Sunday. I Came to Party is out of the Decarchy mare Onefunsonofagun, was bred by Ellen Jackson, Kevin Nish and Kim Nish, is owned by Robert Bone, John Martin, Joey Platts and William Strauss and is trained by Martin. The 2-year-old gelding ran the mile in 1:39.92 and won by 6 ½ lengths at odds of 9-2 in the field of six. ...

By Bloodhorse.com STEVINSON, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2015) —  Boat Trip, a multiple stakes-winning son of Harlan’s Holiday, will enter stud in 2016 at Running Horse Equine Center near Stevinson, Calif. The fee will be $2,500, with a no fee option. Included among the five victories for the 5-year-old horse trained by Michael Pender for B. J. Wright and James Hirschmann III were the Hollywood Turf Express Handicap and Tsunami Slew Stakes, both on grass. He also finished second in the Eddie D Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Park. He earned $268,410. Boat Trip is one of nine winners from 13 foals produced from the French group III-placed mare Turning Wheel, a daughter of Seeking the Gold who has also produced four stakes-placed runners. Among the stakes horses produced by his third dam, multiple stakes-placed Kankakee Miss, was Clever Trick—the multiple stakes-winning winner of 18 of 29 starts and a sire. ...

From Unusual Heat Syndicate COALINGA, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2015 – Unusual Heat, the six-time leading sire in California (2008-2013) and California’s All Time Leading Stallion in Total Progeny, Turf and Cal-Bred earnings, will stand at John C. Harris’s Harris Farms in Coalinga for the 2016 breeding season.  Unusual Heat is booked full for 2016 at $20,000 and is accepting approved mares to a waiting list. Unusual Heat set the all-time California record for progeny earnings in 2008 with over $5.8 million and was again the California earnings champion for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, achieving the milestone of being leading sire in the state for an unprecedented sixth consecutive season in the modern era.  In 2015 Unusual Heat achieved an unmatched ninth consecutive season of over $3 million in progeny earnings and also his astounding 12th consecutive California-bred North American Turf Earnings Championship. He has sired one Eclipse Award winner and 14 California champions. Unusual Heat made his mark in 2015 as a broodmare sire adding six new stakes... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2015) — Even-money favorite Found Money welcomed a return to the California bred or sired ranks on Saturday with a 1 1/4 length victory in the $101,000 King Glorious Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Los Alamitos Race Course. Watch Video Never far off the pace while kept in the clear by jockey Mario Gutierrez, the 2-year-old son of Square Eddie   and the General Meeting mare Chanel My Belle won for the third time in seven starts for owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing. Fourth in the Delta Jackpot (gr. III) three weeks earlier in Louisiana, Found Money completed the mile in 1:37.46 while increasing his earnings to $286,100. He paid $4, $3 and $2.60. “All credit to Mario,” said trainer Doug O’Neill. “He rode him with confidence. He felt he was on the best horse and rode him accordingly. Mario’s ridden well at this track. It’s a long straightaway and you have to conserve your horse and he did just that.” Glory Bound, a 16-1 outsider... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2015) – California stallion Noble Court was represented with his first winner when Noble Edition won the second race for California-bred maiden 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos on Friday. Noble Edition is out of the Skip Away mare Chloe’s Edition, was bred by Willow Tree Farm, is owned by Geoff Holly, Dean Pederson and Paige Schvaneveldt and is trained by Pederson. Noble Edition ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.67 and won by 5 ¾ lengths at even money in her racing debut. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2015) – Dave McGlothlin, Jim & Pat Thompson, Fran’s Valentine and Nostalgia’s Star have been elected into the California Racing Hall of Fame by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The winners will be inducted at the CTBA’s annual awards dinner, to be held Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, at the Westin Pasadena. McGlothlin has been manager of the horse division at Harris Farms, which has tripled in physical size and quadrupled in equine population during his nearly four decades of service. The farm has produced more than 50 stakes horses, including double classic winner and Horse of the Year California Chrome. Jim & Pat Thompson are synonymous with the operation of Ridgeley Farm in Hemet. Among the stakes-producing stallions that have stood there were Memo and Iam the Iceman. The newest stallion arrival is stakes winner He Be Fire N Ice. Fran’s Valentine won several Cal-bred championships, along with 14 races and earnings of more than $1.3 million for trainer Joe Manzi and the Green Thumb Farm of auto... ...

From Magali Farms SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2015) — Barton Thoroughbreds is pleased to announce that five-time Grade I winner Einstein (Spend a Buck—Gay Charm, by Ghadeer) will be added to the Magali Farms stallion roster and stand in California for the first time, starting in 2016. Einstein comes to stand in California as a multiple graded stakes winner of nearly $3,000,000 over dirt, turf, and synthetic tracks. His first crop of 3-year-olds has placed him among the top three third crop sires in Canada. His runners already include stakes horses on dirt and synthetics, and winners on all three surfaces. His top runners include 4-year-old Graded Stakes-placed Winner Rankhasprivileges ($206,878), 3-year-old Multiple Stakes-placed Winner E Equalsmcsquared ($77,603) and 2-year-old stakes placed Scholar Athlete ($52,550). With three crops of racing age, his current runner earnings total $1,384,267. A 2-year-old colt by Einstein sold for $150,000 in the 2015 Barretts May sale, third-highest sale price overall. During his racing career, Einstein earned triple digit Beyers on dirt, turf and all-weather... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2015) – Roo’s Valentine led all the way to win Saturday’s $100,500 Soviet Problem Stakes for 2-year-old Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos. Roo’s Valentine is by Vronsky, out of the Cindago mare Black Valentine, was bred by owner Kretz Racing and is trained by Kristen Mulhall. She has two wins in five starts, earnings of $116,240 and was coming off a Nov. 5 maiden win. Roo’s Valentine ran the mile in 1:37.75 and won by one-half length at odds of 5-2. Favored Just Google Me was second and Run for Retts was third in the field of seven. ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2015) –Mana Strike ($22.20), an easy winner in his debut here before running sixth behind the undefeated Smokey Image in his stakes debut, rallied from last to score an impressive 2 1/4-length victory Saturday in the $75,105 Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. Mana Strike — a Washington-bred son of California stallion Papa Clem — was last as maiden Mad Bum set the pace for six furlongs in the one-mile race for 2-year-olds. He began to move up while three wide on the second turn. As the field left the quarter pole turning for home, jockey Pedro Terrero swung Mana Strike into the clear as Algenon opened a two-length lead at the eighth pole. Mana Strike had all the momentum as he quickly collared the leader and pulled clear to win in 1:38.36. Algenon, who never has finished off the board and had placed in his three previous stakes attempts, was an easy second as the field paraded home. Marqula, the longest shot... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2015) — Race caller Trevor Denman, the voice of Santa Anita Park since 1983, has announced his retirement from the Southern California track. He will not return for the 2015-16 race meet, which begins Dec. 26. “After calling the races for 44 years, 33 at Santa Anita, I have come to the decision that it is time for me to kick back, relax and enjoy the rest of my life on my farm in Minnesota and do some travelling both throughout American and overseas,” said Denman, 63. “It is time to stop counting dollars and to start counting the stars.” Racing fans will still hear Denman at Del Mar next summer, as the seaside oval’s shortened schedule will fit into his retirement plans, Santa Anita said in a release. “We knew this situation would come one day,” said Keith Brackpool, chairman of Santa Anita Park, “but we were selfishly hoping it would be many years down the line. We have had the privilege of... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 1, 2015) — The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association thanks the many stallion owners for their donations that made the Tuesday night Annual Stallion Season Auction a success. Nearly $60,000 was raised in the auction, with the entire proceeds by law going strictly toward the lobbying expenses of the CTBA, working in support of legislation that favorably impacts California Thoroughbred breeders. The sale featured seasons donated by these farms: Ballena Vista Farm, E.A. Ranches, Daehling Ranch, Fruitful Acres Farm, Harris Farms, Legacy Ranch, Lovacres Ranch, Magali Farms, Milky Way Farm, Oak Hill Farm, Ocean Breeze Ranch, Old English Rancho, Paradise Road Ranch, Rancho San Miguel, Special T Thoroughbreds, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, Victory Rose Thoroughbreds and Woodbridge Farm. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 29, 2015) — Silver Ranch Stable and Wachtel Stable’s California-bred Poshsky rallied in the stretch and just got up to defeat longshot Pepper Crown in the $100,000 Grade III Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 29. Ridden by Russell Baze for trainer Peter Miller, Poshsky shipped in from Southern California after a Nov. 6 victory in an allowance race on the grass at Del Mar. The 5-year-old gelding by Vronsky, out of the Bold Badgett mare Pinky’s Posh, was bred by Old English Rancho and Berumen. He had won once on a synthetic surface before, and is now one-for-one on the Tapeta at Golden Gate. Poshsky tracked in third while Ankeny Hill set fractions of :24.03 for the opening quarter-mile and :48.40 for the half-mile. The leader picked up the pace through six furlongs in 1:11.93, but his advantage began to diminish after a mile in 1:36.35. Pepper Crown, last at the half-mile mark, moved up on the rail and grabbed a one-length in... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 29, 2015) — Nearly three decades of service in the Del Mar stewards’ booth will come to an end for steward Tom Ward after the final race Nov. 29 at the California racetrack. Ward came down from Northern California and started work at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meet in 1986. He has been a fixture in the booth at Santa Anita since then and—except for a few summer seasons in the 1990s and early 2000s when he worked the Northern California fair circuit—at Del Mar. In 2004 Ward was called to work at Del Mar when steward Dave Samuel had health problems, and has missed only the 2014 season, for the fair circuit, since then. After the meet ends, Ward will take on a year-round assignment at Los Alamitos Race Course for both the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred meets. “It’s an idyllic setting, basically a stone’s throw away from the blue Pacific,” the 69-year-old Ward said of his days at Del... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2015) — Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer won the 7,000th race of his career whenKiss N Scat, who he co-owns with Steve Taub and George Todaro, won the first race at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 26 (VIDEO). Hollendorfer is now third on the all-time list of trainers by wins behind the late Dale Baird and Steve Asmussen. Kiss N Scat, a 2-year-old Scat Daddy  filly, easily captured an entry-level allowance race to kick off the card at the Northern California track. She won the one-mile race by 13 lengths under jockey Ricardo Gonzalez and paid $2.20 to win as the heavy favorite. “I’m very grateful to be able to do something like this,” Hollendorfer said by telephone from Del Mar. “I’ve had a lot of good people help me. I want to thank the horses, the owners, and the help I’ve had. All of my staff, including (my wife) Janet, have done such a good job. They’re the people who do most of the work.” ...

SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 24, 2015) — Rousing Sermon, the Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old by Lucky Pulpit, has been retired and will stand at Rancho San Miguel. The multiple stakes winner of $821,572 was the Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old primarily due to his dominant Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile Stakes win and his photo finish for the win when second in the Grade I CashCall Futurity. Rousing Sermon went from Cal-bred Champion juvenile onto the Kentucky Derby trail, finishing third in both the Grade II Bob Lewis and the lucrative Grade II Louisiana Derby. Rousing Sermon was quick enough to break his maiden first out going five panels in June of his juvenile campaign and continued on winning at distances in excess of a mile. Rousing Sermon was trained throughout his career by Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “Rousing Sermon was a horse with heart and determination to compete and win in the upper levels of racing. He is an attractive and balanced horse with a beautiful stride. We are expecting a load of inquires due to the overwhelming success his sire line has... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2015) – Longshot Solid Wager rallied from last through the middle of the stretch to win Sunday’s $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Del Mar. Solid Wager is by Birdonthewire, out of the Valid Wager mare G Ma, was bred by Madera Thoroughbreds, is owned by Gary and Cecil Barber and Stanford Stables and trained by Peter Miller. He has six wins in 24 starts, earnings of $330,606 and was coming off an Oct. 8 optional claiming win. Jockey Joe Talamo, who was married Friday, inherited the mount on Solid Wager when Victor Espinoza, originally named on the 4-year-old gelding, called in ill Sunday and was excused from his lone mount on the program. “Well, isn’t this sweet. Nice way to end the week,” said Talamo. “He’s a nice horse and he was a runner today. Peter didn’t give me any special instructions. He just said ride him. He said he’ll lay back and to keep him clear. He was way... ...

By Bloodhorse.com HEMET, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2015) — Pat Thompson of Ridgeley Farms announced Nov. 19 that young stallion He Be Fire N Ice   has moved to Southern California and will stand at Ridgeley Farm in Hemet. He Be Fire N Ice will stand the 2016 season for $2,500, stands and nurses. He Be Fire N Ice stood his initial season this year at Ranch San Miguel near San Luis Obispo, Calif. “We have been raising high class Thoroughbreds in the Hemet valley for over 50 years and we are extremely pleased to be adding ‘Fire’ to our stallion roster.” Thompson said. “I wanted to have him here before the stallion tour and he’s been here now for a little more than a month. He’s settled in nicely and is a great addition to our farm. We enjoy raising big horses here and we see He Be Fire N Ice a big part of our future.” The California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association will hold a stallion tour of Riverside County Farms... ...

SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2015) — Curlin to Mischief (Curlin–Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek), an unraced half-brother to two-time champion Beholder and Into Mischief, will be retired to stud in 2016 at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, California, Feld Family Stallions announced Wednesday. In homage to Beholder and Into Mischief’s owner Spendthrift Farm, there will be the opportunity to purchase lifetime breeding rights via the “Share the Upside” program. Breeders can earn a lifetime breeding right by paying a nominal, non-refundable fee, breed a mare, having a resulting foal and paying a $5,000 stud fee. The 4-year-old will stand for $3,500, stands and nurses. “We are very excited of having Curlin to Mischief stand in the state where his family has and will hopefully continue to thrive” said Sean Feld of Feld Family Stallions. “We are excited to offer California breeders the opportunity to breed to the half-brother of Beholder and proven sire Into Mischief,” Clay Murdock of Rancho San Miguel said. “We welcome the son of Curlin,... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2015) — My Monet, the 2-1 favorite, gamely held off the late challenge of Kiss at Midnight to win Sunday’s $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Del Mar, as daughters of Decarchy swept the top three places. My Monet took command in midstretch and persevered in the late stages to win by a half-length over Kiss at Midnight, who rallied from last place under Rafael Bejarano to narrowly miss victory. Longshot Ashley’s Sassy, 24-1 with Alonso Quinonez in the saddle, was third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up and one and one-quarter lengths in front of fourth-place Wild in the Saddle in the field of eight runners. My Monet, a 4-year-old daughter of Decarchy, out of the Lord Avie mare Madam, was bred by Ridgeley Farm, is owned by the KM Racing Enterprises, Inc. of Kenji Morinaga of Arcadia, Ca and trained by Ricky Agarie, who was scoring his first success in a stakes... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2015) – Global Hottie, a graded-stakes placed California-bred daughter of Dixie Chatter, sold at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $100,000 on Saturday. Global Hottie, a 4-year-old out of the Desert God mare Sonora Desert, was bred by Baseline Equine and sold to Brian Kahn in foal to Midnight Lute. She has four wins in seven starts and earnings of $168,490. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2015) — Multiple stakes winning California-bred Go West Marie sold for $180,000 to Calumet as a racing or broodmare prospect at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The 4-year-old daughter of Western Fame won the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint, the Fran’s Valentine, Irish O’Brien and Fleet Treat stakes. She has earned $557,520. On Wednesday, Cayllano, a Kentucky-bred stakes-winning daughter of California stallion Bluegrass Cat, sold in foal to Cross Traffic for $120,000, bought by Spendthrift Farm. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 1, 2015) – Let Faith Arise, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Kafwain, and California-bred Grade I winner Spanish Queen brought hefty returns at Sunday’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Let Faith Arise, out of the El Corredor mare Babe Hall, sold for $2.1 million to Marie Jones. She is a Grade I-winner of $488,250 in foal to Tapit on a Feb. 15 cover. Spanish Queen is a 3-year-old California-bred daughter of Tribal Rule, out of the Unusual Heat mare Spanish Bunny, who sold for $500,000 to Haruya Yoshida. She won the Grade I American Oaks and Grade II Honeymoon Stakes with earnings of $423,600 and sold as a racing or broodmare prospect. She was bred by Jack Nakkashian, Harry Bederian & Harout Kamberian and owned by Nakkashian. ...