ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 12, 2024) — Millionaire The Chosen Vron was named 2023 California-bred Horse of the Year at the CTBA Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting Tuesday night at Le Meridien Hotel in Arcadia. Ceiling Crusher and Kings River Knight were the other finalists. The Chosen Vron was a runaway winner on the strength of a remarkable season in which he extended his winning streak to eight, all stakes, including a thrilling victory in the Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar. The Chosen Vron, previously named Cal-bred champion older male and turf horse for 2022, repeated as 2023 champion older male and added champion sprinter to his resume. In 2022 he was Cal-bred champion 3-year-old. His trainer, Eric Kruljac, was named 2023 Trainer of the Year. “Incredible, the whole thing, but what’s incredible is the horse,” said Kruljac. “I wish I could share his personality in the shed row when he’s not making money. He’s just the coolest dude in the world.” The Chosen Vron was bred by Tiz... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2024) — Millionaire Harris Farms California-bred Closing Remarks  is retiring following a sixth-place finish March 3 in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park. “She’s 100% healthy and sound,” said trainer Carla Gaines. “I think she’s thinking of other things, kind of over this racing thing.” The 6-year-old daughter of Vronsky  was coming off a career-best year in 2023, winning four grade 2 races. Her most recent win came in the Goldikova Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Nov. 5. In addition to her graded wins, she placed in seven other graded stakes throughout her career, including a second-place finish in the 2021 Del Mar Oaks (G1T). Closing Remarks was known for her closing kick and consistency. Every race she was just phenomenal,” Gaines said. “She ran so hard for all those races. Every race was more exciting than the last.” SIGN UP FOR BLOODHORSE DAILY Ending the year with a sixth, beaten only two lengths, in Del Mar‘s Matriarch Stakes (G1T) Dec. 3, Gaines gave the mare a... ...

Arroyo Vista Farm Press Release VALLEY CENTER, Calif. (Mar. 6, 2024) — Arroyo Vista Farm’s graded stakes placed and multiple stakes winner Visitant sired his first reported foal on 3/4/24 at Harris Farms.  The first foal is a colt out of Miss Graziella by Mutkaddim. Harris Farms bred and own the colt and mare, Miss Graziella, who is represented by two recent winners in Mr. Big Bucks and High Gunner. Miss Graziella is out of the stakes winner Graziella ($126,098), a half-sister to Stakes winners Room For Me ($454,650) and Uncle B (431,634). Visitant is an 8-year-old son by Ghostzapper out of the Distorted Humor mare Peppermint Lounge. Visitant is a multiple stakes winner of $712,927.00, winning five stakes races and set a new track record while also placing on dirt and turf in grade II contests. He ran from ages 3-7, with wins in each year of racing. He stood his first year at Arroyo Vista Farms in 2023 and returned to the track, placing in the Grade II Del Mar Mile. He returns to Arroyo Vista Farm for the... ...

1/ST Racing Press Release BALTIMORE, Md. (Mar. 1, 2024) – 1/ST Racing announces a $25 million racing and incentive series connecting Preakness 149, The California Crown and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup. Kicking off at Preakness 149, 1/ST’s three premier race days will feature more than $12.5 million in elevated purses and $7.5 million in incentives for both dirt and turf participants. 1/ST is offering a $5 million bonus, in addition to the respective purses, to the owner(s) of the horse who wins the 149th Preakness Stakes (GI), The California Crown (GI) and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (GI).  For turf stars, 1/ST will award a $2.5 million bonus, added to the elevated purses, to the connections who win the Dinner Party Stakes (GIII), The California Crown John Henry Turf (GII) and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (GI).Preakness 149 celebrations, taking place on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course, will mark the inaugural races in this new series. The 149th Preakness Stakes purse will increase to $2 million, and the Dinner Party Stakes will increase to $500,000, making... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity CARLSBAD, Calif. (Mar. 4, 2024) — Prominent longtime Thoroughbred owner Alan Magerman passed away this past Saturday at age 88 in Carlsbad, CA.  Magerman employed racing Hall of Fame trainer  Buster Millerick in the 1960s and 70s and was the co-owner, along with Ted Aroney, of California-bred stalwart King Glorious, a son of Naevus, who won eight out of his nine starts while banking $1.1 million. Conditioned by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, King Glorious won a pair of Grade I stakes, taking the Hollywood Futurity in 1988 and the 1989 Haskell Invitational in 1989.  A Philadelphia native, memorial Services for Alan Magerman are set for Tuesday in Trevos, Pa. ...

Thoroughbred Information Agency Release TEMECULA, Calif. (Feb. 29, 2024) — Multiple graded stakes winner Tizamagician, the highest earner by Racing Hall of Fame champion Tiznow standing on the West Coast, attained his first foal on February 26: a strapping filly who was born at Milky Way Farm in Temecula, California. Bred and owned by Starlene and David Justice’s Vendetta Racing Stables, the filly is the third foal out of 9-year-old Esfera, a winning daughter of 2013 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb. “She is a wonderful, strong foal,” said Milky Way Farm owner Linda Madsen. “She was running around her stall five hours after her birth. We are delighted with her.” Esfera is booked to return to Tizamagician this year. A 7-year-old son of California-bred two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner and 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow, Tizamagician entered stud at Milky Way in 2023 with career earnings of $741,851. Campaigned in partnership by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, the two-turn specialist won five of 25 starts from ages 3 to... ...

Press Release from Gayle Van Leer CLEMENTS, Calif. (Feb. 27, 2024) — Mr. Big, a stallion George Krikorian developed into one of California’s top sires of stakes horses, was euthanized Feb. 27 due to complications from laminitis. Sire of 12 black-type winners, including California-bred champions Big Fish and Ceiling Crusher, Mr. Big was 21. “I’m heartbroken—Mr. Big was a very special horse,” Krikorian said. Mr. Big had stood the past two seasons at Pete and Evelyn Parrella’s Legacy Ranch in Clements, California, and had just begun the 2024 covering season. “Myself, Evelyn and the entire staff at Legacy Ranch are devastated by this sudden turn of events,” Parrella said. “Mr. Big has become a major influence in the breeding industry in California. His loss is not just our loss but a big loss for the entire state. We are honored that Mr. Krikorian had the confidence in Legacy Ranch to have Mr. Big stand here. He’s going to be sorely missed.” Krikorian has believed in Mr. Big since purchasing him... ...

By Bloodhorse.com AUBURN, Wash. (Feb. 27, 2024) — Slew’s Crew Racing’s multiple stakes winner Slew’s Tiz Whiz  was named Washington’s top racehorse for the second year in a row at the Washington Thoroughbred Annual Awards dinner held Feb. 24 at Emerald Downs. The now 6-year-old gelding by California stallion Slew’s Tiznow  and bred by the late Karl Krieg, also earned titles as champion sprinter and champion handicap horse. He is trained by Tom Wenzel. Blazingbellablu  earned her third state championship title as champion older filly or mare. The 6-year-old daughter of California stallion Grazen  and homebred for Petra Lewin of Rainbow Meadows Farm and trainer Charles Essex was named 2021 Washington horse of the year as a 3-year-old in 2021 and was 2022’s champion older filly or mare. For the third year in a row. Blue Ribbon Farm’s Conveyance  was named sire of the year, while Ron and Nina Hagen’s Caliofrnia-bred Moscow Symphony, a first- and second-generation multiple stakes producer, was named broodmare of the year. The Hagens, who own El Dorado Farms, were also named breeders... ...

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 26, 2024) — Prohibitive favorite Grease Missile didn’t disappoint Monday, as the California-bred coasted to an easy victory in the $60,000 Princess of Palms Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Turf Paradise. Grease Missile is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Midnight Lute mare Midnightrush, was bred by Dino Bates and Josephine Bates. Is owned by Jeremy Ramsland and trained by Bart Hone. She has three wins in five starts, earnings of $101,330 and was coming off a Dec. 12 allowance win. Ridden by Giovanni Franco, she sped the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.45, won by 4 1/2 lengths and paid $2.10 across the board. ...

TAKARAZUKA, Japan (Feb. 25, 2024) – Multiple group winner Win Marvel, a Japanese-bred son of California stallion and Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another, won Sunday’s $548,644 (US) Group III Hankyu Hai at Hanshin Racecourse. The 5-year-old Win Marvel, who beat Asakara King by a nose, has six wins in 21 starts and earnings of $2,135,499 (US). He ran the 1400 meters on soft turf in 1:21.20. ...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Feb. 23, 2024) – Pagan, a 6-year-old Irish-bred son of California stallion Sir Prancealot, extended his win streak to four by winning Friday’s $400,000 Invest Saudi International Jockeys Challenge Round 3  at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. Under jockey Luis Saez, Pagan stalked outside pacesetter Beehive and took over the lead with 300 meters to go. He has eight wins in 28 starts and earnings of $460,994, which include the $200,000 first-place purse from Friday. Pagan came into the race off a win in the Jan. 28 Dirt Sprint Qualifier and ran the 1200 meters on turf in 1:10.84. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2024) — California-bred Slow Down Andy , winner of the 2023 Awesome Again Stakes (G1), has been retired, trainer Doug O’Neill said Feb. 22. O’Neill conditioned the 5-year-old Nyquist   homebred on behalf of longtime client Reddam Racing. Slow Down Andy had not raced since winning the Awesome Again. He recorded five workouts in 2024, but exited his most recent work at Santa Anita Park with a non-displaced sesamoid fracture, according to O’Neill. “He was a dream to train—a class act who gave us 100% every morning,” O’Neill said. “We’re disappointed, but we’re proud of him. He was a super competitive, classy horse.” Slow Down Andy retired with five wins from 14 starts and earnings of $1,276,600. He won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at age 2, the Sunland Park Derby (G3) and Del Mar Derby (G2T) at age 3, and the Awesome Again at 4. SIGN UP FOR BLOODHORSE DAILY “He was our Kentucky Derby horse prior to him getting sick,” O’Neill said. “He won graded stakes at age 2,... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2024) — The Chosen Vron, the winner of 10 stakes since September 2022, including the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last summer, will have his graded stakes debut of 2024 in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita March 16. The winner of the California Cup Sprint at six furlongs for statebreds Jan. 13, The Chosen Vron missed a scheduled start in the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita when the one-mile race for statebreds was not run on Monday when that program was cancelled because of poor weather. The Tiznow Stakes failed to draw sufficient entries when offered for Friday’s program. The $100,000 San Carlos Stakes is run at seven furlongs and is a logical alternative for The Chosen Vron’s next start, trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac said. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports “It’s about the only target, I would think,” Kruljac said. The Chosen Vron,... ...

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Feb. 18, 2024) — California-bred longshot Alotaluck picked up 10 points toward a Kentucky Derby berth by finishing second to favored Stronghold in Sunday’s $400,000 Grade III Sunland Park Derby. Alotaluck is by Sir Prancealot, out of the  Lucks Mine mare Colinda Dawn, was bred by owner Eleanor Martin and is trained by Ty Garrett. He closed fast at odds of 14-1 to nose out Lucky Jeremy and has earnings of $132,360. Cal-bred Curlin’s Kaos finished fourth and earned four Kentucky Derby points. He is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Curlin mare It’s Vengeance, was bred by James Shenouda & Alfred Pais, is owned by Zephyr Racing and Pais and is trained by Antonio Garcia.  ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 18, 2024)—Idle since a heartbreak nose defeat in the Grade I La Brea on opening day, George Krikorian’s homebred Big Pond cut back in distance a furlong and turned the tables on her California-bred rival Daddysruby as she took command a furlong out and powered to a three-length score in Sunday’s $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita.                 The Spring Fever is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sponsored horses.                 Trained by Tim Yakteen and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Big Pond got six furlongs in 1:09.28 and could very likely be headed back to graded stakes competition in her most convincing win to date. “She’s a big scopey filly so the cut back in distance was just a little concerning especially when we drew the inside, with the speed on the outside of us, but I guess having the ground break out from underneath us went in our favor,” said Yakteen. “We were able to... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 18, 2024)—A racing enthusiast since childhood, the Southern California News Group’s veteran turf writer Art Wilson died early this morning near his home in Victorville, CA, at age 71.  Wilson, who had gallantly fought a form of blood cancer for more than 10 years, was scheduled to attend today’s Winter Corgi Nationals at Santa Anita but had to be transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Apple Valley late yesterday afternoon and subsequently passed due to heart failure earlier today at 3:30 a.m.                 First introduced to racing by his late father, Wilson, a 1970 graduate of Glendora High School, fell in love with the game as a railbird and relished the opportunity to cover the sport dating back to the mid-1980s and as recently as this past weekend, when he was at Santa Anita to cover the Grade III Palos Verdes for the Southern California News Group, a consortium of newspapers that includes the LA Daily News, Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune,... ...

From California Horse Power Coalition ARCADIA, Calif (Feb. 15, 2024) — As California grapples with a budget deficit in the tens of billions of dollars, the horse industry has grown financially for the state over the last five years; responsible for billions of dollars in economic impact and tens of thousands of jobs, according to a report released by the American Horse Council. In 2023, the equine ecosystem provided a total value of $11.6 billion to California’s economy and a direct contribution of $6.5 billion to state GDP, according to the report. This marks a significant increase from the American Horse Council’s previous report in 2018, which found a total value of $8.3 billion to the state economy and a direct contribution of $4.5 billion to state GDP. Through the care of the state’s near-500,000 horses, events and recreation, and the ripple effect on other sectors of the economy, the California equine industry generates 132,496 jobs across the state and directly employs 93,467 workers. Five years ago, those numbers were... ...

NEWCASTLE, New South Wales (Feb. 18, 2024) – Multiple stakes winner Jack Duggan, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Jack Milton, won Saturday’s $45,000 Group Training Apprentices Benchmark Handicap at Newcastle Racecourse. The 6-year-old gelding has six wins in 27 starts and earnings of $112,000 (Aus). Jack Duggan, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Unbridled Treasure, ran the 1890 meters in 1:56.30 and won by a nose at odds of 5-1. ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2024)  – Brickyard Ride, the blazingly fast California-bred who won eight stakes at Santa Anita including three graded races, has been retired at age 7. Owned and bred by Sonny Pais and trained his entire career by Craig Lewis, Brickyard Ride is from the first crop by prominent California stallion Clubhouse Ride. Brickyard Ride won 13 races and $925,477 from 31 starts and retires as the leading earner by Clubhouse Ride, also trained by Lewis. Brickyard Ride “did everything you could hope a horse could do,” Lewis said this week at Santa Anita. “He did enough for us. I’ve had some fast ones, but he obviously had some serious speed. He’s a tribute to Clubhouse Ride, and what a great stud he is.” The unspecified injury Brickyard Ride sustained in a Jan. 25 workout might not be career-ending for a younger horse, but Pais and Lewis figured Brickyard Ride’s time had come.  “He’s 7, it would be silly to bring him back,” Lewis said. ... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2024) — The 2023 California-bred Horse of the Year will be announced at the CTBA Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at Le Meridien Hotel in Arcadia. Finalists for Horse of the Year are, in alphabetical order, Ceiling Crusher, Kings River Knight and The Chosen Vron. For ticket information for the Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting, click Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner | CTBA or contact Christy Chapman at Christy@ctba.com. Other Cal-bred champions to be recognized at the banquet: Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Male – Yo Yo Candy, bred by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, owned by Happy Tenth Stable and trained by Daniel Velazquez.   Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Female – Grand Slam Smile, bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and trained by Steven Specht. Champion California-bred Three-Year-Old Male – One in Vermillion, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, owned by Jonathan Kalman, trained by Esteban Martinez. Champion California-bred Three-Year-Old Female – Ceiling Crusher, bred by Harris Farms, owned by Wonderland Racing Stables, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff and Ty Leatherman, trained... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity  ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 10, 2024)—Although he didn’t show his customary early zip, Richard Mandella’s heavily favored Big City Lights kept to his task when it counted and was up to beat Bob Baffert’s Hopkins by a nose in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Flavien Prat, California-bred Big City Lights, got six furlongs in 1:09.91.                 With Hopkins and Juan Hernandez breaking sharply from his outside box, Big City Lights trailed by a length three furlongs from home and appeared to be in deep water at the furlong marker, as Hopkins had increased his advantage to 1 ½ lengths.  From there however, Hopkins, tired a bit late at the rail and Big City Lights was just up on the money. “He broke just okay, he was pretty quiet before the race,” said Prat. “I was kind of chasing the leader actually, but he was very game to get the job done. Turning for home I thought (Hopkins) was gone. The... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2024) — Jerry Antonucci, a public handicapper for Los Angeles-area newspaper for nearly four decades, died on Tuesday of cancer, his friends said. Antonucci was 77. From 1973 until his retirement in 2010, Antonucci was a fixture on the front row of press boxes at Fairplex Park, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita. Antonucci did selections and wrote articles for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner from 1973 until that paper folded in the autumn of 1989. Antonucci moved to the Orange County Register shortly thereafter and remained with the paper until his retirement. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Through the 2010s and as recently as last fall, Antonucci was an occasional visitor to the races, and the press box, on Saturdays. Antonucci’s career coincided with a time when newspaper handicappers developed a following among frequent racegoers. A person did not have to travel far in the grandstands or clubhouse to find racegoers who... ...

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 8, 2024) – My Man Biggie is the lone California-bred entered in Thursday’s $60,000 Walter R. Cluer Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise. My Man Biggie is by Mr. Big, out of the Yankee Gentleman mare Twin Spirit, was bred by George Krikorian, is owned by Cameron McVay and is trained by Shannon Simpson. He has four wins in 21 starts, earnings of $84,761 and is coming off a Nov. 8 allowance win. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 5, 2024) – California-bred Grade II winner Leggs Galore sold for $200,000 at Monday’s Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale. Sold as a broodmare, Leggs Galore is by Bayern, out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, was bred by owner William Sims, consigned by Legacy Bloodstock, agent, and was purchased by Gainesway Farm. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Leggs Galore won the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes, as well as the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint twice, the Mizdirection, Irish O’Brien and Fran’s Valentine Stakes. She finished her racing career with nine wins in 19 starts and earnings of $695,048. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2024) — Multiple graded winner Closing Remarks became the newest California-bred millionaire by virtue of her earnings in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita. Closing Remarks is by Vronsky, out of the Unusual Heat mare Orange Cove, was bred by owner Harris Farms and trained by Carla Gaines. She has seven wins in 26 starts with earnings of $1,000,320. ...

By Bloodhorse.com KINGSBURG, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2024) — Grade 2-placed, multiple stakes winner Conquest Farenheit   has been sold to Hanson’s River Ranch near Kingsburg, Calif., south of Fresno. The 10-year-old son of Scat Daddy is the farm’s first Thoroughbred stallion. “In the past, we had the pleasure of sale-prepping several of his yearlings for the Harris Farms sale consignment and were very impressed by them. When we heard he may be available, we were excited at the opportunity to acquire him,” said farm owner Dar Hanson. Conquest Farenheit will continue to stand for $3,000. A third-crop sire this year, Conquest Farenheit has sired 12 winners from 23 starters to date. His most accomplished runners include multiple stakes-placed winner Lusma, who ran third in both the Golden Gate Debutante Stakes and Everett Nevin Stakes; and, Cali Conquest, who set a nine-furlong track record of 1:50.20 at Century Downs in Canada last October. The sire was a top five second-crop sire in California for 2023 and the leading sire of his class... ...

Sale Results By Bloodhorse.com POMONA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2024) — The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Winter Mixed Sale finished with solid results as a 2-year-old Sir Prancealot   filly headlined the sale after realizing $37,000 from Harris Farms. Consigned by Checkmate Thoroughbreds (Adrian Gonzalez), the bay, consigned as Hip 146, was bred in California by her consignor and Hector Cuevas and sold at the end of Tuesday’s session. Out of the unraced Unusual Heat mare Katie’s Heat, she is half sibling to two winners. She boasts the family of multiple grade 1 winner Brother Derek  and graded stakes placed Don’tsellmeshort  under the second dam. The juvenile had been galloping for 90 days when it was sold and was initially offered as a yearling last year at the Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of All Ages Sale but failed to sell at $27,000. Havens Bloodstock Agency sold the unraced 3-year-old stallion/racing prospect, Bling Away Baby, to his breeders H &E Ranch for $35,000; the Scottsdale, Ariz., operation initially sold him as a yearling in... ...

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Jan. 29, 2024) — California-bred Principe Carlo snapped a nearly two-year losing streak with a speedy win in Monday’s $60,000 Hank Mills Sr. Stakes at Turf Paradise. Principe Carlo is by Coil, out of the Rahy mare Princess Ezra, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Mia Familia Racing Stable and Rockingham Ranch and is trained by Justin Evans. He has nine wins in 34, starts, earnings of $543,423 and was coming off a fourth in the Jan. 13 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2024) — California-bred Slow Down Andy, sidelined since winning the GI Awesome Again here Sept. 30, had his third work on the comeback trail Sunday for trainer Doug O’Neill. The 5-year-old Nyquist colt drilled four furlongs in 48.20 seconds.       Slow Down Andy returned to the work tab Jan. 14. He missed the final three months of 2023, including a planned start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic here Nov. 4, due to filling in an ankle that developed after the Awesome Again.        “He’s doing well,” O’Neill said. “He didn’t need any surgery. He was just jarred up after his win and needed some time. His recovery went as smooth as you could hope.”       A homebred for Reddam Racing, Slow Down Andy has a record of 5-4-3 in 14 starts with $1,276,600 in earnings. As a 2-year-old, he won the GII Los Alamitos Futurity. As a 3-year-old he won both the GIII Sunland Derby and... ...

From TOC Press Release ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 17, 2024) — Arcadia, Calif., – John C. Harris, Ty Green and Andy Mathis have agreed to join the board of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). Mr. Harris, owner of Harris Farms, is a legendary figure in California racing as both an owner and breeder. He was inducted into the California Racing Hall of Fame in 2008 and was honored last year by the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation for his industry service. Harris Farms has been connected to over 50 California divisional champions, including eight California Horses of the Year. He is a former California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Commissioner and currently serves on the board of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA). Mr. Green is also an owner and breeder and is a current Board Member of the CTBA. He is a lawyer by profession, based in San Luis Obispo, and has raced under the name of SLO Racing Stable since 2010.  He brings the unique prospective identifying as the “small... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2024) – The last time The Chosen Vron and Kings River Knight met they finished a nose apart when first and second in the Sensational Star Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita last March. Both have since have outstanding careers, including stakes wins a half-hour apart against statebreds on Saturday at Santa Anita. The wins may lead to a rematch between the 6-year-old geldings in the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for California-breds at a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 19, a race The Chosen Vron won by 6 1/2 lengths last year. Kings River Knight did not start in the 2023 Tiznow Stakes, but did win his fifth stakes in the last year in Saturday’s $201,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports The Chosen Vron won his 14th career stakes in the $150,000 California Cup Sprint at six furlongs, his 10th stakes win in... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. – Mici’s Express won his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s $188,000 California Cup Derby for statebreds at Santa Anita. But instead of being a prep for a challenging start in a graded stakes in coming weeks or months, Mici’s Express is going to the sidelines. “I’ll turn him out for awhile,” trainer Steve Knapp said on Sunday. “He’s run hard enough. He deserves time off.” Mici’s Express, bred by Eagle Ridge Racing & Rancho San Miguel and owned by Tom Halasz, had been a busy colt since last April. He has won 2 of 11 starts and earned $248,530, racing at least once a month through the final nine months of 2023. Along the way, Mici’s Express needed five races to beat maidens and then ran in five stakes in his final five starts of 2023, including a third by three-quarters of a length in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar in August and a nose loss in the I’m Smokin Stakes there in early September. “In... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2024) – Even-money favorite Kings River Knight, a grandson of legendary California stallion Unusual Heat, went wire to wire to win Saturday’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, presented by City National Bank, at Santa Anita. Kings River Knight is by Acclamation, out of the Poteen mare Seasontoperfection, was bred by Old English Rancho, is owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, the Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth Tevelde and is trained by John Sadler. “Old English Rancho are just great California breeders, and Buddy Johnston was my neighbor for about 25-30 years across from Santa Anita here, so it’s wonderful to see these silks win,” said Sadler. “They have great people, and it is a great California legacy.” Kings River Knight has eight wins in 14 starts, earnings of $536,010 and has wins in three consecutive starts and five of his last six starts. He was fourth in this race last year. Kings River Knight ran the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.02 and won by one-half... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity  ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 13, 2024)—Named for a Country Western star from years gone by, Nick Alexander’s homebred Rose Maddox proved extra game late in taking Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Spring by a nose under Flavien Prat.  Trained by Steve Miyadi, the 5-year-old mare by Grazen got about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:13.45.                 The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint presented by John Deere is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for registered California-bred or sired horses.                 Mid-pack about six lengths off of eventual second place finisher Chancery Way a half mile out, Rose Maddox slid up the rail to the dirt crossing, engaged Chancery Way leaving the quarter pole and proved best in a thrilling three-way photo on the money. “She fires every time,” said Alexander. “Her dam (Heat the Rocks) is by Unusual Heat and her sire is Grazen…so you’ve got the queen and the king right on top. She doesn’t... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2024) – After dumping jockey Frank Alvarado in the paddock, favored Grand Slam Smile was all business on the racetrack, shaking off challenges from Recalcitrant and Asado Fries to win Saturday’s $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita. Grand Slam Smile is by Smiling Tiger, out of the prolific Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Steve Specht. She has four wins in six starts, earnings of $329,900 and was coming off a second in the Nov. 25 Golden Gate Debutante. “I just want to say that to win this race at this point in time for Mr. and Mrs. Williams is very special,” said Specht.  “They’ve been with me a long time and with everything going on, to have a filly with this much talent…It’s really special.”  Grand Slam Smile ran the mile on turf in 1:36.59 and won by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 13, 2024) — With blinkers added, Mici’s Express turned the tables on even-money favorite Last Call London and won Saturday’s $200,000 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Mici’s Express is by Slew’s Tiznow, out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Harlan Express, was bred by Eagle Ridge Racing & Rancho San Miguel, is owned by Thomas Halasz and trained by Steve Knapp. “I’m on cloud nine, I love it!” said Halasz. “To just think about it, you win the California Chrome Cal Cup Derby, now that’s one of my favorite horses of all time and I won the race. I love it.  All of my horses are Cal-bred, I have 35 Cal-breds in the Cal-bred program, it is great, it is the perfect place to run, the purses are great, the fields are good. I love being with Steve Knapp and honestly, we are having more fun than we can stand.” Mici’s Express has two wins in 11 starts, earnings... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 14, 2024) —   California-bred Grade I winner Slow Down Andy, who was forced to miss the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita because of filling in an ankle, worked for the first time Sunday since his win in the GI Awesome Again here Sept. 30.        Trained by Doug O’Neill, Slow Down Andy worked an easy three furlongs in 37.0 seconds. The 5-year-old full horse by Nyquist, a homebred for Reddam Racing, has banked more than $1.2 million while compiling a record of 5-4-2 in 14 starts. In addition to the Awesome Again, Slow Down Andy’s other major wins came in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in 2021 and GII Del Mar Derby on turf in 2022.       Slow Down Andy was one of 210 workers at Santa Anita Sunday.  ...

NEW ORLEANS, La. (Jan. 13, 2024) – Swift as I Am is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds. Swift as I Am is by Danza, out of the Artie Schiller mare As I Am, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Joel Hunsburger and trained by Tanner Tracy. He has four wins in 15 starts, earnings of $118,510 and is coming off a fourth in the Dec. 23 Richard R. Scherer Memorial. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 10, 2024) – Maybe I Will, a stakes-winning California-bred broodmare, sold for $100,000 in foal to Omaha Beach at Wednesday’s session of the Keeneland Winter Sale. Maybe I Will is by Will Take Charge, out of the Henny Hughes mare My Due Process, was bred by Thomas Bachman, was consigned by Havens Bloodstock, agent for Fairview, and was purchased by Country Life Farm, agent. A 6-year-old, Maybe I Will won the Hastings Stakes, four of 13 starts overall with earnings of $126,631. ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2024) —The California-bred sprinter Big City Lights won for the first time in 17 months in an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Saturday that was likely a prep for the 5-year-old’s graded stakes debut next month. Trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday that Big City Lights may return in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes, a $100,000 race at six furlongs on Feb. 10. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Big City Lights was always near the front and won by a half-length over the 2023 graded stakes winner Newgate. Big City Lights was timed in 1:14.85 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 99. Big City Lights is by Mr. Big, out of the Exchange Rate mare Champagne Exchange, was bred by Bar C Racing Stable and is owned by William Peeples. He has four wins in eight starts and earnings of $332,420. Big City Lights was beaten in his four previous starts by The Chosen Vron, the leading... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2024) —Eddie Truman, a fixture among Southern California trainers for 50 years, has retired. Truman, 76, had his final runner at Los Alamitos on Dec. 17, and won most recently at Santa Anita in June. His retirement, announced on Thursday through Santa Anita’s publicity department, ends a career that includes 763 wins. A former jockey, Truman had his best year as a trainer in 1980, winning 53 races, including stakes at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona with Damas and Marble Court. Truman trained Casino King, a stakes winner at Remington Park in 1999 and at Golden Gate Fields in 2001, and had two outstanding California-bred mares in the 2010s with Go West Marie and Moonless Sky. Go West Marie won three of her final four starts in 2015 in stakes for statebreds, including the Fran’s Valentine Stakes at a mile on turf in May of that year. Two years later, Moonless Sky won her lone stakes of her career in the Fran’s... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2024) — Veteran trainer Gary Stute won his first race of the Classic Meet and breeder Derek Lawson also enjoyed a lucrative payday Sunday when the 3-year-old filly Safa won Sunday’s fourth race, a six-furlong maiden race for California-breds.       Bet down to the 1-2 favorite, the daughter of Grazen blitzed the field by nine lengths under Tiago Pereira to earn her diploma. For Lawson, the victory was doubly sweet. Not only did Lawson breed Safa from his broodmare Hadarra, by Harlan’s Holiday, he also serves as Pereira’s agent.         “It was a good day certainly,” Lawson said Sunday morning. “Gary did a great job to have the filly ready and Tiago got her home.”       Safa was just the second horse to start at the Classic Meet for Stute. His first starter, Divine Feminine, ran second on Friday in a $10,000 claiming race.         Lawson said Hadarra, a five-time winner on... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2024) – Benefitting from an early speed duel between favorites Sweet Azteca and Hot Peppers, California-bred multiple stakes winner Chimosa broke through with her first graded score on Monday with a game victory in the $100,000 Grade III Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita. Chismosa is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Cat Dreams mare You Can Dream, was bred by owner Jaime Renella and is trained by Rafael DeLeon. She has four wins in 12 starts, earnings of $368,250 and was coming off a fifth in the Nov. 12 Betty Grable. The key to the race was a decision by jockey Kyle Frey, when favored Sweet Azteca ducked out at the top of the stretch. Frey essentially cut the corner with Chismosa and went on to a hard-fought score. Chismosa was about two lengths off Sweet Azteca and Frankie Dettori while third mid-way on the turn.  From there, she angled outside the favorite leaving the quarter pole but when Sweet Azteca... ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 27, 2023) — California-bred Ward ‘n Jerry, a graded stakes winner in 2020 who gained a following in California because of his longevity, was retired on Tuesday at the age of 10. Ward ‘n Jerry was scheduled to start in a $10,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields in the day’s eighth race, but was withdrawn at the insistence of owners and breeders Larry and Marianne Williams. “We got to worrying that he would get claimed and end up somewhere we wouldn’t like it,” Dan Kiser, racing manager for the Williamses, said on Wednesday. “We decided not to take the chance.” Tuesday’s race would have been Ward ‘n Jerry’s final start in California anyway. Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita, both owned by 1/ST Racing, have a rule allowing horses to race only through their 10-year-old seasons. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Since racehorses have official birthdays on Jan. 1, Ward ‘n Jerry will... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2023) — Longshot Daddysruby won a head-bob by a desperate nose over Big Pond in a thrilling duel of California-breds for the prestigious $300,000 Grade I La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Daddysruby is the first graded winner by Canadian stallion Frac Daddy, out of the You and I mare Youtheprizeandi, was bred by Jethorse, is owned by Jethorse, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber and is trained by Peter Miller.  “We knew from the inside that we would have to go,” said Miller. I was hoping for an outside draw, but I drew the two hole when I listened in. We knew she had a lot of speed and we knew he kind of had to go. I told Juan, ‘Help her away from there, if they go crazy, she doesn’t need the lead you can sit, but if you can get the lead take it.’ And he did. “You don’t remember all the photo finishes that you won,... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2023) — Watsonville, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Jack Milton, would not be denied in Tuesday’s Grade II, $200,000 Mathis Mile, as he bested heavily favored Almendares by a nose, providing trainer Mark Glatt with an opening day Hat Trick and jockey Antonio Fresu with a riding double as Watsonville got the one mile turf affair in 1:34.55.                 Naturally quick from his outside post, Watsonville sat just off of longshot Calm Sea into the first turn and stalked him up the backside, eventually gaining the advantage midway around the far turn, however Calm Sea battled back gamely turning for home, at which point Almendares put a head in front a sixteenth of a mile out.                 From there, Watsonville seemed to relish the fight, battling back gamely with the favorite to his outside and prevailing narrowly on the money in his first stakes triumph.                  Fourth in the Grade I Hollywood Derby Dec. 2, Watsonville, who in his only other... ...

HANSHIN, Japan (Dec. 23, 2023) — Win Marvel, a Japanese-bred son of California stallion I’ll Have Another, won Saturday’s Group II $908,931 Hanshin Cup. Win Marvel has five wins in 20 starts and earnings of $1,959,170 (US). The 4-year-old colt ran the 1400 meters in 1:19.30 on a firm turf course and won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 8-1 in a field of 17. ...

By DRF.com Regardless of where in California Grazen resides, it’s a safe bet that he will continue his run at or near the top of the state’s sire charts as he comes off a strong season in 2023. Grazen, who will stand at Mike and Angie Scully’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Training center for 2024, led this year’s California general sires earnings list through Dec. 14. He has a good chance to hold sway through the end of the year, with total progeny earnings of $4,648,407 to $4,036,340 for Stay Thirsty. Grazen’s lead is even more impressive considering Stay Thirsty moved to Lovacres Ranch in California in 2018 after spending his early stud career in Kentucky, where stallions have larger books of mares. Stay Thirsty led California stallions by both runners, with 191, and winners, with 89. Grazen, who also leads California’s turf earnings list, had 65 winners from 122 runners through Dec. 14. Grazen had a strong year in the Golden State Series, a restricted stakes schedule for registered California-bred or... ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2023) – After a stretch long duel with pacesetter Stolen Treasure, Last Call London got up in the final strides to win the $101,000 King Glorious Stakes Sunday, the final day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos. The neck victory by the gelded son of Stay Thirsty and the Empire Way mare Zo Lo’s Lov gave trainer Peter Miller a sweep of the two Golden State Series stakes 2-year-olds. He won the $100,000 Soviet Problem a week earlier with the filly Madison Rae, who led throughout to post a 9-1 upset. Owned by Tom London, Eugene Zondlo and breeder Terry Lovingier, Last Call London, who was second for most of the journey, prevailed by a neck as the 2-1 second choice.  Racing without blinkers for the first time, he completed one mile in 1:38.15 and returned $6, $3.60 and $2.40. He’s now won twice in eight starts and earned $156,870. Stolen Treasure, the only member of the field of seven... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec 17, 2023) — All bonuses that are part of the California-bred Incentive Program will continue to be paid to qualifying horses that race in the upcoming Golden Gate Fields meet, according to Doug Burge, president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. That includes all existing awards for breeders, owners and stallion owners. There is a 30 percent owner award bonus in open Maiden Special Weight races and in allowance races for finishing first through fifth. There also is a 20 percent bonus for the winner of a starter allowance race.  The Maiden Bonus Program makes available a $10,000 bonus for owners of registered California-Bred or California-Sired maidens in Thoroughbred Maiden Special Weight races in Northern California. ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2023) — California-bred Closing Remarks had the best season of her career in 2023, winning four graded turf stakes at Del Mar and Santa Anita. With career earnings only $180 short of $1 million, the 5-year-old mare’s career is not done. Trainer Carla Gaines said on Friday that Closing Remarks will remain in training next year at the insistence of owner and breeder John Harris. “He’s very much a racing fan,” Gaines said. “He wants to continue running her.” Closing Remarks has won 7 of 25 starts and earned $999,820. In 2023, she won 4 of 10 starts and earned $601,000. The stakes wins were all at the Grade 2 level – the Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita in April, the Yellow Ribbon Handicap and John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar in the summer, and the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. The wins ranged in distances from a mile to 1 1/8 miles. :: Bet the races... ...

From Rancho San Miguel Press Release SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2023)—Southern California sprint sensation Bolden, a dual-surface winner who exhibited sub-1:08 speed during his undefeated racing career, will initiate stallion duties at Rancho San Miguel in 2024. The 5-year-old son of Santa Anita Park track record-holder and leading California sire Square Eddie will stand for an introductory fee of $3,500, live foal guarantee. Bred in California by Reddam Racing, Bolden sold for $100,000 to owner Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch as one of the top-priced colts at the Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale in 2019, with trainer Peter Miller serving as agent. Under Miller’s conditioning, the precocious chestnut made an auspicious career debut in June of his 2-year-old season, defeating rival state-breds with a dominating, 5 1/2-length winning margin in a five-furlong maiden special weight race on dirt at Santa Anita. Bolden’s next three starts were made in rich allowance optional claiming company for trainer Phil D’Amato, beginning with a facile, six-length win on Santa Anita dirt at six furlongs.... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2023) – Longshot Madison Rae held off odds-on favorite Loretta Lynn to give her freshman stallion, Pavel, his first stakes winner in Sunday’s $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos. Madison Rae, one of three starters bred by Reddam Racing, went wire-to-wire under jockey Edwin Maldonado. She is out of the Scat Daddy mare Tafetta, is owned by CYBT, Rafter JR Ranch, STD Racing Stable and Michael Nentwig and trained by Peter Miller. “Edwin on the lead is very, very hard to run down,” said Miller, who had three winners on the card. “When I saw the splits I felt pretty good. She was very game and tenacious. I thought the favorite (runner-up Loretta Lynn) looked tough and I thought it wasn’t an easy race, but I thought if this filly could get clear and make an easy lead she might get brave. Sometimes everything works out.’’ She has two wins in four starts, earnings of $109,940 and was... ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2023) — Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Chancery Way is bound for Santa Anita this winter after she won a sprint stakes for the third time in her last four starts in Saturday’s $75,900 Bear Fan Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Golden Gate Fields. Trainer Jamey Thomas said on Sunday that the $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 18 may be the next start for Chancery Way. “More than likely, it will be something down south,” Thomas said. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the Bear Fan Stakes at six furlongs, Chancery Way led throughout, pulling clear in early stretch to lead by three lengths with a furlong remaining and by 1 1/2 lengths at the wire. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Chancery Way, bred by Harris Farms & John Nicoletti, did not face... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2023) — California-bred Slow Down Andy, who missed the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita this fall because of a swollen ankle, is scheduled to return to trainer Doug O’Neill’s stable this weekend after a rest at breeders/owners Paul and Zillah Reddam’s Southern California farm. Slow Down Andy is expected to race at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting in early 2024. “We’re excited to have him back for Santa Anita,” O’Neill said. Bred by the Reddams, Slow Down Andy was under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Classic when the injury was diagnosed. A 4-year-old, Slow Down Andy earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic with a win in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 30. Slow Down Andy has won 5 of 14 starts and earned $1,276,600. The $302,000 Awesome Again Stakes was his fourth stakes win and first in a Grade 1. ...

From Hunter Stallion Station Press Release WILTON, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2023) — Finnegan’s Wake, the Grade I-winning son of Irish champion, Powerscourt (GB), has moved to the Hunter Stallion Station of Dr. Robert Hunter in Wilton, CA for the 2024 breeding season. From a relatively small crop sample of 11 registered foals of racing age, Finnegan’s Wake has produced 10 runners (91%) and 5 winners that visited the winner circle 19 times, including two maiden allowance winners in Mogollon Rim and Lucky Lad. Pedigree researchers will also note Finnegan’s Wake is a half-sibling to Puca, the dam of this year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Dornoch, who valiantly captured the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct this year. Hunter Stallion Station was established in 1985, by its founder and UC Davis graduate Robert Hunter, DVM. He and his staff will be happy to help you. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2023) – California-bred Wild Jewels re-rallied in late stretch to edge Classy City, then survived a stewards’ inquiry to win Saturday’s $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes for 2-year-olds at Golden Gate. Wild Jewels is by Tamarando, out of the Distorted Humor mare Ribbon of Jewels, was bred by owner Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Steven Specht. The Williamses also are breeders and owners of two other winners on Saturday’s Golden Gate card — Tiger in My Tank, a 2-year-old California-sired son of Smiling Tiger who won an optional claimer and Ward ‘n Jerry, a 10-year-old Cal-bred son of Lucky Pulpit and former graded winner who took the day’s finale, a $12,500 claimer. Wild Jewels has four wins in six starts, earnings of $148,810 and was coming off a win in the Nov. 11 Golden Nugget. He ran the mile in 1:39.90 and won by a half-length at odds of 2-5 in a field of six. ...

From California Horse Power Coalition As the year draws to a close, we celebrate a significant milestone: the first anniversary of the California Horse Power Coalition. This achievement and the progress we have made are testaments to your unwavering support. Together, we’ve remained steadfast in our mission to preserve and protect California’s vibrant equestrian culture. Let’s reflect on our collective accomplishments this year. Our Growing Community: We are thrilled to report that our supporter base now includes over 2,000 subscribers and followers actively engaged with our coalition, participating in industry events, and voicing their support. Notably, our partners have grown to 16 diverse organizations that are committed to furthering our shared goals.  Advocating for Equine Welfare: As a community, we know that California is the gold standard when it comes to safeguarding equine athletes, serving as a model for the rest of the country.  As you may know, California racetracks are now considered 2X safer when compared to the national average. To uplift this fact and further safeguard our industry in the years to... ...

By DRF.com HOBBS, N.M. (Nov. 25, 2024) — California-bred One in Vermillion, the winner of the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga in August and stakes in three other states, has been retired after sustaining a fetlock injury in a workout at Zia Park earlier this month. Owner Jonathan Kalman said on Friday that One in Vermillion underwent successful surgery on Nov. 6, two days after the injury was diagnosed, but that the injury will prevent the colt from returning to racing. Kalman said he has held discussions with stallion farms about a stud deal for One in Vermillion, but that no deal has been finalized. :: DRF’s Black Friday Sale: Get 20% off (almost) everything in the DRF Shop. Code: BF2023 “I’m looking at a couple of different opportunities,” Kalman said. Kalman described the injury as a medial fracture and that there “is much less chance of returning to the track with that fracture” compared to a lateral injury, he said. Bred by Richard Barton Enterpises and trained... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2023) — As California-bred and -sired runners are a vital component to the Southern California racing program, Santa Anita has included 16 stakes restricted to Golden State Series eligibles in its schedule for the upcoming Classic meet, it was announced on Wednesday. Two of the Cal-bred stakes will be run on Santa Anita Derby day April 6 — the $125,000 Echo Eddie and the $125,000 Evening Jewel Stakes — and five will be run both on California Cup Day, Jan. 13 and again on California Gold Rush Day, May 25.  The Cal Cup card consists of:  California Cup Derby, 3 YO (CA), 8 1/2 F – $200,000 California Cup Oaks, F, 3 YO (CA), 8 F (T) – $200,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint, 4 & UP (CA), 6 F – $150,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, 4 & UP (CA), 9 F (T) – $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint, F/M, 4 & UP (CA), *6 1/2 (TH) – $150,000  ... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2023) – Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Star Racer emerged from a wall of horses at the head of the stretch and pulled away to win Saturday’s $50,000 Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate. Star Racer is a California-bred by Vronsky, out of the Bold Badgett mare Honey Bee Lucky, was bred by Old English Rancho and Bruce Headley, is owned by Blue Moon Racing & Steven Dietrich and is trained by Angelo Tekos, Jr. The $10,000 purchase from the Harris Farms consignment at the Northern California Yearling Sale has six wins in 21 starts, earnings of $128,178 and was making his first start since a second in an Apr. 1 allowance. Star Racer went off at 3-1 in a field of eight. ...

MEXICO CITY, Mex. (Nov. 17, 2023) – Baby Got Rhythm, a graduate of the Northern California Yearling Sale, won last week’s $60,086 Grade I Fasig-Tipton Classico Lea for 2-year-old fillies at Hipodromo de las Americas. Baby Got Rhythm is the first stakes winner for sire Uptown Rythem, out of the Eskendereya mare It’sallyoursbaby and was bred by C-Punch Ranch. She ran the mile in 1:40 4/5 and won by a nose at odds of 5-1 in a field of 11. She was a $1,200 purchase at last year’s Northern California Yearling Sale out of the Harris Farms consignment. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 12, 2023) – Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Chancery Way went wire-to-wire to win Sunday’s $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible fillies and mares at Del Mar. Chancery Way is by Mr. Big, out of the War Chant mare This Means War, was bred by Harris Farms and John Nicoletti, is owned by Andy Smolich and Rob Smolich and is trained by Jamey Thomas. The $6,500 purchase at the Northern California Yearling Sale out of the Harris Farms consignment has six wins in 11 starts, earnings of $270,770 and was coming off a third in the Aug. 25 Solana Beach. “I didn’t know anything about this filly before I rode her today, but I went back and looked at film of some of her races,” said jockey Antonio Fresu. “I could see she had speed and it looked like she could finish well. I thought the seven furlongs would be a good distance for her. When we turned for home, she really went. It... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2023) – Odds-on favorite Wild Jewels wore down fellow California-bred Good Lovin in the last sixteenth of a mile to win Saturday’s $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds at Golden Gate. Wild Jewels is by Tamarando, out of the Distorted Humor mare Ribbon of Jewels, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Steven Specht. He has three wins in five starts, earnings of $94,460 and was coming off a Sept. 11 optional claiming win. Wild Jewels won by a half-length at odds of 3-5 in a field of seven and ran the six furlongs in 1:09.77. ...

DUBAI, UAE (Nov. 10, 2023) – Sadeedd, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Stay Thirsty, won Friday’s $175,000 emirates.com Handicap at Meydan Racecourse. Sadeedd, a 6-year-old gelding out of the stakes-winning Whywhywhy mare Patriotic Viva, ran the 1400 meters in 1:25.58 and won by three-quarters of a length. He is a half-sibling to stakes winners Diamond Oops and Patriotic Diamond. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2023) – California stallion Rumpus Cat was represented by his first winner on Sunday when Clever Clover won the third race at Golden Gate, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. Clever Clover is a California-bred out of the Peppered Cat mare Paprika Red, was bred by Daehling Farms, is owned by Daehling Farms and Norman Tavares and is trained by Victor Trujillo. Clever Clover ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.49 and won by a head as the 5-2 favorite in a field of six. In two starts, he has earnings of $31,200. Rumpus Cat, out of the champion Storm Cat mare Sweet Catomine, stands at Daehling Ranch. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 10, 2023) – A pair of California-breds brought six-figure purchase prices in Friday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The stakes-producing broodmare Black Valentine sold for $180,000 to St. Venturea, in foal to Justify. Out of the Mulholland Springs consignment, the 14-year-old Black Valentine is by Cindago and out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Jewel of the night, making her a half-sister to millionaire Cal-bred Evening Jewel. Black Valentine produced stakes winner Roo’s Valentine, and the stakes-placed Dr. Troutman and Sweetest Angel.   A weanling filly by Maclean’s Music sold for $100,000 to Gayle Van Leer, agent. The weanling, from the Checkmate Thoroughbreds consignment, is out of the stakes-placed Ghostzapper mare Fujairah. She was bred by Glen Hill Farm and is from the family of the stallion Bodemeister. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2023) – California-bred stakes-placed filly Laurel Canyon sold for $250,000 to Jody Huckabay, agent, at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The 4-year-old Laurel Canyon is by Nyquist, out of the Malibu Moon mare Moon River Gal, was bred by Thomas Bachman, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Gary Barber and trained by Peter Miller. She had one win in five starts and earnings of $38,640, finishing third in the Fasig-Tipton Debutante Stakes in her second career start. She sold in foal to Jack Christopher. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 8, 2023) – California-bred multiple graded-stakes winner Becca Taylor sold for $350,000 to Solis/Litt at Wednesday’s opening session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Becca Taylor is by Old Topper, out of the General Meeting mare Lady Sax, was bred and owned by Nick Alexander and trained by Steven Miyadi. She won nine of 10 starts and $499,160, including wins in the 2022 Grade II Great Lady M and the Grade III Desert Stormer. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent, Becca Taylor sold as a broodmare prospect. She is a half-sister to Hail Mary, a stakes-placed winner of $254,188. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky.  (Nov. 7, 2023) – California-bred Grade I winners Fun to Dream and Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Ceiling Crusher were included in the spending spree at Tuesday night’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Fun to Dream, the Cal-bred Horse of the Year in 2022, sold for $1.9 million to Japan’s K I Farm. Consigned by Hill ‘N’ Dale at Xalapa, Fun to Dream sold as a broodmare prospect. By Arrogate, out of the Maria’s Mon mare Lutess, she was bred by Connie Pageler and Bob Baffert, was owned by Natalie Baffert and Pageler and trained by Bob Baffert. A half-sister to multiple stakes winner Heck Yeah, the 4-year-old Fun to Dream won the Grade I La Brea Stakes and the Grade II Santa Monica Stakes, with six wins and earnings of $670,190. Ceiling Crusher sold for $750,000 to Katsumi Yoshida. She is by Mr. Big, out of the mare Palisadesprincess, was bred by Harris Farms, was owned Wonderland Racing Stable, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff and Ty Leatherman and was trained... ...

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (Nov. 7, 2023) – Jack Sprat, an Illinois-bred son of California stallion Jack Milton, won Tuesday’s $65,825 Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity for 2-year-old statebreds at Fanduel Sportsbook and Horse Racing. Jack Sprat, out of the Shaniko mare Look Who’s Here, has won both career starts with earnings of $71,415. He ran the six furlongs in 1:14.02 and won by 3 ½ lengths at odds of 4-1 in a field of nine. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2023) – With a hot pace to run at, California-bred Closing Remarks rallied from far back to take Sunday’s closing day co-feature at Santa Anita, the Grade II, $200,000 Goldikova Stakes, getting one mile on turf in 1:32.69.  Trained by Carla Gaines and ridden by Juan Hernandez, the 5-year-old mare by Vronsky was up to win by a half length over favored Queen Goddess.                 As expected, Irish-bred Hamwood Flier went to the front out of the gate and enjoyed a two length advantage over Queen Goddess around the Club House turn.  Heading up the backside, Closing Remarks had one horse beat while about seven off the lead.                 Heading to the far turn, Hernandez opted to sit chilly as Lucky Girl rallied from last to her outside but Closing Remarks would soon be into gear three-deep turning for home and rolled late to easily reel in the favorite well inside the sixteenth pole.  “This mare she tries all the time, she’s... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2023) — Sitting just off of an all-out mad-dash for early supremacy, the Jose Valdez-trained Magic Spoon rallied wide turning for home en route to a convincing half-length tally in Friday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Tiago Periera, the 2-year-old colt by Good Magic got seven furlongs in 1:24.60.                 The Golden State Juvenile is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.                 Racing one length off of a three-horse spread consisting of Dr. No No, Stay on the Fence and Shady Appeal mid-way around the turn, Magic Spoon rallied wide and overtook a stubborn Private Gem a sixteenth of a mile from home and won as best in her second career start. “I’ve been waiting for this horse to run again,” said Valdez.  “This was fantastic.  He had trouble in his first race and overcame it.  Today we stayed behind horses and then when it was time to run, he... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif (Nov. 3, 2023)—Based for decades at Golden Gate Fields, trainer Steve Specht and jockey Frank Alvarado teamed for an emotional score in Friday’s $177,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita, as Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams’ homebred Grand Slam Smile steamed to a huge 7 ¼ length score, getting seven furlongs in 1:24.55.                 The Golden State Juvenile Fillies is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.                 Breaking from post position seven, Grand Slam Smile was in hand early as Recalcitrant and heavily favored Mirinda traded punches on the front end.  Confidently handled by Alvarado, Grand Slam Smile engaged the top pair a half mile out and raced as a team with Mirinda to the quarter pole, with the winner gaining the advantage shortly thereafter in a huge effort. Specht said he wasn’t surprised with the ease in which Grand Slam Smile pulled away from the field. “She’s been training super and she’s a... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2023) – Running in a fillies and mares allowance race with a stakes-like purse, California-bred Madiha rallied in the stretch to win the $127,500 finale on the Breeders’ Cup Saturday card at Santa Anita. Madiha is by Shaman Ghost, out of the Great Notion mare Very Few Details, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Lovingier, Zahra Madiha and Amanda Navarro and trained by Craig Dollase. She has three wins in 20 starts and earnings of $282,735. She ran the 6 ½ furlongs down the hill in 1:12.85 and won by one-half length at odds of 6-1. Fellow Cal-bred Stay and Scam was second. ...

ADELAIDE, Australia (Nov. 3, 2023) — Sir Kingsford, an Australian-bred gelded son of California stallion Sir Prancealot, won Friday’s $55,000 Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap at Morphettville. Sir Kingsford, out of the mare Mighty Maher, has four wins in 12 starts and earnings of $95,475. He won by 1 ¼ lengths at odds of 7-2 in a field of six, running the 1 ¼ miles on turf in 2:05.47. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2023) — Runaway Storm, a Kentucky bred son of California stallion Midnight Storm, blew the break, circled the entire field then held on for a game win in Saturday’s $297,307 Grade III Bryan Station Stakes  for 3-year-olds at Keeneland. The gelding, out of the Run Away and Hide mare Runaway Betty, has theee wins in five starts and earnings of $288,520. He ran the mike on turf in 1:35.93 on a good turf course at odds of 20-1 in a field of eight for a head win over odds-on favorite Talk of the Nation. Midnight Storm stands at Milky Way Farm in Temecula. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity             ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2023)—Shortening up out of a pair of turf routes, trainer Peter Miller’s California-bred Daddysruby led throughout and registered a resounding 5 ¼ length victory in Friday’s $63,000 Santa Anita allowance feature.  With Juan Hernandez collecting his second win of the day, the 3-year-old filly by Frac Daddy got six furlongs in 1:09.56.                 Breaking sharply from the rail, Daddysruby was quickly on terms with 7-5 favorite Report and took command leaving the five furlong pole without being sent.  With a one length advantage three furlongs from home, Daddysruby opened up by three furlongs an eighth of a mile out and won geared down in what certainly appeared to be the best race of her young career.                 “She’s always shown a lot of talent, but I didn’t think she had that kind of speed,” said Miller.  “But she broke sharp and Juan just kind of inherited the lead and took it to ’em.  We’re very pleased. ... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 19, 2023) — Lieutenant Dan, 2021 California-bred Horse of the Year and a six-time stakes winner who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in 2021, was recently retired and sent to the central California ranch of owner-breeder Nick Alexander. “He had an ankle that was causing problems,” Alexander said. “We didn’t want to push it.” Lieutenant Dan, a 7-year-old gelding by Grazen, won 9 of 18 starts and earned $923,740. All six of the stakes wins were achieved in sprints in Southern California, including three stakes for statebreds in 2019 and 2020. Trained by Steve Miyadi, Lieutenant Dan had his best year in 2021, winning three of four starts in turf sprints, including consecutive stakes in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar and the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita. Lieutenant Dan was second by 1 1/4 lengths to Golden Pal in the BC Turf Sprint at five furlongs in 2021. He won his final... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, CA (Oct. 15, 2023)—A winner of three out of his last four starts coming in, John Sadler’s talented 5-year-old gelding Kings River Knight rallied powerfully under Juan Hernandez to take Sunday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap by 1 ½ lengths as he got about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in a quick 1:10.75.               The California Flag is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.               As expected, highly accomplished stakes winner Brickyard Ride went to the front out of the gate, leading by a half length over Sadler’s other entrant, Lil Nass, to the dirt crossing at the top of the stretch.  From there, heavily favored Kings River Knight loomed menacingly four-deep and wrested control from Brickyard Ride a furlong out.               “This horse is getting better every race,” said Hernandez.  “Today, he broke really sharp but a couple of those other horses are faster early so I just let him see what was... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2023)—With a blistering early fractions of 21.10 and 43.81 to run at, Nick Alexander’s homebred Rose Maddox unleashed a powerful stretch run to win Saturday’s $100,000 California Distaff Handicap by two lengths in a very impressive effort.  Ridden for the first time by Tiago Pereira, Rose Maddox got about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in a speedy 1:11.22.                 The California Distaff Handicap is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sire horses. “We were long overdue. We’ve been a slump since April,” said Alexander. “I bet on the other Rose (Dawson). We thought Rose Dawson would follow that leader and hopefully soften her up. I think 6 ½ down the hill is perfect for (Rose Maddox). She had had a mile race before. I lot of time milers come back and win on this course. She’s a cool little horse.”                 In-hand early, Rose Maddox was about 9 ½ lengths off of... ...

Cicero Farms Press Release CLEMENTS, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2023) — California stallion He Be Fire N Ice has been relocated to Legacy Ranch to stand the 2024 breeding season, owner Cicero Farms announced on Friday. He Be Fire N Ice, a 15-year-old California-bred stakes-winning son of Unusual Heat, has six crops of racing age with progeny earnings of more than $1.3 million, including top-earner Oubabe and Lil Nas, who is entered in Sunday’s California Flag Stakes at Santa Anita.   ...

From Harris Farms Press Release COALINGA, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2023) – Stanford, California’s Leading Freshman Sire of 2021 and current co-leading Third-crop sire by black type winners and Eight Rings, the G1-winning son of Empire Maker, will stand the 2024 breeding season at Harris Farms in Coalinga, California. Stanford, the multiple graded stakes winning son of Malibu Moon, entered stud in 2018 and was an immediate success. Leading the sire charts in California as a freshman and finishing second on the sire of Two-year-olds list that same season, has sired 5 black-type horses, including multiple stakes winner, Opening Buzz, and 61 individual winners from his first two crops to race. Stanford stands as the property of Tommy Town Thoroughbreds. His 2024 stud fee is $5,000, Live Foal. Eight Rings, entered stud in 2023. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, he was a $520,000 purchase by SF Bloodstock and Starlight West at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. At 2, he won his racing debut by 6 1/4 lengths at Del Mar with trainer Bob Baffert... ...

By DRF.com FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 7, 2023) — When Clovisconnection was passed by Top Harbor in early stretch of Saturday’s $75,000 Harris Farms Stakes at The Big Fresno Fair in central California, trainer Blaine Wright expected a second-place finish. “I would have settled for that,” Wright said. Despite losing his lead, Clovisconnection was not finished. Racing on the inside, Clovisconnection ($5.80) rallied from a length behind 3-5 Top Harbor to win by a head. “That was a heckuva win,” Wright said. :: Bet the races with a $250 First Deposit Match + $10 Free Bet and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets.  “What a game race throughout. They hadn’t been winning from off the lead and they haven’t won from the inside and he did both.” The win was the fourth consecutive stakes win for Clovisconnection, who races for owners and breeders William and Judy Hedrick. Clovisconnection, who was ridden by William Antongeorgi, ran six furlongs in 1:09.50. The Harris Farms Stakes was restricted to Golden State Series eligibles. Top Harbor,... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2023) — California-bred Slow Down Andy, emphatic winner of the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes last weekend at Santa Anita, will have to wait until next year for another shot at the Breeders’ Cup, trainer Doug O’Neill said Thursday. The good news is breeders-owners Paul and Zilla Reddam plan to race the son of Nyquist next season at age 5. O’Neill said the colt’s setback is minor, though untimely.  “He came out of the [Awesome Again] with a little bit of filling in an ankle,” O’Neill said. “He was sound on it, but had a little bit of filling. We X-rayed him, and he X-rayed clean. We followed up with a nuke scan, and he’s got some heat in the ankle.” Expectations are Slow Down Andy, the leading money earner sired by Reddam-owned and O’Neill-trained Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, will return next season as good as ever. :: BREEDERS’ CUP 2023: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more for... ...

By Bloodhorse.com POMONA, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2023) — Buyers with connections to many equine families on offer at the Sept. 26 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of Racing Age Sale in Pomona, Calif., were willing to step up for prospects. From trainer John Sadler assisting in buying the $250,000 sale topper, a half brother to Sadler-trained Kings River Knight , to Eric and Sharon Waller’s emotional acquisition of a half-sister to their deceased graded stakes winner Spectator , the kinship felt for the horses brought buyers out in ways not every sale accomplishes. West Point Thoroughbreds purchased the sale topper, with Sadler and his assistant, Juan Leyva, doing the bidding. John Harris’ Harris Farms consigned the colt, a California-bred son of Vronsky —Seasontoperfection, by Poteen. The mare has produced Kings River Knight, a three-time stakes winner this year under Sadler’s tutelage, most recently in the Sept. 16 E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course, and the stakes-placed Irrefutable  (Big Bad Leroybrown ). “This horse looks a lot like (Kings River Knight), so we thought he’d be good for the Cal-bred program,” said... ...

By DRF.com BENSALEM, Pa. (Sept. 23, 2023) — “This was our Breeders’ Cup,” exclaimed trainer Doug O’Neill after Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Ceiling Crusher took them gate to wire in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/16 miles at Parx Racing. Ceiling Crusher is the first Grade I winner for her sire, Mr. Big. She’s out of the Indian Charlie mare Palisadesprincess, was bred by Harris Farms and is owned by Wonderland Racing Stables, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff and Ty Leatherman. The $22,000 purchase at the Northern California Yearling Sale from the Harris Farms consignment has six wins in seven starts, earnings of $938,400 and was coming off a win in the Grade III Torrey Pines on Sept. 2. Making her initial start over a sloppy track and starting for the first time outside of Southern California, Ceiling Crusher showed her customary gate speed under jockey Edwin Maldonado. Ceiling Crusher cleared to the lead going into the first turn and faced only token... ...

From Old Friends Press Release GEORGETOWN, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2023) – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is deeply saddened to announce that California-bred champion Amazombie, the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and 2011 Eclipse Award winning Champion Sprinter, was euthanized on Monday, Sept. 18 due to a fractured ankle. The 16-year old bay gelding arrived at the farm in 2014 courtesy of his trainer/owner, William “Bill” Spawr, and co-owner Thomas Sanford, who continued to support him during his retirement. Bred by Gregg Anderson, Amazombie, who was by Northern Afleet–Wilshe Amaze, by In Excess (Ire), was foaled on April 18, 2006 in California. Winning 12 of 29 starts, his career earnings of $1,920,378 rank 13th on the all-time Cal-bred list. The story of how Spawr purchased Amazombie is an interesting one. About a year before Amazombie ran his first race, Spawr was at a farm talking with his friend, Judd Morse, who would eventually break Amazombie. “It was a cold day, with heavy fog, and we all... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 18, 2023) — A busy summer at Del Mar will lead to a light fall campaign at Santa Anita for Dr. No No, the winner of the I’m Smokin Stakes for 2-year-old California-breds at Del Mar on Sept. 4. Trainer Brian Koriner said on Sunday that Dr. No No will be pointed for the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile for 2-year-old Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 as part of the undercard on the first day of Breeders’ Cup races. “He needs a break,” Koriner said. “If they run three times at Del Mar, they need time. Hopefully that will make him a better horse by giving him some time.” Owned by the partnership of Rusty Brown, Alan Klein, and Phil Lebherz, Dr. No No has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $130,290. Dr. No No was third in his debut in a maiden race on July 22, won a maiden race by 8 1/4 lengths on Aug. 13, and won... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept 18, 2023) – A California-bred daughter of perennial top stallion Ghostzapper sold for $185,000 at Monday’s session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The May foal, out of the stakes-placed Maclean’s Music mare Consulting, was bred by consigner Glen Hill Farm and purchased by Quarter Pole Enterprises. Also on Monday, a Kentucky-foaled son of California stallion Om sold for $90,000 to Alistair Roden, agent. He is out of the El Prado mare Fresia, is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winning Cal-bred Galilean and was bred by Bar C Racing Stable, breeder of Galilean. ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 16, 2023) – Keeping it in the family, odds-on favorite Kings River Knight, bred and co-owned by the Ellwood Johnston Trust and its Old English Rancho, outlasted Fast Draw Munnings in a stretch-long duel to win Saturday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds at Los Alamitos. Kings River Knight is by Acclamation, out of the Poteen mare Seasontoperfection, is co-owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing and trained by John Sadler. “I told (jockey) Juan (Hernandez) to go out there with the intent to go to the lead, but if somebody wants to go crazy, let them and let him settle nicely and that’s what he did,” said assistant trainer Juan Leyva. “Juan rode a really good race. This is a really cool horse. He loves his job and he shows up every time.’’ A multiple stakes winner, Kings River Knight has six wins in 12 starts, earnings of $366,010 and was coming off a second in the Aug. 5 California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar. Sent off at... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2023) – A California-bred daughter of stallion Omaha Beach sold for $210,000 at Saturday’s session of the Keeneland Yearling Sale. The filly, out of the Montjeu mare Turns My Head, was bred by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, LLC & Gallop Out Racing, LLC, consigned by Pope McLean, agent, and was purchased by Mayberry Farm. She was originally purchased for $110,000 out of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. ...

1/ST RACING Press Release BERKELEY, Calif. (Sept. 16, 2023) – 1/ST RACING announced that they expect to file a request with the California Horse Racing Board for an allocation of race dates for the first half of 2024 at Golden Gate Fields. The request is tied to extending the announced closing date of the track located in the cities of Albany and Berkeley to June 30, 2024. The decision follows the passage of AB 1074 at the end of the 2023 legislative session in Sacramento, which authorizes the reallocation of purse and commission revenues generated in the Northern zone of California to support racing in the Southern and Central zones should there be unallocated weeks in future years. The bill will not be law until signed by Governor Newsom. “We are pleased we could work out a solution with our industry stakeholders to be able to keep Golden Gate Fields open for an additional and final meet,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST RACING & GAMING.  This extension follows extensive consultation with various... ...

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Sept. 20, 2023) – California-bred Magic Tiger won Tuesday night’s $50,750 Gold Cup Stakes at Assiniboia Downs. Magic Tiger is by Smiling Tiger, out of the Lucky Pulpit mare Funny Gal, was bred by Robert Heinz & Michelle Machado, is owned by Wind Dancer Stable and Bill Meikle and trained by Wendy Anderson. He has 12 wins in 30 starts and earnings of $166,376. Magic Tiger ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.30 and won by a length at odds of 9-5. ...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Sept. 24, 2023) – California-breds My Man Biggie, Let There Be Peace and Special Moment are entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Charles Taylor Derby for 3-year-olds at Albuquerque. My Man Biggie is by Mr. Big, out of the Yankee Gentleman mare Twin Spirit, was bred by George Krikorian, is owned by Cameron McVay and trained by Shannon Simpson. He has three wins in 19 starts, earnings of $67,207 and is coming off a win in the Sept. 11 Arapahoe Park Derby. Let There Be Peace is by Stanford, out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare Minster’sadventure, was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, is owned by Amanda Sweeten and is trained by Andres Gonzalez. He has two wins in 11 starts, earnings of $47,232 and is coming off a win in a May 6 allowance. Special Moment is by Stanford, out of the Blame mare Blame It Onthesong, was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, is owned by Chris Aulds and Gaylon McGee and is trained by H. Ray Ashford. He... ...

By DRF.com Stoic Luna, winner of the Golden Gate Turf Distaff on Saturday, is likely to make her next start at Santa Anita in early October. She is likely to be followed by many other runners trained by Jack Steiner. Steiner said over the weekend that he plans to relocate his stable from Golden Gate Fields to Southern California in the near future in light of the news in recent months that Golden Gate Fields will close. The track’s parent company, 1/ST Racing, announced on Saturday that it will request racing days for a winter-spring meeting from late December to early June, a change from a previous plan to close Golden Gate Fields in December. The winter-spring meeting at Golden Gate Fields will likely be the track’s final season. The subject of 2024 racing dates in Northern California is scheduled to be discussed by the California Horse Racing Board at its monthly meeting on Thursday. Regardless of when Golden Gate Fields closes, Steiner said he has firm plans to move... ...