By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 28, 2014) — California-bred stakes winner Soi Phet will race in Japan in December. Soi Phet is scheduled to be sent to Japan in mid-December for the $1,003,000 Tokyo Daishoten, a Grade 1 race over about 1 1/4 miles at Ohi Racecourse in Tokyo on Dec. 29. The track also is known as Tokyo City Keiba. Soi Phet, trained by Leonard Powell for the partnership of Gerald Benowitz, Paul Viskowich, and Sandra and Mathilde Powell, was fifth in the Big Bear Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 30. Soi Phet has won two stakes at Los Alamitos this year – the Bertrando Stakes in July and the $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile in September. Soi Phet was claimed for $16,000 in May 2013. ...

OZONE PARK, N.Y.  (Nov. 27, 2014) – Salutos Amigos, a Kentucky-bred son of new California stallion Salute the Sarge, swung seven-wide on the turn and went on to win Thursday’s $300,000 Grade III Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct. Salutos Amigos won by 1 ¾ lengths and ran the six furlongs in 1:10.78 as the 2-1 favorite. He is out of the Lahuk mare Sarasota. Salutos Amigos has six wins in 24 starts and earnings of $627,406 and was coming off a seventh in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. ...

By DRF.com HOBBS, N.M. (Nov. 26, 2014) — California-bred Alert Bay is in the zone. He won his third straight stakes race Wednesday, pulling clear by three lengths over 3-5 favorite Tonito M. in the $200,000 Zia Park Derby. In the process, Alert Bay set a track record for 1 1/16 miles, covering the distance in 1:41.80. “He’d been touting us in his works at Golden Gate,” said Blaine Wright, who trains Alert Bay for Peter Redekop. The Zia Park Derby was one of seven stakes on the $1.1 million Land of Enchantment card. The centerpiece of the meet’s most prestigious program was the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks, won by Cassatt. The track-record time from Alert Bay ($7.20) lowered the mark of 1:41.94 set by Ol Winedrinker Who in the 2013 running of the $55,000 Veteran. Alert Bay on Wednesday was content to sit just off the pace set by Walt, who was pressured by Alsono through fractions of 23.48 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.10 for the half-mile.... ...

From EA Ranches RAMONA, Calif. (Nov. 24, 2014) — Salute the Sarge, a brilliant multiple graded stakes winner at age two, will relocate to E.A. Ranches in Ramona, California for the 2015 season. The son of Forest Wildcat — Dixie Ghost by Silver Ghost, dominated the Grade-2 Best Pal Stakes and Grade-3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship, and finished second in the Del Mar Futurity and Norfolk Stakes, both Grade-1 races.            Awarded the fourth-highest weight on the Experimental Free Handicap, Salute the Sarge was a very precocious, top-class racehorse. He contested ten of his twelve lifetime starts in graded stakes company and set a new track record in his very first start, a Maiden Special Weight at Hollywood Park.            Salute the Sarge is already the sire of graded stakes winner and 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint participant Salutos Aamigos ($447,406), stakes winners Bond Vigilante ($175,217) and Fishin Frank ($113,760), plus several stakes horses in his first crops.            Available... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2014) — Santa Anita has raised the purses of the California Cup Sprint Stakes and two leading stakes for older horses – the Santa Anita Handicap and San Antonio Stakes – but eliminated the Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds for the track’s upcoming winter-spring meeting, which runs from Dec. 26 to April 19. The California Cup Sprint for statebreds on Jan. 24 has been increased $25,000, to $150,000. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 7 will be worth $1 million, an increase of $250,000 from 2014. The Santa Anita Handicap, run at 1 1/4 miles on dirt, offered a purse of $1 million from 1986 to 2009. The San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 7, a leading prep for the Big Cap, will be worth a record $500,000 this year, an increase of $200,000. The Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles, and may serve as a prep race for some Southern California-based runners being pointed for the $10 million... ...

From Unusual Heat Syndicate COALINGA, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2014) – Unusual Heat, the six-time leading sire in California (2008-2013) and all-time leading in California progeny earnings, will stand at John C. Harris’ Harris Farms alongside his son, Lakerville, for the 2015 breeding season. Unusual Heat will stand for $20,000 to approved mares only. 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 California for an unprecedented sixthconsecutive season in the modern era. In 2014 Unusual Heat is on track for an unmatched seventhconsecutive season of over $4 million in progeny earnings and also his astounding 11th consecutive California-bred North American Turf Earnings Championship. He has sired one Eclipse Award winner and 14 California champions. Unusual Heat added three new stakes winners and two new graded stakes horses to the fold in 2014. Top runners in 2014 included Boozer, Heat Du Jour,... ...

From AHC WASHINGTON, D.C.  (Nov. 17, 2014) — On November 14, 2014, the American Horse Council (AHC) submitted comments opposing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) proposed rule to redefine “Waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act (CWA). (The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association also opposes the proposed rule.) Earlier this year the EPA and Corps published a new proposed rule to define “Waters of the U.S.” under the CWA.  The CWA regulates discharges of pollutants into the Waters of the United States. The proposed rule appears to redefine “Waters of the U.S.,” in a manner that would significantly expand the waters subject to the requirements of the CWA. The CWA does include exemptions for agriculture, however the AHC and other agricultural groups have serious concerns regarding the proposed rule.  The AHC believes the proposed rule uses vague and unclear terms and definitions that will create new confusion regarding what waters are subject to CWA requirements.  Furthermore, the AHC has concerns regarding... ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2014) — Even-money favorite Stalk the Wildcat proved his superiority in the stretch as he scored a five-length victory in the $62,755 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Stalk the Wildcat ($4), a Tommy Town Thoroughbreds Ministers Wild Cat homebred, ran second in a $32,000 maiden claimer in his debut before winning his maiden by three lengths in his second start. Cartoonist, a six-length winner on the same day Stalk the Wildcat scored his maiden win, led Rainsford down the backstretch and around the turn of the six-furlong race as Stalk the Wildcat was fifth ahead of only one rival in the early going. As Cartoonist maintained his margin at the quarter pole, Stalk the Wildcat was moving up while three wide and in the clear turning for home. He easily passed the leader by the eighth pole and continued to increase his lead through the stretch, winning in 1:10.31, only .05 of a second slower than older stakes-type... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2014) – Multiple stakes winner Awesome Return, making his first start since July 19, rallied to a convincing triumph in the featured $93,100 Let It Ride Stakes for three-year-olds at one mile over the Del Mar infield grass course. Utilizing the same patient come-from-behind tactics which brought success aboard Queen of The Sand in Friday’s Kathryn Crosby Stakes, opening-day feature of Del Mar’s fall Bing Crosby Season,  jockey Mike Smith guided Awesome Return to the outside in the upper stretch and drove  to a 1 ¼ length triumph. “I told Mike (Smith) to take him back a little bit because there was so much speed in the race in my mind,” said trainer Mike Puype. “He got to playing a little bit in the stretch but the horse does that every time.  He’s never going to pull away and win by tons, but he still has a little bit left. He runs to his competition. And, as always, you don’t see Mike Smith make any mistakes.” Awesome Return,... ...

From Del Mar Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2014) — One week ago California-bred Big Macher, winner of last summer’s Bing Crosby Stakes, finished ninth in the  $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint after stumbling at the break.  Fifteen days from now, the  Richard Baltas-trained 4-year-old son of Beau Genius could be seen here in the  $100,000 7-furlong Cary Grant Stakes for fellow California-breds. “He came out of the race very good,” Baltas said earlier this week. “Had a bad break but ran a great race. I just (concluded) that I wasn’t supposed to win.” The timing for the Cary Grant appears very favorable. “He had two months off between the Del Mar races and the Breeders’ Cup,” Baltas pointed out. “He’s a fresh horse. He doesn’t need a rest. We’re not resting him.” ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2014) – Sister Kate, a California-bred sister of millionaire Brother Derek, sold for $180,000 at Friday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Sister Kate was consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent, was purchased by Huntington Stud Farm and sold in foal to Scat Daddy. Sister Kate is a multiple stakes winner of $282,186. She is also a sister to multiple stakes winner Don’tsellmeshort. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2014) – California-bred stakes winner Unusual Way sold for $250,000 at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Unusual Way is a 4-year-old by Unusual Heat, out of the Great Above mare Way Up, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent, and was purchased by Dixiana Farm. On the track, Unusual Way is a multiple stakes winner of $712,165. She was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect. ...

By Bloodhorse.com SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2014) — He Be Fire N Ice, a stakes winner and twice grade II-placed, will enter stud at Rancho San Miguel near San Luis Obispo, Calif., in 2015 for an advertised fee of $2,500. The striking gray 6-year-old son of perennial leading California sire Unusual Heat won last year’s California Dreamin’ Handicap at Del Mar and followed that with runner-up showings in the Del Mar Mile Handicap (gr. IIT) and the City of Hope Mile (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park. On the strength of those turf efforts, He Be Fire N Ice earned a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita, finishing eighth. Bred in California by St. George’s Farm out of the Deputy Commander mare Deputy Tombe, He Be Fire N Ice was campaigned by Cicero Farms. He won five of 16 career starts and earned $332,580. Under a promotional stallion deal, He Be Fire N Ice breeders will not pay a stud fee until after their... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2014) — Starlight Magic, a California-bred broodmare, sold for $150,000 at Wednesday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Starlight Magic is by Marino Marini, out of the General Meeting mare Star’s Millennium, was consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent, and purchased by Spendthrift Farm. Starlight Magic sold in foal to Congrats. On the track, Starlight Magic was a multiple stakes winner of $334,900. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2014) – Spring Awakening, a California-bred broodmare, sold for $500,000 at Wednesday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Spring Awakening is by In Excess, out of the Carson City mare Catchofthecentury, was consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent, and purchased by Three Chimneys Farm. Spring Awakening sold in foal to Orb. She has produced the stakes winner Walk Close. On the track, Spring Awakening was a multiple stakes winner of $258,178. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2014) – Four multiple stakes winners, led by top earner Qianoa, are among those entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Del Mar. Meinertzhageni is by Stormin Fever, out of the Peaks and Valleys mare Hot Desert, was bred by Robert Harmon, is owned by Jeff Bonde, Miguel Carranza, Stephen McGovern and Mersad Metanovic and is trained by Bonde. She has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $180,370 and is coming off a seventh in the Sept. 27 Unzip Me. More Complexity is by Square Eddie, out of the Yonaguska mare Marquis Diamond, was bred by J. Paul Reddam, is owned by Reddam Racing and trained by Edward Freeman. She has three wins in nine starts, earnings of $157,970 and is coming off a Sept. 26 allowance win. Multiple stakes winner Qianoa is by Wilko, out of the Skywalker mare Starlet Sky, was bred by B&B Zietz Stables, is owned by Curt and Lila Lanning... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2014) – Multiple stakes winner Awesome Return is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Let It Ride Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar. Awesome Return is by Decarchy, out of the Mr. Broad Blade mare Awesome Broad, was bred by owner Richard Kritzki and is trained by Mike Puype. He has three wins in eight starts, earnings of $270,120 and is making his first start since a third in a July 19 optional claimer. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2014) – Four California-breds are entered in Saturday’s $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds at Golden Gate. Stalk the Wildcat is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Petionville mare Silent Stalk, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $23,280 and is coming off an Oct. 18 maiden win. Cartoonist is by Comic Strip, out of the Devil On Ice mare Ivy Lane, was bred by owners Dr. and Mrs. William Gray and is trained by Greg James. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $21,630 and is coming off an Oct. 18 maiden win. Lucky Forty Niner is by Lucky J. H., out of the Forty Niner mare Miner’s Gal, was bred by Harris Farms, is owned by Mary Jo Bright and trained by Wendell McDaniel. He has one win in nine starts, earnings of $39,810 and is coming off a seventh in an Oct. 24 optional claimer.... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2014) — All that is familiar about Del Mar will be new when the track opens its 15-day autumn meeting Friday. Famous for its summer meeting, Del Mar has added a four-week meeting this month, replacing racing dates previously held at Hollywood Park, which closed last December. For racing fans, horsemen, track executives, and everyone else, the autumn meeting starts with questions. Will customers make their way to the track at a time when schools are in session and vacations are rare? Will owners and trainers support a meeting with a smaller purse structure than the summer season? Can track executives sell the venue in November as well as the summer? “My feeling right now is curiosity more than anything else,” track president Joe Harper said this week. The track has tapped its Hollywood roots to give the meeting an identity. The meeting is called the “Bing Crosby Season” in honor of the track’s founder, with seven stakes named after 20th-century entertainers. There... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2014) – Stakes winner Warren’s Veneda and fellow California-bred Kathleen Rose are entered in Friday’s $75,000 Kathryn Crosby Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar. Warren’s Veneda is by Affirmative, out of the Flying Continental mare More Cal Bread, was bred by owner Benjamin Warren and is trained by Craig Lewis. She has five wins in 17 starts, earnings of $355,012 and is coming off a sixth in the Oct. 11 California Distaff. Kathleen Rose is by Good Journey, out of the Decarchy mare Cantina’s Rose, was bred by owner B&B Zietz Stables and is trained by Michael Machowsky. She has five wins in 12 starts, earnings of $309,520 and is coming off a second in the Oct. 4 Swingtime Stakes. ...

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2014) — Rancho San Miguel would like to welcome Street Hero, a 2-year-old Grade I stakes winner by Street Cry (IRE) out of the Summer Squall mare Squall Linda, for the 2015 breeding season. Street Hero was on the board in five out of six starts as a 2-year-old, winning the Norfolk Stakes (G1), third in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1).  Street Hero sired six first-crop stakes horses, three stakes winners, including G1 winner Azarenka, Gabriel Charles-G2, and Street Girl.  Street Girl is also multiple graded stakes placed with a second in the Humana Distaff S. – G1 in May of 2014 and a third in the Cotillion S. – G1. Saturday she finished second in the Grade II Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs with (lifetime earnings of over $445,000). Street Hero also sired California-bred multiple winner Stylish In Black (2014 earnings of $91,200). With lifetime progeny earnings of over $2.5... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 4, 2014) – California-bred millionaire Halo Dolly sold for $300,000 at Tuesday’s first session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Halo Dolly, a 6-year-old by Popular, out of the Comic Strip mare Spanish Halo, was bred by Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent, and purchased by Spendthrift Farm. She won 18 races, including the Grade III Wilshire Handicap, and earned $1,016,466. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 4, 2014) – Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ Let Faith Arise, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Kafwain, sold for $925,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Let Faith Arise, a 4-year-old out of the El Corredor mare Babe Hall, was consigned by Hurstland Farm, agent, and purchased by Sport Thoroughbreds. On the track, Let Faith Arise won the Grade I Santa Margarita, the Grade III Adoration and earned $488,240. Also selling was Yearly Report, a California-bred multiple Grade II winner and the broodmare of Grade I stakes winner condo Commander. The 13-year-old sold in foal to Jimmy Creed for $175,000 and was purchased by Gainesway Farm. ...

From Harris Farms COALINGA, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2014) – Lakerville, son of six-time California leading sire (2008-2013) and all-time California-bred progeny earnings leader Unusual Heat, will stand at John C. Harris’s Harris Farms in Coalinga for the 2015 breeding season. Lakerville will be available for complimentary breedings to approved mares under “Private Treaty.” Lakerville enters the breeding shed off of a dynamic career as a turf sprinting star on the Southern California racing circuit. He is a Graded placed stakes winner who recorded 5 wins and 4 seconds in 11 career starts as a deep closing turf sprinter. Out of the Out of Place mare Foreverinthegame, he is an impeccably bred 6 year old chestnut horse and the full brother to Grade 2 and multiple stakes winner Gervinho. Lakerville stands 16.0 hands and won the 2014 Clocker’s Corner Stakes at Santa Anita Park doing so off of a 16 month layoff. He also raced to unparalleled closing fractions of 20.80 for ¼ mile, 32 1/5 for 3/8 mile and 42... ...

TORONTO, Canada (Oct. 25, 2014) – Savvy Hester, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Heatseeker, won Saturday’s $111,200 River Memories Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine. Savvy Hester is out of the Miswaki mare Changeable. She has five wins in 24 starts, earnings of $3890,187 and was coming off a seventh in the Sept. 14 Canadian Stakes. She ran the mile on turf in 1:36.69 and won by a head at odds of 4-1. For Savvy Hester’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/savvy+hester. ...

By DRF.com SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2014) — Stakes winner Unusual Heatwave will begin his stallion career at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez, Calif., in 2015, farm manager Mike Allen said on Thursday. Unusual Heatwave was retired earlier this year after winning 4 of 20 starts and earnings $488,752. Unusual Heatwave will stand for $2,500, Allen said. Trained by Alexis Barba for Teresa McWilliams, Unusual Heatwave was a three-time stakes winner against California-breds – the 2012 Snow Chief Stakes and Real Good Deal Stakes and the Crystal Water Stakes earlier this year. Unusual Heatwave won at distances ranging from about 6 1-2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in a maiden race to 1 1-8 miles in the Snow Chief Stakes. Unusual Heatwave, 5, is by top California stallion Unusual Heat and is out of Miss Alphie, by Candi’s Gold. Unusual Heatwave is a half-brother to Alphie’s Bet, the winner of the 2010 Snow Chief Stakes. Boisterous and Unusual Heatwave join Grazen, Kafwain, Ministers Wild Cat, and Old... ...

From Tommy Town Thoroughbreds SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2014) — Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, in partnership with Gary Barber, is excited to introduce Boisterous, standing for the 2015 breeding season. Boisterous, a Grade I-winning son of Distorted Humor, is a multiple graded stakes Winner with earnings of $1,458,792.00. Boisterous, winner of the Grade I Man O’ War Stakes, will be a great stallion addition to California, as the only Grade I winning son of champion Distorted Humor standing in California. ...

From Golden Eagle Farm RAMONA, Calif. (Oct. 22. 2014) — Stormin Fever, a Grade I-producing son of sire of sires Storm Cat, has been moved to Rancho Temescal in California for the 2015 breeding season. Stormin Fever previously stood at Golden Eagle Farm in Ramona, which is closing. Golden Eagle Farm General Manager Janine McCullough said, “Although we are saddened by the closing of Golden Eagle Farm as a boarding and breeding facility we are pleased to continue owning this great stallion.  He is in super health, very fertile and continues to produce making him a great value to the CA breeding program.  It was important to us to find a quality facility with people we trust.  We have great respect for Tim Cohen and his staff at Rancho Temescal and look forward to a successful 2015 breeding season.” Stormin Fever boasts impressive stats while always getting a big horse.  Not many stallions in California have statistics like him, especially at this value.  Stormin Fever gets 77% starters from foals,... ...

COALINGA, Calif. (Oct. 11, 2014) — California stallion Unusual Heat has surpassed the $45 million mark in progeny earnings, setting a record for state-bred earnings for a California sire. Counting progeny earnings outside of California, Unusual Heat ranks behind only In Excess and Bertrando for all-time earnings by progeny of stallions standing in California. Unusual Heat also has the record for state-bred turf earnings for a California sire. ...

By Bloodhorse.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2014) — Embattled trainer Doug O’Neill has been handed an additional 45-day suspension in California for violating terms of an earlier agreement with the state’s racing board. The suspension is effective immediately and runs through Nov. 22. Coupled with his 45-day ban levied earlier in New York for a class 2 drug violation, the latest action means O’Neill will be unable to train again until Dec. 19, the California Horse Racing Board said in an Oct. 9 release. California-based O’Neill is best known for winning the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) with I’ll Have Another   and the success of multiple grade I winner Lava Man. The CHRB and O’Neill entered into a stipulated agreement, under which the controversial trainer is suspended for 135 days—90 days of which are stayed—and placed on probation for 18 months for violation of a board decision May 24, 2012. The action followed a week-long investigation by the CHRB into whether O’Neill had... ...

By Bloodhorse.com POMONA, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2014) — The Barretts October yearling sale bounced back from its decline a year ago with a $175,000 sale topper and an average that climbed 14.8% from 2013. Trainer Peter Eurton bought the sale topper, a California-bred filly by Unusual Heat, as well as a second Cal-bred filly by the sire for $55,000 on behalf of Joe Ciaglia. Two other offspring of Unusual Heat were among the top 10 prices—a colt for $95,000 and a filly for $90,000. The sale, held Oct. 7 in the Hinds Pavilion in Pomona, Calif., averaged $22,606 for 163 sold, grossing $3,684,700. The gross rose 17.7% over the $3,130,500 figure from last year. The median also increased, from $13,000 in 2013 to $15,000 in 2014, up 15.4%. “The sale did well, and we were really pleased,” said Kim Lloyd, general manager for Barretts Sales & Racing. “We’re seeing a little more confidence in the transitional period of racing. People know we’re going forward and the racing is settling down.... ...

HOBBS, N.M. (Oct. 7, 2014) — Tribal Echo is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $55,000 Governor’s Cup Stakes at Zia Park. Tribal Echo is by Tribal Rule, out of the Swiss Yodeler mare Serena’s Echo, was bred by The Cole Ranch, is owned by Jamie Bolles and trained by Bart Hone. He has one win in six starts, earnings of $29,710 and is coming off a Sept. 14 maiden win. ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2014) — Del Mar was granted approval to conduct its first fall meet in more than 40 years by the California Horse Racing Board at the commission’s regular monthly meeting Sept. 23. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, which is stepping in to help fill a void in the Southern California racing calendar due to the demise of Hollywood Park, was approved for a 15-day stand running Nov. 5-30. It will be the first autumn meet at the seaside track since 1967, which discontinued fall racing because of poor results. The meet was replaced two years later by the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park. The CHRB’s unanimous license approval Wednesday morning at Los Alamitos Race Course was conditioned on completion of horsemen’s agreements with the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the California Thoroughbred Trainers and the assigning of several racing official positions. With a “Bing Crosby” theme to differentiate from its popular summer meet, Del Mar marketing director Craig Dado told... ...

From DMTC DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 18, 2014) — Fourteen stakes races – nine of them graded – will serve as the touchstones for Del Mar’s new November race meeting opening Friday, November 7 for a 15-day run through Sunday, November 30. The total value of the stakes package is $2,250,000. The seaside track picked up a majority of the racing dates from the fall meeting at the now-closed Hollywood Park and in the process transferred over many of that track’s major stakes events. The Hollywood session had an emphasis on turf racing and Del Mar is carrying that forward with nine turf stakes on its agenda, including its two top offerings – the $300,000 Hollywood Derby and the $300,000 Matriarch, both Grade I events that will be run on closing weekend, which is part of the long Thanksgiving holiday. Additionally, Del Mar will employ its grass course to present the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup on a special early Thanksgiving Day program and the $250,000 Seabiscuit Handicap the following afternoon.... ...

MADERA, Calif. (Sept. 10, 2014) – California stallion Lil Tyler passed away Wednesday due to the infirmities of old age, Madera Farm announced. He was 31. The son of Halo was a multiple stakes winner on the track. As a sire, he had 16 foal crops with progeny earnings of nearly $9 million. His top earner was Awesome Daze, winner of the California Cup Classic and $652,435 in earnings. He also sired stakes winners Super Strut, Mateo, Lil Seeker, Jack’s Wild and I’m a Lil Princess. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2014) – A full California-bred brother to graded stakes winners Points Offthebench and Bench Points sold for $560,000 Monday in the first session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The Benchmark colt, out of the Free House mare Mo Chuisle, was bred by Gary Broad, consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent, and purchased by Lael Stable of Roy and Gretchen Jackson. Also sold Monday was a pair of yearlings out of Grade I-winning California-bred mares. A Tapit filly out of the Grade I winning Bold Badgett mare Leave Me Alone sold for $400,000 and an Unbridled’s Song filly out of the Grade I winning Game Plan mare Mistical Plan sold for $190,000. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Aug. 30, 2014) – Northern California Yearling Sale graduates won a pair of 2-year-old maiden special weight races at Golden Gate on Saturday. Deb’s Wildcard, a $17,500 purchase, won the seventh race for fillies and Lucky Forty Niner, a $1,700 purchase, won the ninth race open to all 2-year-olds. Deb’s Wildcard is by Desert Code, out of the Demons Begone mare Deb’s Royal Flush, was bred by Victoria Polzin & Harris Farms, is owned by Robert Jones & Lloyd Mason and is trained by Mason. This was her debut and she ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.26, winning by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of 5-1. Lucky Forty Niner is by Lucky J. H., out of the Forty Niner mare Miner’s Gal, was bred by Harris Farms, is owned by Mary Jo Bright and trained by Wendell McDaniel. This was his second start and he ran the five furlongs in :59.20, winning by 1 ¼ lengths at odds of 18-1. ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 27, 2014) – Big Bane Theory is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $90,000 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar. Big Bane Theory is by Artie Schiller, out of the Alysheba mare Shebane, was bred by owners Scott Gross and Mark Devereaux and trained by Carla Gaines. He has three wins in nine starts, earnings of $186,640 and is making his first start since a fourth in the Nov. 29 Citation Handicap. ...

From DMTC ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 25, 2014)—Under the direction of Track Superintendent Dennis Moore, Santa Anita’s one mile main track has been totally renovated and its original sand and clay mix has been replaced by a single-source natural material known as El Segundo Sand. The track, which has been closed to training since July 11, will reopen for use on Sept 2, in advance of Santa Anita’s 2014 Autumn Meet, which begins Sept. 26. A naturally occurring, indigenous soil, El Segundo Sand will help to ensure balanced drainage during periods of wet weather and a uniform, safe cushion year ‘round. “It’s been my experience that the best surfaces around the country are all comprised of naturally occurring soils that are typically indigenous and not made by man,” said Moore, who was hired by Santa Anita this past December following a highly successful tenure at the now-shuttered Hollywood Park. “This entire project has gone even better than any of us had hoped for. We’ve removed and installed about 21,000 yards of... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2014) – Unbeaten California-bred Red Outlaw risks his four-race win streak in Friday’s $100,000 El Cajon Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar. Red Outlaw is by Tribal Rule, out of the Slewpy mare Anachristina, was bred by Liberty Road Stables, is owned by Blinkers On Racing Stable, Aurelio, Bizovi, Coons, et al and is trained by Peter Miller. He has four wins in four starts with earnings of $225,200 and is coming off a win in the Aug. 1 Real Good Deal Stakes. ...

By Arcadiasbest.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 18, 2014) — Santa Anita Park is contemplating adding 800 horse stable barns in the north parking lot area, building two “high-class” restaurants on the opposite corner of the property near the Huntington Drive entrance to the Westfield Santa Anita mall, and potentially developing a major retail/entertainment component in the next couple of years to adjoin the track that could also include a hotel. None of these plans has been officially proposed or submitted to the City for consideration. But during a study session prior to the Aug. 5 Arcadia City Council meeting, the Mayor, Council members, city staff and members of the public heard the tentative plans of Santa Anita Park chairman Keith Brackpool for future development of the 304-acre site. Just a few years ago the City Council unanimously approved a major 800,000 commercial development called Shops at Santa Anita by the creator of The Grove and The Americana at Brand, Rick Caruso, for the 85-acres of the south parking lot of the... ...

By Bloodhorse.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 15, 2014) — California’s State Capitol went all Chrome on Thursday, Aug. 14. Both the State Senate and Assembly unanimously approved a resolution saluting 2014 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness (both gr. I) winner California Chrome, along with his human connections and the state’s racing industry. It’s believed to be the first time the California legislature passed such a resolution for a racehorse, said Doug Burge, of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “It’s not only honoring the owners and breeders, but it’s important to remind people of the importance of racing,” Burge said. Carrying their Derby and Preakness trophies, co-owners and breeders Perry and Denise Martin of Yuba City, Calif., and Steve and Carolyn Coburn of Topaz Lake, Nev., received a heroes’ welcome at the state house. Although the Martins work in Sacramento, it was the first time any of them had seen the Capitol chambers. “They said, ‘Can you bring the horse?’ We don’t think so,” said Steve Coburn. They brought... ...

By Bloodhorse.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2014) — The racetrack at California Exposition and State Fair has been renamed for the late Kirk Breed, who served as executive director of the state horse racing board and was formerly general manager of the state fair and a board member. The California Legislature passed a resolution, chaptered on Aug. 7, the first anniversary of his death, renaming the Cal Expo track the “Kirk Breed Memorial Race Track.” A memorial plaque in honor of Breed will be placed on the Cal Expo racetrack grounds. Breed served as executive director of the California Horse Racing Board from 2008 until his death due to cancer at the age of 73. He was appointed general manager at Cal Expo during the first term of Gov. Jerry Brown in 1979, and was credited with turning around the event’s financial fortunes during lean times. He later became a lobbyist on behalf or the racing industry and also served for eight years on the Cal Expo board of directors.... ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Aug. 16, 2014) — The Los Alamitos September Thoroughbred meeting will have a $775,000 stakes program of eight races equivalent in value to the 12 stakes offered at the meeting it replaces, the Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif. The Los Alamitos meeting, which runs Sept. 5-21, is highlighted by the $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile for 3-year-olds and up Sept. 6. The race was tentatively scheduled for Sept. 20 but pushed forward at the request of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, according to Los Alamitos general manager Brad McKinzie. The new date will allow some runners to start in the Los Alamitos Mile and the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes over 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. The Los Alamitos meeting will not include four stakes from previous Fairplex meetings – the C.B. Afflerbaugh and Phil D. Shepherd Stakes for 2-year-olds, and the Jim Kostoff Stakes and Pomona Derby for 3-year-olds. In 2013, there were eight stakes at Fairplex... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 11, 2014) — Santa Anita has completed the installation of a new racing surface that will be used for the first time during the autumn meeting that features the Breeders’ Cup races Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The track’s autumn meeting begins Sept. 26. Track superintendent Dennis Moore said Sunday he plans to spend the next few weeks blending and grading the material installed in late July and early August. “It went fairly smoothly,” Moore said of the installation. “We’ll do a lot of watering and working the material, getting it blended and mixed.” The installation began after the barn area was closed in mid-July, coinciding with the start of the Del Mar summer meeting. A locally based soil, known as El Segundo sand, was used for the new surface. During the installation, the material previously used for racing was removed to the base, allowing the course to be surveyed for sloping and grading. Moore said that 20,000 yards of new material was installed. The... ...

By Dave Palermo, GamblingCompliance SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 7, 2014) — Legislation to legalize Internet poker in California, potentially the most lucrative U.S. online gambling market, will not make it out of the state legislature in 2014, Capitol Hill officials, American Indian tribes and racing industry lobbyists said Wednesday. A bill sponsored by Senator Lou Correa will not be the subject of a hearing by the Senate Government Organization Commission (GOC) before an August 29 deadline for consideration by the full legislature, according to GOC director Arthur Terzakis. “There will be no Internet poker hearings in August, no,” Terzakis said. Similar legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer remains stagnant, a victim of legislative inertia and strained relations between Jones-Sawyer and the tribes who drafted his bill. An informational hearing on Internet legislation has not been scheduled for the Assembly GOC, a committee spokeswoman said Wednesday. Jones-Sawyer’s staff did not respond to requests for comment. Policy issues involving “bad actor” provisions and the state’s thoroughbred racing industry, coupled with regulatory and legal issues,... ...

COALINGA, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2014) — Harris Farms is saddened to announce the passing of Thorn Song (2003, by Unbridled’s Song, out of Festal by Storm Bird) due to complications of severe laminitis while at Alamo Pintado Veterinary Clinic in Santa Ynez. Bred in Kentucky by Pinnacle Racing LLC and Taylor Made Farm Inc., Thorn Song won eight of 29 starts including the Shadwell Turf Mile S.-G1 and the Shoemaker Mile S.-G1, and earned $1,132,700. Racing for Zayat Stables from 2005-2009, the big gray was trained by Dale Romans and Mike Mitchell. Thorn Song sustained a career-ending injury in July of 2009 and spent the next year and a half recovering at Alamo Pintado Veterinary Clinic. Under the care of Dr. Doug Herthel, Dr. Erin Byrne and Dr. Ian Campbell and the staff at Alamo Pintado, Thorn Song underwent extensive stem cell therapy to treat his hoof issues. Thorn Song entered stud in 2011 at Harris Farms as property of the farm. He is represented by 29 current two-year-olds in... ...

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (July 31, 2014) — Millionaire multiple graded stakes winner Halo Dolly has been retired from racing. Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer saddled the hard-knocking 6-year-old mare for 37 of her 40 starts. The California-bred daughter of Popular—Spanish Halo, by Comic Strip, won 18 times. Ten of those victories came in stakes company, including the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar in 2012 and the Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park in 2013. She also won three consecutive editions of Del Mar’s Solana Beach Handicap and finished in the top three 31 times. Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez bred Halo Dolly from their unraced mare Spanish Halo, who is also the dam of Russian group II-placed Oksistka. Halo Dolly will be offered as a broodmare prospect at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale this fall. “This kind of horse that is real consistent quickly becomes a barn favorite,” Hollendorfer said. “She did all she was supposed to do and one hundred times more. She deserves... ...

PLEASANTON, Calif. (July 29, 2014) – Six graduates from last year’s Northern California Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale, four of them 2-year-olds, have already posted wins in 2014.   That includes Rowdy Dylan, topper of last year’s sale, who ran off in a July 14 $42,000 maiden special weight dash for 2-year-olds at Los Alamitos.   This year’s sale will be held Tuesday, August 12, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, beginning at noon and conducted by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.   Rowdy Dylan is by Sky Mesa, out of the Broken Vow mare Serious Vow, was bred by H & E Ranch in Kentucky, is owned by David Lanzman Racing Stable and Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller.   The colt sold for $60,000 at last year’s Northern California Yearling Sale to Del Playa Bloodstock, then was re-sold for $280,000 at Barretts March Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.40 and won by 7 ¼ lengths as the 2-5 favorite.  ... ...

From Ballena Vista Farm RAMONA, Calif. (July 28, 2014) — Grade I winning and Grade I sire Beau Genius was euthanized on Friday July 25th at Ballena Vista Farm due to his recent declining quality of life in the last of his twenty-nine years. Big Macher, Beau Genius’ California-bred son, won Sunday’s Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes. Beau Genius was a millionaire on the racetrack having won marquee races throughout Canada and the United States. He won or placed in 30 of his 42 starts including victories in the Philip H. Iselin H.-G1, Michigan Mile and One-Eighth H.-G2, Display S., Churchill Downs H., Deputy Minister H., for his owner-breeder Dr. Brian Davidson. The charisma of the Canadian-bred Beau Genius was noted early on and often; Sovereign Farm in Canada, farm manager Tommy Cosgrove. “I’m staring at the best-looking foal I’ve ever seen,” Cosgrove said of the chestnut born on May 20, 1985. “I’d expect great things from him.” The final stakes win of all-time jockey great Bill Shoemaker’s career was... ...