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... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (July 27, 2014) – Unbeaten stakes winner Red Outlaw returns from a five-month hiatus in Friday’s $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Del Mar. Solid Wager is by Birdonthewire, out of the Valid Wager mare G Ma, was bred by Madera Thoroughbreds, is owned by Gary and Cecil Barber and Stanford Stable and is trained by Peter Miller. He has two wins in seven starts, earnings of $78,000 and is coming off a June 21 starter’s allowance win. Eddie’s First is by Square Eddie, out of the Boston Harbor mare Teresa Ann, was bred by J. Paul Reddam, is owned by Reddam Racing and trained by Doug O’Neill. He has one win in seven starts, earnings of $47,800 and is coming off a seventh in the July 5 Los Alamitos Derby. Chattering Gambler is by Dixie Chatter, out of the Lit de Justice mare Gambler’s Justice, was bred by Halo Farms and Martin Mueller, is owned by Kevan Kynaston and Ian... ...

PLEASANTON, Calif. (July 5, 2014) – California-bred Do the Danse sped to a three-length win in Saturday’s $65,320 Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stake for 2-year-old fillies at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet.   Do the Danse is by Kafwain, out of the Joyeaux Dancer mare Big City Danse, was bred by owners Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.   She has won both of her starts, with earnings of $58,650. She ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.36.   For Do the Danse’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/do+the+danse. ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (July 3, 2014) – Longshot Soi Phet stalked the leaders and pounced turning for home, extending his lead down the long stretch for a four-length win in Thursday’s $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles on opening day at Los Alamitos.   Soi Phet is by Tizbud, out of the Siberian Summer mare Summer Jersey, was bred by ARCHA Racing, is owned by Gerald Benowitz and Sandra Powell and Paul and Mathilde Viskovich and is trained by Leonard Powell.   He has seven wins in 27 starts, earnings of $352,438 and was coming off a win in a June 8 starter’s allowance.   He ran the mile in 1:35.50 and went off at odds of 11-1. Spirit Rules was second and Rock Me Baby third.   For Soi Phet’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/soi+phet. ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (July 1, 2014) — Brad McKinzie, point man for the brave new racing adventure at Los Alamitos, was cracking wise about the mini-meets his track will be presenting this season, beginning Thursday with the eight-day Summer Thoroughbred Festival that runs all the way to July 13, better known as a week from Sunday. “Two weeks we can handle,” McKinzie said. “It’s that middle week we’ll be running in December that will present the real challenge. You just hope you can keep up the enthusiasm.” Since McKinzie said that, tongue firmly planted in his cheek, the Los Alamitos Racing Association has added another package of Thoroughbred dates in the Sept. 4-23 window formerly occupied by the L.A. County Fair. Led by its owner, Dr. Ed Allred, the track is stepping into some of the racing and training breach left by the closure of Hollywood Park as well as the end of live racing at Fairplex Park. As a marriage of necessity between the Quarter Horse... ...

Owners of horses of racing age currently not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program can nominate their runners at discounted rates on or before July 15 for competition in this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park. All horses must be nominated in order to compete in any of the 13 Breeders’ Cup World Championship races. The nomination discounts are as follows: * 2-year-olds by a nominated Breeders’ Cup stallion can join the program for $12,000; this one-time nomination fee makes the racehorse eligible for its entire racing career to the Breeders’ Cup. * 3-year-olds and up that were foaled in the Northern Hemisphere will receive a 50% discount off normal racehorse nomination fees and 3-year-olds and older born in the Southern Hemisphere can nominate for 25% of their regular nomination fee. * All nominated racehorses are eligible for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and any other racing program of the Breeders’ Cup for as long as they race. Following the July 15 deadline, the price for... ...

PLEASANTON, Calif. (June 28, 2014) — Tribal Gal ($28) proved the quickest early and was uncatchable as she sped to an easy victory Saturday in the $100,870 Oak Tree Distaff for Golden State Series eligible filly and mares at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet. “She broke in a bit and then had the six [Handful of Pearls] beside her, but I just let her do her thing,” said 18-year-old Ricardo Gonzalez, who notched his first stakes victory after a pair of seconds at the Golden Gate Fields meeting. Tribal Gal, a 4-year-old daughter of Tribal Rules, set the pace in the California Wine Stakes here last year before fading. But she was sharp and at the top of her game in Saturday’s Cal-bred sprint stakes. She led Handful of Pearls by a head through a 21.65-second opening quarter as Gonzalez simply sat still. She was a length ahead at the quarter pole and still running strong as Handful of Pearls, a claimer who gave Russell Baze his 12,000th victory... ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (June 27, 2014) — Ed Burgart will be a familiar voice to Southern California racing fans over the next two weeks. Burgart, who has called Quarter Horse races at Los Alamitos since 1981, will call the action for the summer Thoroughbred meeting at Los Alamitos that begins a two-week run Thursday. On five nights over the next two weeks, Burgart also will call the evening races for Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds at Los Alamitos. It is a scenario familiar to Burgart, 62. In the autumn of both 1994 and 1995, Burgart pulled doubleheader duty during the day at Hollywood Park and in the evenings at Los Alamitos when Trevor Denman was vacationing from his position as the Hollywood Park announcer in those years. “I did doubleheaders on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays,” Burgart said Thursday. “I remember the last day, I called 10 races at Hollywood and 15 races at Los Alamitos. That’s when we ran the Champion of Champions on closing night [of the Quarter... ...

By DRF.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 24, 2014) — Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland Race Course officials confirmed Tuesday that the historic track in Lexington, Ky., will serve as the host site for next year’s championship event. The race dates will be Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 and Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. At the same time, Breeders’ Cup confirmed that Santa Anita Park will host the event Nov. 4-5, 2016, and that Del Mar will host Nov. 3-4, 2017. The host site plans were first reported last week, but Breeders’ Cup officials and the three tracks had declined comment until a series of press conferences on Tuesday morning. Keeneland and Del Mar will both be first-time hosts, making them the 11th and 12th tracks, respectively, to host the event, first held in 1984. Santa Anita, which hosts for a third consecutive time this year, will push its record to nine times with the 2016 event, and will at that point have hosted in six of the last nine years. “A trip to Keeneland... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (June 23, 2014) — California stallion Del Mar Show was represented by his first winner on Sunday when Hollywood Producer won the sixth race at Santa anita.   Hollywood Producer is out of the Distorted Humor mare Humorous Tune, was bred by Grant Truman and Paul Truman, is owned by Sammy Free Universe and was trained by Walther Solis.   The 3-year-old filly ran the five furlongs in :58.41 and won by 6 ¼ lengths as the 6-5 favorite in the field of seven.   Del Mar Show stands at Rancho Temescal.   For Hollywood Producer’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/hollywood+producer2.   ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 22, 2014)—Trainer Doug O’Neill, owner Paul Reddam and jockey Mario Gutierrez had another on Sunday at Santa Anita. Another stakes win that is, as Gutierrez guided California-bred Wake Up Nick to a gutty three quarter length tally in the $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile, as the chestnut colt by Cindago scurried 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.28 while withstanding the late charge of Story to Tell and Joe Talamo. A 9 ¼ length first-out maiden winner versus statebreds on May 1, Wake Up Nick bested five 2-year-old rivals, including even money favorite Holiday Camp, who never threatened and finished last, beaten 6 ½ lengths. Winners of the 2012 Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness with I’ll Have Another, O’Neill, Reddam and Gutierrez served notice they’re back with another talented juvenile. “That was nice,” said O’Neill. “There’s nowhere to run when you win early at the meet like that and to try and keep him to maintain his sharpness as long as we had, it... ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. – All-sources mutuel handle on all California racetracks, including Quarter Horse and harness, showed an increase of almost 3 percent for the year through May, according to Rick Baedeker, the executive director of the California Horse Racing Board. During a report at the outset of Thursday’s monthly racing board meeting, Baedeker said Thoroughbred racing at the major tracks is up almost 5 percent for the year through May, but night racing – Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds at Los Alamitos and the harness racing in Sacramento – is down 12 percent, with 10 percent fewer racing days than last year. Baedeker said handle on Thoroughbred races had shown an increase of almost 14 percent in May, with account wagering through the Internet leading the way. “We’ve seen a significant increase in business in account wagering for the entire year,” he said. Baedeker said handle at the night meetings was down 1 percent in May, with three fewer racing days compared with 2013. ◗ Mutuel handle at... ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (June 19, 2014) – The California Horse Racing Board on Thursday approved the transfer of the Fairplex Park meeting at the Los Angeles County Fair to Los Alamitos starting in September, a decision that ends 71 years of live racing at the Pomona racetrack. By a vote of 5-0, the racing board approved the transfer of 11 days of racing from Sept. 5-21. A formal application for the race meeting will be heard by the racing board later this summer. Officials with Fairplex Park and Los Alamitos began discussions in the spring about relocating the meeting. At the time, Fairplex Park officials said running a live race meeting at the county fairgrounds was no longer viable. The racing board’s decision gives Los Alamitos a third Thoroughbred race meeting this year. The track will run an eight-day meeting July 3-13 and a three-week meeting in December. Those race meetings replace dates previously run at Hollywood Park, which closed last December. The subject of transferring the Fairplex Park meeting... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com PLEASANTON, Calif. (June 18, 2014) — The rest of the Thoroughbred world is forgiven if it views the current state of the California racing and training landscape as an elaborate game of pick-up sticks, in which all the pieces are gathered together, then tossed on the table, to be played wherever they lay. Santa Anita Park is squeezing out the last two weeks of its first marathon meet, during which it was able to leverage the Triple Crown appearances of local hero California Chrome into three great days, but not much else. Fairplex Park management wants out of the horse-racing business – the disposition of its dates was on the California Horse Racing Board agenda this week – while Los Alamitos wants in, big time, and continues to build barns to house the stables soon to be displaced at both Fairplex and Santa Anita, which will be closing soon in order to renovate its main track for the fifth time in the last eight years. Don’t... ...

OCALA, Fla. (June 17, 2014) – A California-bred colt by Artie Schiller sold for $220,000 at Tuesday’s opening session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.   The colt, bred by David Newcomb, was consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, and purchased by Conquest Stables. Out of the unraced Avenue of Flags mare Sookloozy, he was a $95,000 pinhook out of the Barretts October Yearling Sale. ...

By DRF.com PLEASANTON, Calif. (June 17, 2014) — Thursday marks the start of a new era in Northern California racing, as Oak Tree at Pleasanton becomes a reality with the first day of racing at the Alameda County Fair. The Oak Tree Racing Association, the not-for-profit group that has provided high-quality racing and millions of dollars of support to the industry – “horsemen helping horsemen” is its motto – as well as the local community, arrives at the oldest one-mile racetrack in America. The group has been looking for a home since Santa Anita ended ties with Oak Tree following the 2009 meet. Chris Korby, the executive director of the California Authority of Racing Fairs, approached Sherwood Chillingworth, Oak Tree’s director and executive vice president, following a California Horse Racing Board meeting one year ago. “Chris grabbed me by the shoulder and asked, ‘Have you ever thought of coming to Northern California?’ ” Chillingworth said. Oak Tree, CARF, and the Alameda County Fair began meeting, and California Horse Racing Board... ...

From Emerald Downs Publicity AUBURN, Wash. (June 15, 2014) – Using a strong closing kick, Stryker Phd made a triumphant return to action Sunday at Emerald Downs. The Washington-bred son of California stallion Bertrando, runner-up in the 2013 Longacres Mile, Stryker Phd drew clear for a 3 ¼-length victory in stakes-record time in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap for 3-year-olds and up. Ridden by Leslie Mawing at 119 lbs., Stryker Phd ran one mile in 1:34.15—breaking the mark shared by Westsideclyde and R. Associate—and paid $10.80, $6 and $4.60. Larry Ross, who took over training duties from Margo Lloyd this spring, now conditions Stryker Phd for owners Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash. Mr. Bowling, ridden by David G. Lopez at 118 lbs., finished second and paid $5.40 and $4.20. Canadian shipper Shooting Jacket, a 29-to-1 long shot ridden by Eliska Kubinova at 116 lbs, rallied to finish third and paid $15 to show. Jebrica, the defending champion and 3-to-1 betting favorite, finished fourth, followed by Twistrgrips, Dontmesswithkitten, Hudson Landing,... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 15, 2014)—With 4-5 favorite My Sweet Addiction drifting out badly turning for home, longshot California-bred Sagebrush Queen shot through a large opening at the rail a quarter mile out and went on to win Sunday’s $75,000 added Desert Stormer Stakes at Santa Anita by one length, covering six furlongs under Edwin Maldonado in 1:09.75. Trained by Jorge Gutierrez, California-bred Sagebrush Queen was making her first start in a stakes and was the biggest price in a field of five fillies and mares at 16-1. “I saw My Sweet Addiction was having trouble on the far turn and literally blew the turn and she took the other filly (Doinghardtimeagain) with her so that helped me a lot,” said Maldonado. “At first I thought he (Mike Smith, aboard My Sweet Addiction) was going to shut the hole down at the rail, but then he went and did the opposite blowing the turn. She was certainly the one to beat today.” A 4-year-old filly by Unbridled... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 15, 2014) –Santa Anita has announced that its one mile main track will undergo a major renovation beginning July 11 that will result in the track transitioning to a single-source material consisting of highly coveted El Segundo Sand, a natural soil that will ensure balanced drainage during periods of wet weather and uniform, safe cushion year ’round. “Beginning July 11, we’re going to take out the existing surface and go down to the base of the track,” said Santa Anita Track Superintendent Dennis Moore. “At that point, we’ll survey the existing base and ensure we’re meeting all specifications relative to slope and grade. “We’re going to be moving 20,000-plus yards of material and we anticipate this process is going to take about four or five weeks. We’re very fortunate to have been able to locate this soil which is currently being excavated due to construction projects at LAX. “El Segundo Sand is naturally occurring and we won’t have to mix it with any... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 15, 2014) — Big Macher, who went on to capture the Grade II Potrero Grande Stakes after being claimed by Richard Baltas for $20,000, worked four furlongs Sunday in a snappy 46.80, just a tick off the fastest drill of 63 at that distance on Father’s Day morning. The bullets were recorded by both Bold Decision and Spirit of Ten at 46.60. “Beautiful” is how Baltas termed the move. “He was very eager and he wanted to work.” Big Macher went the first half-mile in 23 3/5 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 3/5. “I don’t think he’ll make the Triple Bend (a Grade I, $300,000 stakes at seven furlongs on June 28),” Baltas said, “but you never know. He went pretty easy. He definitely was ready to work.” Big Macher, a 4-year-old California-bred son of Beau Genius, had been sidelined with an injury to his right front foot following a workout on May 10. ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (June 10, 2014) –Capital improvements continue at Los Alamitos in advance of the track’s July Thoroughbred meeting. On the front side, the walking ring has been expanded about 100 feet into the track apron to accommodate a remodeled winner’s circle and to allow more people, and horses, into the area when horses are being paraded before a race. The new winner’s circle will have two tiers to allow more participation in winner’s circle photos. In addition, the grandstand area adjacent to the Vessels Club restaurant on the second floor has been remodeled with a standing viewing area that will offer an excellent vantage point of the Thoroughbred track that was expanded from five furlongs to a mile last winter. Other improvements on the front side include an upgrade of the television system to high-definition, and a remodeling of bathrooms in the grandstand. On the backstretch, the construction of two barns is nearly complete on property that was previously used as a maintenance yard for tractors and... ...