From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (June 15, 2021) — The $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles is one of three stakes to be held at the upcoming Summer Thoroughbred Festival at Los Alamitos.   The one-mile Bertrando will be run on Saturday, June 26, returning to its original name (2014-2019) honoring the multiple graded stakes winner and champion older male of 1993 after being contested as the Soi Phet in 2020.   The seven-day meet is scheduled to begin Friday, June 25 and continue through Monday, July 5. Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday (June 25-27) the first week and Friday-Monday (July 2-5) the second. Post time will be 1 p.m.   The richest event on the calendar is the Grade II, $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies & mares at 6 ½ furlongs. Captured by 7-1 shot California-bred Sneaking Out in 2020, the Great Lady M. will be offered Monday, July 5.   Besides Sneaking Out, the five other winners of the Great Lady M. at... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 13, 2021)–In a race in which most observers thought trainer Eric Kruljac’s talented California-bred The Chosen Vron would be on or contending for the early lead, instead the 3-year-old Vronsky gelding was last early and although Bob Baffert’s Defunded had what appeared to be an insurmountable four-length edge turning for home, it was The Chosen Vron who rallied for an impressive 1 ¼ length score in Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, he got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:44.01. Stretching out for the first time off a huge win in the Grade III Lazaro Barrera Stakes going 6 ½ furlongs, The Chosen Vron settled nicely under Rispoli heading into the first turn as longshot Jimmy Irish and Defunded contested the early going. With Defunded assuming command around the far turn, he quickly dispatched of his favored stablemate Classier and had what appeared to be a winning advantage a quarter mile out but The Chosen... ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (June 12, 2021) – When an expected pace duel didn’t materialize, Give Me the Lute ($6.60) cruised to a big lead in the $66,800 Albany and held off fast-finishing favorite Brandothebartender on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields to give trainer Andy Mathis his third straight victory in the race and Cal-breds a sweep of the top three spots. Give Me the Lute broke sharply with potential pace rivals Bettor Trip Nick and Brandothebartender, but quickly took command. Bettor Trip Nick, who had been on the lead in his past two sprints, wasn’t quick enough to match Give Me the Lute and took up just a bit approaching the half-mile pole. Brandothebartender was last down the backstretch and ran out of room after flying through the stretch, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Give Me the Lute who clocked 56.26 for the five-furlong turf race. Give Me the Lute is by Boisterous, out of the Midnight Lute mare Steal the Lute, was bred by Gary Barber, is... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 13, 2021)–Absent a suicidal pace duel, the Craig Lewis-trained Brickyard Ride settled into a rhythmic stride out of the gate and coasted gate to wire in Saturday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes at Santa Anita, winning by 4 ¾ lengths.  Ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez, Brickyard Ride got six furlongs in 1:09.34.   Winless in two starts since taking the Grade II San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6, Brickyard Ride was pressed through opening quarter miles of 21.40 and 21 flat in his last two starts–resulting in a fourth place finish in six furlong classified allowance May 7 and a second place finish in the Grade III Kona Gold Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on April 18.   With an opening quarter mile of 22.62 today, Brickyard Ride was in complete control and although Colt Fiction appeared full of run while two lengths back turning for home, Brickyard Ride was never challenged through the lane.   “Craig told... ...

By Bloodhorse.com WILMINGTON, Del. (June 9, 2021) — Miracle’s International Trading’s Dream Marie  splashed to an upset last-to-first victory in the $100,250 Obeah Stakes June 9 at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old filly by California stallion Graydar, who was second in the Delaware Oaks (G3) last summer in her only other start at the track, won by 1 3/4 lengths and returned $19.40 on a $2 win ticket. The Obeah is the local prep for the July 10 Delaware Handicap (G2). With Joe Bravo aboard, Dream Marie covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.40 on a sloppy main track. “She really likes this course,” said Bravo, who also rode Dream Marie in last year’s Delaware Oaks. “The last time she was on this course she was a very game second, a heartbeat from winning. Today, as I was expecting, when she turned for home, she really kicked off nicely.” Dream Marie was seventh through the first quarter-mile as 53-1 shot Shyza  set opening fractions of :23.07 and :47.20. Miss Marissa , who stalked the pace in third, took over to post six furlongs... ...

MILAN, Italy (June 9, 2021) — Haven Park, an Irish-bred daughter of California stallion Sir Prancealot, scored her first black-type win in Sunday’s listed Premio XCIII Royal Mares at San Siro. Haven Park, a 4-year-old filly out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Fifth Wonder, ran the mile on turf in 1:35.10 on a course listed as good and carried 130 pounds. She has five wins in 12 starts and earnings of $66,275 Euros.   ...

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (June 8, 2021) – Longtime California stallion Old Topper was euthanized due to issues from old age at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds. He was 26 and had been pensioned in 2019. The son of Gilded Time was a perennial leading sire in California, with 27 stakes winners and lifetime progeny earnings of more than $22 million. Old Topper’s leading earner is Ain’t No Other ($715,280) and his runners included multiple stakes winner Queen Bee to You, graded winner Top Kisser and this year’s Evening Jewel Stakes winner, Becca Taylor. On the track, Old Topper was a multiple graded winner. ...

By Bloodhorse.com Second-crop California sire Winning Cause  sired his first winner May 21 at Hipodromo de Las Americas when his son Winning Again captured a maiden claiming sprint by three-quarters of a length. Bred in California by Linda Madsen out of the stakes-placed Wild Again daughter Mini Skirt, Winning Again now has a win and two seconds out of seven career starts for owner Cuadra Colibri. Mini Skirt is the dam of six winners out of 10 to race. Winning Again showed determination in wearing down five challengers in a 2 1/2-furlong sprint that went an opening quarter in :22. He closed strongly to stop the timer in :27 2/5 and held off a late rally by Nogales , who was 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Pierrot . Colibri bought Winning Again for $1,500 at the 2020 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association January Mixed Sale out of the Havens Bloodstock Agency consignment. Winning Cause is a grade 2-placed, multiple grade 3 winner by Giant’s Causeway out of the Kingmambo winner Raffishing Look. He won or placed in 13 black-type... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (May 28, 2021) – California stallion Danzing Candy was represented by his first winner on Friday when Love Candy won the third race at Golden Gate in his racing debut. Love Candy, out of the Tapizar mare Love Winning, was bred by owner Stuart Tsujimoto and trained by Ed Moger Jr. He ran the five furlongs in 1:00.87 and won by 2 ¾ lengths at odds of 6-1 in the field of eight 2-year-olds. Danzing Candy stands at Rancho San Miguel. ...

From DMTC DEL MAR, Calif. (May 28, 2021) — Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has announced plans to open its 2021 summer race meet with 100% capacity for fans in its seating areas throughout its facility. This decision was made in accordance with state and county public health guidelines effective June 15, 2021.  Del Mar’s 82nd racing season will open on Friday, July 16 and run through Labor Day Monday, September 6. All fans wishing to attend must obtain a seating package in advance of their arrival. Admission tickets and parking passes will be included in the package. The track will put seats on sale online on Friday, June 18 (go to DMTC.com/tickets) with a pre-sale available on Thursday, June 17 for those that sign up at the Del Mar website (DMTC.com/2021). “We are delighted to be able to welcome our fans back to Del Mar,” said DMTC president and COO Josh Rubinstein. “We appreciate their patience as we have all adapted to the changing circumstances over the last 15 months. We also appreciate the... ...

By TDN Ashleyluvssugar (Game Plan), a California-bred five-time Grade II-winning 10-year-old gelding, made a splash -quite literally- on social media this week in a post from After the Finish Line, where he was seen taking an enthusiastic wade through a stream in the North Carolina mountains. Ashleyluvswater: Cal-Bred Takes on East Coast Mountainside (thoroughbreddailynews.com) ...

From Fasig-Tipton ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2021) — Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 105 entries for its Santa Anita Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, to be held on Wednesday, June 23 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.  The sale will begin at 1 p.m. PDT.  The undertack show will take place on Monday, June 21, and begin at 10 a.m. PDT. “We are pleased to be bringing this auction back following a successful inaugural sale in 2019,” said Fasig-Tipton California Representative Mike Machowsky.  “We are receiving increased participation from Florida-based consignors this year, and the sale’s sire power is much stronger, as well. Leading national and California-based sires represented include CONSTITUTION, CURLIN, EMPIRE MAKER, GRAZEN, HARD SPUN, INTO MISCHIEF, LIAM’S MAP, MALIBU MOON, MEDAGLIA D’ORO, MUNNINGS, NYQUIST, PIONEEROF THE NILE, SMILING TIGER, and SQUARE EDDIE.  Several exciting young sires with their first crop of two-year-olds are also represented, including ARROGATE, CLASSIC EMPIRE, DANZING CANDY, GORMLEY, and PRACTICAL JOKE. The catalogue primarily consists of California-breds and Kentucky-breds. The catalogue may now be viewed online and... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (May 23, 2021) – California-bred None Above the Law made it back-to-back stakes wins by rallying late to take Sunday’s $77,250 Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate. None Above the Law is by Karakontie, out of the Northern Afleet mare Legally Blanca, was bred by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, is owned by Downstream Racing and trained by Peter Miller. He has four wins in 10 starts, earnings of $173,810 and was coming off a win in the Apr. 25 Silky Sullivan. He ran the mile on turf in 1:36.56 and won by 1 ½ lengths over fellow Cal-bred Seattle Bold as the 9-5 favorite in the field of 10. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. ( May 15, 2021) — With Laurel River and I’ll Stand Taller duking it out on the front-end, trainer Eric Kruljac’s The Chosen Vron flew off the turn for home and marched to an emphatic 3 ½ length win in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, the California-bred gelding by Vronsky got 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.28. In a field of four sophomores, it was readily apparent from the outset that I’ll Stand Taller and Juan Hernandez were not going to allow impressive recent maiden winner Laurel River and Abel Cedillo to have their way on the front end as they blazed an opening quarter mile in 21.32. With I’ll Stand Taller shrinking noticeably a quarter mile out, The Chosen Vron was making an eye catching move at the rail blew by Laurel River with a furlong to run. “I could see they were going really fast, those two horses up front,... ...

Former California stallion Redattore passed away on Saturday in his native Brazil, according to The Bloodhorse. He was 26. The Grade I winner and son of Roi Normand was the sire of Compari, a California-bred graded-stakes winner of $673,724 bred by Harris Farms, Donald Valpredo and John Nicoletti. Redattore won 15 of 32 starts racing in Brazil, Argentina, and North America. Trained in Southern California by Richard Mandella for Dr. Luis Taunay after establishing himself as a group I winner in Brazil, Redattore captured seven California graded stakes, including the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile Stakes (gr. IT) and Eddie Read Handicap (gr. IT). He also was a grade II winner on dirt, taking the San Antonio Handicap. ...

From Harris Farms SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (May 13, 2021) – Majestic Harbor, California’s leading freshman sire of 2020, now sits atop the California second crop sire list for 2021 with the victories by his 3-year-old fillies Lieutenant Kitty and Diamond Solitaire in the maiden special weight and the feature race on today’s card at Indiana Downs. Lieutenant Kitty, who had placed in both her starts last season at two, was the 1/5 favorite to defeat the field of maidens in the 3rd race, and she rewarded the faithful with a dominating win over the mile and seventy yard trip. Taken off the pace in the early going, it was obvious she was raring to go whenever jockey Fernando De La Cruz asked. That call came heading into the far turn and from there, the contest was over. He sat chilly as she opened up with every stride and came home sixteen and one-half lengths in front of the rest. Lieutenant Kitty race for the partnership of Deerfield Farm Racing, Dan Ison,... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (May 9, 2021)–In her first two-turn assignment, William Sims’ homebred Leggs Galore went to the lead and never looked back, taking Sunday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita by three quarters of a length over heavily favored Warren’s Showtime.  Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Leggs Galore got one mile on turf in 1:34.85. The Fran’s Valentine, named for the multiple Grade I stakes winning Earl Scheib homebred daughter of Saros, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series.  Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses. With a pair of scratches earlier in the day, the Fran’s Valentine was reduced to a field of four older California-bred fillies and mares and to the surprise of no one, Leggs Galore bounced out of the gate from her rail post and turned the race into a virtual parade to the far turn, with Kristi’s Tiger a length and a half off the lead three... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (May 7, 2021) – California stallion Stanford was represented by his first winner on Friday when debuting odds-on favorite Heaven Shines went wire to wire in the fourth race at Golden Gate. Heaven Shines is out of the Speightstown mare Light Up the Sky, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trained by Jonathan Wong. The 2-year-old colt won the maiden special weight by 2 ¾ lengths at odds of 1-5 in the field of four and ran the 4 ½ furlongs in :53.44. ...

From Harris Farms COALINGA, Calif. (May 3, 2021) – California stallion Vronsky died of an apparent heart attack April 29 at Harris Farms after successfully covering a mare, according to Jonny Hilvers, General Manager at Harris Farms.   “For a 22-year-old he looked amazing and could not have been doing any better. He has been such a nice horse to be around all these years and he will be sorely missed.”   The son of Danzig – Words of War, by Lord At War (ARG) bred by Arthur B. Hancock III and Stonerside Ltd. sold for $1 million at the 2000 Keeneland September Sale. A three-time winner of $135,247 while racing for owner Steve Taub, Vronsky entered stud in 2005 at E.W. “Buddy” Johnston’s Old English Rancho in Sanger, Calif.   From 13 crops to race, Vronsky is the sire of 151 winners, progeny earnings of $15.9 million and 12 blacktype winners which include grade 1 winner What a View, grade 2 winner Norvsky, grade 3 victor Poshsky and 2021 graded-placed 3-year-olds Closing Remarks and The Chosen Vron. As of... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. – Week-by-week through the spring, the 2-year-old filly Big Treat progressively had quicker workouts for trainer Ryan Hanson at Santa Anita. Big Treat worked a half-mile from the gate in 48.60 seconds on April 10. Two weeks later, she went a half-mile from the gate in 47.80. Those workouts were the foundation for an attractive debut when Big Treat won a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies by 10 lengths under apprentice jockey Emily Ellingwood last Friday. “This filly has done everything right,” Hanson reflected on Sunday. “She’s gotten better each week.” Last summer, Hanson won his first Thoroughbred graded stakes with Weston in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar. By the Dynaformer stallion Mr. Big, Big Treat is likely to have her stakes debut in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante at five furlongs on June 20, the lone stakes for 2-year-old fillies at the current winter-spring meeting In recent years, juveniles such as Big Treat, who won early season maiden... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2021) – None Above the Law rallied wide and pulled away to win Sunday’s $77,700 Silky Sullivan Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Golden Gate. None Above the Law is by Karakontie, out of the Northern Afleet mare Legally Blanca, was bred by J. Kirk & Judy Robison, is owned by Downstream Racing and was trained by Peter Miller. He has three wins in nine starts, earnings of $131,060 and was coming off a sixth in the Apr. 3 Echo Eddie. He ran the mile in 1:36.75 at odds of 3-1. Seattle Bold was second and Top Harbor third in the field of 11. The race, originally drawn for the turf, was run on the all-weather track. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2021) – I’m So Anna scored her second stakes victory on Sunday when she wired the field in the $76,800 Campanile Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies at Golden Gate. I’m So Anna is by Fast Anna, out of the Jet West mare So So Fast, was bred by owner KMN Racing and trained by Steve Sherman. She has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $174,240 and was coming off a third in Apr. 3 Evening Jewel. She ran the mile in 1:36.93 and won by 2 ½ lengths as the 6-5 favorite. Amazen Grazen was second and Squared Shady third in the field of nine. The race, originally scheduled for the turf, was run on the al-weather track. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 24, 2021) – Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ homebred Stalking Shadow rallied late to win Saturday’s $98,000 California Derby for 3-year-olds at Golden Gate. The California-bred is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Petionville mare Silent Stalk and was trained by Jonathan Wong. Stalking Shadow has four wins in nine starts, earnings of $128,920 and has won his last three starts. He ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.22 and won by one-half length at odds of 7-1 in a field of eight. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 24, 2021)–Next to last mid-way around the far turn, veteran 8-year-old gelding Brandothebartender rallied four-deep turning for home en route to a solid three-quarter length win in Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita.  Trained by Craig Dollase and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, “Brando” got one mile on turf in 1:35.04. Named for the California-bred winner of the both the 1977 Santa Anita Handicap and Hollywood Gold Cup, the Crystal Water is part of the lucrative Golden State Series.  Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses. With Acclimate and Flavien Prat dictating the early pace, Brandothebartender, who rated kindly under Rispoli, had about three lengths to make up a quarter mile from home and proved more than equal to the challenge. “He ran great and we thought he would,” said Dollase, who claimed the son of Tribal Rule for his owners 26 races ago, on Aug. 1, 2018 at Del Mar.  “Umberto rode him... ...

OCALA, Fla. (Apr. 23, 2021) – A California-bred filly by Florida stallion Fury Kapcori sold for $125,000 in Friday’s session of the Ocala Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The filly, out of the With Distinction mare Kiana Believes, was bred by Bulldog Racing & consigner SGV Thoroughbreds and purchased by Dennis O’Neill. She breezed one furlong in :09 4/5 seconds in the under-tack workout. ...

OCALA, Fla. (Apr. 22, 2021) – A California-bred filly by Kentucky stallion Practical Joke sold for $110,000 at Thursday’s session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sale 2-year-olds in training sale. The filly, out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Hollywood Queen, was bred by Linda Madsen & Joy Seifert, consigned by Gene Recio agent, and purchased by Peter Miller, agent. She was clocked in 10.1 seconds for the one-furlong breeze before the sale. ...

CHARLES TOWN, W. Va. (Apr. 18, 2021) — Brigintine Island, a West Virginia-bred daughter of California stallion Jersey Town, won Saturday’s $76,250 Original Gold Stakes for fillies and mares at Charles Town Races. Brigintine Island, out of the Langfuhr mare Deli Lama, has six wins in 22 starts with earnings of $163,479. She won by seven lengths and ran the seven furlongs in 1:26.55 and went off at odds of 3-1 in a field of 10. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 10, 2021)–A highly respected horseman, trainer Neil French passed away  from heart failure Saturday morning at age 68 at Arcadia Methodist Hospital.  Beset with rheumatoid arthritis for the past 10 years, French marshalled on with a small stable, assisted by a golf cart which took him from his barn to Santa Anita’s Grandstand apron, where he was able to observe his horses train. “The horses were his life,” said French’s sister Joy from her home in Spooner, Wisconsin.  “The arthritis was very, very hard on him and this time, he had to go to the hospital and his heart gave out.  He never got married or had kids, the horses were his life. “Our family is from Wisconsin and my dad had an uncle who was a licensed blacksmith in Los Angeles, so my parents moved out there in 1950, because my dad (Arden French) wanted to learn that trade.  He did and he worked as a farrier at Los Alamitos before he... ...

RANCHO CALIFORNIA, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2021) — A GoFundMe page has been established for Gil Pankonin, a member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, whose house was destroyed in an Easter morning fire. Pankonin, also a board member of the California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association, escaped uninjured and all of his horses are safe, according to the CTFMA. The GoFundMe page, established by Pankonin’s daughter, Danielle Raines, can be viewed at https://gofund.me/fb227d37. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 3, 2021)–Classy The Chosen Vron sat a perfect trip and rallied to win Saturday’s $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita by 1 ¼ lengths under Mike Smith.  Trained and owned in-part by Eric Kruljac, the chestnut gelding by Vronsky got 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.80. The Echo Eddie, for 3-year-olds bred or sired in the state of California, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA. Ridden confidently, The Chosen Vron was fourth, about four lengths off speedy Letsgetlucky mid-way around the turn when he made an eye-catching move at the rail enabling him to pounce on both eventual runner-up Good With People and the pacesetter with three sixteenths of a mile to run. Although The Chosen Vron won comfortably, Good With People seemed to find another gear but The Chosen Vron reeled him in leaving the sixteenth pole in a very professional effort. “That is a nice colt there,” said Smith, who’s been on more... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (April 3, 2021)–Nick Alexander’s homebred Becca Taylor unleashed an overwhelming stretch kick to take Saturday’s $150,000 Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita by 2 ¼ lengths under Flavien Prat, who notched his fourth stakes win of the day.  Trained by Steve Miyadi, Becca Taylor got 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.15. The Evening Jewel, for 3-year-old fillies bred or sired in California, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA. A close second to pacesetter Pray for My Owner to the top of the lane, “Becca” was then long-gone in a thoroughly dominant performance. A winner of her first three starts, her most recent a neck allowance win going six furlongs on Feb. 21, Becca Taylor, a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Old Topper, was off at 3-2 in a field of nine sophomore fillies and paid $5.00, $3.40 and $2.60. Out of Alexander’s General Meeting mare Lady Sax, Becca Taylor, in her first stakes appearance, banked $90,000... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 28, 2021)– Following in the hoofsteps of his father, California stallion Misremembered, Ax Man, ridden for the first time by Edwin Maldonado, sped to the front out of the gate and never looked back as he drilled five rivals, including his well-fancied stablemate Mastering, by 4 ½ lengths in Sunday’s $75,000 Santana Mile at Santa Anita.  Trained by Bob Baffert and owned and bred by longtime clients Hal and Patti Earnhardt, Ax Man got the distance in 1:36.56. Breaking like a shot from his number five post position, Ax Man obviously relished his front-running trip and with a three-length advantage over Major Cabbie three sixteenths from home, the Santana Mile was never in question thereafter. “I was very confident turning for home,” said Maldonado, who is regarded as one of the best “speed” riders on this circuit.  “I gave him a couple reminders, but he knows what he’s doing…Bob told me to put him on the lead and it’s not like I don’t... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 28, 2021) – California stallion Gem Heist was represented by his first winner on Sunday when Musical Gem won the fourth race at Santa Anita for maiden 3-year-olds, with Careless Kitten, also by Gem Heist, finishing second. Musical Gem is out of the Bertrando mare Musical Recital. He and Careless Kitten were bred by Bobby Grayson, owned by Grayson and Carol Ann Grayson Living Trust and trained by Val Brinkerhoff. Musical Gem ran the six furlongs in 1:11.51 and won by 1 ¾ lengths at odds of 7-2 in the field of eight. ...

By Bloodhorse.com Lila Lanning, who with her husband, Curt, was a major owner and breeder in California, died March 15 in Mesa, Ariz. She was 82. The Lannings succeeded on the racetrack with a combination of homebreds and purchases at public auction. Ed Moger trained many of their stakes winners, including $657,027-earner Qiaona, $344,313-earner Gentle Charmer, $429,437-earner Phaenna, and $289,354-earner Zoning In, all California-breds.  Their leading homebred earner was Tribal Storm, a 2014 Cal-bred gelded son of Papa Clem—Tribal Feathers, by Tribal Rule. Claimed away for $62,500 in 2018, Tribal Storm for the Lannings and with Moger training won the 2017 Harris Farms Stakes and 2018 Lost in the Fog Stakes and finished third in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby (G3). The Lannings purchased Qiaona for only $4,500 at the 2011 Barretts October sale, and she went on to win the 2013 California Breeders Champion Stakes and California Distaff Handicap for them. Gentle Charmer cost them $17,000 at the 2003 Barretts preferred yearling sale and won the 2007 California... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity  ARCADIA, Calif. (March 21, 2021)–For once, the old man was not late to the party.  Brandothebartender, at age eight the oldest horse among seven California-breds in Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita, flew late under Umberto Rispoli to win going away by 1 ¼ lengths, his first recognized win in his last 20 starts, going back to Dec. 31, 2018.  Trained by Craig Dollase, the California-bred gelding by Tribal Rule got six furlongs on turf in 1:08.51. The Sensational Star is part of the lucrative Golden State Series which is sponsored by the CTBA and is for eligible California-bred or sired horses. Taken in-hand from his outside post, “Brando,” although a joint last with Prodigal Son heading to the far turn, was only four lengths off the lead.  Turning for home with two horses beat, Rispoli angled five-deep and Brandothebartender did the rest, easily reeling in the front-runners for a decisive win. “He’s such a versatile horse,” said Rispoli, who’s ridden Brandothebartender eight times,... ...

OCALA, Fla. (Mar. 18, 2021) – Five California-breds sold at this week’s Ocala Breeders’ Sale March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, led by an Asturn colt that brought $95,000. The colt, out of the Tiznow mare Tisbury, was bred by Linda Madsen, consigned by Lucan Bloodstock and was purchased by Cary Bloodstock, agent for Intrepid Thoroughbreds. A filly by first-year stallion Stanford sold for $85,000. Named Drizella, she is out of the Roayl Applause mare Tinderella, was bred by Magee-Wolfson, consigned by Havens Bloodstock and purchased by William Peeples. Peeples also bought a filly by Grazen named Grazen’s Touch, out of Touch Gold mare Lavender Touch, bred by Gilman Racing and consigned by Havens Bloodstock. She cost $80,000. A colt by Munnings sold for $65,000. He is out of the War Front mare Mobilize, was bred by Terry Lovingier, consigned by Wavertree Stables and purchased by Michael Maker. A Champ Pegasus colt sold for $45,000 to Maker. He is out of Vale of York mare Little Rooster, was bred by Cicero... ...

HEMET, Calif. (Mar. 17, 2021) – Multiple graded stakes winner Oscar Nominated has been retired to California and will stand the 2021 breeding season at BG Thoroughbred Farm in Hemet for a fee of $2,500. Oscar Nominated is a son of Kitten’s Joy, out of the Theatrical mare Devine Actress, was bred by Mrs. Jerry Amerman and is a full brother to Oscar Performance, whose multiple Grade I wins include the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Oscar Nominated will be the only son of Kitten’s Joy standing in California. On the track, Oscar Nominated had six wins in 30 starts and earnings of $1,502,639. His biggest wins include the Grade III Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, the Grade III Kentucky Downs Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs and the Grade III W.L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He also placed in the Grade I Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine.   ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 15, 2021) — Grade I winner Mucho Unusual was named California-bred Horse of the Year for 2020 during Monday’s annual awards presentation by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Mucho Unusual is a 5-year-old mare by Mucho Macho Man, out of the Unusual Heat mare Not Unusual, was bred by owner George Krikorian and is trained by Tim Yakteen. She has career earnings of $862,715, of which $317,333 were earned in 2020 when she scored her greatest career triumph in the Sept. 26 Grade I Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita. She also won the Grade III Robert J. Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 27. The former California Cup Oaks winner has placed in nine graded stakes. The other finalists for Horse of the Year, in alphabetical order, were Bulletproof One and Warren’s Showtime. Other Cal-bred champions recognized during the teleconference: Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Male – Tie between Big Fish and Good With People. Big Fish, bred by George Krikorian, owned by Legacy Ranch, trained by David Hofmans;... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 14, 2021)–William Sims’ homebred Leggs Galore was long gone in Sunday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes at Santa Anita as she waltzed to a 2 ¼ length win, which was her fifth consecutive triumph dating back to Aug. 7.  Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Leggs Galore, a 4-year-old California-bred filly by 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern, got six furlongs over a firm turf in 1:08.17. The Irish O’Brien is part of the lucrative Golden State Series.  Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses. Breaking like a rocket from her outside post position, Leggs Galore opened up a four length cushion after the first quarter mile and it was readily apparent no one was capable of pressuring her, thus assuring the brilliantly fast grey her second consecutive stakes win over the course in what may’ve been her best effort to date. “This race, she really started to remind me of Enola Gray... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 15, 2021) – Charlene “Charlie” Markel, a former longtime staff member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, passed away Sunday night. She was 74. Markel worked on the California Thoroughbred magazine as a graphic artist from 1978-2014. A fixture in the FrontRunner and infield at Santa Anita, she was an avid racegoer. She is survived by husband Donn Markel. ...

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 12, 2021) — With COVID numbers declining and vaccines on the rise, The Stronach Group and TOC are pleased to announce new protocols at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields to allow licensed owners more access to the grounds. If COVID numbers continue to decline, please expect to see further loosening of restrictions in the coming weeks and months. SANTA ANITA PARK Winner’s Circle After each race, the winning horse will be brought into the Winners’ Circle and a limited number of owners will be allowed access for the customary photo.  To continue to keep the trainers, jockeys, and other essential employees safe, the following protocols are in place: While this is a celebratory event, social distancing (minimum of 6-feet) in the Winner’s Circle will be strictly enforced. Entrance to the Winner’s Circle will be restricted to a maximum of 8 owners and/or guests to allow for social distancing.   Owners and/or guests will be asked to stand on the West Side of the Winner’s... ...

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Mar. 12, 2021) — It’s My House, a Florida-bred son of California stallion Anthony’s Cross, won Friday’s $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby for 3-year-olds. It’s My House, out of the Grand Reward mare Gerry’s Reward, ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.05 and won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 2-1 He has two wins in four starts with earnings of $59,760. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 6, 2021)–Fresh off a huge win versus California-breds, Alfred Pais’s homebred Brickyard Ride made short work of open company in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita, as he made every pole a winning one in covering seven furlongs in 1:21.51.  Ridden by apprentice Alexis Centeno and trained by Craig Lewis, Brickyard Ride, a 4-year-old colt by top California-based stallion Clubhouse Ride, was never threatened as he won by four lengths. Breaking like a shot from post position six in a field of nine, Brickyard Ride outfooted 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court while under restraint in the early running and was merely a chestnut blur around the far turn.  With just three taps of the stick to keep him focused, Brickyard Ride cruised to the wire, where he received a congratulatory pat on the right shoulder from Centeno, who celebrated his first-ever graded stakes victory. “Well, speed kills and he killed today, with his speed,” said Lewis,... ...

From DMTC DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 4, 2021) — Building on the positive news it announced last week concerning a 30% increase to overnight purses and major enhancements to its popular “Ship & Win” program, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club today released this year’s summer stakes schedule showing a similar healthy increase of 30% to its major stakes compared to its 2020 racing season. The track once more will tender its usual complement of eight California-bred stakes, part of the Golden State Stakes Series that consists of 36 stakes worth more than $4.4 million. Those stakes are the $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes, the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes, the $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes, the $100,000 CTBA Stakes, the $100,000 Graduation Stakes, the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes, the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes and the $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes. In 2020, the track presented 32 major stakes worth $5,175,000. For this year there will be two additional stakes and total purses will be $6,750,000, a value increase of 30%. Twenty-one of this season’s... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2021)–In a race in which the emphasis was on speed, speed and more speed, Harris Farms’ hard knocking Fashionably Fast proved gamest of all, as he dug deep while in between horses late to win Sunday’s $100,000 Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita by a head.  Trained by Dean Pederson and ridden by Tiago Pereira, Fashionably Fast, a 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Lucky Pulpit, got a flat mile in 1:37.14 while taking the Tiznow for the second consecutive year. Sponsored by the CTBA, the Tiznow is part of the Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired older horses.  The Tiznow is named for the California-bred two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner from 2000 and 2001 who was trained by Jay Robbins. Breaking from the outside in a field of five, Fashionably Fast was part of a four-horse scramble for the lead, as recent allowance winner Desmond Doss had a head advantage over Margot’s Boy, with Surfing Star just a half length in front... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2021)–In a thoroughly dominant performance, Kaleem Shah’s Bella Vita, idle since May 16, made short work of six rivals as she powered to a 4 ½-length win in Sunday’s $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Flavien Prat, the California-bred filly by Shah’s 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern got six furlongs in 1:10.33. The Spring Fever is part of the CTBA’s Golden States Series, for eligible California-bred or sired runners. Breaking alertly from her outside post position, Bella Vita looked to be in control the entire trip, as she sat a measured fourth, about two lengths off the lead 3 ½ furlongs from home.  With Square Peggy rushing up on her outside, Bella Vita shifted out and in an eye-catching move, collared her approaching the quarter pole and drew off to win in-hand with her ears pricked. “One thing about this filly, she’s very tractable,” said Callaghan.  “(Prat) said she’s very push button.  You can put her wherever you... ...

ELK GROVE, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2021) — Stakes-placed Sparticle will stand the 2021 breeding season at Daehling Ranch. Sparticle is the son of the late sire Field Commission, out of the mare Clara Bow, and was foaled May 10, 2015. A Florida-bred colt, his track earnings were $171,099. Sparticle was the top progeny in 2018 for Field Commission with a speed rating of 101 and earnings that year of $92,490. In 2019 he ranked in the top five progeny of Field Commission with an Equibase speed figure of 113 and earnings of $66,639.  Sparticle set the track record for six furlongs of 1:07.68 on August 24, 2019 in a six-length win at Penn National Race Track. Sparticle is a handsome hard-knocking sprinter with the potential to pass on his capabilities to his progeny. ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2021) — Joe Herrick Racing Stables, LLC and Red Silk Stables LLC.’s Lovely Finish scored an emotional maiden victory for her connections in the first race on Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course three years after the now 6-year-old mare survived the 2017 Lilac Fire while at San Luis Rey Downs.           Ridden by Anthony Locke from post number eight, the California-bred won in style, pulling away from her rivals in route to a 3 1-2 length win in the 1,000-yard race.           “I had to keep myself from getting emotional because her and I almost lost our lives together,” said Herrick, who trains the now 6-year-old California-bred mare by Marino Marini.           In saving Lovely Finish from the wildfire on December 7, 2017, Herrick was burned on 23 percent of his body. After months of recovery for both trainer and horse, Lovely Finish made her return to the races, running third in a 5 1Ž2 furlong race during the LA County... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2021) — Regarded as one of the best jockey agents in America for decades, George O’Bryan, who turned 100 years of age on Oct. 25, passed away early Thursday afternoon at Arcadia Methodist Hospital, according to his son, Craig O’Bryan. Following his career as an agent, O’Bryan, along with his late wife Mercedes, was also an owner/breeder of note in California.  His biggest achievement in the breeding arena came with the California-bred Don B. mare, Don’s Quillo, who was the dam of California-bred champion Megan’s Interco, an earner of $1,062,000. One of nine children, George Albert O’Bryan was born in Taylorville, Illinois and left home at age 16 for a career in racing, which included a brief career as a jockey, riding for eventual Hall of Fame conditioners Ben Jones and his son Jimmy in the Midwest. Athletic, hard working and tremendously knowledgeable, O’Bryan went from exercise boy to jockey to jockey agent, representing many jockeys, including five Hall of Fame riders, Johnny... ...

DUBAI, U.A.E. (Feb. 3, 2021) — Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Take the One O One has been nominated to the $1.5 million Grade I Dubai Golden Shaheen and the $750,000 Grade II Godolphin Mile. The races will take place as part of the Dubai World Cup card on Saturday, March 27, at Meydan Racecourse. Take the One O One is by Acclimation, out of the Jump Start mare North Freeway, was bred by Thomas Bachman, is owned by Jay Em Ess Stable and trained by Brian Koriner. The 6-year-old California-bred, sold for $47,000 at the Northern California Yearling Sale, has six wins in 20 starts, earnings of $490,826 and most recently ran sixth in the Jan. 23 Palos Verdes Stakes. In 2018, Take the One O One scored back-to-back stakes wins in the Snow Chief and Real Good Deal. ...

From Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 5, 2021) — Julio Canani, a successful trainer of Breeders’ Cup winners who died Feb. 5 at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena at age 83, reveled in attention. Much as he enjoyed accepting trophies after a big race, he also would dress up in a giant green hat at Santa Anita Park on St. Patrick’s Day. He loved the few episodes of the HBO series Deadwood that he did for producer and writer David Milch. “I get to be in a bar and spit on someone,” Canani once said of the old West series. Canani trained such horses for Milch as 2001 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) winner Val Royal. Prior to Deadwood, Milch put Canani in a couple of episodes of the television series NYPD Blue. “I go over there for fun, and they say, ‘Let’s dress him up,’ ” Canani explained. A decade ago, Milch created the Peruvian trainer Turo Escalante based on Canani for the short-lived racetrack-based series Luck. Milch infused the character with... ...

From Daehling Ranch ELK GROVE, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2021) — California stallion Rumpus Cat’s first foal is a filly out of the Tribal Rule mare Medicine Gal. The filly was delivered at Daehling Ranch, where Rumpus Cat, a son of Street Sense, stands for a $2,500 fee. ...

From Eddie Rich Racing On Thursday January 21st, longtime trainer and California based horseman Dagoberto Perez passed away at the age of 80.  A familiar and well-liked person, he was a fixture at Hollywood Park for decades, he was often seen with his signature cigar and fedora as he followed each of his horses to the track and back. Dagoberto was born in Cuba and was a trainer in his homeland before immigrating to the United States in 1961.  After many years on the East Coast as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer, Frank “Pancho” Martin during the years Martin dominated the New York racing scene with training titles at Aqueduct and Belmont, “Dago” was there for it all and had the pleasure of working with great horses such as Autobiography, Rube The Great, Never Bow and of course, Sham. The Martin barn headed west and so did Dagoberto. Settling in at his beloved Hollywood Park, the warm California sunshine suited him well and Dago chose not to return... ...

From Barton Thoroughbreds SANTA YNEZ, CA—Bodexpress has been retired from racing and will enter stud for the 2021 season at Barton Thoroughbreds for $5,000 LFSN. The five-year-old Grade 1-winning son of Bodemeister out of a City Zip mare retires with lifetime earnings of nearly $700,000. This includes his notable victory in the G1 Clark in November 2020 defeating Code of Honor, as well as his second to Maximum Security in the G1 Florida Derby in 2019. Bodemeister has also sired Always Dreaming, the winner of the 2017 Kentucky Derby, and both Always Dreaming and Bodexpress have shown that they were able to carry their front-running speed over a distance of ground. Julio Rada of Platinum Bloodstock brokered the deal and was critical in the securing of the new stallion for Barton Thoroughbreds. Barton Thoroughbreds is pleased to add a stallion to their roster of this caliber and looks forward to supporting him with mares.  Bodexpress is available for inspection at the farm in Santa Ynez, California. ...

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Jan. 25, 2021) — Veteran stallion Surf Cat, a multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire and the sire of 2017 California Horse of the Year Sircat Sally, will stand at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, California during the 2021 breeding season. His fee is $2,500, live foal guarantee. The 19-year-old son of Storm Cat’s multiple graded stakes winner Sir Cat has stood exclusively in California since his retirement from racing in 2009 — originally at historic Old English Rancho and most recently at a small, private farm near Chowchilla. From nine crops of racing age, Surf Cat has sired 57 winners from 84 starters to date, with lifetime progeny earnings of $4,046,140 and average earnings per starter of $48,168. His five black-type runners are led by Sircat Sally, a $552,860-earner who won three graded turf stakes at Santa Anita Park and California-bred Horse of the Year honors from the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association in 2017. He is also represented by the dual Grade 3 winner... ...

From Harris Farms COALINGA, Calif. (Jan. 22, 2021) — The first reported foal by multiple graded winner Om was born January 18 at Harris Farms. Bred by Al and Saundra Kirkwood, the chestnut filly is the third foal from the Unusual Heat allowance winner All the Heat who is a full sister to Inflamed, dam of Grade I winner Mo Forza.   Making headlines breaking his maiden in his second start at 2 defeating Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Om continued to excel at 3 through his 7-year-old season winning four graded races including the Del Mar Derby (G2T), Twilight Derby (G2T) and Mathis Brothers Mile (G2T), in addition to second and third-place finishes in 13 other graded stakes including two editions of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.   Om recorded 14 Triple Digit Beyers at five different race tracks coast to coast, including a new course record at Churchill Downs for 5 ½ furlongs. He retired with earnings of $1,355,082.   The leading money-winning son of his sire Munnings, Om will stand his second season at Harris... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 18, 2021)–Although spring training in Arizona and Florida is a month and a half away, George Krikorian’s homebred Mucho Unusual nonetheless took a base on balls Monday at Santa Anita, as she powered to a three-quarter length win at odds of 2-5 in the Grade III, $100,000 Megahertz Stakes.  Trained by Tim Yakteen and ridden by Joel Rosario, the 5-year-old California-bred mare by Mucho Macho Man got one mile on turf and thus became the Winter Meet’s first two-time stakes winner in the process. With a pair of program scratches reducing the field of older fillies and mares to four, Mucho Unusual broke alertly from her number three post and was immediately lapped on Chilean import Brooke, who went straight to the lead from her rail post. Second, while a measured three quarters of a length off the leader at the three furlong pole, Mucho Unusual drew alongside leaving the quarter pole and was carried out to the four-path by Brooke at the... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2021)–Quick from the blocks and completely dominant thereafter, the Alfred Pais homebred Brickyard Ride made every pole a winning one as he registered an impressive 3 ¼ length win in Saturday’s $150,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.  Trained by Craig Lewis and ridden by Alexis Centeno, the 4-year-old chestnut colt by red hot California-based stallion Clubhouse Ride got six furlongs in a rapid 1:09.42. Named in honor of the longtime owner/breeder Donald Valpredo, the Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint is part of the CTBA’s lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses. With a two length advantage at the quarter pole over stablemate Club Aspen, Brickyard Ride widened late and easily prevailed late over post time favorite Tigre Di Slugo. “I felt pretty good about it because I thought we had them double teamed, we knew we were going to try to speed away with Brickyard because he’s got wicked speed,” said Lewis, who also trained his... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2021)–Content to sit well off the early pace, North County Guy wheeled four-wide at the top of the stretch en route to a hard-earned neck victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita.  Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Mario Gutierrez, North County Guy, a 6-year-old gelding by The Pampelmousse, got a mile and one eighth in 1:46.34. Presented by City National Bank, the Unusual Heat Turf Classic is part of the CTBA’s lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses. With 70-1 longshot Cono winging on an uncontested early lead, North County Guy was a distant fifth, about 20 lengths off the lead with a half mile to run.  As Cono stopped mid-way around the far turn, the entire field moved into contention, with North County Guy about three lengths off the lead at the top of the lane. With favored Acclimate and Tyler Baze hitting the front at the quarter pole, North County Guy... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity  ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2021)–Patiently handled by leading man Juan Hernandez, Legacy Ranch’s Big Fish reeled ’em in late to take Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby by 1 ½ lengths. Trained by David Hofmans, Big Fish got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:46.37. A Northern California Yearling Sale purchase for $45,000, Big Fish was bred by George Krikorian. A joint sixth, about four lengths off the lead going into the far turn, Hernandez bided his time, angled outside three sixteenths from home and Big Fish unleashed a powerful stretch kick to run down None Above the Law in the final sixteenth. Fourth in the one mile turf Eddie Logan Stakes here on Dec. 27, Big Fish, a 3-year-old gelding by Mr. Big out of the Into Mischief mare Perched, had been on turf and faced open company in his last four races, with both of his wins coming on the grass. Ridden for the first time by Hernandez, he was also fitted with blinkers, after having... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2021)–With a nightmarish trip in her last start behind her, Harris Farms’ homebred Closing Remarks powered to an impressive one-length win in Saturday’s $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita.  One of three fillies in the field trained by Carla Gaines, Closing Remarks was ridden by Umberto Rispoli and covered one mile on turf in 1:35.62. Named for the longtime owner/breeder and trainer who passed away this past Sept. 3 at 79, the Leigh Ann Howard Cal Cup Oaks is part of the CTBA’s lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired three year old fillies. Fourth, about two lengths off of longshot leader Super Game at the top of the stretch, Closing Remarks wheeled three-wide and was free-running to the wire as she easily held off the late run of Warrens Candy Girl on the money. Full of run with nowhere to go turning for home in the Grade III Jimmy Durante Stakes going a mile on... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2021)–Never headed at any point, trainer William Sims’ homebred Leggs Galore sped to an emphatic 3 ¼ length win in Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Leggs Galore got six furlongs out of Santa Anita’s new turf chute in 1:08.90 while collecting her fourth consecutive win. Presented by John Deere, the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint is part of the CTBA’s lucrative Golden State Series for eligible older fillies and mares bred or sired in California. Breaking from post position two in a field of nine, Leggs Galore went right to the lead, enjoyed a one length advantage three furlongs from home and easily repelled a challenge mid-way around the turn from Mo See Cal to register her first stakes victory. “I knew it was going to be hard for them to beat her,” said Gonzalez.  “She was doing it so easily, and running so relaxed.  She had a lot... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2021) — Nat Wess, a popular and highly respected racing publicist who began his career in racing in 1964 at Santa Anita, died Thursday at age 81 from complications related to a recent fall. In a story written by Steve Andersen at DRF.com, Andersen reported that Wess, who retired in 2009, held a variety of jobs in racing, including management positions at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, Bay Meadows, Hollywood Park and with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. As director of publicity at Hollywood Park, he oversaw the implementation of the wildly popular Two Dollar Pick Six in 1980, which helped the Inglewood oval become the first track in America to average more than $5 million in daily handle, which was bet entirely on-track. As general manager of the CTBA, he was part of a team that developed the concept of California Cup Day, which debuted during Santa Anita’s Oak Tree Meeting in 1990. A man of boundless energy, Wess had a love... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2021)–Veteran California-based trainer Bruce Headley, the developer of 2000 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Kona Gold and many other stakes winners, died this morning at Arcadia Methodist Hospital from the effects of a stroke at age 86. Headley was inducted into the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Hall of Fame in 2015. Born Feb. 17, 1934 in nearby Baldwin Park, Headley was first introduced to racing at Santa Anita by an aunt at age six.  At age 14, he was mucking stalls and walking hots alongside a diminutive 16-year-old from El Monte named Willie Shoemaker at the Suzy Q Ranch in La Puente and from there, it was all racetrack–Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar, the LA County Fairgrounds, Bay Meadows, Tanforan, Golden Gate Fields and more. “I started out with nothing and grew up learning under great horsemen,” said Headley in an interview with Dan Ross of Thoroughbred Daily Commentary in April, 2015.  “I grew up watching trainers like Charlie Whittingham, Buster Millerick, Les... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2021) – California stallion Ministers Wild Cat was represented by three winners, all bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, on Friday’s card as racing resumed at Golden Gate. Run the Blues Away won the first race, an $8,000 maiden claimer. She is out of the Eurosilver mare Blues and Silver and was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds. Ragin Waters won the fourth race, a starter allowance. He is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Calm the Sea, was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and owned by Jedd Josephson and Liam Lynch. Stalking Shadows won the fifth race, a maiden special weight. He is out of the Petionville mare Silent Stalk and was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2021) – California-bred multiple stakes winner Pacific Heat sold in-foal in Omaha Beach for $150,000 in Monday’s session of the Keeneland January Horses of all Ages Sale. Pacific Heat is by Unusual Heat, out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Hotlantic, was bred by Harris Farms and Donald Valpredo and was purchased by Avocet Bloodstock/Betz Thoroughbreds. Pacific Heat has a 2-year-old by Ghostzapper and a yearling by Jimmy Creed. ...

From 1/st Racing BERKELEY, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2021) – 1/ST RACING is pleased to announce that Golden Gate Fields will resume live racing on Friday, January 15. After extensive testing in collaboration with the Berkeley Public Health Division, it has been determined that the COVID-19 concerns on the campus have decreased to levels to allow the resumption of live racing. Golden Gate Fields is indebted to both the Berkeley Public Health Division and the Alameda County Public Health Department for their assistance and advice during the period of temporary closure. As the Golden Gate Fields Racing Office remains closed for in-person business, entries will be taken via telephone for racing on Friday, January 15 on Tuesday, January 12. As part of the continued COVID-19 safety protocols in place at Golden Gate Fields, we are unable to allow owners to attend training or live racing as we begin this meet. We will continue to monitor this situation and will update the Thoroughbred Owners of California of any changes to this policy.” For... ...

Click here for sale results POMONA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2021) – Chasing Moments, a daughter of Orb in foal to California stallion Smokem, sold for $70,000 to top Wednesday’s California Thoroughbred Breeders Association January Mixed Sale at Fairplex Park. Marcelo Aguera purchased the 6-year-old mare, who is a half-sister to the Grade II-winner Authenticity, herself the dam of stakes winner Hanalei Moon. The second-highest priced purchase was a yearling filly by Malibu Moon, out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Brush Strokes, purchased for $60,000 by Double Chevron Racing. Aguera also made a pair of $40,000 purchases – Mobilize, a War Front mare in foal to Stay Thirsty, and Wedding Dress, a Medaglia d’Oro mare in foal to Stay Thirsty. The 72 horses sold for a gross of $574,100, an average of $7,974 and median of $3,450. ...

From NYRA OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Jan. 1, 2021) — California-bred Capo Kane made his stakes debut – and first start in New York – a successful effort, leading gate-to-wire for a 6 1/4-length victory in Friday’s 151st running of the $150,000 Jerome for newly minted 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack. Owned by Bing Cherry Racing and Leonard Liberto, Capo Kane made his debut on October 28 at Parx, running second in a seven-furlong sprint. He ended his juvenile campaign with a maiden-breaking victory on November 25 on the same track, being stretched out to a mile and 70 yards. Returning to action on an overcast New Year’s Day, Capo Kane broke sharp from the inside post under jockey Dylan Davis and led the compact five-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 23.53 seconds and the half in 47.83 on the muddy main track with 7-5 favorite Swill in close pursuit. Jockey Manny Franco urged up Eagle Orb out of the turn, making a bid from the outside. But Davis responded to... ...

From Bloodhorse.com Most people would say William H. Nichols was a likeable guy, a nice guy even. But history tells another story: He is the one who famously made Charles Howard cry.  “My friends teased me about that for quite a while,” he recalled.  Nichols, who went on to success as a stakes-winning breeder in the Golden State and member of the Board of Directors of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, died Dec. 29 at his Mares’ Nest Farm near Wilton, Calif. He was 95. The famed crying incident happened back in the spring of 1944 at Howard’s Buick dealership on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. Nichols had been invited by Howard to meet after the audacious teenager sent the “richest man west of the Mississippi” a letter asking for a job.  While in Howard’s office, Nichols noticed a painting on the wall of Frankie, Howard’s late son who died tragically as a young boy. Nichols asked Howard if the painting was of him, bringing tears to Howard’s eyes as... ...

From NTRA LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 28, 2020) – President Trump on Sunday signed into law COVID-19 relief and government funding legislation that includes the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 (HISA), historic legislation that will establish national standards to promote fairness and increase safety in Thoroughbred racing nationwide. The legislative package also includes key tax reform, COVID-19 relief provisions and extensions of current H-2B visa amendments beneficial to the horse racing industry.   Passage of the HISA culminated a multi-year effort by many industry stakeholders to establish national standards for anti-doping, medication control and increased racetrack safety for horses and riders. The movement gained momentum in early September when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) authored and sponsored the HISA legislation. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 29 by an overwhelming majority and was passed by the Senate on December 21, again, by an overwhelming majority. The HISA legislation will go into effect no later than July 1, 2022, but could be effective earlier following... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 27, 2020)–Well beaten in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 7, George Krikorian’s homebred Mucho Unusual seemed to relish a return home to Santa Anita as she rallied under eastern-based John Velazquez to take Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes by three quarters of a length.  Trained Tim Yakteen, the California-bred daughter of Mucho Macho Man got a mile and one eighth on turf in 1:46.94. Comfortably in-hand while second, about two lengths off of pacesetting She’s Our Charm around the first turn, Mucho Unusual inched up outside a three-horse spread that included favored Miss Teheran and She’s Our Charm heading to the three furlong pole and held sway late under a hand ride from Velazquez, who collected his third win on the day. “She broke good and it looked like the one speed filly (She’s Our Charm) would go and she did.  Down the backside, Joel (Rosario, aboard favored Miss Teheran) moved a little early... ...

LAUREL, Md. (Dec. 26, 2020) — Five Hellions Farm’s Dontletsweetfoolya, a Maryland-bred daughter of California stallion Stay Thirsty, extended her win streak to five races, putting away main rival Malibu Mischief at the top of the stretch and sprinting clear to her second straight stakes victory in the $100,000 Willa On the Move. Dontletsweetfoolya ($4.20), favored at even money in a field of eight, hit the wire 2 ¼ lengths in front in 1:09.47 for six furlongs over a fast main track. It was the closest a horse had come to beating Dontletsweetfoolya during her streak, where she had won by an average of 6 ½ lengths.   “Ever since we drew the one-hole we were kind of dreading it, especially with the weather coming in. The track guys did a fantastic job with working this rail all day,” winning trainer Lacey Gaudet said. “We’ve had rain and cold weather and this rail is beautiful so it did give us a little more confidence when we led her over here. [There... ...

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Dec. 22, 2020) — Heartwood, a multiple graded stakes-placed and multiple stakes winner by leading sire Tapit, will initiate his stallion career at Rancho San Miguel in California at the conclusion of his racing career in early 2021. The $486,891-earner will stand for a fee of $2,500, live foal guarantee. The 6-year-old horse, who races for the partnership of Stuart Tsujimoto and David Bernsen, has won or placed in six black-type races at six different racetracks to date, and is scheduled to make two final starts in graded stakes company at Santa Anita Park in January before retiring to stallion duties. Bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm, Heartwood sold for $500,000 as the highest-priced weanling at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale, and went on to win three stakes races from the ages of 3 to 5: the $200,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes at Mahoning Valley Race Course in 2017, the $75,000 Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Stakes at Mountaineer in 2018... ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2020) – Play Chicken, a 13-1 outsider, held off Moving Fast, another longshot at 16-1, to win the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes Sunday, the final day of the Los Angeles County Fair Winter meet at Los Alamitos. Under jockey Mario Gutierrez, the son of Square Eddie and the Distorted Humor mare Smoove was reserved just off the pace, gained the advantage with an eighth of a mile to run and held sway by a neck in the race for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California. The win was the third in the King Glorious for Gutierrez, owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing LLC and trainer Doug O’Neill. They teamed to win back-to-back runnings with Found Money (2015) and Ann Arbor Eddie (2016). Making his first start in blinkers, Play Chicken completed the mile in 1:38.10 and returned $29, $10.60 and $7.80. He’s now won twice in three races and earned $94,000. He broke his maiden at the King Glorious distance on turf... ...

CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2020) – Dr. Ed Allred had a noteworthy day-night breeder-owner double at his Los Alamitos on Saturday, as half-siblings of different breeds won on each card. Gov From Above won the sixth race on the Thoroughbred card and From Above won the sixth race on the Quarter Horse card. Both are out of the In Excess mare Celestial Being, who resided at Allred’s Rolling A Ranch in Atascadero. Gov From Above is a 3-year-old gelding by Govenor Charlie trained by Art Sherman and ridden by Flavien Prat who had to survive a jockey’s objection. From Above is a 2-year-old gelding by Kiddy Up trained by Scott Willoughby and ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr.    ...

From Fair Grounds Publicity New Orleans, La. (Dec. 19, 2020) – A journey that began in November 1995 when Valid Expectations won the Old Hickory reached its zenith Saturday at Fair Grounds when trainer Steve Asmussen set a remarkable milestone, winning his 100th career stakes at the local oval when Team Hanley and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Joy’s Rocket, a daughter of California stallion Anthony’s cross, beat Mariah’s Princess by 1 ½ lengths in the $75,000 Letellier Memorial for 2-year-old fillies. Joy’s Rocket had shown plenty of speed in her first five starts but settled into an outside stalking position under Ricardo Santana Jr. as longshot Double Whopper set the early pace. Joy’s Rocket took the lead entering the far turn and was quickly engaged by 2.90 second-choice Mariah’s Princess, who appeared to get on even terms in early stretch but succumbed late, with the winner getting 6 furlongs in 1:10.17 as the .80-1 favorite. Charlie’s Penny rallied for third. For Asmussen, the win was just another milestone in a career full... ...

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2020) – Sensible Cat provided trainer Carla Gaines with her first stakes win at Los Alamitos with a come-from-behind victory in the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible 2-year-old fillies on Saturday. A little more than five weeks after breaking her maiden at eight furlongs on the Del Mar turf course in her second career start, the 2-year-old daughter of Bluegrass Cat demonstrated Saturday she is equally adept on dirt. Bred by C-Punch Ranch, owned by Irvin Racing Stable and ridden by Juan Hernandez, Sensible Cat, the 9-2 fourth choice in the field of 10 California bred or sired fillies, was reserved off the early pace, rallied outside in the stretch, collared 5-2 favorite Dylans Wild Cat inside the eighth pole and went on to score by 1 ¾ lengths. Out of the Street Sense mare Sensible Girl, Sensible Cat completed the mile in 1:37.94. She paid $11, $6.20 and $3.60 while increasing her earnings to $89,700. “I thought it... ...

From Santa Anita Racing Office ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2020) — Any California-bred horse that wins a Cal-Bred first-conditioned allowance race on turf will be eligible to run in the same condition on dirt, the Santa Anita Racing Office announced on Thursday. Any horse that wins a Cal-Bred first condition allowance race on dirt will be eligible to run in the same condition on turf. Eligibility: Horses that are in for the allowance, regardless if they have already won the condition on another surface, will get first preference. Horses in for claiming price are least preferred. For horses that have won allowance on dirt and are entered for turf: If the race is taken off the turf, and the horse that has already won condition on dirt, the horse is still eligible to run regardless of surface switch change. If race is taken off the turf, and the horse that has already won condition on dirt, wins that race that was originally scheduled for turf, that horse will no longer... ...

By Bloodhorse.com Robert Hess Sr., a longtime trainer based in Northern California and the father of Southern California trainer Robert Hess Jr., died Dec. 5 from COVID-19. He was 86. A stalwart of the Northern California racing circuit, Hess trained in that area for nearly 50 years. A trainer since 1959, Hess saddled the winners of 1,592 races for total purse earnings of $17,258,435. He conditioned the likes of the durable My Creed, the winner of the 2007 Berkeley Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate Fields. Hess owned the gelded son of Beau Genius—Test of Faith, by Temperence Hill, with Seven Star Racing Stable. My Creed won nine of 49 races and earned $390,955 through seven years of racing. Other good runners Hess trained included Daddy’s Datsun, the winner of the 1973 Osunitas Stakes, 1974 San Juan Bautista Handicap, 1975 Sausalito Handicap, and 1975 San Jose Handicap and an earner of $156,882; three-time stakes winner Annie’s Irish Luck, an earner of $133,365; and two-time stakes winner Make Him Famous, an earner of... ...

From Laurel Park Publicity LAUREL, Md. (Nov. 28, 2020) — Five Hellions Farm’s Dontletsweetfoolya, a Maryland-bred daughter of California stallion Stay Thirsty, extended her win streak to four races in her stakes debut with a front-running 5 ¼-length triumph in the 33rd running of the $100,000 Primonetta to kick off the Fall Festival of Racing’s stakes action.   Breaking from the middle of a nine-horse field, Jevian Toledo sent Dontletsweetfoolya ($10.40) from the gate, outrunning multiple stakes winner Never Enough Time and Giggling to lead through a quarter-mile in 22.39 seconds. Dontletsweetfoolya remained in command after a half in 45.31 and opened up in the lane when challenged by Never Enough Time to win in 1:09.79 for six furlongs.   Dontletsweetfoolya, a 3-year-old trained by Lacey Gaudet, has steadily moved up in competition this year. She graduated in maiden special weight company July 24 and won an open entry-level allowance Sept. 5, both at Laurel, then emerged from an early duel to win a second-level optional claimer Oct. 1 at... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 25, 2020) — Santa Anita will run 15 stakes exclusively for Golden State Series eligibles in the 2020/2021 Winter Meet, beginning with five stakes on California Cup Day Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. Those five stakes are: the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, 4 YO & Up, 1 1/8 Mile (Turf); the $200,000 California Cup Derby, 3 YO, 1 1/16 Mile; The $200,000 California Cup Oaks Fillies, 3 YO, I Mile (Turf); the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Fillies and Mares Turf Sprint, 4 YO & Up, 6 Furlongs (Turf); and the $150,000 California Cup Sprint 4 YO & Up, 6 Furlongs. Additional Golden State Series Stakes: Sunday, February 28 — $100,000 Tiznow Stakes 4 YO & Up, 1 Mile. Sunday, March 14 — $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes Fillies & Mares, 4 YO & Up, 6 Furlongs (Turf). Sunday, March 21 — $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes 4 YO & Up, 6 1/2 Furlongs (Turf) Saturday, April 3 — $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes 3 YO, 6 1/2... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2020) — Thomsen Racing’s Loud Mouth tracked the leaders early, then fired his best shot in the lane under leading rider Abel Cedillo and came away with a three-quarter length score in the seventh running of the Cary Grant Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles on Sunday at Del Mar. The 4-year-old colt by Boisterous, bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, rang up his first stakes score in the Cal-bred offering, besting six rivals in 1:22.34 for the seven panels. He has six wins in 22 starts and earnings of $246,410. It was the second win on the day for Cedillo, who now has 18 firsts in 11 days of racing. Loud Mouth is trained by Steve Knapp. “I kept experimenting with him to find out what and how far he wanted to run,” said Knapp. “He got some real questionable rides, several of them, but I knew this horse could run. We went the seven today and worked out and he ran... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 21, 2020) – Santa Anita Park will raise the daily overnight purse distribution 10% for the 2020-21 season which begins on Saturday, Dec. 26.  The increase will bring the average daily purse money available to horsemen to over $533,000, totaling more than $43-million for the season which runs through June 20, 2021. Santa Anita’s 84th season will be highlighted by a diverse stakes schedule offering over $15-million.  The prestigious Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, which has produced 19 winners of the Kentucky Derby, including recent Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Authentic, will be run on Saturday, April 3, 2021. “Building Santa Anita’s aggressive overnight purse schedule is a reflection of the confidence that we have in California racing even in the midst of a pandemic,” said Craig Fravel, CEO of 1/ST Racing.  “Nothing has been easy about this past year, so we are thankful to the horsemen who have continued to support our program on a daily basis.  We’ve missed the fans who have been... ...

TEMECULA, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2020) – Sawyer’s Hill, a multiple graded-stakes placed son of Spring At Last, will stand the 2021 breeding season at Milky Way Ranch in Temecula. The Kentucky-bred, out of the Vindication mare Modification, had six career wins on the track and earnings of $366,705. Trained by Kristin Mulhall and owned by Red Hill Farm, Sawyer’s Hill finished second in the Grade II Del Mar and Twilight Derbies and had four Beyer Speed Figures between 115 and 108. A half-brother to multiple graded winner Yaupon, Sawyer’s Hill also has a half-sister that sold at the 2020 Keeneland Yearling Sale for $1.2 million. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 12, 2020) – Blooming, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California stallion Graydar, sold for $240,000 at Thursday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Blooming, a 5-year-old out of the Gulch mare May Night, sold in foal to Speightstown. Blooming, a half-sister to stakes winners Red Rifle and Notte D’Oro, was purchased by Black Ridge Stables. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 11, 2020) – California-bred stakes-winner Kimberlea K sold for $200,000 in Wednesday’s session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Kimberlea K, by Indian Evening, out of the Pure Prize mare No Better Terms and bred by KMN Racing, was purchased by Oxo Equine. She won the Everett Nevin Stakes as a 2-year-old, was runner-up in the CTBA Stakes and finished her racing career with earnings of $118,995. A half-sister to stakes winner Stealthediamonds, Kimberlea K is in foal to Constitution with a weanling by American Pharoah. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2020) — The Irish offspring of California stallion Sir Prancealot continued to make headlines on Monday when Lady Prancealot, an Irish-bred daughter who ran fourth in Saturday’s $2 million Grade I Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, sold at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $1.6 million on Monday. Lady Prancealot, who ran a 117 Equibase Speed Figure while collecting a purse of $100,000, closed with a rush five wide and finished only a length behind winner Audarya. The Grade I winner, who has career earnings of $740,841, sold to Shadai Farm. On Friday, Sir Prancealot’s Miss Amulet ran third in the $1 million Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her U.S. debut. Miss Amulet, a Group II winner who posted a 105 Equibase Speed Figure, has career earnings of $262,961 after collecting $90,000 and missing second place by a neck. Beau Recall — another Sir Prancealot mare and a multiple Grade II winner of $1,481,412 — also sold at Keeneland... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2020) — Rockingham Ranch’s Mo See Cal, a 5-year-old mare who was making her first start in nearly a year, fired a good shot under Flavien Prat and scored handily by three and three-quarters lengths in the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes Sunday at Del Mar, besting seven other California-bred fillies and mares in the seven-furlong test. Trainer Peter Miller brought the gray along slowly after a minor surgery and had her ready to roll today. Her last start was on November 17, 2019 in this same race where she finished third. For Prat it was his fourth straight victory in this stakes. For Miller it was his first, but the seven time Del Mar training champion was scoring his third stakes win of the weekend at the seaside track, but the first he got to see in person. The 54-year-old conditioner had been in Kentucky saddling Breeders’ Cup horses the previous two days. His other local stakes victories came in the Golden... ...

By DRF.com OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Nov. 8, 2020) — Pickin’ Time came into Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct as the only stakes winner in a field of seven. He exited the race the same way, scoring a convincing 2 1/4-length victory over favored Ten for Ten in the one-mile race for 2-year-olds. Kept within three lengths of an early contested pace by Trevor McCarthy, Pickin’ Time split horses entering the turn, crept up three wide to the leaders Ten for Ten and Isolate approaching the stretch, then drew away in the final furlong. Ten for Ten, the 6-5 favorite off an eight-length maiden win on Oct. 16, set the pace before tiring to second, 10 1/4 lengths clear of Isolate. Nova Rags finished fourth followed by Civil War, Irish Honor, and Spectatorless. The victory was the third from five starts for Pickin’ Time, a New Jersey-bred son of California stallion Stay Thirsty owned and bred by John Bowers and trained by Kelly Breen. He was coming off... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2020) – Northern California Yearling Sales graduate Camino Del Paraiso, who took 39 starts to score his first stakes victory, won his second stakes in as many starts in Saturday’s $63,050 Joseph T. Grace Stakes at Golden Gate. Camino Del Paraiso is by Suances, out of the Successful Appeal mare Loni’s Appeal, was bred by Red Baron’s Barn, is owned by Paradise Road Ranch and trained by O.J. Juaregui. He has seven wins in 40 starts, earnings of 479,542 and was coming off a win in the Sept. 7 Rolling Green. He was second in the Joseph T. Grace last year. Camino Del Paraiso, a $5,000 purchase at the Northern California Yearling Sale, ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.30 and won by 3 ½ lengths as the 2-1 favorite. ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2020) — Jockey Ricardo (“Ricky”) Gonzalez and trainer Peter Miller did the déjà vu all over again thing Saturday at Del Mar, this time winning the $150,000 Golden State Juvenile with J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s Good With People. Friday, they had won the $150,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies with September Secret. Good With People, a colt by the Curlin sire Curlin to Mischief, made the lead in Saturday’s seven-panel sprint soon after the break, then easily made every pole his. He was a geared-down three-quarter length winner, covering the distance in 1:26.10. The homebred picked up a winner’s share of $85,500 for his connections. “I like this, winning stakes,” said Gonzalez. “This time Peter (trainer Miller, also the trainer of GS Juvenile Fillies winner September Secret) told me: ‘Go to the front and don’t look back.’ I did it and it worked out great.” Finishing second in the Cal-bred tilt was Winner, Winner and Winner’s Positivity and third was West Point... ...

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2020) — Rider Ricardo (“Ricky”) Gonzalez swung wide in the lane, then was able to urge his filly September Secret on to a last-jump head victory Saturday in capturing the $150,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Del Mar in a tight finish on Friday. There was a four-horse spread at the wire with Dylans Wild Cat second and just a nose in front of Eddie’s New Dream, who in turn had a nose on favorite Governor Goteven. The winner, a gray daughter of the prolific California stallion Grazen, was bred by Jennifer Saavedra. She ran seven furlongs in 1:25.56 giving owners Tom Kagele and Ken Shaw an $85,500 reward as their portion of the $150,000 purse in the dash for 2-year-old state-bred fillies. It was the September Secret’s third win in six starts. The stakes tally was the first ever at Del Mar for Gonzalez, but the 36th for trainer Peter Miller, who watched the race from Keeneland in Kentucky while he’s there for... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2020) – California-bred half-brothers Rousing Slammer and Luck’s Royal Flush won the early Daily Double at Gold Gate on Saturday. Both winners are out of the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam and were bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams. Rousing Slammer, by Rousing Sermon, won the first race, a $25,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds, running the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.79 and winning by 2 ½ lengths at even money in a field of seven. He is trained by Steven Specht. Luck’s Royal Flush, by Lucky Pulpit, won the second race, a $12,500 claimer, running the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.71 and winning by one-half length at odds of 7-1 in a field of seven. He is trained by Jeff Bonde. ...

GRANTVILLE, Pa. (Nov. 6, 2020) – Favored Plane Drunk, a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of California stallion Stay Thirsty, won Friday’s $80,000 Shamrock Rose Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Penn National. Plane Drunk is out of the Golden Missile mare Annette’s Jet. She has two wins in four starts, earnings of $98,600 and was coming off a second in the Small Wonder Stakes. She ran the six furlongs in 1:10.62 and won by 3 ¼ lengths at odds of even money in the field of six. ...

By DRF.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2020) — Joy’s Rocket and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. were much more straightforward in their victory in the Songbird Stakes. The Florida-bred daughter of California stallion Anthony’s Cross went right to the lead and never saw another horse. She got some pressure throughout from Farsighted, but shook free of that rival at the top of the stretch and drew away to win by three lengths. The final time was 1:16.18. The winner paid $19, $8.40, and $5.80. Farsighted held on for second and paid $6.40 and $4.20. Roc’s Princess, a 70-1 longshot, rolled in for third and paid $19. A $1 exacta paid $77.90, and the 50-cent trifecta paid $1,276.85. Joy’s Rocket was one of three fillies in the field that had already been tested in a graded stakes. She came into the Songbird off a fourth-place finish in the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. The Songbird gave her a third win from five starts. Charles Weston’s Weston Thoroughbreds Training and Sales bred... ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2020) — Odds-on favorite Baja Sur ($3.80) is now a perfect 2 for 2 over the Golden Gate Fields main track after dominating his rivals with a four-length victory in the $75,000 El Dorado Shooter for California-bred or sired on Sunday. The 4-year-old Smiling Tiger gelding won the Oakland by 4 1/4 lengths against older last fall, earning a 100 Beyer as he clocked six furlongs in 1:08.68. Sunday’s victory was by four lengths over pacesetting Bettor Trip Nick in 1:08.76. Baja Sur was bred by John Roche out of the Supremo mare Premo Copy. With a lot of speed in the compact five-horse field, trainer Blaine Wright didn’t have detailed instructions for winning jockey Catalino Martinez. “He knows the horse, and I just told him to ride him with confidence and just don’t leave himself with a lot to do,” Wright said. “Kudos to Catalino. He came up with a good game plan.” Bettor Trip Nick, who scored two front-running wins here as... ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Oct. 31, 2020) — California-bred I’m So Anna ($9.20) bounced out of the gate, set slow fractions and held off favored Consternation in the lane as she scored the first stakes win of her career with a half-length victory in the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. I’m So Anna is by Fast Anna, out of the Jet West mare So So Fast, was bred by owner KMN Racing and is trained by Steve Sherman. She broke nicely for jockey Frank Alvarado, who let her coast through fractions of 25.04, 50.57, and 1:15.31 in the one-mile turf stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Although Consternation closed well while edging Sweetest Angel for second, I’m So Anna always seemed in control through the stretch, winning in 1:39.79. I’m So Anna has hit the board in all five starts with two wins, two seconds, and a third on Tapeta, dirt, and now turf. The KMN Racing homebred ran second as the favorite in the six-furlong Generous... ...

OCEANPORT, N.J. (Sept. 25, 2020) – Favored Stay Smart, a New Jersey-bred daughter of California stallion Stay Thirsty and is out of the mare for which the race is named, won Saturday’s $79,500 Smart N Classy Handicap for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park. Stay Smart, out of the Smart Strike mare Smart N Classy, ran the mile in 1:38.87 and won by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of 7-5 in the field of nine. Stay Smart has five wins in 17 starts, earnings of $245,520 and was coming off a Sept. 20 optional claiming win. ...