From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 20, 2014) — Longevity is a strong suit at the Bruce Headley barn. The veteran trainer is rare among horsemen when it comes to elderly stakes winners, counting Softshoe Sure Shot and champion Kona Gold among his former trainees that captured stakes victories at advanced ages.
Kona Gold won the 2003 El Conejo Handicap at nine, racing four times at that age. Softshoe Sure Shot won the Grade II San Carlos Handicap at nine in 1995, when he ran twice.
For good measure, toss in Son of a Pistol, who raced once at nine and won his last race—the San Carlos in 2000—at the age of eight.
Fast forward to Saturday, when Headley will send out 6-year-old Cyclometer in the $125,000 California Cup Sprint at six furlongs. A chestnut horse by Cyclotron, Cyclometer counts the Midnight Lute on Jan. 4 among his five career victories.
“He’s a stud but you would never know it,” said Bruce’s daughter, Karen, a trainer in her own right. “He’s six years old but doesn’t act it. He just loves his job. It’s nice to have an old horse in the barn again.”
Santa Anita will also present the California Wine Festival on Sunshine Millions Cal Cup Day. Fans can experience the best wine regions in the state by sampling fine wine and food pairings in the track’s Paddock Gardens area. Visit www.santaanita.com/events for details.