California Thoroughbred Magazine April 2014

Page 1

April 2014 $5.00

APRIL 2014

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED

VOL. 140 NO. 4



Welcome To California Gold Rush XV

From The Executive Corner

Dear California Thoroughbred Reader, Saturday, April 26, will mark the 15th renewal of the California Gold Rush day, and we are extremely pleased that Santa Anita Park will, for the first time, host this spring celebration of California-bred and California-sired Thoroughbreds. The event is highlighted by five of this year’s Golden State Series races; the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes for three-year-olds, the $250,000 Melair Stakes for three-year-old fillies, the $125,000 Tiznow Stakes for four-year-olds and up, the $125,000 Spring Fever Stakes for fillies and mares four-years-old and up, and the $100,000 Frans Valentine Stakes for fillies and mares four-years-old and up. Some of the conditions of these historic races have been changed in order to maximize field size, provide a balanced stakes schedule and adhere to the track configuration. Over the years, many top class Cal-breds have competed at Gold Rush, including a host of millionaires, grade I winners and champions. As in the past, the day promises to feature large competitive fields that will offer racing fans numerous opportunities to wager on the local horses that they have followed throughout the years. There will once again be a wide variety of races offered, from the multiple black-type opportunities to rich purses for maidens and first condition allowance horses. The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) is extremely proud of this event and would like to thank Santa Anita, local horsemen and all of the sponsors over the years for their continued support in making Gold Rush such a success. Please join us on April 26 in celebrating the top horses bred and conceived here in the Golden State.

©Mesaros

Doug Burge President 201 Colorado Place Arcadia, California 91007 (626) 445-7800 www.ctba.com Dear California Thoroughbred Reader,

The first Saturday of Santa Anita Park’s inaugural extended summer meet will showcase the best of California-bred and Calilfornia-sired race crops. California Gold Rush XV is a very important day to highlight the importance of California owners and breeders, and the second such day Santa Anita will have held since Opening Day! April 26 will be highlighted by five stakes races totaling just under a million dollars in prize money, plus an exciting undercard that is sure to draw a crowd. With the unfortunate loss of Betfair Hollywood Park, we at Santa Anita are looking forward to continuing with this California tradition and taking on such stakes as the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes and Melair Stakes for the top three-year-old colts and fillies. Add in the pair of $125,000 stakes with the Spring Fever Stakes and Tiznow Stakes for older males and females and top it off with the $100,000 Fran’s Valentines Stakes for older fillies and mares and we have the making of an exceptional day of racing. The day is set to provide full and competitive fields of California superstars for all their fans and connections to enjoy. Santa Anita looks forward to hosting the Golden State’s breeders and owners to an unforgettable party and day at the races as a major thank-you for providing their utmost support and dedication to California’s Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry. See you at “The Great Race Place” for an unforgettable day on Saturday, April 26. Tom Ludt Sr. Vice President Racing & Gaming 285 W. Huntington Drive Arcadia, California 91007 (626) 574-7223 www.santaanita.com

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 1

C O L U M N


C O L U M N

Managing Editor’s Welcome

Shining Stars On Saturday, April 26, California Gold Rush will for the first time be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia since its inaugural running at the now defunct Hollywood Park in 2000, and this program of five stakes races promises to unearth some shining stars among those California-bred and California-sired runners who are scheduled to compete. In this April 2014 issue of our monthly California Thoroughbred magazine, we spotlight the Cal-breds who not only were successful at Gold Rush but also secured at least one grade I victory during their illustrious careers. Other shining stars of our local Thoroughbred industry are Ken and Jan Heidt, the breeders of dual graded stakes winner Summer Hit who are this month’s CTBA Member Profile, as well as the current group of Golden State stallions whose first crop of foals are two-year-olds of this year. Also featured in this publication is a review of Barretts Sales & Racing’s 25th Anniversary March Select Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training that was held last month, along with a wrap-up of the impressive win by the three-year-old Calbred colt California Chrome in Santa Anita’s San Felipe Stakes (grade II) on March 8. Plus, the other recent stakes wins at Santa Anita by the Cal-bred trio of Ambitious Brew, Tribal Spy and Halo Dolly are reviewed under Racing In Southern California and there is an Industry Insight article on the movie “50 to 1” that was directed by CTBA member Jim Wilson and is currently in theaters. Focus On The Future features the highlights of apprentice jockey Drayden Van Dyke’s short but already successful career to date, while the 1979 Cal-bred filly Avigaition, a three-time grade I winner and two-time California champion, is the subject matter of A Blast From The Past. “Common Reproductive Problems In Mares” is the title of out Horse Care editorial and the latest Guest Forum piece examines the role that famous actress Bo Derek is playing in California’s breeding and racing business, including as a member of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), while the balance of the magazine includes all our other regular columns, features and departments that we hope will also prove to be both enjoyable and helpful. Until next time, may you breed the best to the best and not just have to hope for the best!

OFFICERS Chairperson: DONALD J. VALPREDO Vice Chairperson: HARRIS DAVID AUERBACH President: DOUG BURGE Treasurer: TIM COHEN Secretary: SUE GREENE DIRECTORS - John C. Harris, Leigh Ann Howard, John H. Barr, Daniel Q. Schiffer, William H. Nichols, Jane Johnson, William H. de Burgh, Pete Parrella, Sue Greene, Donald J. Valpredo, Terry C. Lovingier, Harris David Auerbach, Tim Cohen, George F. Schmitt Edward Freeman Ex Officio: E. W. (Bud) Johnston ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Chief Financial Officer: James Murphy Sales Coordinator & Membership: Cookie Hackworth Registrar and Incentive Program Manager: Mary Ellen Locke Assistant Registrar: Dawn Gerber Executive Assistant & Event Coordinator: Christy Chapman Web Site Managing Editor: Ken Gurnick Librarian/Receptionist: Vivian Montoya RACETRACK LIAISON: Scott Henry CALIFORNIA CUP Coordinator: Cookie Hackworth PUBLICATIONS STAFF Editor: Doug Burge Managing Editor: Rudi Groothedde Advertising Manager: Loretta Veiga Art Director: John Melanson Production: Charlene Favata-Markel Subscriptions: Vivian Montoya California Thoroughbred is published monthly in Arcadia, Calif. Periodical postage is paid at Arcadia, Calif., and at additional mailing offices. Standard mail included. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the California Thoroughbred, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018 California Thoroughbred is printed by Modern Litho Print Co. SUBSCRIPTIONS-$55.00 per year USA $85.00 per year Canada & Mexico CTBA on the Internet — http://www.ctba.com

©Benoit

—Rudi Groothedde rudi@ctba.com

©California Thoroughbred 2014 (ISSN1092-7328) 201 Colorado Place, Arcadia, California 91007 Telephone: (626) 445-7800 or 1-800-573-CTBA (California residents only) FAX: (626) 445-6981 E-mail address: ctbainfo@ctba.com Owned and published by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the production of better Thoroughbred horses for better Thoroughbred racing. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies of the CTBA or this magazine. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without first obtaining written permission from California Thoroughbred. All advertising copy is submitted subject to approval. We reserve the right to reject any copy that is misleading or that does not meet with the standards set by the publication. Acknowledgment: Statistics in this publication relating to results of races in North America are compiled by the Daily Racing Form. Charts by special arrangement with Daily Racing Form Inc., the copyright owners of said charts. Reproduction forbidden.

In the Company of. . .California Chrome, a three-year-old colt by Harris Farms ’ Lucky Pulpit bred and owned in California by Martin Perry and Steve Coburn who is presently one of the leading contenders for this May ’s Kentucky Derby (grade I), following his victory in the grade II, $300,500 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on March 8, 2014.

2 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


UltimateEagleAdREV#2@112pmUltimateEagle-1-31-2014-846am:ClientProvidedEagleEmbroideryLogo©LogoTheCopyrightofUltimateEagle 2/25/14 9:14 AM Page 1

SPECIAL T THOROUGHBREDS INC. Inquiries to Rick Taylor • Property of B.J.Wright

35325 De Portola Rd, Temecula, Ca 92592 • Ph: 951 303-0313 • fax: 951 303-0613 E-mail SpecTB@aol.com • www.specialTfarm.com


April 2014 Contents

VOLUME 140 NO. 4

On This Month’s Cover Since 2000, the like of California-breds Melair, Snow Chief, Fran’s Valentine and B. Thoughtful have been celebrated at California Gold Rush which will be held for the first time at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, April 26. Copyrights-Melair, T. & T. Abahazy; Snow Chief, Pimlico; Fran’s Valentine, Four Footed Fotos Inc.; B. Thoughtful, T. Abahazy; and Tiznow, Benoit & Associates

Departments 6 14 16

News Bits

56 58 60 62 65 67

Leading Sires in California

The CTBA Working For You California Thoroughbred Foundation (CTF) Notes—April 2014

Cover Story

19

California Gold Rush: The Gold Rush Greats

26 30 32 34 36 40

CTBA Member Profile: Kenneth & Janice Heidt—Still Dreaming Big

by Rudi Groothedde

Features by Emily Shields

California Sires: Shades Of Gray by Lisa Groothedde

Regional Sales: Giant Strides by Lisa Groothedde

The Grade California-Breds: California Chrome—A Man Among Boys by Emily Shields

Racing In Southern California: Santa Anita Success For Cal-Bred Trio by Rudi Groothedde

Industry Insight: “50 To 1” —Getting There Is Half The Fun by Marcie Heacox

P A G E

Leading Lifetime Sires in California Dates in California

4 0

CTBA Calendar Classified Advertising Indexes to Advertisers & Stallions Advertised

44 48 52

Focus On The Future: Drayden Van Dyke—He’s The Money by Emily Shields

A Blast From The Past: Avigaition—One Of The Elite by Jackie Barnes

Horse Care: Common Reproductive Problems In Mares by Heather Smith Thomas

©Katey Barrett

Columns

California Chrome, a three-year-old colt bred and owned in California by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn and by the Harris Farms stallion Lucky Pulpit, is now one of the leading contenders on this year’s Triple Crown trail after he won the grade II, $300,500 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park on March 8, when he improved his record to five wins, a second and $534,850 from nine starts.

4 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

1 2 68

From the Executive Office: Welcome To California Gold Rush XV by Doug Burge

Managing Editor’s Welcome: Shining Stars by Rudi Groothedde

Guest Forum: Bo Derek And The Thoroughbreds by Pat Murphy

The May 2014 Cover Story

The 25th Anniversary Of Sunday Silence’s Kentucky Derby Win

www.ctba.com



D D EE PP AA RR TT M M EE N N TT

Kafwain Records Another Grade I Winner

News Bits

The California-based stallion Kafwain attained his second lifetime grade I winner on March 15, when his four-year-old filly Let Faith Arise captured the $350,500 Santa Margarita Stakes for distaffers at Santa Anita Park. The Kentucky-bred filly is the first grade I-winning homebred campaigned by California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) members Tom and Debi Stull, who ©Benoit stand Kafwain, a 14-year-old son of Cherokee Run, at their Tommy Town Thoroughbreds nursery in Santa Ynez. Let Faith Arise has earned $380,240 from 10 starts to date.

Let Faith Arise

Kafwain

Northern California Sale-Topper Brings Six Figures A colt whose $60,000 yearling purchase price topped the 2013 Northern California Sale hosted by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) last August more than quadrupled his value seven months later as a pinhooking prospect when he secured a $280,000 bid at the 2014 Barretts March Sale of Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training.

The Kentucky-bred Sky Mesa colt out of Broken Vow’s stakes-placed winner Serious Vow was purchased as a yearling by Del Playa Bloodstock, and consigned to the March 3 auction by Steven Venosa’s SGV Thoroughbreds, agent. He was sold to Rockingham Ranch and Lanzman Racing after he posted a one-furlong move in :10 during the sale’s Feb. 27 under-tack preview at Fairplex Park.

2015 Nor Cal Racing Dates Finalized After months of discussion, primarily regarding the dates for Cal Expo in Sacramento and Santa Rosa’s Sonoma County Fair, the Northern California racing schedule for next year was finalized by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on March 21. The 2015 dates are as follows: Alameda County Fair,

Pleasanton – June 17-July 6; California State Fair at Cal Expo, Sacramento – July 9-26; Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa – July 30Aug. 16; Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale – Aug. 19-30; Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley – Aug. 21-Sept. 13; San Joaquin County Fair, Stockton – Sept. 18-27; Big Fresno Fair, Fresno – Oct. 1-12; and Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley – Oct. 15-Dec.20.

Jockey Club Publishes Breeding Stats The Jockey Club’s 2014 Fact Book reports that there were 1,680 registered foals of 2012 in California, a drop of 8.3 percent on the 1,833 total reported for the previous year, which ranked the Golden State third in the nation behind Kentucky (7,137) and Florida (2,015). For the 2013 breeding season, California also placed

third nationally with 2,353 mares bred to 150 stallions, in comparison to the corresponding numbers of 2,445 and 192 recorded for 2012. Last year, 15,548 mares were bred to 244 stallions in Kentucky and 136 stallions covered 2,876 mares in Florida, while the previous year’s totals for these states were 15,260/254 and 3,150/152, respectively.

A Heartening Tale The debut win by California-bred Given after Marine Cpl. Josh Hotaling, Hotaling Hart at Golden Gate Fields on who lost both of his legs to an improvised Feb. 22, prompted California Thoroughbred explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan Breeders Association (CTBA) member during 2011. After Hotaling got involved Bob Bone, the breeder and c-owner of in co-ownership of the filly, he designed the three-year-old filly, to state “That’s ©Vassar the silks with “USMC” for U.S. Marine absolutely one of the most special wins Corps on the front and the image of two Hotaling Heart combat-duty marines on the back that in my career.” That’s because Bone named the dark bay daughter of Point were carried to victory by Hotaling Heart.

6 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


Northern California Report: A Versatile Specialist Trainer Steve Specht makes it clear that his four-yearold filly Marks Mine can run on any surface and at any venue. But even though the daughter of Ballena Vista Farm’s Benchmark is stakes-placed on both dirt and turf at Santa Anita Park, she absolutely rules as “The Queen of Tapeta” after winning the $59,400 Camilla Urso Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on March 15. The bay’s gate-to-wire, half-length tally over Happybirthdaybaby with Frank Alvarado in the irons was her fifth win in seven tries on the all-weather surface in Berkeley, with two seconds. “She runs hard every time,” Specht said about the seventh and last foal out of Ermine Fever, a Capote half-sister to 1995 Kentucky Derby (grade I) runner-up Tejanoi Run.

“She doesn’t need a certain track. She’s versatile and carries her speed two turns.” In this six-furlong race, Marks Mine fought off early pressure from Fast and Foxy, going a head-to-head halfmile in :45.20. Then Happybirthdaybaby made her bid, only to be held safe in the last 50 yards. “I was worried that pace might soften her up for someone coming from behind, but she digs in,” Specht said. A Larry and Marianne Williams homebred, Marks Mine has earned $363,854 on a 16-8-4-2 record. Next up is Santa Anita’s $125,000 Spring Fever Stakes on April 26, while Specht hopes to have her a long time after that by noting the Williamses, “like to race their horses.”—Jerry Klein

©Vassar photos

Marks Mine—$59,400 Camillo Urso Stakes—March 15, 2014

Santa Anita Breaks New Ground From Friday, April 25 to Sunday, June 29, the first meeting ever held at Santa Anita Park during spring and early summer will feature many of the stakes races that were contested during last year’s corresponding stand at the now defunct Hollywood Park. The 40-day meet includes 21 graded stakes among a total of 34 black-type events worth almost $6 million, led by the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (grade I) on the Arcadia track’s closing weekend. Santa Anita’s opening weekend is highlighted by California Gold Rush XV, a day including five stakes races for runners bred or sired in the Golden State worth $850,000 and led by the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes and $250,000 Melair Stakes, while the meet’s other restricted black-type event is the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes on June 8.

Those Grand Cal-Bred Mares Devons Ca Ching, a four-year-old Devon Lane gelding out of the stakes-placed, two-time winner New Focus, a 1995 daughter of Half a Year who was bred in California by John and Betty Mabee, is now a three-time stakes winner after her 2 1/4-length victory in the $85,320 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap going 4 1/2 furlongs at Sunland Park in New Mexico on March 8. The half-brother to 2010 black-type winner and $150,130-earner Favorite Flag has banked $225,698 from a 13-6-3-1 record.

Making The Grade The following runner(s), either bred in California or sired by a stallion currently based in the Golden State, won or placed in graded stakes races in North America (United States, Canada & Puerto Rico) from February 18 to March 23 inclusive: Swiss Lake Yodeler f.3. Swiss Yodeler—Domasco Lake 3rd Grade III Santa Ysabel Stakes $100,000 1 1/16 m. Santa Anita Park March 1 Breeders: Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams California Chrome c.3. Lucky Pulpit—Love the Chase 1st Grade II San Felipe Stakes $300,500 1 1/16 m. Santa Anita Park March 8 Breeders: Steven Coburn & Perry Martin Big Macher g.4. Beau Genius—Insight 2nd Grade II San Carlos Stakes $251,250 7 f. Santa Anita Park March 8 Breeder: Ballena Vista Farm Let Faith Arise f.4. Kafwain—Babe Hall 1st Grade I Santa Margarita Stakes $350,500 1 1/8 m. Santa Anita Park March 15 Breeder: Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC

Continued on page 10 www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 7

D E P A R T M E N T




D E P A R T M E N T

Stallion News

News Bits Cont’d.

Globalize This Victory Rose Thoroughbreds veteran, a 17-year-old dual graded stakes winner by Summer Squall, was pensioned from stallion duties following the 2013 breeding season. From 10 crops of racing age, he is represented by five stakes winners and the collective earners of more than $4.1 million.

CURRENT CALIFORNIA SIRES OF STAKES WINNERS

Northern Indy Nets First Foal On March 2, the California stallion Northern Indy attained his first foal when the winning Crowning Storm mare Storming Slew produced a filly by the grade III-placed stakes winner, a six-year-old son of A.P. Indy who stands at Paradise Road Ranch in Lathrop.

Named Foals of

SWs

989

63

1,060

59

Unusual Heat (1990)

662

44

Benchmark (1991)

705

41

Tribal Rule (1996)

549

35

Olympio (1988)†

526

30

Stormin Fever (1994)

712

30

Swiss Yodeler (1994)

733

28

Game Plan (1993)

429

23

Old Topper (1995)

508

22

Kafwain (2000)

484

21

Sea of Secrets (1995)

455

21

Ministers Wild Cat (2000)

268

15

Atticus (1992)

450

14

Rocky Bar (1998)

117

14

Siberian Summer (1989)†

415

14

Western Fame (1992)†

290

14

Comic Strip (1995)

318

12

Stallion

Racing Age

In Excess (Ire) (1987)†

©Mesaros

Northern Indy

Fruitful Acres Adds James Street, Wolfcamp Fruitful Acres Farm has added two stakes-caliber sons of El Prado (Ire)—James Street and Wolfcamp—to its stallion roster in Aguanga. Seven-year-old James Street is a three-time graded stakes winner in Canada who retires to the breeding shed with a lifetime bankroll of $637,723 from 28 starts. Produced by Unbridled’s multiple winner Alleynedale, he will stand for an introductory fee of $10,000. Stakes-placed Wolfcamp is a seven-time winner and $189,148earner out of the multiple graded/group stakes winner Bauhauser (Arg), by Numerous. The six-year-old stallion will stand his inaugural season for a $3,000 fee.

Auction Action Three racing prospects out of California-bred broodmares commanded respective six-figure purchase prices during the 2014 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March Selected Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training in Florida last month. A Hold Me Back colt out of the Future Storm mare Sol Bird was purchased for $135,000 by Rockingham Ranch, which also went to $100,000 to secure a Colonel John colt out of the dual stakes-placed mare Torchera, a winning daughter of Pirate’s Bounty who produced 2008 Belmont Stakes (grade I) winner Da’ Tara. Agent Garry Simms made a successful bid of $115,000 on behalf of buyers James and Ywachetta Driver for a U S Ranger colt out of Singing Year, a stakes-winning mare by Half a Year.

Bertrando (1989)†

† Indicates stallions who have died or have been retired from the stud. • Indicates stallions who have moved out of state but have California-bred two-year-olds of this year. All sires will remain on the list until the year after their last foals are two-year-olds.

California-Breds Countrywide Warren’s Knockout, a six-year-old gelding bred in California by Benjamin Warren, became a three-time stakes winner with his victory in the $75,000 Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs at Sunland Park in New Mexico on March 23. By Stormed, this third of four foals out of Doneraile

10 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

Court’s Now My Precious has now earned $390,557 from a record of 32-9-6-3. The dark bay also won last year’s $25,000 Budweiser Special Stakes at Albuquerque and the $71,200 Grey Memo Stakes during California Gold Rush XII at Hollywood Park in 2011.

www.ctba.com


Qualifying Claiming Levels

California Closers

The following claiming levels for California owers premiums and stallion awards are currently in effect:

The next Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show event will be held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13… Friday, April 18, is the closing date for nominations to Barretts Sales & Racing’s October Yearling Sale…The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) will hold its next monthly meeting at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley on Friday, April 25...Pool 3 of this year’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed with California-breds California Chrome and Tamarando listed at 32-1 and 53-1, respectively.

Santa Anita Park—$40,000 (Closes April 20 & opens April 25) Golden Gate Fields—$20,000

D E P A R T M E N T

Gone, But Not Forgotten The Usual Q. T., a grade I winner at both three and four when he was a three-time California champion and the earner of $1,531,240 from 2008 to 2012, was euthanized early in February after getting colic about a year ago and then suffering from peritonitis. Bred in California by Carlee Van Kempen, the 2006 son of Unusual Heat and Western Fame’s four-time winner Lunge was trained by Jim Cassidy who had kept the gelding at his farm near Duarte since his retirement with a 23-8-6-5 record. In 2009, The Usual Q. T. won four stakes races, including the Hollywood Derby (grade I), while his 2010 California Champion Older Male and Champion Turf Horse campaign was highlighted by a victory in the Eddie Read Stakes (grade I).

©Benoit

The Usual Q.T.

10 Years Ago

April 24, 2004

In what would prove to be his third and most lucrative of five career stakes wins, the California-bred gelding Black Bart won the $150,000 Khaled Stakes during California Gold Rush V at Hollywood Park on April 24, 2004. Bred by Ed and Sharon Hudon, the 1999 son of Stage Colony and the Pirate’s Bounty stakes winner Lyrical Pirate raced eight more times for a record of 34-9-4-3 and $346,080 in earnings. ©Benoit

Black Bart $150,000 Khaled Stakes

25 Years Ago

April 19, 1989

Lyrical Pirate, a five-year-old daughter of Pirate’s Bounty and the winning Burd Alane mare Ballysong, made her stakes debut a winning one in her final lifetime start with a victory in the $44,800 California Girls Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on April 19, 1989. Bred in California by Martin Wygod, the earner of $104,370 from four wins, six seconds and two thirds in 17 trips to post later produced both the 1993 black-type winner Custom Table and Black Bart, the winner of five stakes races in 2004. April 18, 1964

©Benoit

Lyrical Pirate $44,800 California Girls Handicap

50 Years Ago

Real Good Deal $59,900 California Deby

www.ctba.com

At Golden Gate Fields on April 18, 1964, the winner of the $59,900 California Derby was Real Good Deal, the Johnston family homebred who had won the second of two divisions of the same track’s $10,737 California Derby Trial held just 14 days earlier. By The Pie King, out of Citation’s daughter Good Folks, the eventual eight-time stakes ©Benoit winner made 33 more starts before retiring to stud after his five-year-old season with a bankroll of $298,762 from a 46-14-7-7 record.

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 11




To further assist the membership of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) and subscribers of its official publication, California Thoroughbred, this monthly editorial page provides readers with updates about the association’s current policies, latest news and upcoming events in the Golden State.

The CTBA Working For You

Spotlighting California’s Foals Of 2014

CTBA With A Presence At Ag Day Ag Day at the California Capitol in Sacramento was held March 19 and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) was there, representing breeders and offering legislators information on the vital role the Thoroughbred industry plays in the state’s agricultural economy. CTBA Past Presidents Sue Greene and Leigh Ann Howard, along with event coordinator Christy Chapman, promoted the sport and educated visitors to the CTBA booth on general horse facts and Thoroughbred racing and breeding in California. Longtime CTBA member Ellen Jackson once again provided a mare and foal (Maddie’s Odyssey

accompanied by her two-weekold Unusual Heat colt) for the CTBA booth so visitors could have a personal experience with a Thoroughbred. Among the legislators who visited the booth were Assemblymembers Isadore Hall III, Jimmy Gomez, Frank Bigelow, Christina Garcia, Steven Bradford, Brian Jones, Adam Gray and Cheryl Brown and Senator Tom Berryhill. Many members of the local media also stopped by to take photos and visit with the horses. For more information on California’s Ag Day, click: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/agday

Assemblyman Isadore Hall III with CTBA Past Presidents Leigh Ann Howard, Sue Greene & Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez. (left to right)

Senator Tom Berryhill, Assemblyman Steven Bradford, CTBA Lobbyist Robyn Black & CTBA Past President Leigh Ann Howard. (left to right)

CTBA Lobbyist Robyn Black with CHP mounted officers

Non-Member Registration Fees To Increase

Assemblyman Steven Bradford shares some carrots with Maddie’s Odyssey

Assemblyman Frank Bigelow with Assemblywoman Christina Garcia

Through the August 2014 issue of California Thoroughbred, the official publication of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA), this year’s crop of Thoroughbreds foaled in the Golden State will again be spotlighted in each monthly magazine with advertorials featuring six to eight photos of foals per page. The cost to publish individual photos is $75 each, while a full page insertion will be discounted down to $500. These charges represent a discount of more than 50 percent on the price of a regular full-page advertisement in the magazine. Insertions will include a caption with each foal’s sire, dam, broodmare sire, sex, date of birth and breeders, as well as the details, including a logo, of their farm location. Photos need to be submitted by the following Monday deadlines; April 7 (May issue); May 5 (June issue); June 2 (July issue); and July 7 (August issue). For additional information, please contact the magazine’s Advertising Manager, Loretta Veiga, at Loretta@ctba.com/(626) 445-7800, extension 227, or its Managing Editor, Rudi Groothedde, at rudi@ctba.com/ (626) 445-7800, extension 226. Additionally, photos can also be submitted to Ken Gurnick at kgurnick@ctba.com for free inclusion on the CTBA’s web site.

As of Tuesday, April 1, the registration fee for non-CTBA members for a foal bred or sired in California will increase to $200 if applied for by Sept. 30 of their yearling year and $250 if applied for from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 of their yearling year, while the corresponding fees for CTBA members will remain the same at $100 and $125.

New CTBA Members

Assemblyman Adam Gray with Maddie’s Odyssey

Frank Brionez Ontario, CA

Keith & Jean Hembree Hayward, CA Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown feeding Maddie’s Odyssey some carrots

©Chapman Photos

Assemblyman Brian Jones with Maddie’s Odyssey & her 2-week-old Unusual Heat colt

The CTBA Calendar Corner CTBA Northern California Yearling & Horses of Racing Age Sale Tuesday, August 12, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton (For further information, contact Cookie Hackworth at cookie@ctba.com/(800) 573-2822, extension 243)

Highlander Racing Stable LLC (Bruce & Cass Maller) Incline Village, CA

Dorothy Ingetti Arcadia, CA

Joseph LaCombe

Frances Long Roy, WA

Dennis Miller Prescott, AZ

Frank Schipono Eureka, CA

Eugene Weckerly Arcadia, CA

Jack & Troy Velasco

Carlsbad, CA

Danville, CA

Rick Lebherz

Judd Whitworth

Hollister, CA

Ellis, ID

For information, contact the CTBA’s Event Coordinator Christy Chapman at either christy@ctba.com or (800) 573-2822, ext. 247. 14 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


Coronado’s Quest—Wedding March, by Deputy Minister Fee: $5,000 LF California’s Leading First-Crop Sire Of 2011 Leading Second-Crop Sire Of 2012 and Leading Third-Crop 2013 Sire of GI Winner WILLA B AWESOME who sold for $875,00 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Average Earnings Per Starter of more than $34,200 and sire of the earners of more than $2 MILLION from only three crops to race.

Outflanker—Musical Score, by Romantic Lead Fee: $2,000 LF Sire Of Stakes-Placed Tupelo Cush From First Crop To Race Ranked 7th in Leading First Crop Sires Won the VERNON O. UNDERWOOD STAKES (G3), defeating Grade I winners IN SUMMATION and GREG’S GOLD Second in the HOLLYWOOD PREVUE STAKES (G3) to DECLAN’S MOON, the Champion Two-Year-Old. Third in the $300,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS SPRINT to GRADE 1 winner BORDONARO, defeating Champion Sprinter THOR’S ECHO. Used his amazing speed, including consistent bullet workouts, in a career that yielded $285,840 in earnings.

Rio Verde—Chasing Wind, by Mining Fee: $2,000 LF First Foals Are Two-Year-Olds Of 2014 At 2, he won impressively on his debut & finished second, beaten only a head, to CLASSICAL SLEW (G2) in the 5 1/2-furlong WILLARD L. PROCTOR MEMORIAL STAKES, both at Hollywood Park. At Del Mar, he was beaten just a neck by WOLF TAIL in the $100,000 GRADUATION STAKES & was a gate-to-wire winner at Del Mar running 6 furlongs on the main track in 1:09.85. Out of stakes winner CHASING WIND, dam of the stakes winners RGIRLDOESN’TBLUFF ($214,270), who was also GRADE 3-placed, CHASING THE PRIZE & GREETING CARD.

Stephen Got Even—Tomisue’s Pleasure, by Seeking the Gold Fee: $2,000 LF Sire of Multiple Stakes-Placed Winner Time For Angie ($80,414) Ranked 4th in Leading Second-Crop Sires TIME TO GET EVEN won the LAZARO BARRERA STAKES (G3) at Hollywood Park, defeating G2 winner PRINCIPLE SECRET and BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT winner DESERT CODE

35490 Highway 79, Warner Springs, California 92086 Inquiries to Terry Lovingier • (562) 547-9848/FAX: (562) 988-0094 e-mail: terry@lovco.com • website: www.lovacres.com


D E P A R T M E N T

Notes — April 2014 California Thoroughbred Foundation 2014 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Gerald F. McMahon Mrs. Jeanne L. Canty, President Neil O’Dwyer Mrs. Gail Gregson, Vice-President Mrs. Ada Gates Patton Gregory L. Ferraro, DVM, Treasurer Thomas S. Robbins Mark W. McCreary, Secretary John W. Sadler Peter P. Daily Peter W. Tunney Tracy Gantz Warren Williamson Jane Goldstein Mrs. Kenneth M. Schiffer, Director Emeritus

Generous Donors Make Foundation Projects Possible Through their generous donations in 2013, the following have supported numerous programs undertaken by the California Thoroughbred Foundation (CTF). D & H Alpert Rozamund Barclay Angela Bilich Kevin Sterling Bogart Jeanne Canty Donovan M. Castro Richard W. Craigo Peter Daily Mr. & Mrs.Ronald Day Tony Feng Miguel Angel Rubio Fernandez Tracy Gantz-White Rita Godward Jane Goldstein

Edwin Gredvig Gail Gregson Daniel P.Hof Charles R. Knightstep III James A. Layton Robert & Beverly Lewis Foundation Shirley MacPherson Mark W. McCreary Teresa M. McWilliams Lorraine A. Mercer John & Nina Morrow Jerome Moss Erik P. Nygaard Neil O’Dwyer

Doug O'Neill Susan Osborne Joshua A. Pack Rodney F. Pitts Glenn Porter Michael Reiff Eugene Rickert Tom & Missy Robbins Salvador Saggese Candice Simmons George Small Marcelite & Frank Troeger Patricia A. Zacker Kevin Zietz

The California Thoroughbred Foundation The California Thoroughbred Foundation (CTF) is dedicated to the advancement of equine research and education. Since 1958, the Foundation has operated as a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that can accept tax deductible contributions. For more than four decades, the CTF has sponsored numerous research and educational projects and awarded scholarships to veterinary students at U.C. Davis. The Foundation maintains the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library, one of the most extensive collections of equine

literature found anywhere. Several generous donations of book collections and artwork form the core of the library, which is housed in the CTBA offices in Arcadia. Among its 10,000 volumes are current veterinary publications, turf histories, sales catalogs, and books spanning a wide range of subjects from equine nutrition and care to fine arts. The latest instructional videos also are available for viewing in the Library. The resources of the CTF’s Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library are available to the public for research and pleasure.

Memorial Donations The CTF accepts donations in memory of relatives and friends, with all such donations allocated to Scholarship Funds of the Foundation and to the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library. Please remember members of our industry with a donation to the CTF Memorial Fund. Donations may be sent to CTF, P. O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-

16 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


Empire Maker –Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy

FEE: $5,000–LIVE FOAL Grade I Stakes-Placed Winner of $119,170 Ran second in the Grade II, Robert B. Lewis Stakes behind subsequent Kentucky Derby-GI and Preakness Stakes-GI winner I ’LL HAVE ANOTHER Full brother to two-time Breeders ’ Cup Ladies Classic winner and Eclipse champion ROYAL DELTA. EMPIRE WAY is by EMPIRE MAKER, among the leading sires with 42 stakes winners topped by champion ROYAL DELTA, millionaire and multiple GI winner PIONEEROF THE NILE, who was second in the Kentucky Derby GI, and BODEMEISTER ($1,304,800), Arkansas Derby GI, 2nd in the Kentucky Derby GI, and Preakness Stakes GI. 2013 graded stakes winners include EMOLLIENT, MAGICAL FEELING and BROADWAY EMPIRE. Out of the multiple graded stakes-winning A.P. INDY mare DELTA PRINCESS, who is a full sister to GI winner INDY FIVE HUNDRED and a half-sister to Italian Group I winner BIONDETTI.

Eastern Echo —Drapeau, by Raja Baba FEE: $3,000–LIVE FOAL

Perennial Leading Sire Of 2-Year-Olds Sire of Champion Sprinter, U. S. and California THOR ’S ECHO, and California Champion 2-Year-Old TILDE, the leading money winner among California-bred 2-Year-Olds of 2012. Progeny Earnings in 2013 are over $1. 3 Million, led by 2-year-old,

2013 California-Bred Champion Two-Year-Old Female of the Year SWISS LAKE YODELER ($235,850), 3 wins in 5 starts at 2, $200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes, at Betfair Hollywood Park on December 22.

Average Earnings Per Starter $48,214.

Inquiries to Terry Lovingier (562) 547-9848/FAX: (562) 988-0094 e-mail: terry@lovco.com

35490 Highway 79, Warner Springs, California 92086 website: www.lovacres.com


Top Hit—French Debutante, by French Deputy

MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER OF $691,502 Triple digit, 102 Beyers as a two-year old winning the PRAIRIE MEADOWS FRESHMAN S. going away by 10 lengths. WON the G2 SAN PASQUAL S. and the G3 BERKELEY S., SECOND in the G2 SAN ANTIONIO S. behind GAME ON DUDE clearing the field by 14 lengths, THIRD in the G1 SANTA ANITA HANDICAP to RON THE GREEK rallying five wide in a troubled trip; just missed the board in the G1 TRIPLE BEND H. to AMAZOMBIE and SMILING TIGER. Out of FRENCH DEBUTANTE half-sister to ROCKY BAR, dam of EZ DREAMER, TOP DEBUTANTE and TOP FORTITUDE.

2014 Fee: $2,500

In Excess (Ire)—To the Post, by Bold Ego

Sire Of Multiple Graded Stakes Winner and 35% Stakes Horses Among his earners of more than $3.5 million are CARLSBAD ($437,126), winner of three graded stakes races, including the Hollywood Oaks (G2), and champion PAGE SPRINGS. 2013 stakes winners include LEWKACK ($108,445), and WHAT’S HIS NAME. 80% winners from starters, average earnings per starter of more than $44,700.

2014 Fee: $2,500


The Gold Rush Greats

California Gold Rush

by RUDI GROOTHEDDE bringing her stakes win total to six with a trio of black-type triumphs in 2000.Her final year at the races then resulted in a 9-4-2-2 record and $678,980 in earnings as a six-yearold when fellow Cal-bred mare Gourmet Girl was voted the Eclipse Champion Older Female. A victory in January’s $100,000 Work The Crowd Handicap was followed by a win in the grade I, $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita on March 10, 2001. After winning the April 28 B. Thoughtful, Lazy Slusan triumphed in the grade I, $254,300 Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood on June 3. Also a stakes winner at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Fairplex Park, she made her final career start at Keeneland four months later. Favorite Funtime In the final start of her 14-race career, Favorite Funtime won the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes on April 28, 2002, to add to her other victory as a five-year-old in the grade I, $200,000 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita in February of that year. The $507,900-earner won seven times and also placed second and third once each before becoming the dam of Malibu Bay, a 2006 El Prado (Ire) colt who sold for $750,000 as a yearling and was a winner in Ireland and group III-placed in England. A Golden Eagle Farm homebred for John and Betty Mabee, the bay was the ninth and last foal out of Promising Girl, a Youth half-sister to grade I winner Beau’s Eagle whose four wins included an allowance victory in 1985 that qualified her for full black-type. Foaled in Ramona on April 8, 1997, Favorite Funtime is a Seeking the Gold half-sister to 1992 grade II winner Man From Eldorado. After winning her debut in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita on April 15, 2000, she won once again at three in an optional claiming race at Hollywood during June. As a

Lazy Slusan—$150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes—April 28, 2001

Favorite Funtime—$150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes—April 28, 2002

©Benoit photos

With the closing of Hollywood Park in December of 2013, Southern California’s annual racing calendar has seen a number of changes, including a new April to June season at Santa Anita Park that will feature the 15th renewal of California Gold Rush on Saturday, April 26. For runners bred or sired in the Golden State, the Arcadia track will host the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, $250,000 Melair Stakes, $125,000 Tiznow Stakes, $125,000 Spring Fever Stakes, previously the B. Thoughtful Stakes, and $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes during this popular day of racing. Among the previous winners of the 133 stakes races that were contested at California Gold Rush in Inglewood from 2000 to 2013, were a dozen California-breds who also recorded at least one grade I victory during their illustrious careers, the details of which follow. Lazy Slusan In 47 lifetime starts from the ages of two to six, Lazy Slusan earned $1,150,410 from a record of 12 wins, seven seconds and 10 thirds which included victories in two grade I events and the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes in 2001. A bay daughter of Slewvescent, she was bred in California by The Robert H Walter Family Trust and is now the dam of the 2008 Empire Maker filly Last Full Measure who won the grade I, $300,000 Madison Stakes at Keeneland in Kentucky last year. Foaled at Vine Hill Ranch in Sebastopol on March 26, 1995, Lazy Slusan was the second of only seven offspring out of Topsider’s Three Flights Up, a stakes-placed winner of three races. Lazy Slusan’s racing debut came at Pleasanton in June of 1997, and she broke her maiden three starts later at Bay Meadows Racecourse in another maiden claiming race on Oct. 22 of that year. After two more wins as a juvenile, including the $64,800 Raise Your Skirts Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 13, Lazy Slusan won only once at both three and four before

www.ctba.com

Continued on next page

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 19

C O V E R S T O R Y


C O V E R

four-year-old, Favorite Funtime captured the $90,864 Piedra Foundation Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 24, 2001, just 22 days after posting an allowance win at the same seaside track. Her final start of the year produced a triumph in the $102,250 Cat’s Cradle Handicap at Hollywood on Nov. 23. At five, Favorite Funtime ran four times with her Feb. 17 Santa Maria victory sandwiched between unplaced efforts in two other grade I events before she signed off her career on a high note in the seven-furlong B. Thoughtful. Joey Franco Making the fifth start of his 2003 California Horse of the Year campaign, four-year-old Joey Franco won the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on April 26, before scoring three more black-type wins in five additional trips to post that year, including July’s grade I, $269,000 Triple Bend Breeders’ Cup Invitational Handicap at Hollywood. A dark bay son of Avenue of Flags, he was bred and owned by famed Broadway producer Jerry Frankel, foaled at Golden Eagle Farm on Feb. 1, 1999, and eventually retired to stud in the Golden State for the 2005 breeding season with a $635,091 bankroll and record of 17-8-1-1. In his only start at two, Joey Franco ran third in the $150,000 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes before returning 22 days later to win a maiden special weight race on Jan. 19, 2002. He then won allowance races both in his third consecutive appearance at Santa Anita and at Del Mar, prior to capturing the latter’s $92,750 El Cajon Stakes on Sept. 6. Joey Franco’s other career stakes wins came in Hollywood’s $91,325 Ack Ack Handicap in May of 2003, and four months later in the grade II, $178,000 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap. Also voted that year’s California Champion Older Male and Champion Sprinter, he is the fifth of 14 foals out of the 1990 Native Prospector mare Susan Powter, a halfsister to three winners of a dozen stakes winners and also the dam of 1998 black-type winner Miss Lawless. The sire of two stakes winners from six limited crops of

racing age, Joey Franco has been based in Minnesota since 2012, after standing in California for two years and in British Columbia, Canada, from 2007 to 2011. Leave Me Alone Another grade I-winning Golden State champion who won at California Gold Rush was Leave Me Alone, a daughter of Bold Badgett who took the $200,000 Melair Stakes for sophomore fillies on April 24, 2005. Bred by the Johnston family’s Old English Rancho in partnership with Lynn Quinn and Anne Pond, that year’s California Champion Three-Year-Old Female also won July’s grade III, $248,250 Azalea Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Calder Race Course in Florida and the grade I, $250,000 Test Stakes at Saratoga in New York on Aug. 6. During an 18-race career, Leave Me Alone earned $653,330 from five wins, four seconds and a third with all but three of these starts coming in stakes races. In her only trip to post at two, she made an inauspicious start to her fine career when finishing second last in a field of 12 at Hollywood in December of 2004. On Jan. 20 of her championship year, she broke her maiden at Santa Anita before returning to that same track to win an allowance event late in February. Foaled at Old English Rancho in Sanger on March 8, 2002, Leave Me Alone was the fifth of 11 foals out of Moscow Ballet’s 1991 daughter Fabulous Ballet, and thus a half-sister to 2002 stakes winner Stoney. She is now the dam of the Smart Strike filly Smart and Single who sold for $400,000 as a yearling and was unbeaten in her two career starts at Hollywood and Del Mar as a three-year-old in 2012. Alphabet Kisses When she won the 2005 edition of the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes, Alphabet Kisses was not only already a grade I winner but had previously won at California Gold Rush. In 2004, the gray filly broke her maiden in her second lifetime start in the $60,000 Magali Stakes on April 24, and then closed out her successful sophomore season with a victory in the grade I, $250,000 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 27. As a four-year-old, Alphabet Kisses also won the

Joey Franco—$150,000 Tiznow Stakes—April 26, 2003

Leave Me Alone—$200,000 Melair Stakes—April 24, 2005

California Gold Rush Cont’d.

©Benoit photos

S T O R Y

20 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


grade II, $150,000 A Gleam Invitational Handicap at Hollywood on July 9, before being covered by Awesome Again after racing through February of 2006. From seven foals to date, she has produced two winners. A homebred for Harris Farms in Coalinga, where she was foaled on Feb. 26, 2001, Alphabet Kisses is a daughter of Alphabet Soup and the 1988 Saratoga Six mare Kiss for Six, a winner of two races out of grade I winner A Kiss for Luck and also the dam of 1998 stakes winner Preciosa V. With three additional wins in allowance races at Hollywood in May, June and December of 2004, she boasts a career record of seven wins, three seconds, two thirds and $590,271 in earnings from 17 starts. Unfurl The Flag With his win in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes, Unfurl the Flag became the third of three winners at California Gold Rush VI whose careers also included grade I victories. In his next start on July 3, he returned to Hollywood to win the grade I, $350,000 Triple Bend Invitational Handicap and then raced for one more season before retiring with earnings of $647,935 from a 26-7-4-6 record. The bay gelding was also a winner at the ages of two, three, four and six. In his second lifetime start on Aug. 2, 2002, Unfurl the Flag won a maiden claiming race at Del Mar, while his other four wins came in allowance company; at Hollywood in both November of that year and December of the following year, at Santa Anita in February of 2004, and at Del Mar when he won his penultimate start on Aug. 23, 2006. He was the first of only three foals, all of whom were by Bertrando, out of Storm Cat’s 1994 unraced daughter Escape the Storm, a half-sister to the grade I-placed, multiple stakes winner Just Call Me Carl. Unfurl the Flag was bred by Martin and Pam Wygod, California’s leading breeders from 2006 to 2008, and foaled at their River Edge Farm in Buellton on Jan. 29, 2000. Lava Man When Lava Man won the $150,000 Khaled Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths on April 30, 2006, the 2001 son of Slew City Slew already had five of his 13 career stakes wins to

his name, including two in grade I company, and was well on the way to becoming the most profitable claim of all time after being tagged for $50,000 at Del Mar on Aug. 13, 2004. A couple of comebacks included, the dark bay gelding raced until December of his eight-year-old year while amassing $5,268,706 in earnings from a record of 47-17-8-5. His seven lifetime grade I wins came in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup from 2005 to 2007, $1,000,000 Santa Anita Handicap in 2006 and 2007, and the 2006 editions of the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar and $300,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Hollywood. Lava Man’s racing debut resulted in a fourth-placed finish in a $12,500 claiming race at Stockton in June of 2003, and his initial stakes victory came in his first start after being claimed, the $58,000 Derby Trial Stakes at Fairplex Park on Sept. 13. He broke his maiden in maiden special weight company at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 29, 2003, while his other four black-type triumphs came at the grade II level in 2005 and 2006, and at Sunshine Millions in 2006 and 2007. Foaled at Poplar Meadows in Sanger on March 20, 2001,

Alphabet Kisses—$150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes—April 24, 2005

Unfurl The Flag—$150,000 Tiznow Stakes—April 24, 2005

Continued on next page

©Benoit photos

Lava Man—$150,000 Khaled Stakes—April 30, 2006

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 21

C O V E R S T O R Y


C O V E R

the 2005 and 2006 California Horse of the Year was bred by Lonnie Arterburn and Eve and Kim Kuhlmann and is the third of 10 foals to date out of Li’l Ms. Leonard, a 22-yearold daughter of Nostalgia’s Star who was sold for $350,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s 2006 November Sale in Kentucky. She is also the dam of the 2010 grade II winner Enriched. Nashoba’s Key The winner of her first seven starts, Nashoba’s Key became Gold Rush’s most fleeting star when she won the $150,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes on April 29, 2007, but was then euthanized at the top of her game on May 28 of the following year, when she kicked the wall of her outdoor pen and broke her left hind leg. She will forever be remembered for a brilliant 14-month racing career that included eight wins, three of them at the grade I level, a second and a bankroll of $1,252,090 from just 10 starts. Nashoba’s Key’s debut win came in maiden special weight company at Santa Anita on Jan. 13, 2007, and then she won a February allowance race at that same track prior to her triumph in the Fran’s Valentine. On June 3, Nashoba’s Key won the grade II, $186,100 Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap and continued her winning streak at Hollywood with a victory in the grade I, $294,000 Vanity Invitational Handicap on July 7, before she returned 29 days later to win the grade II, $294,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar. She completed her 2007 California Horse of the Year campaign with a score in Santa Anita’s grade I, $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes on Sept. 29, and a fourth-placed finish in October’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (grade I) at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. In what would prove to be her final two lifetime starts, both at Santa Anita, Nashoba’s Key parlayed a runner-up finish in January’s $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes into a victory in the grade I, $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap on March 9, 2008. Foaled at Harris Farms on March 26, 2003, the Warren Williamson homebred daughter of Silver Hawk was the first

of nine foals to date out of 18-year-old Nashoba (Ire), a three-time winner by Caerleon. Greg’s Gold Two races after Nashoba’s Key won at Gold Rush, Greg’s Gold took the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes to become a dual stakes winner with his previous victory in the grade I, $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 31, 2005. A winner at three, four, five and six, the gray gelding’s final career start was a winning one in the 2008 edition of the Potrero Grande Handicap (grade II) at Santa Anita in April of 2008. After winning a maiden special weight event at Hollywood in his fourth lifetime start on Nov. 3, 2004, Greg’s Gold won an allowance race at the same track just 25 days later. He then parlayed a June 2005 allowance victory at Hollywood into his Bing Crosby triumph, which was followed by a break of nearly seven months when he came back a winner in an allowance contest at Santa Anita before his Tiznow triumph. His other wins as a six-year-old were in August’s Pat O’Brien Handicap (grade II) at Del Mar and Hollywood’s $107,800 On Trust Handicap in December. Bill Boswell’s homebred son of Lake George made 25 starts for nine wins, 10 seconds, two thirds and $1,067,923 in earnings. The first of seven foals out of the winning Fit to Fight mare Lake Windermere, Greg’s Gold is enjoying his retirement at Harris Farms where he was foaled on Feb. 19, 2001. Amazombie Amazombie may have waited for his five-year-old debut to make his first appearance in a stakes race, but then he never left that company on the way to becoming a multiple grade I winner and the 2011 Eclipse Champion Male Sprinter. That campaign of his, which also included the California Champion Sprinter title, featured five blacktype wins: the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes on Jan. 29, 2011, April’s Potrero Grande Stakes (grade II) and the grade I, $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes on Oct. 8, all at Santa Anita; Hollywood’s $125,000 Tiznow Stakes on April 23; and the grade I, $1,363,500 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs in Kentucky on Nov. 5. In his final start at three, Amazombie’s fifth attempt

Nashoba’s Key—$150,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes—April 29, 2007

Greg’s Gold—$150,000 Tiznow Stakes—April 29, 2007

California Gold Rush Cont’d.

©Benoit photos

S T O R Y

22 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


Yoshida’s Northern Farm in Japan where she has since produced a 2013 filly by Deep Impact (Jpn). Willa B Awesome The other Cal-bred to win a grade I race prior to posting a victory at California Gold Rush was Willa B Awesome, winner of the $288,000 Melair Stakes on April 28, 2012, exactly four weeks after her triumph in the grade I, $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks. By Awesome Gambler, a resident of her breeder and co-owner Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs, she ran until January of the following year before retiring with five wins, three seconds, five thirds and a $648,896 bankroll from 19 starts. As a two-year-old, Willa B Awesome’s wins came in a maiden special weight race at Hollywood in her first career start on April 21, 2011, and in the $89,900 Barretts Debutante Stakes at Fairplex Park on Sept. 17. Her season as the California Champion Three-Year-Old Female also included a victory in the grade III, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes on Jan. 28, while she sold as a four-year-old for $875,000, in-foal to Medaglia d’Oro, at Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale in 2013. Willa B Awesome is the third of seven foals to date out the winning Nineeleven mare Cause I’m Tricky and was foaled at Lovacres on Feb. 2009. Her dam has also produced the dual stakes-placed winners Got Tobe Rio and Willie B Awesome.

Amazombie—$125,000 Tiznow Stakes—April 23, 2011

Ultra Blend—$125,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes—April 23, 2011

©Benoit photos

in maiden special weight company resulted in a win at Hollywood on Dec. 3, 2009, while his four victories as a four-year-old all came in allowance races and were split evenly between Santa Anita and Hollywood from March to December of 2010. At six, the bay gelding repeated in the Potrero Grande before also winning the grade I, $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 29, 2012. Amazombie was bred by Gregg Anderson and his overall record from 29 trips to post stands at 12 wins, five seconds, six thirds and a $1,920,378 bankroll. Foaled at Ridgeley Farm in Hemet on April 18, 2006, the son of Northern Afleet was the first of only two named offspring out of Wilshe Amaze, a two-time winner by In Excess (Ire). Ultra Blend From the ages of two to five, Ultra Blend just kept on improving and her final year of racing resulted in her being voted the California Champion Older Female based on four victories that included the $125,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes, contested a couple of races before Amazombie’s win at Gold Rush XII, and the grade I, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 6, 2011. Her other wins that year came in Santa Anita’s $98,000 Valentine Dancer Handicap during February and May’s Milady Handicap (grade II) at Hollywood, while she retired with a record of 25-11-6-5 and $1,015,646 in earnings after finishing fourth in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (grade I). Ultra Blend’s four wins at two and three came in consecutive races at Golden Gate Fields; a maiden claiming race in October of 2008, allowances events in November and December, and the $75,000 Tiburon Stakes on Jan. 10, 2009. As a four-year-old, Ultra Blend won three races, all stakes, at Sacramento in July, Santa Anita in October, and Hollywood in December. Foaled at Valley View Thoroughbred Farm in Tracy on March 27, 2006, she is a bay daughter of Richly Blended and the fourth of eight offspring out of the 1996 Desert Classic mare Ankha. Bred by BnD Chase Thoroughbreds and Elven Adams, Ultra Blend was purchased at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November Sale for $700,000 by Katsumi

www.ctba.com

Willa B Awesome—$288,000 Melair Stakes—April 28, 2012

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 23

C O V E R S T O R Y



Following a near 18-month layoff, SECRET CIRCLE was undefeated in two starts at Santa Anita last year, including the Expressbet Breeders’ Cup Sprint-G1. With earnings of $859,800, he ranked sixth among the leading money winning older males racing in North America on dirt and synthetic.

P. McQueen

B.C. Champion SECRET CIRCLE is the leading Money Winner sired by a California Stallion in 2013

In three stakes-winning seasons, the $1.9 million Grade I winner has a superb record of seven wins and three seconds in 10 starts at distances from 5½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.


F E A T U R E

CTBA Member Profile

Kenneth & Janice Heidt: Still Dreaming Big

by EMILY SHIELDS As a girl, Washington native Janice dreamt of living on a farm with horses. She enjoyed Roy Rogers movies, named her bicycle Trigger and her wagon Bullet, and wrote fan letters to both Rogers and Gene Autry. The lifestyle continued to beckon as she grew up. When Janice married Ken Heidt in 1968, she told him of her dream, and he responded by finding them a five-acre farm outside Lynnwood, Washington. They dove into farm life with pigs, cows and chickens for two years, but it wasn’t until a trip to the now defunct Longacres racetrack that the dream came full circle. “That was the start of the Thoroughbred business,” Janice said. The first few horses they campaigned were hardly the stuff of dreams. One filly didn’t make it to the track, while another horse had an operation on his knee. The Heidts decided to try their hands at breeding, and bought the small farm next door to add field space. In 1987, they sold the Lynnwood property and bought 20 acres in Arlington. Janice had cancer at the time and was just getting out the

26 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

hospital while the new farm was in a state of disrepair. “There was a lot of clearing to do, and redoing what fencing was up, and seeding new pastures,” Heidt said. “Our kids, along with my sister Sandra and her family, pulled down the barbed wire and put up a horse fence. It didn’t take them long to get five shelters up.” Recovered and with their dream property finally ready, Janice and Ken waded deeper into the world of breeding and selling horses. They traveled to Kentucky to acquire mares, purchased weanlings from California, and at one time had as many as 14 horses on their property. One of the weanlings they purchased in 1994, they wheeled back in a sale at Emerald Downs. The Californiabred son of Golden Act was a diminutive chestnut, but he went on to make 102 starts and earn $427,270 as Almost Golden. He broke his maiden in 1996, ran third in the $40,350 Seattle Slew Handicap the following summer, and won three stakes at Les Bois Park in 2001. He won his 100th start at the age of 10, and his career ended in 2005.

www.ctba.com


F E A T U R E

With only modest success to that point, nothing could didn’t think that Summer Hit would be claimed for a $12,500 have prepared the couple—who have been longtime California debut tag, but after he won at Golden Gate Fields by a whopThoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) members— ping nine lengths, the gelding was indeed transferred to for their foal crop of 2009. Both Summer Hit and Tribal trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The trainer, who now campaigns Tribute, the two best horses they have produced—were Summer Hit with John Carver, conditioned the gelding to born that year. win the $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes at three, and win a The Heidts came about Summer Hit in a strange man- pair of $100,000 grade III contests, the All American Stakes ner, starting with Janice being stunned to see a yearling filly and the Berkeley Handicap, at four. Summer Hit, who has 10 out of a Washington-bred mare by Tough Knight sell for wins in 18 starts for earnings of $452,219, finished third in more than a million dollars at a Kentucky sale. “My mind the voting for California’s Champion Older Male for 2013. started working again,” she said. “A Washington-bred Tribal Tribute also broke his maiden first out, easily winmare’s filly for that price!” The Heidts’ farrier had just ning at Golden Gate on Feb. 24, 2012, at 18-1 odds. He won exchanged his Tough Knight mare, the four-time winner the $61,500 Robert Dupret Derby at the Santa Rosa Fair on Mia F Eighteen, for a tractor, and the mare’s new owner Aug. 4, and with three consecutive stakes placings to close lived in Oregon. The Heidts called him and offered $1,000 out 2013, ran his record to four wins, three seconds and a more than the worth of the tractor he’d just traded. third in 14 starts with earnings of $124,546. After being Mia F Eighteen came in-foal to Muqtarib, producing a rehabbed at Premier Equine Center last fall, Tribal Tribute is filly by him in 2006, later named Light of a Star. At the time, back in training and working towards a 2014 bow. Mia F Eighteen’s first foal, a Count the Time gelding named Another horse bred by K & J Farm is the stakes-placed Starbird Road, was only stakes-placed, but in the following Cal-bred Pleasure Grounds. In 2008, he was second in the months he rattled off the Seattle Handicap, Governor’s $65,000 Stinson Beach Stakes before running fourth in the Handicap, and Chinook Pass Sprint Stakes. Starbird Road grade III, $150,000 El Camino Real Derby. Although he was eventually earned $198,697 with four stakes wins in his career, the post time favorite for the $250,000 Cal National Snow and Light of a Star followed by being a 12-time winner and Chief Stakes, Pleasure Grounds faded to last and was never also stakes-placed. the same horse. He earned $105,105 while racing over six The Heidts bred Mia F Eighteen to Bertrando for the seasons. 2009 season, and the resultThe Heidts, who are ing foal, born March 24, was “pushing 80,” only have two Summer Hit. On April 24, mares now, but plan to stay in their mare Clarify produced a the business by continuing to Tribal Rule colt they named buy horses in both California Tribal Tribute. Janice, who and Kentucky. Although Jancalled them “Hitter and Tribice finds going to the races to by,” fell in love with the two be a bit intense—“I get too colts out in the field as they nervous about the race and grew. “Tribby was more laid stressed out about flying and back, but Hitter always wantgetting a rental car,”—she ed to nibble at me. I would wouldn’t have it any other way. crawl through the gate and go Thanks to her husband’s willbrush them.” ing kindness, Janice has got to Trainer Tim McCanna see her dreams come true. Tribal Tribute—61,500 Robert Dupret Derby—August 4, 2012

www.ctba.com

Summer Hit—Grade III Berkeley Handicap—November 29, 2013

©Vassar photos

Summer Hit—Grade III All American Stakes—May 27, 2013

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 27


BENOIT PHOTO

Retired Sound with earnings of nearly $400,000, Calimonco began his stud career with a larger bankroll than Storm Cat’s Grade I sires Bernstein, Catienus, Freud, Storm Boot, Stormy Atlantic, Tale of the Cat and Tribal Rule. A versatile winner on turf and synthetic at Santa Anita, Del Mar, Keeneland and Woodbine, CALIMONCO posted a pair of 1:34 flat stakes wins and two G2-placings in Southern California. The full brother to GRADE I winners SWEET CATOMINE and LIFE IS SWEET was bred to 50 mares in 2013 and his first foals at Ballena Vista are now available for inspection.


Santa Anita Stakes Winners: Tribal Spy • Red Outlaw • Ciao Bella Luna

First California Sire to Top $1 Million in 2014! Leading Sire: Stakes Winners, Winners & Races Won

37 winners of 46 races, $1,107,211 as of 3/20/14: Four Stakes Winners – Three at Santa Anita • Dirt, Turf and Synthetic Allowance Winners at Santa Anita (3), Golden Gate (4), Oaklawn Park (1) Maiden Special Victories at 5 1/2 furlongs, 6 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles

Eight-Crop Earnings: $20,728,174


F E A T U R E

California Sires

Shades Of Gray

©Benoit

by LISA GROOTHEDDE In the ebb and flow of Thoroughbred breeding, some years yield first-time stallion prospects whose singularly spectacular racing and pedigree credentials lead to overflowing books of mares and bumper foal crops, leaving little doubt—on paper, at least—about their eventual ranking as leading freshman sires when those insurmountable quantities of foals reach the racetrack as juveniles, thanks to sheer numbers alone. In the economically challenged year of 2011, however, the situation in California was not so black and white, but instead marked with shades of gray, resulting in an evenly matched field of first-crop stallions with little variance in inaugural foal crop sizes, setting the stage for an interesting and unpredictable battle in 2014 toward a yearend title as the Golden State’s leading freshman sire. Ranking first among all California freshman sires this year by racing accomplishments and early foal numbers is Thorn Song, a seasoned runner whose eight wins from 29 career starts included the grade I Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland Race Course and the grade I Shoemaker Mile Stakes at Hollywood Park, as well as a pair of graded stakes races conducted on Churchill Downs’ turf course. The Unbridled’s Song stallion, who was produced by the unraced Storm Bird mare Festal, entered stud at Harris Farms in Coalinga prior to the 2011 breeding season boasting a lifetime bankroll of $1,132,700. Now 11, Thorn Song is armed with a first-crop arsenal of 26 two-year-olds. Credited with 19 members of his own introductory foal crop is The Pamplemousse, an eight-year-old son of Kafwain who exhibited precocity at an elite level when he captured two grade III races for three-year-olds at Santa Anita Park in the opening months of 2009: the Sham Stakes and San Rafael Stakes, which he won by a combined eight lengths. The $209,280-earner out of the winning Rubiano broodmare Comfort Zone currently stands at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel. Sundarban, an eight-year-old son of A.P. Indy and

Storm Cat’s winning daughter Desert Tigress, won four races and earned $103,340 overall. He is represented by 18 foals of racing age from his 2011 inaugural breeding season at Milky Way Farm in Temecula. Checking in with 15 first-crop juveniles this year is Elusive Warning, a $487,332-earner by Elusive Quality whose most prominent of five career victories was a 2008 group III race in the United Arab Emirates. Produced by the two-time stakes winner Valid Warning, by Valid Appeal, the 10-yearold stallion holds court at Madera Thoroughbreds in Madera. The Santa Anita stakes winner Golden Balls (Ire) was a turf specialist who placed twice in graded stakes company, banked $148,135 during four seasons of competition and generated 14 potential runners in his debut foal crop. The 10-year-old Danehill Dancer (Ire) stallion out of the winning Nashwan mare Colourful Cast (Ire) resides at Paradise Road Ranch in Lathrop. Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs is home to the freshman sire Grace Upon Grace, a seven-year-old winner by Rio Verde out of Mining’s stakes-winning daughter Chasing Wind. Twice stakes-placed in Southern California at two, the $162,646-earner is now represented by 13 foals of racing age. Nine-year-old Many Rivers, a Golden Gate Fields stakes-placed winner by Storm Cat whose winning dam Christmas in Aiken, by Affirmed, also produced the late leading North American juvenile sire Harlan’s Holiday as well as the current California third-crop sire Bedford Falls, stands at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville and has 11 two-year-olds of 2014. Also represented by their initial juveniles this year are Special T Thoroughbreds’ dual graded stakes-placed winner Congo King, by Horse Chestnut (SAf), the dual graded stakes-placed Monarchos winner Forest Command of Oak Hill Farm, Paradise Road Ranch’s winning Sky Mesa stallion Mesa Thunder and the unplaced Forestry stallion Pious of Daehling Ranch.

Thorn Song (Harris Farms)

The Pamplemousse (Rancho San Miguel)

30 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


Un

br

2014 Fee: Complimentary

i dl

ed

- Tom

’s a La Mo

yA b , e d

l

e leg

d

By champion and eight time classic winner UNBRIDLED ($4,489,475), sire of champions BANSHEE BREEZE, HALFBRIDLED, ANEES, SMUGGLER & GI Stakes-Winning Millionaires EMPIRE MAKER, UNSHADED, UNBRIDLED ’S SONG, MANISTIQUE, GRINDSTONE, EDDINGTON, RED BULLET and NIIGON. Out of Tom ’s a La Mode, by three time champion ALLEGED. From the family of Champion two-year old colt, HOIST THE FLAG. Runners by AFFIRMATIVE are led by multiple stakes winner WARRENS JITTERBUG ($355,994). Stakes Winner, Graded Stakes-Placed WARRENS ’ VENEDA ($300,064). 2014 Winners Include WARREN ’S ROSEBUD ($96, 080) Two Time winner at Santa Anita Park.

Average Earnings Per Start almost $35,240.

BRAZEAU THOROUGHBRED FARMS, LP Farm Manager: Nadine Anderson • 30500 State Street, Hemet, California 92543 Cell: (951) 201-2278 • Office (951) 925-8957 • Fax: (951) 925-6792 • E-mail: atican2000@hotmail.com Inquiries to Marcos Menjivar • Cell: (951) 316-5420 • Fax: (951) 926-3777 • E-mail: mocito59@yahoo.com


Giant Strides

Regional Sales by LISA GROOTHEDDE

The ideal promotional tool for any Thoroughbred auction The 2014 Barretts March sale also exhibited demand for house is the emergence of its graduates at the upper levels of locally produced horses. Of the 14 California-bred juveniles the game. California-based Barretts Sales & Racing capitalized who were cataloged, 10 went through the ring and eight on that paradigm last month as the company simultaneously were sold for a collective $551,000, representing a $68,875 celebrated its 25th anniversary. average and a $53,500 median. All eight were graduates of Four graded stakes winners of 2013 emblazoned the the 2013 Barretts October Yearling Sale, and nominated to cover of the 140-horse catalog that was assembled for the the lucrative Golden State Series. 2014 Barretts March Select Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, Three Cal-breds elicited six-figure bids. led by two colts who sold during the auction’s previous ediThe most expensive, at $130,000, was a filly by Desert tion: 2013 Champagne Stakes (grade I) winner Havana Code out of the stakes-placed winner Lujien Lujien, by and Corfu, the latter of whom won the grade II Saratoga Cozzene. The half-sister to stakes winner Pretty Cozzy was Special Stakes five months after he topped the 2013 bred by Harris Farms, which stands her sire, and consigned Barretts March sale with his $675,000 purchase price. to the auction by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables. The The success of those precocious filly, who had previously sold as a runners—combined with a catalog $40,000 Barretts October yearthat brimmed with sire power— ling, posted a :10 1/5 one-furlong proved to be a winning recipe for work during the under-tack 2014, as international buyers preview and was subsequently flocked to Pomona on March 3 to purchased by St. George Sales. bid on the newest generation of racA half-sister to 2011 California ing prospects. Champion Two-Year-Old Female From the 94 horses who were Ismene was plucked from the sale offered this year, 60 were reported as Following a workout in :10 1/5, this Desert Code filly was for $125,000 by Racing Hall of sold for gross receipts of $10,665,000, purchased for $130,000 as the highest-priced California- Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer bred at this year’s Barretts March Select Sale of representing a tremendous 21.9 after she worked a furlong in :10 Two-Year-Olds in Training. percent increase from the corre4/5 for consignor Pegasus Training sponding gross of $8,751,000 last year, when 61 horses were Center. The daughter of Ballena Vista Farm’s Dixie Chatter sold. The average price zoomed upward by 23.9 percent, and the winning In Excess (Ire) mare Never to Excess was from $143,459 to $177,750, while the median rose by 12.5 bred by Stephen Ferraro and sold commercially last October percent, from $100,000 to $112,500. The buy-back rate drifted for $30,000. from 33.7 percent in 2013 to 36.2 percent this year. Also pinhooked from the Barretts October sale was a Lighting up the Hinds Pavilion toteboard with his sale- colt from the inaugural crop of the Rancho San Miguel topping acquisition by Coolmore bloodstock agent Demi stallion The Pamplemousse. The half-brother to multiple O’Byrne for $1,150,000 was the first seven-figure Barretts stakes winner Golden Hurricane was bred by Rancho San March graduate since 2007: a Giant’s Causeway colt who was Miguel and produced by Storm Cat’s winning daughter one of three youngsters who worked one furlong in a bullet Hurricane Alert, and was bought by Laurence Leavy for :9 4/5 during the Feb. 27 under-tack preview at Fairplex Park. $105,000 after he posted a one-furlong move in :10 for Produced by the dual stakes winner Dixie Dreamer, by Wavertree, nearly tripling his yearling price of $36,000 Mutakddim, the Kentucky-bred colt had previously sold for within a five-month period. $150,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling last August, Some familiar names returned to the top of the Barretts and marked a financial home run for consignor Steven March leading buyers and sellers lists this year. Venosa of SGV Thoroughbreds. O’Byrne ranked highest among all purchasers for the Commanding the top price for her gender, and the sale’s second consecutive year with his outlay of $1.6 million for second-highest price overall, was a Kentucky-bred Malibu two horses. Moon filly whose one-furlong work in :10 caught the attenWith 13 juveniles sold for an aggregate $2,653,000, tion of leading North American trainer Todd Pletcher to Wavertree ranked as the sale’s leading consignor for the the tune of $950,000. Produced by In the Ghetto, a win- fourth consecutive year. ning Hennessy half-sister to the dual grade I-winning sire The auction’s leading sire by average with two or more First Samurai, the filly sold for $160,000 at the 2013 offspring sold was Kentucky-based Malibu Moon. Three Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was consigned to members of his 2012 foal crop averaged a staggering the Barretts auction by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds. $650,000 each during the California sale. ©Shigeki Kikkawa

F E A T U R E

32 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com



F E A T U R E

California Chrome: A Man Among Boys

The Grade California-Breds

by EMILY SHIELDS All around the paddock at Santa Anita Park, racing fans were saying the same thing as the horses for the San Felipe Stakes paraded past: “He looks like a man among boys.” California Chrome looked the part of the race favorite as he went to the post, and looked the part of a Kentucky Derby (grade I) favorite as he flew effortlessly down the stretch, 7 1/4 lengths ahead of his nearest rival. The impressive looking chestnut ran himself straight to the top of the Kentucky Derby rankings with the awe inspiring performance, and is now set to try to bring the Roses back to California. Accomplishing that feat would be a fairytale come true for trainer Art Sherman, who as a teenager traveled with Rex Ellsworth’s California-bred Swaps when that Hall of Famer won the 1955 Kentucky Derby. California Chrome will be attempting to become only the fourth Cal-bred to win the Derby, but he acts like a horse who can do just that. After winning the $250,750 California Cup Derby on Jan. 25, and with the added help of the scratch of morning line favorite Bayern, California Chrome was a solid 7-5 choice in the grade II, $300,500 San Felipe on March 8. Under handling from jockey Victor Espinoza, the colt bounded from the gate and instantly took the lead. His quick start came as no surprise; California Chrome has been training at Los Alamitos Racecourse, one of the country’s premiere Quarter Horse tracks and now an important part of the Thoroughbred industry. While receiving early pressure from grade III winner Midnight Hawk and unbeaten Schoolofhardrocks, California Chrome rattled off fractions of :23.09, :45.55 and 1:09.45 before kicking away at the top of the stretch. He was ridden

out to the wire to stop the clock in 1:40.59 for 1 1/16 miles, the second fastest time in the history of the 77-year-old race. Midnight Hawk staggered home well beaten, with graded stakes-placed Kristo finishing another 6 1/4 lengths behind in third. Track announcer Trevor Denman called the race a “walkover” for California Chrome at the wire. It certainly looked like that in the stretch. The victory was the fifth in nine starts for California Chrome, who also has a runner-up finish and has earned $534,850. In addition to the San Felipe and the California Cup Derby, he won both Hollywood Park’s $200,500 King Glorious Stakes and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s $100,250 Graduation Stakes as a juvenile. He has now won on both dirt and all-weather surfaces, and from distances of 4 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. California Chrome races for his breeders, Martin Perry and Steve Coburn. He is out of their winning Not For Love mare Love the Chase, whom they purchased in full after her maiden win at three in 2009. California Chrome is by the Harris Farm stallion Lucky Pulpit, a son of Pulpit who was on the 2004 Triple Crown trail after finishing second in Santa Anita’s Santa Catalina Stakes (grade II), but he turned to the grass after a poor showing in the Santa Anita Derby (grade I). The recently deceased Pulpit, one of the country’s leading sires, finished fourth at odds of 5-1 in the 1997 Kentucky Derby, while his sire A.P. Indy was the favorite for the 1992 running, but was scratched on the morning of the race. California Chrome will now try to expand on their legacy.

©Benoit

Grade II San Felipe Stakes Santa Anita Park—March 8, 2014

34 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com



F E A T U R E

Racing In Southern California

Santa Anita Success For Cal-Bred Trio

by RUDI GROOTHEDDE

©Benoit photos

In the black-type races for runners bred or sired in the Golden State contested at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia this past month, four-year-olds Ambitious Brew and Tribal Spy became stakes winners with victories at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course, while six-year-old-year-old Halo Dolly posted the 10th blacktype win of her career at a mile on the main dirt track. A Perfect Mix With a 1 1/2-length win in the 17th edition of the $100,250 Sensational Star Stakes on Feb. 22, Cal-bred Ambitious Brew posted a couple of other firsts in only his seventh career start; Brice Blanc in his irons for the first time and consecutive wins for the first time. The Marty Jones trainee defeated the January 2014 stakes winner and 4-5 favorite Lakerville in 1:12 flat for a $60,000 payday that improved his record to four wins, two seconds and $227,920 in earnings. As the 3-1 second choice in the wagering, he stalked dual stakes-placed Coach Bob and eventual third-placed finisher Summer Hit, a two-time graded stakes winner of 2013, before making a three-wide bid to take the lead in midstretch. The six-strong field also included multiple stakes winner Ain’t No Other and 2013 black-type victor Kate’s Event. Ambitious Brew’s other three wins to date have come on the all-weather Cushion Track surface at Hollywood Park in his second career start on June 23 of last year, as well as on the same course and distance of his stakes win in both November of 2013 and January of this year. In the $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes on the all-weather Polytrack surface at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in August of last year, he ran second to fellow Cal-bred U’narack, one of only two runners to have beaten him along with grade II winner Wild Dude.

The dark bay gelding was bred and is owned in California by Pamela Ziebarth, also the owner of his Harris Farmsbased sire Tizbud. Ambitious Brew is the third of six foals out of 12-year-old Kathwen, a Forest Wildcat half-sister to the 1997 black-type winner Cayman Sunset. Her most recent offspring is a 2014 filly by Tijdejavu. Jones said, “He’s a really good horse. He’s one of my favorites. I think he will (go further). It might be time to try it. We’ll keep all our options open.” The Secret Is Out It may have taken Tribal Spy seven starts to break her maiden but in the same number of trips to post since then, she has won four more times, including a gate-to-wire, one-length triumph over the grade II-winning Kentucky-bred Ciao Bella Luna in the 17th running of the $100,500 Irish O’Brien Stakes on March 15. Currently trained by Adam Kitchingman, the chestnut filly gave jockey Irving Orozco his first career stakes win and earned $60,000 while posting a final time of 1:12.59 as the 4-1 fourth wagering choice to improve her bankroll to $238,610 from a record of 14-5-3-1. In the field of seven, Tribal Spy set fractions of :22.36, :44.75 and 1:06.69 while stakes winner Dancingtothestars ran third and the 2-1 favorite Could Be Trouble finished fourth. After being claimed for $50,000 from her breeder Gary Barber in her fourth career start during February of 2013, Tribal Spy later won a $30,000 maiden claiming race for trainer Ben Cecil and her current owners, the Triple B Farms of Paul, Hratch and Christopher Boghossian, at Hollywood Park on June 2. Before being transferred to her present conditioner, she then came back to win an allowance event at the same track just 21 days later. Under Kitchingham, Tribal Spy has also won an

Ambitious Brew—$100,250 Sensational Star Stakes—February 22, 2014

36 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


allowance optional claiming race on Del Mar’s main track in August, and an allowance event on the downhill turf course during December. By Ballena Vista Farm’s Tribal Rule, she is the first and only foal to date out of Victory Spy, a 2002 daughter of Victory Gallop who banked $132,405 from four wins in nine starts. “We’ll probably keep her going down the hill,” said Tribal Spy’s trainer. “We might try a little stakes race at the end of the meet (grade III, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes on April 12).” Class Acts The trio of Halo Dolly, jockey Corey Nakatani and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer all proved their class in the inaugural running of the $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes on March 23, when the former went gate-to-wire for a 1 1/2-length victory over the race 2-5 favorite Unusual Way for a $60,000 payday that elevated her bankroll to $982,316. After the race, Hollendorfer said, “That’s why we pick the riders like we do, so they can make good decisions,” while Nakatani stated, “Jerry does a great job with the horses, it doesn’t matter what the odds are, they’ve always got a shot.” After setting fractions of :23.48, :47.45 and 1:11.09

ahead of Unusual Way, a grade II-placed multiple stakes winner who was being touted as the lone speed prior to the race, Halo Dolly posted a winning time of 1:35.73. Finishing third in the field of five to the 5-2 second wagering choice was Could Be Trouble, followed by stakes winner Curvy Cat and Warren’s Rosebud. Bred by Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez and by their Cottonwood Creek Ranch stallion Popular, the dark bay mare now has 18 wins, five seconds and five thirds to her name from 37 starts. A stakes winner at Santa Rosa and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club as a three-yearold, Halo Dolly was the 2012 California Champion Older Female with five stakes wins at Hollywood Park, Pleasanton, Del Mar and Golden Gate Fields that year, including Del Mar’s grassy Yellow Ribbon Handicap (grade II). At five, she captured a second consecutive victory in the $150,000 Solana Beach Handicap at Del Mar, as well as a win in Hollywood Park’s Wilshire Handicap (grade III). Halo Dolly is the second of six foals to date out of 11year-old Spanish Halo, an unraced daughter of Comic Strip who also has a yearling filly by Popular and was bred to Kitten’s Joy in 2013.

Tribal Spy $100,500 Irish O’Brien Stakes—March 15, 2014

Halo Dolly $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes—March 23, 2014

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 37

F E A T U R E




F E A T U R E

Industry Insight

“50 To 1”: Getting There Is Half The Fun

by MARCIE HEACOX Mine That Bird was born in and achieved his greatest attended races at Santa Anita Park in the neighboring city success in Kentucky, winning Churchill Downs’ grade I, of Arcadia. Horses of which “James A. Wilson” has been $2,177,200 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands in sole owner have a record of 129-24-15-18 since 2000, with 2009, but it’s the improbable set of earnings of $581,590. In that time circumstances in between that have period, Wilson’s also won 16 races made his story worthy of the silver in partnership with Richard screen treatment. Beharry, Sam Britt, Mark E. Hall, He began his racing career in Maggi Moss, Larry Roberson, Canada, then found his way into the trainer Wesley Ward and/or Lisa hands of blue collar New Mexicans Wilkerson. Thus far in 2014, Wilbefore becoming the second-longest son has a win and second-placed shot to win in 139 editions of the finish from his four-year-old filly blue-blooded Derby. His pari-mutuel Mom Nana Petrie, trained by Jeff odds that day inspired the title of a Mullins. new biopic, “50 to 1,” that preWilson’s other passion is filmmiered on March 19 in New Mexico making. He gained his first experience and was released on a limited basis making sports documentaries after on March 21. graduating from the University of “That’s where this journey really California at Berkeley. His first began, seeing all this little horse had major film credit was as director come through in what they call the and executive producer of the greatest two minutes in sports,” said 1983 drama “Stacy’s Knights,” Jim Wilson, the film’s director, prostarring Kevin Costner, who’d ducer and writer. “Well, I saw the become a longtime friend and greatest two minutes in sports, and I business partner. said, ‘We’ve got to get to the bottom In 1988, Wilson and Costner of this. Is there a story behind this formed Tig Productions. They prohorse?’” duced multiple films together, led by Jim Wilson Wilson is an award-winning “Dances With Wolves,” for which producer, director, writer and actor who’s owned and bred the pair won the 1991 Academy Award for Best Picture and Thoroughbreds since 1992 and first joined the California the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award for OutThoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) in 2002. His standing Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures. The film passion for racing began as he grew up in Pasadena and won seven Oscars altogether, and 34 other awards.

40 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


Wilson has been a force behind dozens of features, including Academy Award-nominated works “The Bodyguard” and “Wyatt Earp.” He also returned to his documentary roots to produce and direct “Laffit: All About Winning,” the story of National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. Wilson’s latest production is “50 to 1,” his second work about the sport he loves. It’s also the sixth film he’s directed and second film he’s written. The first film for which he had a writing credit is the 1986 comedy “Smart Alec.” Its Internet Movie Database (IMDB) description reads “a young filmmaker arrives in Hollywood and tries to get his first movie financed,” a plotline that echoes the real-life challenge of creating “50 to 1.” Wilson had wanted to do a feature film about racing for “a very long time,” and had read multiple scripts over the years. When he watched Mine That Bird’s upset, he found what he was looking for. However, he had trouble finding a Hollywood studio that wanted to produce a horse racing movie, so he’s self-distributing “50 to 1” through his Ten Furlongs LLC production company. Wilson, co-producer and co-writer Faith Conroy and seven executive producers financed the estimated $8.5 million budget. Among the executive producers are Tom and Debi Stull, whose Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez was California’s leading breeder of 2009, 2012 and 2013. Wilson is one of the farm’s clients. The other executive producers are Mark J. and Tammy Todd Allen, Earl P. Robinson and Howard and Nan Schow. The 40-day shoot began in New Mexico in September of 2012, and includes more than 30 locations in the “Land of Enchantment.” Santa Anita and Churchill Downs racetracks also make appearances in the tale that follows Mine That Bird and his connections up to the Derby victory. In the spirit of Mine That Bird’s famous trailer trip from New Mexico to Louisville, Wilson, Conroy and members of the “50 to 1” cast are going on a road tour to promote the movie. “I thought, ‘Why not meet the audience this movie is intended for, introduce them to the stars and shake their hands?,’” Wilson said. Publicity stops began March 17, and the movie pre-

www.ctba.com

miered at the KiMo Theatre in Albuquerque, N.M. on March 19. The tour has subsequent stops throughout that state, as well as racetracks and major cities in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee before concluding in Kentucky. Additional stops are possible, dependent on demand. Mine That Bird himself is scheduled to make a guest appearance at some locations. Among the touring cast members is Skeet Ulrich, who takes first billing as trainer Chip Woolley, in the indelible black cowboy hat, trucker mustache and crutches. His television roles include “Into the West,” “Jericho” and “Law & Order: Los Angeles.” He also made a mark in feature films “As Good as It Gets,” “Scream” and more. Christian Kane played co-owner Mark Allen of Double Eagle Ranch. The Texas native acted in such television series as “Leverage” and “Into the West,” with Ulrich, as well as the films “Just Married” and “Secondhand Lions,” among others. William Devane, who took on the role of co-owner Dr. Leonard Blach of Buena Suerte Equine, is best known for his Golden Globe-nominated role in “Knot’s Landing.” He’s also credited in “Marathon Man,” “The Dark Knight Rises” and more than 100 other titles. Jockey Calvin Borel, a member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, played himself in his acting debut. “There’s only one Calvin Borel,” Wilson said. “He was a little nervous at first, but he warmed up very quickly and before you knew it, he was helping direct some of the sequences he was in.” Sunday Rest, a five-year-old dark bay or brown gelding, is the sole horse that played Mine That Bird. His sire is grade II winner Sunday Break (Jpn) and his dam is stakesplaced California-bred Estrella Voladoras. What Sunday Rest lacked in racing talent—he was winless in four starts—he made up for in sheer luck of being a mirror image of Mine That Bird. He outshone more than 400 horses for the part, not unlike Mine That Bird’s beating of the odds. “I’ve always been a fan of true underdog stories, and after meeting (Mine That Bird’s) owners, trainer and finally ‘Bird’ himself, I was hooked,” Wilson said. “This story has all the cinematic elements you could ask for. It’s been a real adventure and one I am proud to share with the world.”

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 41

F E A T U R E


• By Multiple Stakes Winner and sire of 19 stakes

winners ROCKPORT HARBOR • Out of the Stakes Winning mare CASSIDY • The only ROCKPORT HARBOR son standing on the West Coast • Won Maiden Special Weight at Golden Gate Fields • First foals will be yearlings of 2014 $1,000-LF

• At 2 a Multiple Winner in England • Won the La Puente Stakes at 3 • Graded Stakes-Placed at ages 3 and 4 • By Sire of more than a dozen champions, DANEHILL DANCER (Ire) • First foals are two-year-olds of 2014 $2,000-LF

• By GI Winner SKY MESA • Out of CITIVIEW, full sister to GI Winner HOOKEDONTHEFEEKLING (dam of GI Winner PUSSYCAT DOLL) • Half-brother to 2013 GI Acorn Stakes Winner MIDNIGHT LUCKY • Striking first foals are two-year-olds of 2014 $1,000-LF

• By HORSE OF THE YEAR, Classic Winner and Leading Sire A.P. INDY • Winner at 2, 3 and 4 • WON Hasta La Vista Handicap • 2nd in the $300,000 Canadian Derby • First foals arrive in 2014 $2,500-LF


• By GI Winner LION HEART • LION HEART has Sired 29 Stakes Winners • Out of CLEVER SQUAW by broodmare sire RAHY • Sire of one horse to race, La Tonga, winner of a Maiden Special Weight at Golden Gate Fields, equaling the track record. $1,000-LF

• Stakes Winner of 6 races

• Won the Beau Brummel Stakes at two 6 1/2 furlongs • Won three allowance races gate-to-wire by more than 25 lengths • Out of stakes-placed dam, Aloha Mangos • First foals are yearlings of 2014 $1,000-LF

• Won the GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, California Cup Juvenile Stakes, and the Alamedan Handicap at 1 1/16 miles (101 Beyer). Defeated two-time Cal Cup Classic winner BOLD CHIEFTAIN and multiple GIII winner AUTISM AWARENESS. • From the female family of GI Belmont Stakes winner DA’ TARA and dual Classic-Placed winner DENIS OF CORK. $2,500-LF


Focus On The Future

Drayden Van Dyke: He’s The Money

by EMILY SHIELDS

These days, it’s hard to find a hotter rider than Drayden Minutes later, he kick started his own career by guidVan Dyke. This apprentice jockey has more than $850,000 ing Money Clip to a half-length victory on Nov. 21. in earnings this season, and it is just barely spring. Plus, he “When I crossed the wire I thought I was in trouble,” Van rides Santa Anita Park’s hillside turf course better than Dyke admitted. “It was the horse’s first race back (from a many of the more experienced journeymen, and is more 10-month layoff), and Tom said take him easy on him dedicated to his job than the average and don’t push the horse. But he took American worker can imagine. me to the front and I won. It was good The best part is that Van Dyke is only to win for the farm where I learned 19 and is improving every day. how to ride.” He has only been a professional rider Since then, agent Wolfe said Van since November of 2013, but is making Dyke has “done well with the opportuniup for lost time by riding seven days a ties he’s been given.” He is battling to be week. Van Dyke rides at Santa Anita the nation’s leading apprentice with 33 Thursday through Sunday, then flies to wins through March 23, and is baffling Phoenix every Sunday night to ride at handicappers and other riders by out ridTurf Paradise from Monday to Wednesing nearly everyone down the hill at day. In addition, he and agent Sarah Santa Anita. “The key to the hill is that Wolfe drive between Santa Anita and you’ve got to have good positioning,” Los Alamitos Race Course each morning Van Dyke admitted. “And you can’t ask to work horses. your horse to really run until you’ve Van Dyke was walking hots at already crossed the dirt.” Trainers like Churchill Downs in Kentucky when Bob Baffert and John Sadler have trainer Tom Proctor gave him a job. already given him mounts. “We have a After a month, it became clear that he lot of good barns behind us.” needed to work on his riding skills, so The stressful schedule of working all Proctor sent him to Glen Hill Farm in day, seven days a week, with travel is Florida. “I broke babies there for six months, and when they difficult for both Van Dyke and his agent. “I don’t mind traveled to Keeneland, I went too,” Van Dyke said. “The making the drive six hours there and six back,” Wolfe said, nicer ones got sent out to California, and I went with “but I don’t want Drayden to burn out, so that’s why he them.” flies.” From there, Van Dyke “If I have a bad week continued to improve to and I’m not riding like the point where he was I’d like, the schedule is granted his jockey’s hard,” he said, “but I license last November. cope with it by getting The young rider had only wins instead. If I get just recently been cleared to one win a week at Turf ride when he picked up Paradise, it makes it his second mount: a worth the trip.” horse named Money Clip Van Dyke is getting for Proctor and Glen Hill a lot more winners Farm. Hall of Famer Gary than that, and will Stevens was the intended continue to be a force rider of the gelding, but on both circuits and when his plane didn’t chasing the Outstandland on time, Van Dyke ing Apprentice Eclipse Money Clip—November 21, 2013 was given the leg up. Award for 2014. ©Benoit

F E A T U R E

44 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com



" $ " # $ " $ " " " ! # % # #$ " # % # ! " " !

" % !



F E A T U R E

Avigaition: One Of The Elite

A Blast From The Past

by JACKIE BARNES In the past 30-plus years of California racing, five champion California-bred distaffers, four of them millionaires, hold the distinction of being three-time grade I winners. Each of them won either on both dirt and/or turf or on turf and all-weather. This elite quintet includes: Brown Bess, the 1989 Eclipse Champion Older Female and California Horse of the Year; Gourmet Girl, the Eclipse Champion Older Female in 2001; Nashoba’s Key, the 2007 California Horse of the Year; and Fran’s Valentine, winner of the 1985 Kentucky Oaks. However, the focus of this month’s article is on the fifth member of the elite group, the often lesser-known Avigaition. Bred and owned by C. Norman Pulliam and trained by his wife, Vivian, she was voted both the 1982 California Champion Three-Year-Old Female and 1983 California Champion Older Female. Avigaition loved Santa Anita Park’s racing surfaces where all four of her career takes wins came, from the 1982 Santa Ysabel Stakes to her three lifetime grade I victories. Like her sire Windy Sands, a multiple stakes winner who set a new track record of 1:40 for 1 1/16 miles in the 1962 San Diego Handicap and was California’s leading sire six times from 1970 to 1983, she showed her speed and versatility on both dirt and turf. Her first grade I victory was on the former in the $169,400 La Canada Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 29, 1983, when she faced a group of 10 stellar opponents who included the grade I winners Header Card, Milingo and Snow Plow. Using her best weapon, speed, jockey Eddie Delahoussaye put Avigaition on the lead from the start as the pair coasted to an easy six-length victory over Elusive in an excellent 1:49 4/5. She then finished second in both the Feb. 27 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (grade I) and March 20 Santa

Ana Handicap (grade II) before capturing her second grade I win in the $134,900 Santa Barbara Handicap on April 9. Sent off at 4-1 in the field of eight who had assembled for this 1 1/4-mile turf test that included four other grade I winners, Delahoussaye again put the chestnut on the lead from the start. This time, the margin of victory was 1 1/2 lengths over the 2-1 favorite Happy Bride in a final time of 1:59 4/5. In 1984, the year that the inaugural Breeders’ Cup day was held at Hollywood Park, Avigaition scored her third grade I win on March 18, when she faced her toughest field to date in the $161,600 Santa Ana Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on grass. As the nine runners broke from the gate, fellow speedsters Brindy Brindy and High Haven set the early pace. Bill Shoemaker had Avigaition in third when High Haven broke down on the first turn and both Royal Heroine (Ire) and Sweet Diane fell over her. Shoemaker managed to avoid the tragedy and took the lead in the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Pride of Rosewood in 1:48 2/5. Unfortunately, High Haven and Sweet Diane were both euthanized. Royal Heroine, who had beaten males in the Hollywood Derby (grade I) prior to the Santa Ana, thankfully returned no worse for wear to both win the first running of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile (grade I) and be voted the 1984 Eclipse Champion Turf Female. Avigaiton was retired late in 1984 due to an arthritic ankle and the final totals for her record-setting career were 38-8-10-2 and $688,625 in earnings. The only foal out of Daddy’s Datsun, a 1970 daughter of Pappa’s All who earned $156,882 and whose 19 wins included four stakes races, she produced five winners from 10 foals. By recounting the tale of the flying filly Avigaition gliding over the track in her victories, it will surely bring back many wonderful memories to her legion of fans.

AVIGAITION

Grade I La Canada Stakes January 29, 1983

48 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

Grade I Santa Barbara Handicap April 9, 1983

Grade I Santa Ana Handicap March 18, 1984

www.ctba.com


A New Track

â—?

A New Thoroughbred Racing Market

â—?

60 Years of Tradition

Three 2014 Graded Stakes Closing in May $500,000

Los Alamitos Derby G2 3-Year-Olds / 1 1/8 Miles To Be run Saturday, July 5th Nominations Close Thursday May 1st

$500,000

Los Alamitos Futurity G1

2-Year-Olds / 1 1/16 Miles To Be Run Saturday, December 20th Nominations Close Thursday, May 15th

$350,000

Starlet Stakes G1

2-Year-Old Fillies / 1 1/16 Miles To Be Run Saturday, December 13th Nominations Close Thursday, May 15th

Nomination Forms Available at:

www.losalamitos.com For Information contact Robert Moreno, Thoroughbred Racing Secretary, 714-820-2658


UNDER CAUTION A.P. Indy—Coldheartedcat, by Storm Cat

Ranked in the Top Five Leading Freshman Sires in 2011 By Horse of the Year and classic winner A. P. INDY, leading sire twice, sire of 140 stakes winners, including champions BERNARDINI, MINESHAFT, RAGS TO RICHES, MARCHFIELD, MALIBU MOON, EYE OF THE LEOPARD and TEMPERA. Out of the winning STORM CAT mare Coldheartedcat. She is a half-sister to classic winner CAVEAT, DEW LINE, BALTIC CHILL and Winters’ Love dam of TRANQUILITY LAKE ($1,662,390), and leading California sire BENCHMARK; granddam of AFTER MARKET ($903,685, sire), COURAGEOUS CAT ($1,165,760, Shoemaker Mile S.-G1, etc.) and JALIL.

2014 FEE: $1,500-LIVE FOAL NO STUD FEE WITH SHARED BREEDER’S AWARDS Property of Medallion Hill Farm LLC

SK RACING STABLE

Inquiries to (925) 550-2383 or (925) 354-5237 14728 Cool Valley Road, Valley Center, California 92082 (760) 443-9523 / FAX (760) 751-9523 e-mail: frosty87ii@aol.com



F E A T U R E

Horse Care

Common Reproductive Problems In Mares

by HEATHER SMITH THOMAS Breeders face a number of challenges when trying to get every mare safely in foal and have her carry the pregnancy to term. James Bailey, DVM, reproductive specialist (Royal Vista Southwest in Purcell, Oklahoma) says that post-foaling mares who will be rebred occasionally have problems. Post-Foaling Challenges “Some of the problems we experience in post-foaling mares are in individuals who take a longer time than normal to shed the placenta. If the mare has not shed her placenta within two to three hours, we begin assisting her medically, and later on sometimes with manipulation. Monitoring and getting rid of the placenta is very important in working toward easy breeding post-foaling.” There have been many studies that show that a lot of post-foaling antibiotics are not helpful in achieving higher conception rates at foal heat or the next heat. “But we do feel it is very important to do a lavage of the uterus and examine the cervix digitally, to see that it has not been damaged during foaling. Also, these mares usually benefit greatly from a Caslicks because they don’t have much vulvar tone and we can prevent aspiration of whatever is in the environment,” says Bailey. “Getting rid of the placenta, ascertaining whether damage has been done internally and suturing the vulva rather quickly post-foaling (at least the next day), are very important. We evaluate all mares at foal heat. Many mares just take more time than nine to 12 days for the uterus to involute or shrink down, and to stop pooling fluids, and become more able to conceive and carry a foal. Most mares who are still pooling fluid in the uterus at foal heat should be helped with treatment, as opposed to being bred at that time. Some mares may have a lingering infection that needs to be cleared up, and some may just need oxytocin to help with uterine clearance,” he explains. “After the foal heat, we are looking at the same things. We are always monitoring during the heat cycle for accumulation of fluid or any discharge through the cervix. Overall, the wet mares have a lower conception rate than dry mares. They just take a little longer, especially the older mares, to get back in shape for breeding,” he says. Hormonal Challenges The common hormonal problems can be divided into two categories—mares who fail to cycle, and mares who cycle but have problems becoming pregnant. Mares are seasonal breeders and most of them stop cycling during winter. Mats H. Troedsson, DVM, PhD, ACT, DECAR (Professor of Equine Reproduction, Department Chair of Veterinary Science, and Director of the Gluck Equine Researcy Center) says that mares generally don’t start cycling again until the end of April, even though breeding season will be from

52 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

mid-February through May. Most people put mares under lights or use hormonal treatments to get them cycling early. Otherwise, most mares are not fertile at the start of the breeding season. Mares often start to show heat about a month before they actually cycle and ovulate. “At some farms, people start to breed mares too early, when they show heat. This can set up problems because every time the mare is bred, the semen causes an inflammation,” says Troedsson. “This type of inflammation is normal and its purpose is to clear the uterus of excess sperm or bacteria. If the mare is repeatedly bred during her transitional period, however, this can create repeated inflammation challenge to the uterus that may become chronic even after she starts cycling normally. She already has a very challenged and inflamed uterine lining. These mares not only fail to become pregnant when bred too early in transitional heat but the repeated breedings also create a problem that reduces their ability to become pregnant later,” he says. This doesn’t happen as much in a well-managed breeding program because mares are being closely monitored by a veterinarian and checked for time of ovulation, and are not bred unless they are actually cycling. “Then we have the mares who don’t start cycling. We are seeing more of this problem than in the past, and we don’t always know why they don’t start cycling. One reason, recently described, is a condition called persistent endometrial cups. These cups are formed in the uterine lining during pregnancy at about 37 days, and persist until about 120 days. They produce hormones to maintain the pregnancy. Mares do not cycle when they have these endometrial cups. If a mare loses the pregnancy for some reason after day 37 and the endometrial cups remain, she won’t start cycling again,” says Troedsson. “This was one of the problems we found with MRLS. Mares lost their pregnancies after they’d formed these endometrial cups and didn’t start cycling again for at least 120 to 150 days, and by then the breeding season is over. Mares that lost their pregnancies could not be bred back again that year,” he says. “We discovered that even though some of these mares went on and foaled normally, they sometimes had persistent endometrial cups throughout the pregnancy and even after foaling. Thus they didn’t come back into heat after foaling. This has been shown to be one cause of mares who don’t cycle during breeding season, and we don’t yet have a very good way to treat them,” says Troedsson. “The endometrial cups invade the uterine lining and you just wait for the mares to come out of this and resolve on their own. There have been some attempts to remove the cups using laser surgery, and also some hormonal treatments,

www.ctba.com


but none of these efforts have been very successful. This is one of the causes of non-cyclicity that should be kept in mind when mares don’t cycle.” “In looking at the general health of the mare, it may sometimes be necessary to treat the Cushingoid mare,” says Bailey. “We look at many hormones on the problem mares. We can measure and treat problems in the thyroid, and many times we have to look for a cyclical problem— measuring hormones in various areas,” he says. “We also see mares who have lactational anestrus and do not cycle. And some mares, even though they may be under lights or in the natural breeding season, don’t start cycling. There are many therapies to try to assist these mares, but none of these therapies are uniformly successful. Often mares who respond to one form of treatment don’t respond to another. Some mares respond to follicle stimulating hormone and others may respond to sulpiride after estrogen priming. There are many regimes that different veterinarians have worked with. Some methods seem to give results, but it’s very difficult to study any of these treatments. It’s hard to set up a study model where you could have controls, because you don’t know which mares are going to start cycling on their own, and which are cycling as a result of the therapy. Hormonal or cyclical abnormalities can be some of the most difficult things to treat,” explains Bailey. Some mares at their first pregnancy diagnosis are found to have insufficient progesterone to maintain pregnancy. “It’s fairly routine to do progesterone assays at a mare’s first pregnancy examination to determine if she has adequate levels. If not, the mare can be supplemented (with a variety of methods of supplementation of progesterone) to safeguard the pregnancy,” he says. Ovarian Cysts And Tumors An occasional mare may have ovarian cysts. “We see cysts that have no adverse affects on reproductive health. I know of one mare that’s had a big cyst on her ovary for four years and it has never bothered her; she is very normal,” says Bailey. “We sometimes see mares who do not ovulate a follicle correctly because of hormonal abnormalities. Instead, they hemorrhage into the follicle. This is called an anovulatory hemorrhagic follicle. These follicles are not fertile and usually require a prostaglandin treatment several days in a row for them to go away and for the mare to cycle into heat again,” he says. Troedsson says this condition has been described for a number of years, but seems to be more common now. The mares grow a follicle and do everything right, and are bred, but they don’t go ovulate. “They either lutenize the follicle (and don’t release an egg, but still build up the CL) or the follicle completely fails to ovulate. Most of the time it is just one lost cycle and the mare doesn’t do it again. But I’ve seen mares who consistently—throughout several seasons—fail to ovulate. We don’t understand why this happens, and why this is no more common. We always used to see it at the end of the breeding season (a condition called ‘autumn follicles’)

www.ctba.com

and this could have a hormonal explanation. Now, however, we are seeing it more and more often during the breeding season. In the vast majority of mares who do this, it’s just one lost cycle and the mare cycles and ovulates normally afterward, but on occasion we see mares that do it all the time,” says Troedsson. “We occasionally see a tumor problem,” says Bailey. “Some ovarian tumors will prevent a mare from cycling, but these are fairly rare. For instance in 1,300 mares this year I only saw one with a tumor.” Troedsson says granulose cell tumors have an affect on the other ovary and the mare stops cycling. “These tumors are fairly easy to diagnose with palpation and ultrasound or with hormonal assays for inhibin, testosterone and progesterone, and they can be easily removed. Then the mare will eventually start cycling again. This condition is fairly easy to treat, but if diagnosed during the breeding season and the tumor taken out, it can take several months— sometimes up to a year—before the mare is cycling normally again, so you may lose that breeding season.”

Impacts Of Stress Bailey emphasizes the importance of keeping mares in a non-stressful situation. “If they’re acclimated to their surroundings, happy and well fed, they breed much more successfully,” he says. This is often more important than people realize, and sometimes the biggest factor in hormonal or cyclic imbalances. “When mares are being shipped during their cycle, or moving to a new farm very close to the breeding season, gaining new pasturemates and having to figure out the pecking order, this is a very stressful situation. Some may not show stress but they are under stress. Other mares will look very stressed. Many mares, though they may be cycling during breeding season, when moved to another farm they stop cycling,” Bailey points out. “If mares are not happy—and don’t have their pecking order established or are not kept in their same groups or not handled carefully and slowly—they don’t do well. If they’re under stress, they do not get pregnant at a very high rate. But if mares are healthy and acclimated, handled properly and quietly, pregnancy rates are generally excellent.” He recommends getting mares to the farm where they will be bred and cared for, well before the breeding season. “Then they can acclimate and become familiar with their surroundings and new pasturemates, and settle in. This makes a huge difference in helping get these mares in foal and to carry the foal.” Sometimes owners wish to save board money by not sending the mare until the breeding season, but having mares there a couple months early puts them in a better condition, as far as stress is concerned, and this pays off in the long run.

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 53

F E A T U R E


Spring is in the air at VICTORY ROSE THOROUGHREDS

SEA OF SECRETS Storm Cat—Love From Mom, by Mr. Prospector 2014 FEE: $2,500

MANY RIVERS

Storm Cat—Christmas in Aiken, by Affirmed 2014 FEE: $3,000

G.S.M= 74.5

G.S.M=77.5

GIG HARBOR

BOLD CHIEFTAIN

G.S.M=76

G.S.M=64.4

City Zip—Miss Blue Grass, by St. Jovite 2014 FEE: $1,500

INDIAN EVENING

Indian Charlie—Unenchantedevening, by Unbridles Song 2014 FEE: $3,000

G.S.M=98.9

Chief Seattle—Hooked On Music, by Seattle Dancer 2014 FEE: $3,000

IDIOT PROOF

Benchmark—Perfectly Pretty, by Bertrando 2014 FEE: $1,500

G.S.M=99.8


The Horses Prance, Paw and Neigh, Fillies and Colts like Kittens Play – Oliver W. Homes LAY UPS STALLS..................................................................................................................$15.00/DAY INDIVIDUAL PEN ................................................................................................$13.00/DAY PASTURE ..............................................................................................................$11.00/DAY BROODMARES (January-June) STALL....................................................................................................................$16.00/DAY PASTURE/PEN .....................................................................................................$14.00/DAY UNDER LIGHTS ...................................................................................................$14.00/DAY SUCKLINGS.........................................................................................3.50/DAY (with mare) FOALING OUT MARE..................................................................................................$250.00 TRAINING/STARTING HORSES FARM ....................................................................................................................$36.00/DAY RACETRACK.........................................................................................................$50.00/DAY EQUICISER ...........................................................................................................$26.00/DAY MISCELLANEOUS HALTER BREAK FOALS.......................................................................................$21.00/DAY SALES PREP .........................................................................................................$21.00/DAY FOAL REGISTRATION (application/photos) .............................................................$50.00

Go to victoryrose.com to learn more about how genetics can be used to help with your breeding decisions. Protect the value of your mare by having a genetic stallion cloud done for her mating possibilities

Victory Rose Thoroughbreds 5144 Allendale Road • Vacaville, CA, 95688 Phone/Fax (707) 678-6580 • ellen@victoryrose.com


D E P A R T M E N T

Available Statistics Through March 2, 2014

Leading Sires in California

Leading Sires by Number of Races Won

Leading Sires by Money Won Rank Sire Runners 1. Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 2. Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 3. Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 4. Bertrando† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 5. Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . . . 63 6. Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 7. Kafwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 8. Eddington# . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 9. Southern Image . . . . . . . . . . 37 10. Good Journey . . . . . . . . . . . 37 11. Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 12. Heatseeker (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . 30 13. Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 14. Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 15. In Excess (Ire)* . . . . . . . . . . 30 16. Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 17. Dixie Chatter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 18. Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . . . 33 19. Vronsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 20. Rocky Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 21. Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . . . 37 22. Comic Strip . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 23. Terrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 24. Surf Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 25. Peppered Cat . . . . . . . . . . . 15 26. Affirmative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 27. Bedford Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 28. Cyclotron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 29. Sea of Secrets . . . . . . . . . . 32 30. Stormy Jack . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 31. Papa Clem . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 32. Fullbridled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 33. Tannersmyman . . . . . . . . . . . 24 34. Globalize† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 35. Suances (GB) . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 36. Time to Get Even . . . . . . . . . . 9 37. Atticus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 38. Siberian Summer* . . . . . . . . 13 39. Council Member . . . . . . . . . .18 40. Square Eddie . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 41. Cindago* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 42. Thisnearlywasmine* . . . . . . .11 43. Freespool† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 44. Don'tsellmeshort . . . . . . . . . 21 45. Iron Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 46. Bushwacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 47. Awesome Gambler . . . . . . . 19 48. Lucky J. H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 49. Western Fame* . . . . . . . . . . . 7 50. McCann's Mojave* . . . . . . . .19

56 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

Starts 156 128 98 101 126 108 93 102 73 71 54 64 64 80 55 104 34 72 46 91 73 23 67 31 34 49 16 17 64 49 29 9 48 26 38 22 32 27 35 19 32 24 30 42 17 28 43 21 15 33

Races Won 33 14 11 11 22 17 15 12 10 10 6 11 11 15 13 15 12 10 6 18 9 1 12 3 5 4 6 2 7 9 4 5 6 3 2 3 1 4 5 2 2 2 4 6 3 1 0 2 1 3

Earnings $733,177 644,093 465,719 416,926 394,966 389,711 343,051 321,761 286,171 279,991 267,837 234,422 231,914 228,901 212,977 208,198 188,763 182,375 171,445 162,108 158,786 154,844 140,200 128,835 126,324 118,399 114,750 102,190 97,926 96,313 93,735 93,460 87,055 86,683 81,637 80,627 79,569 75,181 70,596 70,427 66,912 62,647 60,979 52,817 52,797 49,402 48,402 48,023 47,832 47,483

Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

8. 9. 10.

13.

17.

20.

Runners

Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . 63 Rocky Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Kafwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . .. 51 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . 65 In Excess (Ire)* . . . . . . . . . 30 Eddington# . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Dixie Chatter . . . . . . . . . . 16 Terrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 48 Bertrando† . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Heatseeker (Ire) . . . . . . . . . 30 Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Southern Image . . . . . . . . .37 Good Journey . . . . . . . . . 37 Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . . 33 Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . . 37 Stormy Jack . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Starts

Races Won

Earnings

156 126 91 108 93 80 104 128 55 102 34 67 98 101 64 64 73 71 72 73 49

33 22 18 17 15 15 15 14 13 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 9 9

$733,177 394,966 162,108 389,711 343,051 228,901 208,198 644,093 212,977 321,761 188,763 140,200 465,719 416,926 234,422 231,914 286,171 279,991 182,375 158,786 96,313

Leading Sires by Average Earnings Per Runner (Minimum 5 Runners) Rank Sire Runners 1. Bedford Falls . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2. Comic Strip . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 3. Dixie Chatter . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 4. Cyclotron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 5. Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 6. Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . 65 7. Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 8. Surf Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 9. Time to Get Even . . . . . . . . . 9 10. Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 11. Peppered Cat . . . . . . . . . . . 15 12. Bertrando† . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 13. Heatseeker (Ire) . . . . . . . . . 30 14. Southern Image . . . . . . . . . 37 15. Good Journey . . . . . . . . . . 37 16. Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 17. Vronsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 18. Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 19. In Excess (Ire)* . . . . . . . . . . 30 20. Square Eddie . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Races Won 6 1 12 2 6 14 11 3 3 33 5 11 11 10 10 17 6 11 13 2

Earnings $114,750 154,844 188,763 102,190 267,837 644,093 465,719 128,835 80,627 733,177 126,324 416,926 234,422 286,171 279,991 389,711 171,445 231,914 212,977 70,427

Average Earnings/ Runner $16,393 14,077 11,798 10,219 9,920 9,909 9,702 9,203 8,959 8,728 8,422 8,339 7,814 7,734 7,567 7,494 7,454 7,247 7,099 7,043

www.ctba.com


Leading Sires by Number of Winners Rank Sire Runners 1. Tribal Rule ......................... 84 2. Ministers Wild Cat............. 63 3. Benchmark......................... 52 Rocky Bar .......................... 34 5. Unusual Heat ..................... 65 6. Kafwain ............................. 52 Old Topper ......................... 38 Swiss Yodeler.................... 51 9. Eddington#..........................49 In Excess (Ire)*.................... 30 11. Terrell...................................26 12. Bertrando† ........................ 50 Southern Image.................. 37 Dixie Chatter ..................... 16 Stormin Fever..................... 33 16. Good Journey .....................37 Heatseeker (Ire) ................. 30 Tizbud ................................ 32 Stormy Jack ...................... 21 20. Decarchy ............................ 48 Marino Marini ..................... 37

Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Winners 27 17 15 15 14 13 13 13 12 12 11 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 8 8

Races Won 33 22 17 18 14 15 15 15 12 13 12 11 10 12 10 10 11 11 9 11 9

Leading Sires by Turf Earnings

(Minimum 10 Starts Lifetime) Earnings $733,177 394,966 389,711 162,108 644,093 343,051 228,901 208,198 321,761 212,977 140,200 416,926 286,171 188,763 182,375 279,991 234,422 231,914 96,313 465,719 158,786

Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Races Runners Starts Winners Won

Unusual Heat ........... 41 Decarchy................... 20 Tribal Rule .................. 16 Good Journey ........... 19 Comic Strip................ 3 Tizbud ......................... 9 In Excess (Ire)* ............ 7 Heatseeker (Ire)......... 13 Southern Image ........... 6 Affirmative................ 10 Bertrando†................ 15 Terrell........................... 7 Eddington# ................ 5 Benchmark................ 8 Marino Marini ............... 6 Papa Clem ................. 2 Roi Charmant.............. 1 Fullbridled .................... 1 Cyclotron ................... 4 Vronsky ....................... 7

64 25 21 32 3 11 11 17 7 15 19 9 7 11 8 3 2 1 6 8

7 4 3 4 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 4 2 1 1 2 0 1 0 0

7 4 3 4 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 4 2 1 1 2 0 1 0 0

Leading Sires by Median Earnings Per Runner

Leading Sires by Average Earnings Per Start

(Minimum 5 Runners)

(Minimum 10 Starts)

Runners

Bedford Falls .................... 7 Lightnin N Thunder# ......... 7 Dixie Chatter.................... 16 Peppered Cat .................. 15 Western Fame* ................. 7 Heatseeker (Ire)............... 30 Rocky Bar ........................ 34 Square Eddie .................. 10 Trapper ............................. 8 Tribal Rule ........................ 84 Expressionist† .................. 7 Terrell ............................... 26 Desert Code ...................... 9 In Excess (Ire)* ................ 30 Decarchy.......................... 48 Alymagic† .......................... 6 Unusual Heat ................... 65 Lucky Pulpit ..................... 27 Papa Clem ....................... 15 One Man Army.................. 6

Races Won 6 1 12 5 1 11 18 2 3 33 6 12 1 13 11 1 14 6 4 3

Median Earnings/ Earnings Runner $114,750 38,003 188,763 126,324 47,832 234,422 162,108 70,427 39,625 733,177 22,903 140,200 37,232 212,977 465,719 29,950 644,093 267,837 93,735 24,114

$15,400 6,708 6,610 5,000 4,980 4,310 4,211 3,976 3,915 3,885 3,810 3,809 3,720 3,572 3,448 3,413 3,370 3,344 3,105 3,078

Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Runners

Bedford Falls................... 7 Comic Strip .................... 11 Cyclotron........................ 10 Dixie Chatter ................. 16 Unusual Heat ................ 65 Lucky Pulpit ................... 27 Decarchy ....................... 48 Tribal Rule ....................... 84 Surf Cat........................... 14 Bertrando† .................... 50 Good Journey ................ 37 Southern Image .............. 37 In Excess (Ire)*................ 30 Vronsky .......................... 23 Peppered Cat................ 15 Square Eddie .................. 10 Kafwain .......................... 52 Time to Get Even ............ 9 Heatseeker (Ire) ............. 30 Tizbud ............................ 32

Earnings $375,510 302,084 271,855 203,200 137,834 122,352 91,370 76,618 74,779 65,306 62,615 57,467 53,210 51,739 41,397 41,199 35,280 33,600 26,100 24,825

Starts

Earnings

Average Earnings/ Start

16 23 17 34 128 54 98 156 31 101 71 73 55 46 34 19 93 22 64 64

$114,750 154,844 102,190 188,763 644,093 267,837 465,719 733,177 128,835 416,926 279,991 286,171 212,977 171,445 126,324 70,427 343,051 80,627 234,422 231,914

$7,172 6,732 6,011 5,552 5,032 4,960 4,752 4,700 4,156 4,128 3,944 3,920 3,872 3,727 3,715 3,707 3,689 3,665 3,663 3,624

The statistics contained in these rankings are compiled by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc. (TJCIS). While every effort is made to prevent errors and omissions, California Thoroughbred cannot guarantee their complete and total accuracy. A dagger (†) indicates that a stallion has been pensioned, an asterisk (*) that he has died, a dot (•) that he is now standing elsewhere, a number sign (#) that he did not stand in California in 2013 but is standing in the state in 2014, a double dagger (‡) that he is not standing in California in 2014 but will stand in the state in 2015 and in bold that he is a freshman sire. In all cases, a sire will remain in the rankings until the year after his last California foals are two-year-olds. Statistics cover racing in North America (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico), England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates only.

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 57

D E P A R T M E N T


D E P A R T M E N T

Leading LifetimeS ires in California No Stallion, Year Foaled, Sire

Available Statistics Through March 2, 2014

Crops of Average Foals of Racing Crop Racing Age Size Age

Runners

Winners

2-Y-O Winners

Stakes Winners

Graded Stakes Winners

Progeny Earnings

Average Earnings Index

Comparable Index

1. Unusual Heat, 1990, by Nureyev 14 47 662 465-70% 330-50% 44-7% 44-7% 11-2% $42,070,742 2.13 1.27 2. Cyclotron, 2000, by Grand Slam 5 12 59 18-31% 14-24% 0-0% 2-3% 0-0% $1,162,167 1.78 1.40 3. In Excess (Ire)*, 1987, by Siberian Express 19 52 989 737-75% 550-56% 117-12% 63-6% 11-1% $45,299,769 1.57 1.39 Lucky Pulpit, 2001, by Pulpit 5 30 148 65-44% 50-34% 22-15% 4-3% 0-0% $3,821,050 1.57 1.24 5. Vronsky, 1999, by Danzig 7 19 136 67-49% 37-27% 6-4% 4-3% 1-1% $3,661,691 1.53 1.14 6. Good Journey, 1996, by Nureyev 9 58 518 239-46% 145-28% 16-3% 9-2% 4-1% $11,868,381 1.50 1.03 7. Cindago*, 2003, by Indian Charlie 5 15 75 40-53% 30-40% 7-9% 2-3% 0-0% $1,790,787 1.42 1.38 8. Bertrando †, 1989, by Skywalker 18 59 1,060 792-75% 546-52% 122-12% 59-6% 14-1% $45,833,802 1.35 1.51 Tribal Rule, 1996, by Storm Cat 9 61 549 382-70% 263-48% 98-18% 35-6% 4-1% $20,354,140 1.35 1.16 10.Eddington#, 2001, by Unbridled 6 56 336 252-75% 189-56% 52-15% 5-1% 3-1% $12,599,360 1.30 1.58 11. Birdonthewire †, 1989, by Proud Birdie 17 16 268 191-71% 135-50% 39-15% 10-4% 1-0% $12,110,334 1.29 1.35 One Man Army †, 1994, by Roman Diplomat 9 9 83 49-59% 34-41% 3-4% 4-5% 1-1% $2,681,249 1.29 0.94 13.Benchmark, 1991, by Alydar 13 54 705 524-74% 401-57% 104-15% 41-6% 10-1% $30,344,881 1.24 1.13 14.Southern Image, 2000, by Halo's Image 6 83 497 303-61% 190-38% 41-8% 8-2% 2-0% $13,726,521 1.20 1.32 15. Lucky J. H., 2002, by Cee's Tizzy 3 17 51 18-35% 10-20% 6-12% 1-2% 0-0% $530,216 1.18 1.31 Stormin Fever, 1994, by Storm Cat 12 59 712 498-70% 354-50% 110-15% 30-4% 12-2% $27,543,233 1.18 1.40 Tizbud, 1999, by Cee's Tizzy 7 21 150 95-63% 57-38% 9-6% 5-3% 1-1% $3,809,878 1.18 0.93 18.Heatseeker (Ire), 2003, by Giant's Causeway 3 34 102 61-60% 42-41% 17-17% 2-2% 0-0% $2,131,129 1.14 1.51 Kafwain, 2000, by Cherokee Run 8 61 484 348-72% 256-53% 85-18% 21-4% 5-1% $16,071,001 1.14 1.28 20.Awesome Gambler, 2004, by Coronado's Quest 4 29 116 62-53% 27-23% 12-10% 2-2% 1-1% $2,209,180 1.13 0.78 Affirmative, 1999, by Unbridled 6 14 86 53-62% 29-34% 5-6% 2-2% 0-0% $1,826,350 1.12 0.78 22.Prime Timber#, 1996, by Sultry Song 9 25 227 182-80% 144-63% 29-13% 5-2% 3-1% $9,647,684 1.12 1.25 23.Ministers Wild Cat, 2000, by Deputy Minister 6 45 268 203-76% 143-53% 35-13% 15-6% 2-1% $8,969,401 1.10 0.97 Olympio*, 1988, by Naskra 19 28 526 403-77% 298-57% 61-12% 30-6% 4-1% $19,225,763 1.10 1.28 25.Atticus, 1992, by Nureyev 14 32 450 333-74% 203-45% 39-9% 14-3% 5-1% $14,195,975 1.06 1.44 Robannier •, 1991, by Batonnier 15 7 107 69-64% 40-37% 8-7% 3-3% 0-0% $3,007,050 1.06 1.02 27.Popular, 1999, by Saint Ballado 7 11 79 57-72% 43-54% 15-19% 2-3% 1-1% $2,760,919 1.05 0.95 28.Desert Code, 2004, by E Dubai 2 29 58 13-22% 6-10% 5-9% 0-0% 0-0% $296,678 1.03 1.28 29.Rocky Bar, 1998, by In Excess (Ire) 7 17 117 82-70% 66-56% 23-20% 14-12% 1-1% $3,611,067 1.02 0.88 Swiss Yodeler, 1994, by Eastern Echo 13 56 733 547-75% 391-53% 159-22% 28-4% 2-0% $26,080,051 1.02 1.08 31.Siberian Summer*, 1989, by Siberian Express 13 32 415 303-73% 214-52% 28-7% 14-3% 4-1% $12,918,755 1.01 0.88 Suances (GB), 1997, by Most Welcome (GB) 7 17 116 56-48% 34-29% 4-3% 1-1% 0-0% $2,254,421 1.01 1.11 33.Silic (Fr)*, 1995, by Sillery 10 18 176 118-67% 76-43% 11-6% 2-1% 1-1% $7,453,193 0.97 0.92 34.Decarchy, 1997, by Distant View 8 40 322 212-66% 140-43% 39-12% 9-3% 1-0% $8,898,095 0.96 0.98 Old Topper, 1995, by Gilded Time 11 46 508 403-79% 314-62% 109-21% 22-4% 0-0% $18,160,887 0.96 0.86 36.Marino Marini, 2000, by Storm Cat 7 41 286 187-65% 131-46% 33-12% 7-2% 0-0% $6,963,923 0.91 1.03 37.Western Fame*, 1992, by Gone West 13 22 290 192-66% 141-49% 46-16% 14-5% 0-0% $7,816,920 0.90 0.83 38.Lightnin N Thunder#, 2001, by Storm Cat 8 23 180 131-73% 88-49% 28-16% 8-4% 0-0% $5,211,604 0.89 1.11 Sea of Secrets, 1995, by Storm Cat 12 38 455 369-81% 269-59% 75-16% 21-5% 3-1% $17,734,740 0.89 1.08 40.Game Plan, 1993, by Danzig 15 29 429 317-74% 248-58% 56-13% 23-5% 2-0% $13,237,175 0.85 0.80 Iron Cat, 1995, by Storm Cat 13 11 148 109-74% 91-61% 8-5% 6-4% 0-0% $3,964,476 0.85 0.97 Latin American †, 1988, by Riverman 17 18 313 211-67% 136-43% 28-9% 6-2% 2-1% $6,607,831 0.85 1.09 43.Dixie Chatter, 2005, by Dixie Union 2 38 76 28-37% 17-22% 10-13% 2-3% 0-0% $586,712 0.83 1.05 Globalize †, 1997, by Summer Squall 10 17 168 112-67% 81-48% 30-18% 5-3% 0-0% $4,130,320 0.81 0.78 45.Thisnearlywasmine*, 1994, by Capote 10 8 77 47-61% 31-40% 5-6% 0-0% 0-0% $1,618,558 0.80 0.71 46.Comic Strip, 1995, by Red Ransom 12 27 318 226-71% 165-52% 37-12% 12-4% 1-0% $8,118,388 0.79 1.17 47.Mud Route †, 1994, by Strawberry Road (Aus) 12 22 259 166-64% 104-40% 25-10% 6-2% 1-0% $4,661,095 0.75 0.88 Papa Clem, 2006, by Smart Strike 2 56 111 22-20% 12-11% 10-9% 1-1% 0-0% $339,026 0.75 1.32 49.Sought After, 2000, by Seeking the Gold 9 11 100 61-61% 37-37% 13-13% 1-1% 0-0% $1,581,853 0.74 0.87 50.Grey Memo, 1997, by Memo (Chi) 8 11 86 47-55% 29-34% 7-8% 0-0% 0-0% $1,342,716 0.73 0.72 Impeachment, 1997, by Deputy Minister 11 15 160 95-59% 58-36% 18-11% 2-1% 0-0% $2,706,944 0.73 1.16 Roman Dancer, 1999, by Polish Numbers 8 8 61 39-64% 25-41% 4-7% 2-3% 0-0% $1,055,562 0.73 0.98 Mr statistics are forProcrastinator, 1987, by sires Hard with Worka minimum of 50 foals of racing age, ranked here by lifetime Average Earnings Index 17 (AEI.) The statistics 6 106contained 84-79%in these67-63% These active California-based rankings are18-17% compiled by

The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc (TJCIS). While every effort is made to prevent errors and omissions, California Thoroughbred cannot guarantee their complete and total accuracyA dagger (†) indicates that a stallion has been pensioned, an asterisk (*) that he has died, a dot (•) that he is now standing elsewhere, a number sign (#) that he did not stand in California in 2013 but is standing in the state in 2014, a double dagger (‡) that he is not standing in California in 2014 but will stand in the state in 2015 and In bold that he is a freshman sire. In all cases, a sire will remain in the rankings until the year after his last California foals are two-year-olds. Statistics cover racing in North America (US, Canada and Puerto Rico), England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) only Percentages are based upon number of foals of racing age.

58 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com



D E P A R T M E N T

Dates in California

Regional Race Meetings, Stakes Races and Sale Dates 2014 REGIONAL RACE MEETINGS

Santa Anita Park, Arcadia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dec. 26, 2013-April 20 Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dec. 26, 2013-June 15 Santa Anita Park, Arcadia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April 25-June 29 Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .June 19-July 6 Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 3-13 California State Fair (Cal Expo), Sacramento . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 10-20 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 17-Sept. 3 Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 21-Aug. 10 Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aug. 13-24 Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aug. 15-Sept. 14 Barretts Racing at the Los Angeles County Fair, Pomona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sept. 4-23 San Joaquin County Fair, Stockton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sept. 19-28 Santa Anita Park, Arcadia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sept. 25-Nov. 2 Fresno County Fair, Fresno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oct. 1-13 Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oct. 16-Dec. 21 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nov. 7-Dec. 30 Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dec. 4-21

APRIL AND MAY 2014 REGIONAL STAKES RACES Date

Track

Apr. 5 Apr. 5 Apr. 5 Apr. 5 Apr. 5 Apr. 12 Apr. 12 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 25

SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

Stakes (Grade)

Conditions

Distance

Added Value

Santa Anita Derby (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,000,000 Santa Anita Oaks (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400,000 Echo Eddie Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o, Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 1/2 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f., Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 1/2 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000 Providencia Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000 Potrero Grande Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1/2 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000 Las Cienegas Handicap (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .abt. 6 1/2 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 Santa Barbara Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/4 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000 San Simeon Handicap (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .abt. 6 1/2 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 Last Tycoon Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 California Gold Rush XV Day—$850,000 in purses at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, April 26, 2014

Apr. 26 Apr. 26 Apr. 26 Apr. 26 Apr. 26

SA SA SA SA SA

Snow Chief Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o, Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . .250,000 Melair Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f., Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250,000 Tiznow Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . . . .1 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125,000 Spring Fever Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m., Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m., Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000

Apr. 26 Apr. 27

GG SA

San Francisco Mile Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 Wilshire Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000

May May May May May May

SA SA SA SA GG GG

Precisionist Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 Desert Code Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .abt. 6 1/2 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . .75,000 Honeymoon Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 Golden Poppy Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,000 Alcatraz Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75,000

3 3 4 10 10 11

60 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


Date

Track

May 17 May 17 May 18 May 24 May 25 May 26 May 26 May 26 May 31 May 31

SA SA SA SA SA SA SA GG SA SA

Stakes (Grade)

Conditions

Distance

Added Value

American Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 Angels Flight Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75,000 Adoration Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/4 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000 Mizdirection Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .abt. 6 1/2 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . .75,000 Gamely Stakes (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300,000 Los Angeles Handicap (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 All American Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 American Oaks (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/4 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . .350,000 Californian Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000

2014 REGIONAL SALE DATES May 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Barretts Sales & Racing May Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training: Training Preview on May 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Entries closed March 26) July 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Barretts Sales & Racing Paddock Sale at Del Mar of “Race Ready” Horses in Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Nominations close June 4) August 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CTBA Northern California Yearling & Horses of Racing Age Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Entries close June 2) October 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Barretts Sales & Racing October Yearling Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Nominations close April 18)

It Pays To Be Cal-Bred

California-Bred/California-Sired Stakes Races April To June 2014 SANTA ANITA PARK Saturday, April 5 $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes Three-Year-Old Fillies 6 1/2 Furlongs

$200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes Three-Year-Olds 6 1/2 Furlongs

Saturday, April 26—California Gold Rush XV $250,000 Melair Stakes Three-Year-Old Fillies 1 1/16 Miles

$250,000 Snow Chief Stakes Three-Year-Olds 1 1/8 Miles (Turf) $125,000 Tiznow Stakes Three-Year-Olds & Up 1 Mile

Sunday, June 8 $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes Three-Year-Olds & Up 1 Mile (Turf)

www.ctba.com

$125,000 Spring Fever Stakes Three-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares 6 Furlongs

$100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes Three-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares 1 Mile (Turf)

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS Sunday, June 8 $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes Three-Year-Olds 1 Mile (Turf)

$100,000 Campanile Stakes Three-Year-Old Fillies 1 Mile (Turf)

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 61

D E P A R T M E N T


D E P A R T M E N T

Important Events, Dates and California-Bred/Sired Stakes Races

CTBA Calendar

April 2014 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Closing Day Santa Anita Park

Opening Day Santa Anita Park

27

28

29

30

CALIFORNIA-BRED/CALIFORNIA-SIRED STAKES RACES SATURDAY, APRIL 5 $200,000 ECHO EDDIE STAKES 3YO, 6 1/2 FURLONGS Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 $200,000 EVENING JEWEL STAKES 3YO FILLIES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH XV AT SANTA ANITA PARK ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014 – $850,000 IN STAKES PURSES $250,000 SNOW CHIEF STAKES 3YO, 1 1/8 MILES (TURF)

$250,000 MELAIR STAKES 3YO FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES $125,000 B. THOUGHTFUL STAKES 4YO & UP, FILLIES & MARES, 7 1/2 FURLONGS

$125,000 TIZNOW STAKES 4YO & UP, 1 MILE $100,000 FRAN’S VALENTINE STAKES 4YO & UP, FILLIES & MARES, 1 MILE (TURF)

IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FRIDAY, APRIL 18 BARRETTS SALES & RACING OCTOBER YEARLING SALE NOMINATION CLOSING DATE Fairplex, Pomona, Calif.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25 CALIFORNIA HORSE RACING BOARD (CHRB) MONTHLY BOARD MEETING Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley, Calif.

California Thoroughbred Breeders Association 201 Colorado Place, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018 • (626) 445-7800 • Fax (626) 574-0852 62 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


2014 GOLDEN STATE SERIES - $5.3 MILLION A RESTRICTED STAKES SCHEDULE FOR REGISTERED CALIFORNIA BRED OR SIRED HORSES

Sat., Jan. 25 Sat., Jan. 25 Sat., Jan. 25 Sat., Jan. 25 Sat., Jan. 25 Sat., Feb. 22 Sat., Mar. 15 Sun., Mar. 23 Sat., April 5 Sat., April 5 Sat., April 26 Sat., April 26 Sat., April 26 Sat., April 26 Sat., April 26 Sat., May 31 Sun., June 8 Sun., June 8 July July July July August August August August September October October November November November November December December

SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA GGF SA GGF LA DMR DMR DMR DMR DMR DMR DMR DMR SA SA SA SA DMR DMR LA LA

Cal Cup Derby Cal Cup Oaks Cal Cup Turf Classic Sunshine Millions F/M Turf Sprint Cal Cup Sprint Sensational Star Irish O Brien Dream of Summer Echo Eddie Evening Jewel Snow Chief Melair Tiznow Spring Fever Fran's Valentine Campanile Crystal Water Silky Sullivan Bertrando CTBA Stakes Fleet Treat Graduation California Dreamin' Real Good Deal Solana Beach Generous Portion I m Smokin California Distaff California Flag Golden State Juvenile Golden State Juvenile Fillies Cat's Cradle On Trust Soviet Problem King Glorious

Three-Year-Olds Fillies, Three-Year-Olds Four-Year-Olds & Up F/M, Four-Year-Olds & Up Four-Year-Olds & Up Four-Year-Olds & Up F/M, Four-Year-Olds & Up F/M, Four-Year-Olds & Up Three-Year-Olds Fillies, Three-Year-Olds Three-Year-Olds Fillies, Three-Year-Olds Four-Year-Olds & Up F/M, Four-Year-Olds & Up F/M, Four-Year-Olds & Up Fillies, Three-Year-Olds Four-Year-Olds & Up Three-Year-Olds Three-Year-Olds & Up Fillies, Two-Year-Olds Fillies, Three-Year-Olds Two-Year-Olds Three-Year-Olds & Up Three-Year-Olds F/M, Three-Year-Olds & Up Fillies, Two-Year-Olds Two-Year-Olds F/M, Three-Year-Olds & Up Three-Year-Olds & Up Two-Year-Olds Fillies, Two-Year-Olds F/M, Three-Year-Olds & Up Three-Year-Olds & Up Fillies, Two-Year-Olds Two-Year-Olds

1 1/16 M 1 M (Turf) 1 1/8 M (Turf) 6 1/2 F (Turf) 6F 6 1/2 F (Turf) 6 1/2 F (Turf) 1M 6 1/2 F 6 1/2 F 1 1/8 M (Turf) 1 1/16 M 1M 6F 1 M (Turf) 1 M (Turf) 1 M (Turf) 1 M (Turf) 1M 5 1/2 F 7F 5 1/2 F 1 1/16 M (Turf) 7F 1 M (Turf) 6F 6F 6 1/2 F (Turf) 6 1/2 F (Turf) 7F 7F 7F 7F 1M 1M

“IT PAYS TO BE CAL-BRED!”

Advertised schedule of races and purses subject to change.

California Thoroughbred Breeders Association 201 Colorado Place, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018

(626) 445-7800 • www.ctba.com

$250,000 $200,000 $250,000 $125,000 $125,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $200,000 $250,000 $250,000 $125,000 $125,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $200,000 $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $200,000


I. A $17,500 bonus will be made available for owners of registered California-Bred or California-Sired maidens in Maiden Special Weight races in Southern California; and a $10,000 bonus for owners of registered California-Bred or California-Sired maidens in Maiden Special Weight races in Northern California and at all Fair meetings throughout the state. Only races at 4 1/2 furlongs or longer will qualify. II. Significant eligibility changes for California-breds.

©Benoit

California Thoroughbred Breeders Association 201 Colorado Place, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018 • (626) 445-7800 • www.ctba.com


Cash with order. $1.00 a word. $15.00 minimum. Deadline 1st of preceding month. Additional charges for bordered ads. Include area and zip codes. California Thoroughbred reserves the right to edit all copy.

Classified Advertising

BOARDING

COLE RANCH MARE AND FOAL CARE: ✓ Day boarding ✓ Large irrigated grass pastures with shelters ✓ Video monitored/recorded foaling ✓ 24/7 barn attendant during foaling season ✓ Free Jockey Club and CTBA Cal-Bred registration ✓ Free halter breaking ✓ Discounts for more than two pregnant mares ✓ $2.00 for foal until weaned BOARDING/SALES PREP/LAYUPS AND TRAINING: ✓ 5/8-mile training track ✓ Safe un-crowded irrigated pastures for mare and foal ✓ Best quality alfalfa and grain with supplements (ingredients listed on web site. Bulk price at cost) ✓ Timely and comprehensive vaccinations, de-worming and hoof care ✓ Yearlings started meticulously with patience & kindness ready for the turmoil of the race track. View YouTube training progress online ✓ Sale prep horses will look and behave at their best ✓ Prefer high value horses Located between Southern and Northern Tracks

www.thecoleranch.com or 559-535-4680 $36 A DAY

Breaking and Training the easy and fast way. All-Weather Track • Starting Gate • Covered Round Pen • Hot Walker Bring us your young horse! 10 years of track experience DAEHLING RANCH 916-685-4965

E-mail: daehlingranch@hotmail.com • www.daehlingranch.com

LARGE GRASS PASTURES $14 PER DAY. North San Diego 760 213 1351 annettepuchta@gmail.com

BUSINESS CARDS

$12.00 A DAY

200 acres irrigated pasture with lots of lush grass, safely divided into 4- to 10-acre pastures. Individual paddocks available. Grain fed daily. Bring us your broodmares, foals, yearlings, lay-ups. Electronic supervised foaling stalls.

D E P A R T M E N T

For more information and pictures call

DAEHLING RANCH 10045 Grant Line Rd. Elk Grove, CA 95624 916/685?4965

Email: daehlingranch@hotmail.com • www.daehlingranch.com

RACING SILKS WEST COAST RACING COLORS. June Gee. Silks, Blinkers and Horse apparel. 626-359-9179

RANCHES FOR SALE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HORSE PROPERTY SPECIALIST. Thinking of selling your ranch. Give ROBIN a call. All inquiries kept strictly confidential. Check out her current ranches for sale at www.robinsranches.com ROBINS RANCHES, agent robin@robinsranches.com or 925-550-2383

BUSINESS CARDS Los Laureles Training and Equine Therapy at the Cardiff Stud Farm Offering: Starting • Training • Layups• Rehabilitation Mare and Foal Care • Retirement Featuring: Starting Gate • 3/4-mile track • Eurowalker Irrigated Pastures • AquaTred • Theraplate For More Info: Call: Carlos Cabello 805-712-1401 horserehab@gmail.com • www.horserehabilitation.com

Janet Del Castillo 3708 Crystal Beach Road Winter Haven, FL 33880 n ! NEW 4TH Editio

OWNERS!

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAINING BUT DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO ASK! Read BACKYARD RACE HORSE, a comprehensive off-track program for owners and trainers

Call or write for info on Book, Newsletter and Seminars! 863-299-8448 backyardracehorse.com NEW! TRAINING DVD!

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 65


D E P A R T M E N T

Classified Advertising Cont’d.

BUSINESS CARDS

JEANNIE GARR RODDY Broker Associate

626 862-0620 Cell 818 583-1217 Direct Line 818 583-1231 E-Fax jeannie.garr@dicksonpodley.com DRE # 00941946

Lillian Nichols

846 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, Flintridge, CA 91011

Suzanne Cardiff Pedigree Research Consultation 413 W. Camino Real Arcadia, CA 91007-7302

Laurel Fowler Insurance Broker, Inc. Tel (800) 700 6263 (805) 473 2227 Fax (805) 473 0202

Lic.# O.B.57610

Phone (626) 445-3104 Fax (626) 445-0743 www.thoroughbredinfo.com/showcase/cardiff.htm

877 Noyes Rd., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

www.horselawyers.com EQUINE

LAW

1 (800) 745-9336 THE LAW OFFICES OF BING I. BUSH JR. APC

Offices in Southern California & Lexington Kentucky Email: b.bush@horselawyers.com

FOR SALE GREAT RANCH OPPORTUNITY

COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL NRT® Coldwell Banker 15 E. Foothill Blvd. Arcadia, CA 91006

For more information:

PHIL DANIELS CAL BRE#00815747

626.574.2379 DIRECT 626.755.1846 CELL 626.447.0388 FAX

28741 & 28911 San Timoteo Canyon Rd., Redlands, CA 92373

$2,950,000 F E AT U R E S • + 50.99 Acre Parcels • + 1,900 SF House (3 BR, 2 BA) • + 1,100 SF Apartment • 24 Stall Barn (Steel) • 12 Stall Foaling Barn • 2 Stall Cinder Block Barn • 4 Stall Holding Barns • Round Pen • 2 Hot Walkers • Virgin Vinyl Fencing • Hay Barn • Storage Shed • 10 Canopy Pens • 1 40’x40’ Steel Pen • Feed Storage Tank & Structure

danielsp@coldwelbanker.com

66 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

• + 34.5 Acre Parcels • + 12 Acres with a Home and Track • An Additional +22.5 Acres of Unimproved Land • House & Garage with Maid/Mother-in-Law Quarters • Front Side Pen • 2 Wells • Track • Starting Gate • Tractor • Harrow • Water Truck • Loader • 15 Canopied Pens • Virgin Vinyl Fencing Throughout • 16 Turn-Out Pens

©2008 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Owned and Operated by NRT Incorporated.

www.ctba.com


NOTE: Inside Back Cover, IBC; Outside Back Cover, OBC; Inside Front Cover, IFC This index is provided as a service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or ommisions. Bold figures indicate a page that features a stallion.

ADVERTISERS

Backyard Race Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Ballena Vista Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 24, 25, 28, 29 Black Sheep Equine Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Brazeau Thoroughbred Farms,LP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Cal-Bred Maiden Bonus Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Cardiff, Suzanne, Pedigree Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Coldwel Banker Commercila - Phil Daniels . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Cole Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 CTBA Foal Advertorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 CTBA Northern California Yearling Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 CTBA Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Daehling Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47, 65 Dickson Podley Realtors (Jeannie Garr Roddy) . . . . . . . . . .66 E.A. Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Equineline.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Fruitful Acres Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38, 39 Gayle Van Leer Thoroughbred Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Index to Advertisers & Stallions Advertised

Golden State Stakes Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Harris Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC, 35 Laurel Fowler Insurance Broker Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Legacy Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 13 Lillian Nichols/Halters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Los Alamitos Racing Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Los Laureles Training and Equine Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Lovacres Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,17 NTRA/John Deere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Paradise Road Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42, 43 Rancho San Miguel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Rancho Temescal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 SK Racing Stable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Special T.Thoroughbreds Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,9 Victory Rose Thoroughbreds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54, 55 www.horselawyers.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

STALLIONS Affirmative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Allaboutdreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Awesome Gambler . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC Bold Chieftain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Brave Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Bushwacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Calimonco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 28 Champ Pegasus . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 13 Del Mar Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Desert Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Dixie Chatter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 24 Eddington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 25 Empire Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15, 17 Gig Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Golden Balls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Gotham City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Grace Upon Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Heatseeker (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Hidden Blessing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Idiot Proof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Impeachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Indian Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 James Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Kafwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Lightnin N Thunder . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Lucky J. H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC, 35 Many Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Mesa Thunder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Monsajem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Peppered Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Run Brother Ron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Sea of Secrets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Sierra Sunset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Slew's Tiznow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Smiling Tiger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC Sought After . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Suances (GB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Sway Away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15, 17 Tenga Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Thorn Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Time To Get Even . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 29 Truest Legend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Twice The Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC Ultimate Eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Under Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Wolfcamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

www.ctba.com www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014 67

D E P A R T M E N T


Guest Forum

Bo Derek And The Thoroughbreds

by PAT MURPHY very own race day. In the late 1980s, Bo Derek had a special race evening and 35,000 people came! Other people say that there are a number of ways to get the public there. One Thoroughbred owner told us, “After all it’s a sport! And it’s really fun to see beautiful horses with their jockey’s racing each other on the track. Family days could be planned with added attractions for kids. Bussing groups of senior citizens in and special invitations to clubs and organizations would surely be worth a try.” Do track owners encourage new ideas or just wonder why attendance has dropped? Bo Derek says that, “Part of the problem is that, somehow, there was this misconception that the horses were treated cruelly. I think we are living in a time when people are much more aware of how animals should be treated. If people could only see the love and care Thoroughbreds receive. After all, running is completely in tune with their natural instincts and abilities. In other horse sports like cutting, rodeo, hunter/jumpers and dressage there can be a lot of pressure and training involved.” Bo has been involved in issues of animal welfare for years, so being reappointed Chairman of Medication and Track Safety is certainly appropriate. “We have at least one meeting each month and now I am also on the Stewards committee, which should prove interesting.” Stewards deal with reports of accidents, all inquiries, disqualifications, rulings, claims, the California-bred races, etc. “I have also revamped my line of animal and horse products. So I’ll be very busy this year doing all the things that I am very interested in!” ©CHRB

Although Bo Derek’s term as a member of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) had expired at the end of 2013, she was persuaded to stay on. The Governor of California, Jerry Brown, reappointed her after finding that she had proved to be a valuable member who listened with an open mind and considered all proposals for improvement. “This is such an old and well established industry,” Bo says, “that you must be sure that changes are not going to end up being harmful. One of the biggest controversies in horse racing has been over the all-weather track surfaces footing. “It was given a trial and remained at Hollywood Park until its closing at the end of last December. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Golden Gate Fields are still using the all-weather, but Santa Anita Park went back to the dirt. There really are two camps each believing their way is best. Statistics have shown that all-weather is safer and dirt is harder on the skeletal parts of the horse. Others say that synthetic causes more soft tissue injuries.” When one talks with various people in this industry, it becomes obvious that one of Thoroughbred racing’s biggest problems is that of promotion. “Promotion is strictly regional,” says Bo, “and it depends on the talents and determination of those that are in charge of the track. Breeder’s Cup, the Triple Crown and the Kentucky Derby are stellar examples of fine promotion. There is great excitement surrounding them and there are mammoth crowds.” There was a time when Hollywood stars owned their own racehorses. Bing Crosby, Desi Arnez and John Forsythe were among them. Track owners also encouraged huge crowds to come to see guest film stars who would have their

©Benoit

©Bill Scherlis

C O L U M N

68 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • APRIL 2014

www.ctba.com


    



                                                                                                          





                     

   



              

  


First Quarter Roster Earnings Top $2.25 Million!

Leading Sire by Progeny Earnings, Stakes Winners and Winners Fee: $6,500 Live Foal

Leading California Second-Crop Sire & National Leader by Winners Fee: $5,000 Live Foal 41 stakes winners include 10 Graded Winners on dirt, turf, & synthetic Fee: $5,000 Live Foal to approved mares

Lowest announced fee among the top five 2014 CA sires by A-E Index* Fee: $3,500 Live Foal

Earned more than Storm Cat G1 sires Tale of the Cat & Stormy Atlantic Fee: $1,500 Live Foal *blood.horse.com March 18, 2013 • All stallions are Breeders’ Cup nominated.


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.