California Toroughbred Foundation

OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES

P R E S I D E N T Ada Gates Patton

V I C E - P R E S I D E N T Gail Gregson

T R E A S U R E R Alan F. Balch

S E C R E TA RY Amy J. Zimmerman

Jeff Blea, DVM Tracy Gantz Jane Goldstein Courtney Tunney Hotchkis Thomas S. Robbins John W. Sadler Noreen Sullivan Peter W. Tunney

Courtney Tunney Hotchkis has been elected to join the Foundation board of trustees. Her father, Peter Tunney, also is a trustee.

Mrs. Hotchkis has extensive experience in racetrack marketing. Upon graduating from the University of Arizona, where she majored in communications, she worked in the group sales department at Santa Anita Park and later served as the track’s marketing manager for almost 20 years.

A lifelong resident of Pasadena, she married John Hotchkis in 1995. Tey have two daughters, Perry and Ellery. Perry graduated from U.C. Berkeley in May and now works as research coordinator at the New York University Transplant Institute. Ellery is a senior in high school and an English riding enthusiast. She competes frequently in horse shows in equitation and jumping classes.

Mrs. Hotchkis’ extensive volunteer experience includes work at the Mayfeld Junior and Senior Schools, where she was president of the parents’ associations. She volunteers for an organization that raises money for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and works part-time at Salutations Home, a Pasadena gift and home decor shop.

Te California Toroughbred Foundation is dedicated to the advancement of equine research and education. Since 1958 the Foundation has operated as a non-proft 501(c)3 corporation that can accept tax-deductible contributions. For more than fve decades, the CTF has sponsored numerous research and educational projects and awarded scholarships to veterinary students at U.C. Davis and Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona.

Te 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 ofces 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 fne arts. Te latest instructional videos also are available for viewing in the Library.

Te resources of the CTF’s Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library will again be available to the public for research and pleasure after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.

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, 201 Colorado Place, Arcadia, CA 91007. The CTF joins in honoring the memory of those whose names appear in bold type. We also thank and acknowledge the donors for their generous contributions.

JEANNE LAPEYRE CANTY Tracy Gantz

Irvin Racing Stable’s Sensible Cat brings home her frst stakes victory in the Soviet Problem at Los Alamitos

© BENOIT PHOTO

BY TRACY GANTZ

Sensible Cat’s pedigree indicates distance. Her sire, Bluegrass Cat, and broodmare sire, Street Sense, both performed well in the Triple Crown races. So it isn’t a surprise she has won two races at a mile, yet was unplaced at six furlongs.

“We thought right away she was going to be a horse that wanted two turns,” said Carla Gaines, who trains the flly for Irvin Racing Stable.

In just her third start, Sensible Cat became a stakes winner, defeating nine other 2-year-old fllies in the Dec. 12 Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Sensible Cat debuted on the fnal day of Del Mar’s summer meet, Sept. 7. In a six-furlong maiden special weight for California-breds or California-sired runners, she was a bit fractious in the gate, getting away second-to-last in the 10-horse feld. Sensible Cat ran sixth at 15-1.

“We sprinted her once to get her some experience, and we couldn’t wait to get her going two turns,” said Gaines.

Tat opportunity arose Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Sensible Cat switched surfaces, to a mile on the turf, again facing Calbred and Cal-sired maidens. Sitting fourth early, she took command in the upper stretch and scored by two lengths as the fourth choice in the feld of 10.

Sensible Cat remained in state-bred competition for the $100,000 Soviet Problem, again at a mile but back on the dirt. Once again 10 horses lined up, with stakes-placed Dylans Wild Cat sent of as the 5-2 favorite.

Juan Hernandez rode Sensible Cat for the frst time.

“Carla had me watch the replay of her last race and said to ride her that way,” the jockey explained.

Hernandez let Sensible Cat settle into sixth behind Mucha Woman’s early pace. He split horses going into the second turn. Tat still left them four wide into the stretch. But Sensible Cat never gave up, passing Dylans Wild Cat to take the lead and drawing of to win by 13⁄4 lengths in 1:37.94. Governor Goteven came on to nab second by a half-length over Dylans Wild Cat.

Gaines called the efort “tremendous” and noted that “it’s nice to know we have the option of grass or dirt with her.”

Gaines has trained for the Irvin family for some time. She conditioned Smokey Image for them to a Cal-bred champion 2-year-old male title in 2015. Robert and Betty Irvin and their daughter, Diane, bred horses in the name of C-Punch Ranch. Robert died before Smokey Image reached the races.

Te Irvins continue to breed in the C-Punch Ranch name. Sensible Girl, the dam of Sensible Cat, is unraced. Te mare’s sire, Street Sense, won the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1), both at 11⁄4 miles. Sensible Cat’s sire, Bluegrass Cat, fnished second in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, 11⁄2-mile Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers and won the 11⁄8-mile Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1).

Ray Bell purchased Sensible Girl as a weanling for $35,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency at the 2010 Keeneland November sale. Sensible Girl has produced three winners from four starters, including 2018 E. B. Johnston Stakes winner Shades of Victory, by Torn Song.

BY TRACY GANTZ

Tom and Debi Stull come up with good names for the many horses they breed and race at Tommy Town Toroughbreds. Loud Mouth may be one of the best, being by Boisterous out of Drama Cat.

California-bred

Loud Mouth made plenty of noise in the $100,500 Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 22, though not for the Stulls. Tey raced the 4-year-old colt early in his career but lost him

© BENOIT PHOTO

for $40,000 last year. Trainer Steve Knapp claimed Loud

Thomsen Racing and Steve Knapp’s Loud Mouth defeats a power-packed feld in the Cary Grant at Del Mar

Mouth for himself and Tomsen Racing.

To that point, Loud Mouth had won three times in eight starts. Since the claim, he had won just twice, the second win coming Oct. 25 at Santa Anita in allowance/optional claiming company. Loud Mouth was in for $40,000 with no takers.

Te seven-furlong Cary Grant brought together seven Cal-breds: three 3-yearolds and four older runners. Take the One O One is the champion Cal-bred 3-year-old male of 2018, and El Tigre Terrible tied with Phantom Boss for champion 2-year-old male honors last year. Favored Galilean’s six lifetime wins have all come in stakes. Loud Mouth went of as the third-longest shot of the feld at 13-1.

Bettor Trip Nick, a two-time stakes winner in 2019, set a quick pace, completing a quarter-mile in :22.13 and a half-mile in :44.94.

“I could tell they were going fast up front, but I had my eye on the favorite,” said Abel Cedillo, who piloted Loud Mouth.

Galilean raced in second early, and Cedillo sat just of his hip with Loud Mouth. Take the One O One ranged up to the front in the turn, and Loud Mouth challenged him for the lead in the stretch. Te two battled for a few strides before Loud Mouth edged away to win by three-quarters of a length. He stopped the timer in 1:22.34.

Take the One O One fnished 31⁄2 lengths ahead of third-place Rookie Mistake. Galilean, El Tigre Terrible, Oliver, and Bettor Trip Nick rounded out the feld.

Tommy Town has bred three other winners from Drama Cat, including Whatsallthedrama, a flly by Whatsthescript who fnished second in the 2013 Generous Portion Stakes, also at Del Mar. Drama Cat is a Cal-bred winning daughter of Tale of the Cat. Loud Mouth’s third dam is Jade Flush, an Allen Paulson-bred earner of $481,518 who won the 1994 Rare Perfume Handicap (G2T) at Belmont Park.

Boisterous, a son of Distorted Humor, stood at Tommy Town in Santa Ynez until moving to Pennsylvania. He led California frst-crop sires in 2018. Loud Mouth is from that frst crop.

NEW YEAR DREAMS BEGIN AT JANUARY’S CTBA MIXED SALE

Breeders who are looking to replenish their broodmare bands will fnd plenty to choose from at the California Toroughbred Breeders Association mixed sale. Beginning at noon Jan. 6, the sale is scheduled to be held at the Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex Park.

Te catalog includes a host of mares in foal to a variety of California sires, as well as 2-year-olds, yearlings, and older horses of racing age. Covering stallions include such leading California sires as Clubhouse Ride, Grazen, and Smiling Tiger, as well as newer stallion additions such as Danzing Candy, I’ll Have Another, Sir Prancealot, and Stay Tirsty.

Stay Tirsty, whose frst California foals are 2-year-olds of 2021, has proved popular at recent sales. Not only is he a covering sire of mares in the catalog, but he has several yearlings and 2-year-olds being ofered for sale.

Stay Tirsty stands at Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Ranch, and Lovacres is bringing a large consignment to the January sale. Hip #10, Light Striker, is a 2011 daughter of Afeet Alex out of the stakes-winning Editor’s Note mare Lacie Girl. She is the only mare in the catalog in foal to champion I’ll Have Another.

Lovacres has entered mares in the sale in foal to Stay Tirsty by such sires as Bodemeister, Medaglia d’Oro, Scat Daddy, Unbridled’s Song, and War Front. Lovacres has also cataloged a yearling colt by Stay Tirsty out of the stakes-winning Closing Argument mare My Irish Girl.

Bloodstock agent Andy Havens has also consigned a mare in foal to Stay Tirsty as part of his Havens Bloodstock Agency Inc. group. California Curl is a 9-year-old daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin out of the stakesplaced Swiss Yodeler mare Lovehi. California Curl is a half sister to multiple stakes-placed Milton Freewater.

Havens is also bringing a consignment for Liberty Road Stables. Tat group has several 2-year-olds from Danzing Candy’s frst crop.

Tom Bachman’s Fairview has topped many California sales. Fairview is offering two yearlings and two mares. Both mares are in foal to Danzing Candy, and one of the yearlings is also by the stallion. Tat colt is out of the Malibu Moon mare Moon River Gal, a half sister to two graded winners.

Adrian Gonzalez has been instrumental in standing Danzing Candy and Sir Prancealot in California, at Rancho San Miguel. Gonzalez’ Checkmate Toroughbreds is ofering mares in foal to both stallions. Tose in foal to Sir Prancealot include My Sweet Afeet, a 10-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex—A. P. Baby, by A. P. Indy. My Sweet Afeet is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Enchanting Lady.

Te Checkmate consignment includes several broodmare prospects. Pretty Mischief is a 3-year-old daughter of top sire Into Mischief, the sire of Horse of the Year contender Authentic. Pretty Mischief is out of the stakes-winning Strong Contender mare Miss Da Point.

Sue Greene’s Woodbridge Farm is bringing a strong consignment. Lista Lucca, also in foal to Sir Prancealot, is a 6-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger— King City Kitty, by Gotham City. She is a full sister to California-bred champion El Tigre Terrible.

Woodbridge’s 2-year-olds headed for the sale include a Cal-bred son of Flintshire out of the multiple group stakes winning Flag Down mare Minallon.

Shane Easterbrook’s Easterbrook Livestock Management has several mares in foal to Grazen, as well as Egyptian Empire, in foal to Danzing Candy. A 10-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, Egyptian Empire is out of the stakes-placed Stephen Got Even mare Debbie Got Even.

BOLD CHIEFTAIN Fee: $3,000 LF | G.S.M 64.4 Chief Seattle – Hooked On Music, by Seattle Dancer •

ONLY TWO-TIME CAL CUP CLASSIC WINNER AND 50TH CAL-BRED MILLOINAIRE A versatile racehorse who won black-type races on all-weather, grass & dirt surfaces. Graded stakes winner of 18 races, 14 stakes, with earnings of $1,683,181. Posted Triple Digit Beyers on Dirt and Turf. Won Grade 2, $150,000 San Francisco Mile, defeating multiple Grade 2 winner MONTEREY JAZZ. Runners are led by Fran’s Valentine S. Winner MOONLESS SKY ($287,130) Average earnings per starter $49,102

MANY RIVERS Fee: $3,000 LF | G.S.M. 77.5 Storm Cat – Christmas in Aiken, by Afrmed

• HALF-BROTHER TO 3 TIME G1 WINNER HARLAN’S HOLIDAY, SIRE

OF LEADING SIRE INTO MISCHIEF • MANY RIVERS at 2, scored a gate-to-wire win going 5½ furlongs at

Bay Meadows Racecourse when defeating multiple graded stakes winner AUTISM AWARENESS and ran third in the one-mile Gold Rush • Stakes to multiple graded stakes winner EL GATO MALO. • MANY RIVERS at 3, won a six-furlong allowance race at Golden Gate

Fields gate-to-wire. • By G1 2YO winner & record SEVEN-TIME Leading Juvenile Sire STORM

CAT, sire of 181 stakes winners, including 16 champions led by GIANT’S

CAUSEWAY, leading sire twice.

GIG HARBOR Fee: $2,000 LF | Fee: $2,000 LF | G.S.M 64.4 City Zip – Miss Blue Grass, by St. Jovite City Zip – Miss Blue Grass, by St. Jovite

• ONLY STAKES WINNING SON OF CITY ZIP AT STUD IN CA • Multiple Stakes Winner with fve wins from 6 fur. to 1 1/16 miles • By Top Sprinter and Leading Sire CITY ZIP • CITY ZIP is the sire of leading young sires RUN AWAY AND HIDE,

PALACE, BUSTIN STONES, etc., and Horse of the Year in Canada CATCH

A GLIMPSE, Champions DAYATTHESPA, WORK ALL WEEK, FINEST

CITY, DANA MY LOVE, etc

G. G. RYDER Fee: $2,000 LF Fee: $2,000 LF Ch. h. by Chhaya Dance – Stormy Gigi by Storm Boot Ch. h. by Chhaya Dance – Stormy Gigi by Storm Boot • MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER OF $747,519 • Out of the stakes winning A.P. Indy mare, CHHAYA DANCE. • Won All America Stakes (G3) Twice. • Won Bull Dog Stakes Wire-To-Wire. • Placed in the Berkeley H (G3) three times. • Stakes Winner on Turf, Dirt and Artifcial Surfaces.

Tiznow “wins it for America” as he defeats Sakhee, outside, in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Belmont Park

BY EMILY SHIELDS

WinStar Farm stallion manager Larry McGinnis was not pontifcating when he called California-bred Tiznow “one of the greatest racehorses of all time.” And while there are other Golden State stars who had brilliant careers on the racetrack—from California Chrome to Swaps—none had as prolifc a second career as Tiznow, who was ofcially pensioned from stallion duty in October.

SKIP DICKSTEIN

A strapping bay with two Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) wins to his credit and earnings of $6,427,830, Tiznow, raced by Cecilia Straub-Rubens, Pam Ziebarth, Kevin Cochrane, and Michael Cooper, has sired fve champions among his 90 stakes winners. His progeny earnings are closing in on $96 million to date.

Tiznow defed the odds at every turn, starting with his modest pedigree. StraubRubens matched her winning Seattle Song mare Cee’s Song, who earned just $82,225, to her graded stakes-placed Cee’s Tizzy, a son of Relaunch. A dual allowance winner at Del Mar of impressive speed after breaking his maiden at Hollywood Park, Cee’s Tizzy shipped to Louisiana Downs and ran third in the Super Derby (G1) before an injury ended his racing career.

With no major win to his credit, Cee’s Tizzy hardly looked like California’s heir

apparent in the stallion ranks. But the gray horse went on to shine, with grade 1 winners Gourmet Girl and Cost of Freedom to his credit. But perhaps his three best were all from the mating with Cee’s Song.

Budroyale came frst, foaled in 1993. Te nondescript bay gelding won 17 of 52 starts for earnings of $2,840,810. He broke his maiden for a $50,000 claiming tag in 1995 and went on to win four grade 2 races and run second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Te youngest of the three, Tizbud, was foaled in 1999. A grade 2-placed winner of the 2003 California Cup Classic Handicap, he became a strong sire in his own right, with grade 1-placed millionaire Soi Phet and grade 1 grass winner Tiz Flirtatious. He is also the sire of 2019 Golden Gate Fields

Grade 1s coast to coast as Tiznow takes the Santa Anita Handicap

stakes winner Kitty Boom Boom.

Looming large among his brothers is Tiznow, who was foaled March 12, 1997, at Harris Farms in Coalinga.

“He was very sure of himself from Day 1,” Ziebarth said. “In the barn he would get a little crazy. He could hear the rattling of his favorite peppermint wrappers and would get everyone’s attention to bring him one. As soon as you didn’t have any treats left, your arm or fngers would do. He was kind of menacing that way.”

But he was talented enough to leave

© BENOIT PHOTOS

Tiznow with trainer Jay Robbins and his wife, Sandy intact, unlike gelded brother Budroyale. Under the tutelage of trainer Jay Robbins and while in the colors of Cooper and Straub-Rubens, Tiznow had an inauspicious debut at Santa Anita at age 3 in 2000, running sixth going six furlongs. It took him three tries to break his maiden, but he did it in style going two turns at Hollyfeld that included eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) third and Kentucky Derby (G1) starter Nationalore and stakes winner Valiant Wonder.

Jockey Alex Solis has been aboard for the maiden win. But for the $134,250 Afrmed Handicap (G3), the rider was committed to three-time graded winner Dixie Union, who would subsequently take the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1). Tiznow needed a new pilot, picking up Victor Espinoza. Te Afrmed feld included grade 3 winner Millencolin, millionaire Cal-bred Grey Memo, multiple graded stakes winner Performing Magic, and stakes winner Hemmingsway. Tiznow was 10-1 and scored by a neck.

wood Park, romping 81⁄2 lengths clear of a

He ran second in both the Swaps Stakes (G1) and the $1 million Pacifc Classic Stakes (G1), with the latter being his frst start for jockey Chris McCarron. Te two

would go on to make history together.

Tiznow also won the $500,000 grade 1 Super Derby by six lengths over Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Commendable, then defeated grade 1 hero Captain Steve and a feld of older rivals in the $418,000

Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2). But he was still something of an enigma going into the 2000 Breeders’

Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs, where he would meet a feld that included superb Kentucky Derby winner

Fusaichi Pegasus, defending champion

Cat Tief, multiple grade 1 winner

Lemon Drop Kid, and European superhorse Giant’s Causeway.

In one of the greatest stretch drives of all time, pacesetter Tiznow and Giant’s Causeway hooked up just past the quarter pole and battled all the way to the wire. Te Irish standout had every reason to pass Tiznow on the outside, but the bay horse on the rail battled back relentlessly and scored by a neck, ultimately earning him the title of

Horse of the Year.

“I think because he was a Cal-bred, he was not recognized by the rest of the nation,” Ziebarth said. “He had not traveled to race on the East Coast, and he didn’t have the kind of breeding they would be watching. But if they didn’t notice him before, they did after.”

Just three days after the win, Straub-

Rubens died, and daughter Ziebarth inherited her mother’s horses. Te ownership group of Ziebarth, estate director Cooper, and Cochrane ofcially became Cee’s Stable. But trainer

Robbins began to experience difculties with Tiznow, who sufered from back problems and could be exceptionally ornery about training.

Robbins carefully campaigned Tiznow through a roller-coaster season in 2001. He won the San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G2), but fnished second in the Strub Stakes (G2), beaten two lengths with no apparent excuse. Tiznow made the Santa Anita grandstand rumble when he won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (G1) by fve lengths, then was of until the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in September, where he fnished third. He could not successfully defend his title in the

Goodwood, running third yet again as the favorite behind 39-1 shot Freedom Crest.

“He wasn’t training like himself,” McCarron said. “He was being a little obstreperous, and his eagerness to train wasn’t there. I was on board a week before his second run in the Classic to work him a mile before shipping to New York. He didn’t want to go. He stood on the track and refused to move until he was ready, which was about 40 minutes later. Ten he breezed beautifully. I had no idea which Tiznow was going to show up on Classic day.”

Just a year removed from his dramatic win, Tiznow was a 6-1 shot to repeat in the $4 million Classic, that year run at Belmont Park in New York. Te race featured runners such as Irish standout Galileo, grade 1 winner Albert the Great, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Macho Uno, future Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Orientate, and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Sakhee.

Tiznow did not break on top. From post position 10 he was hustled by McCarron to be third early. Sakhee got the jump on Tiznow into the stretch, but Tiznow hooked him on the inside and refused to yield. He won by just a nose.

In an emotional moment, announcer Tom Durkin exclaimed, “Tiznow wins it for America!” as the victory came just six weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that leveled the two World Trade Center buildings in New York City. Despite a rough year Tiznow had dug down to score on America’s biggest stage, when so many were still grieving.

“Riding him was basically awesome,” McCarron said. “He was such a talented animal with a lot of stamina, a lot of courage, and a tremendous desire to win. My personal favorite win was his second Classic, because he showed his constitution.”

“I got to experience one of his Classic wins with my mother and one without,” Ziebarth said. “He made a major change in my life, because if he wasn’t as big and as great as he was, I wouldn’t have been able to stay in (racing). He gave me the opportunity to use his funding to carry my whole stable, which made the diference to me staying in the game.”

Tiznow, with eight wins, four seconds, and two thirds in 15 starts, ended up with three Eclipse Awards in addition to four Cal-bred championships, including two state-bred Horse of the Year titles. He was retired to WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., as a joint venture with Taylor Made Farm. When stallion manager McGinnis frst received the horse at the farm, he wasn’t sure what to expect.

“I learned he was a very smart horse, one of the smartest I’ve ever been around,” McGinnis said. “He feeds of your responses. If you’re nervous, he’s nervous. Someone got stung by a bee around him once and was screaming bloody murder, but I just stood there, so he just stood there.”

Tiznow’s stud fee was set at $30,000 that frst year, but ultimately reached $75,000 during his heyday. In his frst crop, daughter Folklore evoked memories of her sire when she won the Alberto VO5 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Belmont Park. In 2008 Da’ Tara upset Big Brown’s Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes (G1), while Colonel John won both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1). In 2009, the same year Tiznow was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, son Well Armed won the Dubai World Cup by 14 lengths. Two years later Tizway took both the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and the Whitney Invitational (G1) in New York.

Tiznow’s champions included Bear Now in Canada, Blue Chipper in Korea, Folklore in the United States, and Igor and Halagadora in Mexico. He also sired grade 1 or grade 2 winners Irap, Morning Line, Tiz a Slam, Bullsbay, and Gemologist.

“I’m so happy with the way he turned out as a stallion,” McCarron said. “He is proving to be a very good broodmare sire as well.”

As a broodmare sire, Tiznow has been racking up wins with horses such as grade 2 winner Tiz Midnight out of his grade

1-winning daughter Tough Tiz’s Sis, while

another grade 1-winning mare, Tiz Miz Sue, produced a $2.5 million yearling in Tatweej. Millionaires include Noble Bird, Welder, It Tiz Well, Mr. Money, True Timber, Come Dancing, and the mighty Tiz the Law, who won the 2020 Belmont

Stakes and Runhappy Travers Stakes.

Tiznow has been giving back to his original supporters, too, as WinStar

ANNE M. EBERHARDT

The handsome Tiznow in his second career at WinStar Farm in Kentucky Farm stands his son Tourist. Tat dark bay colt won the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) over the great mare Tepin and has frst-crop juveniles in 2020.

Ziebarth campaigned the likes of

grade 1 winner Healthy Addiction, who is the dam of Tiznow’s grade 1-winning daughter My Sweet Addiction.

While his legacy is sure to be felt for generations, Tiznow, who ofcially turned 24 Jan. 1, is getting to live out his days in luxury.

“Now that he’s retired, he does what he wants to do,” McGinnis said. “If he’s in the

When Tiznow’s pensioning from stud duty was announced, McGinnis noted that the horse received four or fve gift baskets.

“He’s got a lot of fans. People ask us where are we sending him. He’s not going anywhere. He has lived across from Distorted Humor almost his whole life. He comes out and puts his ears up like a statue for the fans. Tis is his home, and he’s one of the greatest racehorses of all time. He’s staying right here.”

UNBRIDLED’S SONG – SWEETEST SMILE, BY DEHERE

2017 A Leading First Crop Sire By Winners Nation wide 2018 Top Five Second Crop Sire By Earnings Nation wide 2019 Top Ten Third Crop Sire By Earnings Nation wide 2019 California Leading Third Crop Sire By Earnings $2,824,958 2019 California Leading Third Crop Sire By Winners 56 winners

GR 1 Winner of 5 of 6 Races $841.560.00 Donn Handicap (GR 1) by 3 lengths Speed Rating 109 Kelso Invitational Handicap (GR 2) mile in 1:34 flat gate to wire Speed Rating 106 New Orleans Handicap (GR 2) Speed Rating 118

Standing in California 2021 FEE: $4,000 LFG Covid-19, multi mare and stakes producer discounts

Inquiries to Linda Madsen 34174 De Portola Road, Temecula, CA 92592 (909) 241-6600 • Email milkywaycattle@aol.com WWW.MILKYWAYTHOROUGHBREDS.COM

CTBA Member PROFILE

BY EMILY SHIELDS

With a son drafted into the Atlanta Braves baseball team out of high school and a daughter who is a multiple national champion ice skater, Gary Hartunian dedicated much of his life to sport. When the children’s respective careers ended, the real estate giant found he missed the thrill.

He likes to joke that he could have bought a plane or a yacht, but instead opted to buy a horse at Del Mar.

With the help of trainer Peter Miller, Hartunian bought his f rst horse in 2012. He went to $50,000 to secure the race-ready gelding Fast N Furius Cat at the Barretts paddock sale at Del Mar, earned $8,520 next out when the horse ran third, and then lost him for $32,000 just one month after buying him. Undeterred, Hartunian jumped in.

“One thing led to another, and I bought about 25 horses,” he said.

Rockingham Ranch’s Gary Hartunian, left, accepts the winner’s trophy for Eclipse champion Roy H’s Palos Verdes score at Santa Anita

© BENOIT PHOTO

Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch quickly rode a meteoric rise to fame. He won 12 races in 2013, then another 22 in 2014. He broke the $1 million earnings barrier in 2015 with the help of horses such as California-bred Richard’s Boy, a son of Idiot Proof—Marissa’s Joy, by Cee’s Tizzy, who won stakes races at Santa Anita,Santa Rosa, and Pimlico.

Cal-bred runners propelled the stable through 2016 as well, headed by the brilliant California Diamond, who became the Golden State’s champion 2-year-old male. T e son of Harbor the Gold—Carrie’s a Jewel, by Slewdledo, won f ve times that year with four seconds, and racked up victories in the $125,345 Santa Anita Juvenile, $100,000 Barretts Juvenile, $84,745 Speakeasy, and the $196,000 Golden State Juvenile stakes. California Diamond was also second in the Bob Hope Stakes (G3).

He wasn’t the only good Cal-bred that year for Rockingham. Bad Ju Ju won the $94,935 Kalookan Queen Stakes and four other races, and Richard’s Boy placed in four stakes, including the grade 3 Eddie D Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita.

T e year 2017 handed Hartunian the highest highs and staggering lows. Rockingham Ranch won a pair of Breeders’ Cup races with Roy H ($1,380,000 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint, G1) and Stormy Liberal ($920,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, G1T). But just one month later California Diamond was lost in the raging Lilac Fire at San Luis Rey Downs. T e

heartbreaking event took the lives of 46 horses.

“We certainly had a setback with the fre,” Hartunian said. But the tragedy allowed him the chance to redefne and revamp his operation. “Going forward, it’s been like running a minor league baseball team. We’ve gone for younger horses, buying yearlings and developing them.”

In 2018, Roy H and Stormy Liberal (both co-owned with David Bernsen) successfully defending their Breeders’ Cup titles and won Eclipse Awards, Roy H for the second time. Te quick sprinter Bobby Abu Dhabi, also owned by Rockingham and Bernsen, was a grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed at Santa Anita. Hartunian’s rise among the top owners in the game was complete.

“We’ve gotten more diverse out there,” he said, noting he has runners in Kentucky and West Virginia with trainers such as Steve Asmussen, Wesley Ward, and Jef Runco. “I’ve been careful to give trainers the horses that ft their program and fourish, such as distance horses, dirt horses, and grass horses going to diferent people. I’ve been working with Kim Lloyd, who bought me 15 really nice horses. I’m getting pumped up about the future because of all import Masterofoxhounds, a son of War Front and the group 1-placed Galileo mare Outstanding, as well as classy juvenile Gypsy King. And while he waits for a host of youngsters to reach the races, Hartunian has Mo See Cal to enjoy.

Cal-bred Mo See Cal is by Uncle Mo and out of the Lydgate mare ners Wow Cat (Chi), Street Band, and Paradise Woods. She was away from the races for an entire year

© BENOIT PHOTO

Cal-bred Mo See Cal takes the Betty Grable Stakes at Del Mar for Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch but returned in style, taking the $101,000 Betty Grable Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 8. On that occasion, she and jockey Flavien Prat defeated top division rivals Warren’s Showtime and race favorite Just Grazed Me.

“She came back real strong

— Gary Hartunian in her return on the dirt,” Hartunian said. “Ten there was no place to run, so we tried turf but she didn’t like it. She will come back at Santa Anita and run seven furlongs there, which will hit her right where she wants to be. She had a knee issue that we had to clean up, but hopefully she can have another year racing. If not, she will become a broodmare and be sent to (Triple Crown winner) Justify.”

With more than $11.7 million in purse earnings in just eight years of racing, Rockingham Ranch has become one of the most competitive outfts in

these nice-looking young horses developing.”

Among them are European

Do Dat Blues. Te 2015 gray mare was good enough to fnish sixth in the 2019 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaf (G1), defeating grade 1 winthe game. Although the operation

SKIP DICKSTEIN

Two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Roy H in his Del Mar victory

ANNE M. EBERHARDT

Hartunian, center, enjoys the Breeders’ Cup ceremony for Stormy Liberal’s second consecutive win in the Turf Sprint is now nationwide, California is still home.

“Santa Anita is probably the nicest place I’ve ever been,” Hartunian said. It’s just gorgeous and has so much history. You just feel old school when you go there. Ten there is Del Mar, where you just relax, go to dinners, talk to your friends. It’s like being in Hawaii in California. I think both of those tracks are just phenomenal, and they did a great job of cleaning things up and going over the horses with a fne-tooth comb to make sure they are sound before they run. Everything they’ve done lately is good.”

Hartunian is the frst to admit that the racing game snowballed on him, as his stable has grown to 98 horses.