Golden State Series Soviet Problem Stakes

CAL-BRED PRIDE

PROFESSORS’ PRIDE SOLVES SOVIET PROBLEM

BY TRACY GANTZ

Professors’ Pride epitomizes the importance of that California-bred designation. Her connections never would have even looked at her at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale had she not been a Cal-bred. Instead, they got a stakes winner, as Professors’ Pride in just her second start won the $101,500 Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 10.

Eddie Truman trains Professors’ Pride for Larry and Carolyn Samovar’s Academic Farms. Bloodstock agent Gayle Van Leer purchased the 2019 daughter of Bayern—Last Resort, by Twirling Candy, for $60,000 at the sale from breeder and consignor Glen Hill Farm.

Te group hadn’t found the right Calbred in their price range at that year’s Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale. Van Leer headed to the Kentucky sale, and she recalled that the catalog had only fve Calbreds. She quickly zeroed in on Professors’ Pride as the best of the bunch.

“She was just very, very athletic, a super mover, and a smooth flly,” said Van Leer. “She’s bred by Glen Hill Farm, and she’s got family behind her.”

Bayern won the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita and is also the sire of Cal-bred stakes winners Bella Vita and Leggs Galore. Professors’ Pride is the second foal of Glen Hill homebred Last Resort, who is out of Argentine group winner Minallon.

Truman unveiled Professors’ Pride at Del Mar Nov. 14 in a six-furlong Cal-bred maiden race. Te second choice at 8-5, she defeated favored Bold Choice by a length, a Grazen flly who had already competed in two stakes.

“When she started working I was kind of upset with the exercise riders working her too fast,” said Truman. “Ten I realized that she’s fast and she’s good. She would come back and not blow out a match. I wanted to run her two turns the frst time, but there wasn’t a race, so I had to sprint her.”

Te Soviet Problem at a mile was ideal as the second start for Professors’ Pride, though the competition wasn’t easy. Te race attracted two-time stakes winner At the Spa and stakes-placed Big Novel, Madiha, and Munny Penny.

Professors’ Pride went of as a narrow favorite over Big Novel and went to the front early for jockey Juan Hernandez.

“She broke sharp and was very comfortable on the lead,” Hernandez said.

Tough pressured from both the outside by At the Spa and from the inside from Madiha, Professors’ Pride never relinquished the lead and won easily. She defeated Big Novel by three lengths, stopping the clock in 1:36.94. Madiha fnished third.

“She changed leads at the quarter pole and was waiting for company,” said Hernandez. “She was very professional.”

Added Truman, “Tat’s what we were hoping for.”

Academic Farms’ Professors’ Pride schools the Soviet Problem feld with a three-length passing grade in her second lifetime start

© BENOIT PHOTOS

Trainer Eddie Truman, right, heads the winner’s circle celebration for Professors’ Pride’s Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos