California Thoroughbred Magazine April 2025

From the EXECUTIVE CORNER

BURGE CTBA PRESIDENT

THE CHOSEN VRON JOINS EXCLUSIVE CLUB

For more than a half century, the California oroughbred Breeders Association has honored state-bred champions, capped by the prestigious title of Horse of the Year. In that time, 11 horses have been dominant enough to win that award multiple times, including the most recent, e Chosen Vron. e 7-year-old gelded son of Vronsky, bred by Tiz Molly Partners, retired with an ankle injury in March, only days after successfully defending his title as Cal-bred of the Year for 2024. He joined the crème de la crème of state-bred royalty that includes two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow (2000-01) and legendary former claimer Lava Man (2005-06), among other notables.

In fact, since the award was rst given in 1973, there have been 10 multiple winners of Horse of the Year in consecutive seasons and one, California Chrome, who took the award twice in a three-year span (2014, 2016), en route to becoming the all-time leading Cal-bred earner by banking $14,752,650.

Retirement prevented e Chosen Vron from attempting to join an even more exclusive Cal-bred club, that of three-time winners of the Horse of the Year. Only Preakness

Stakes winner Snow Chief (198587) and six-time Grade I winner Best Pal (1990-92) pulled o that trifecta. Others on the honor roll of repeat Cal-bred Horses of the Year are Ancient Title (1974-75), Crystal Water (1976-77), Free House (1987-88), Acclamation (2011-12), and the only female in the group, Spiced Perfection (2018-19).

e Chosen Vron’s career earnings of $1,709,678 puts him 19th on the all-time Cal-bred earnings list, with 19 wins in 25 starts, a higher win

percentage than any of the 18 ahead of him. Of the 19 wins, 18 were in stakes, including the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes twice.

Although breeding won’t be in e Chosen Vron’s future, his owners have indicated a second career as a therapy horse could be an option when he heals. His ultra-consistent record on the track and widespread popularity o it should also put him on the radar for at least one more crowning achievement.

From the group of 11 multiple Cal-bred Horses of the Year, ve have been inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame–Ancient Title, Best Pal, Tiznow, Lava Man, and California Chrome. e Chosen Vron’s career trajectory most closely resembles that of Ancient Title.

“He’s been the horse of a lifetime for all of us,” part owner and breeder John Sondereker said.

Sondereker, trainer Eric Kruljac, Richard ornburgh, and Robert Fetkin bred e Chosen Vron in the name of Tiz Molly Partners, and the four have raced him throughout his career.

For the complete list of Cal-bred champions, see pages 28-29.

DOUG

The Chosen Vron is the 11th to win California-bred Horse of the Year twice

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The official magazine of California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, a non-profit corporation dedicated to the production of better Thoroughbred horses for better Thoroughbred racing, published by Blood-Horse, LLC.

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For the second consecutive year, The Chosen Vron was named California-bred Horse of the Year, champion older male, and champion sprinter. He and the other champions were honored by the CTBA March 3 and also honored in the pages of this issue.

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NewsBits

CAL-BREDS

IN TIP PROGRAM

California-bred Nil Phet placed seventh among 182 Thoroughbreds in the dressage category of The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program. Olivia Bodner rode Nil Phet, a 9-year-old son of Tizbud—Summer Jersey, by Siberian Summer, bred by S Samdow Inc.

In addition, Nil Phet was named champion in the First West division and reserve in the Training West division, both in dressage. He also received a reserve in Beginning Novice West, eventing.

Other Cal-breds to receive reserve awards in various disciplines included Khun Nit (a 15-year-old son of Cayoke ridden by Jennifer Greene), Suances Secret (a 10-year-old son of Suances ridden by Kathleen Boyle), and Super Tony (an 8-year-old son of Calimonco ridden by Crystal Rubin).

The TIP program encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds in other disciplines after their racing and/or breeding careers. The TIP awards recognize Thoroughbreds accumulating the most points at all horse shows. In 2024, 691 Thoroughbreds competed in more than 14,000 classes, divisions, and events.

The Jockey Club is also now offering an equineline.com report centered on

Vivian Montoya Retires

Vivian Montoya, who has worked at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association since 1989, retired March 27. She has handled a variety of duties over the years for the organization but is best known as the longtime CTBA librarian.

Perhaps no one has been as knowledgeable as Montoya about what research material has been available at the CTBA library. It has housed the extensive Carleton F. Burke Library collection and continues to include bound volumes of this magazine, BloodHorse, and several other racing publications.. Anyone who has visited the library or called for information has found Montoya a fount of information

and ready to help.

Montoya’s other recent responsibilities have been as the CTBA’s receptionist, as well as handling membership and subscriptions. She initially began working for the CTBA to oversee the Stallion Directory, and she has worked in the CTBA computer room and helped set up the CTBA website in its first year. She also lent considerable help to the California Thoroughbred Foundation.

Questions for Montoya and the library have come from around the world. She has assisted in research for numerous books, as well as movies and documentaries on such subjects as the popular Seabiscuit and many top California-breds.

Thoroughbreds in their second careers, available for purchase on any registered Thoroughbred.

The report, 9OT, provides information customized to off-track Thoroughbred owners and those shopping for a Thoroughbred. Based on feedback received from off-track Thoroughbred owners, the report contains a bespoke summary of the horse’s race record, including comments, owners, and trainers for each race; the last 10 workouts; a list of the horse’s siblings; auction history; and, if applicable, the subject mare’s produce record.

To encourage the promotion of Thoroughbreds in their second career, this report is shareable through SMS messaging and email and across multiple platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X.

KENDRICK CARMOUCHE SELECTED FOR WOOLF AWARD

Kendrick Carmouche, a multiple leading rider at Parx in Pennsylvania, has been selected to receive Santa Anita’s 2025 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.

Carmouche, 41, was born in Vinton, La., and began riding at age 16. The son of jockey Sylvester Carmouche Jr., Kendrick started riding in 2008. He has won four straight riding titles and seven overall at Parx. Carmouche is known for his positive attitude and consistent ability to produce with any kind of horse at any price. He is approaching 4,000 career winners.

Inducted into the Parx Hall of Fame in 2015, Carmouche has been based in New York since 2015. He won riding titles at Aqueduct during its 2020 fall meet and 2023 spring meet. His top mounts have included Christophe Clement-trained Pure Sensation, a three-time winner of the Turf Monster Stakes (G3T) at Parx, twice when ridden by Carmouche.

Presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950, the Woolf Award can only be given to an individual jockey once. It is named for the late Hall of Fame jockey who rode regularly at Santa Anita and piloted Seabiscuit to defeat Triple Crown Champion War Admiral in a match race at Pimlico Race Course Nov. 1, 1938. The award, determined by a vote from fellow riders, recognizes those jockeys whose careers and personal character garner esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

Montoya

Carmouche

Fasig-Tipton Upset

Price Now $2,000

Fasig-Tipton announced that its upset price, or minimum bid, for all live and digital auctions has been increased to $2,000. The company’s previous upset price was $1,000 and had been in place since 2000. The new price took effect with the Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale.

“The $1,000 upset price was instituted 25 years ago, and the time has come for it to be raised in support of our industry’s long-term commitment to Thoroughbred welfare,” said Boyd Browning, president of Fasig-Tipton.

“The value of the dollar has certainly increased over time, and by raising our upset price, we are better ensuring responsible horse ownership for years to come.”

Fasig-Tipton conducts a major yearling sale in California. This year’s edition is slated for Sept. 23 in Pomona. Entries close July 7.

Collmus Replaces Retiring Denman

Del Mar announcer Trevor Denman has retired after 40 years on the job at that track. Larry Collmus, who has called the Del Mar fall seasons since 2020 and is the voice of the Triple Crown events for NBC Sports, will replace Denman.

Denman, 72, who first started calling races in 1971 in his native South Africa, has been at Del Mar for all but one summer racing season since 1984. A Southern California racing institution, he also served as the caller at Santa Anita from 1983-2015, and at one time called races at every stop on the Southern California circuit, including Hollywood Park and Fairplex Park.

“This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” Denman said. “But my soul is telling me that now is the time.”

Denman called races for more than 50 years. He also worked at tracks in the Bay Area and on the East Coast, as well as calling the Breeders’ Cup races when ESPN had the TV rights. Additionally, he provided the calls in several racing movies and dozens of television shows. He currently lives with his wife, Robin, on a 500-acre farm in Minnesota.

Collmus, 58, has called races around the world since his first at Bowie Race Track in Maryland in 1985. His first full-time job as a track announcer came when he was 20 at Birmingham Turf Club in Alabama. Since then, he has called such important races as American Pharoah’s Triple Crown run in 2015, every Breeders’ Cup performance since 2012, and the 2023 Dubai World Cup.

SMILING MOLLY RETIRES

California-bred Smiling Molly, and earner of more than $200,000, has been retired, according to W. Morgan Fussell Jr., managing partner of owner Hoof Pick Racing Partners.

Fussell bred Smiling Molly, a 6-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger, in partnership with Joseph Wisner.

“Molly was the second foal from the Exchange Rate mare Jilted Lady, and we are immensely proud of her accomplishments,” Fussell said. “We extend our sincere gratitude to Per Antonsen, Ryan Hanson, and Wayne Baker, whose expertise and dedication were instrumental in Molly’s successful career.”

Smiling Molly started 22 times at Thoroughbred meetings at seven different tracks throughout California, with three wins, five seconds, and three thirds for earnings of $177,276. At Los Alamitos mixed meetings, she started three more times, with two wins and one second, for earnings of $22,791.

CAL-BREDS HEAD TO EMERALD DOWNS

California-breds typically perform well at Emerald Downs in Washington state, and they may win even more races there this year. With the closure of racing and stabling in Northern California, some horses and training operations from that area have moved to Emerald.

The track announced that stall applications for its season, which begins April 27, have soared to record levels. Initial reports showed 76 trainers submitting applications for 1,136 horses, compared to 2024, when 54 trainers submitted 776 applications.

Si That Tiger, a California-bred son of Smiling Tiger trained by Blaine Wright, is back working at Emerald. He has done all his racing thus far at the track and won the 2024 WTBOA Lads Stakes.

TJC OFFERS FREE RACE RECORD TO BREEDERS

The Jockey Club has announced a new service for breeders that provides a complimentary race record for Thoroughbreds foaled in 2025 and later that is updated after each domestic or international start.

Breeders can subscribe to this daily service by providing their preferred email address during the registration application process via Interactive Registration at registry.jockeyclub.com. Upon subscribing, breeders will receive an email with a link to all eligible horses, each linking to an equineline.com product 9 (lifetime starts in past performance format) report.

“We created this free service not only to provide a horse’s record of achievement on the track, but also to enable breeders to maintain a convenient connection to horses throughout their racing careers,” said James L. Gagliano, TCJ president and chief operating officer. “We believe this will help foster aftercare and second-career opportunities once a horse is retired from racing.”

Although the service applies to the current foal crop, there are plans to expand the service to include older horses still on the racetrack.

© BENOIT PHOTO Denman

COURTESY OF EMERALD DOWNS

IN Memoriam

Papa Clem

Papa Clem, who stood at stud for many years in California before being moved to Turkey, died recently at age 19, according to owner Resat Akkan.

Bo Hirsch bred and raced Papa Clem, a Kentucky-bred son of Smart Strike—Miss Houdini, by Belong to Me. Gary Stute trained Papa Clem, who earned $1,121,190 and won such stakes as the 2009 Arkansas Derby (G2) and 2010 San Fernando Stakes (G2).

“That was just a special horse that took me places I’ve never been,” Stute said.

Papa Clem stood in California from 2011-17 before being sold and relocated to Turkey. His foals included California-bred Cordiality, an earner of $634,363 and a five-time stakes winner, including two editions of the Fran’s Valentine Stakes.

STALLION NEWS

■ California Stallions Sire Washington Champs

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY

10 YEARS AGO

California sire Grazen, retired California sire Slew’s Tiznow, and deceased California sire Mr. Big were represented by 2024 Washington-bred champions in Blazingbellablu, Slew’s Tiz Whiz, and Big Bowie, respectively. The racehorses were honored Feb. 22 at the annual Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association dinner, held at Emerald Downs.

Blazingbellablu was receiving the champion older filly or mare title for the third consecutive year. She was also named the 2021 Washington-bred Horse of the Year. Blazingbellablu, now retired with earnings of $320,561, made one start as a 6-year-old in 2024, winning the Hastings Stakes at Emerald.

Slew’s Tiz Whiz, previously named Washington-bred Horse of the Year twice, was honored as the Washington champion sprinter and older horse or gelding of 2024. The 2018 gelding last year won the Governor’s Stakes and placed in two other stakes, all at Emerald.

Big Bowie was named champion Washington-bred 2-yearold colt or gelding. The gelding won the Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity at Turf Paradise and ran third in three Emerald Downs stakes.

QUALIFYING CLAIMING LEVELS

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

SANTA ANITA PARK / $40,000

MASOCHISTIC led a California-bred Exacta in the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita April 11, 2015. Masochistic and fellow Cal-bred San Onofre battled throughout the 61⁄2 furlongs, with Masochistic prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 1:14.69 as the 9-10 favorite. Tyler Baze rode the 5-year-old gelding for Ron Ellis, who trained Masochistic for owners Los Pollos Hermanos Racing (Will Shamlian) and Jay Em Ess Stable (Samantha Siegel). In his only prior stakes attempt, Masochistic had run second in the 2014 Los Alamitos Mile. He went on to win the 2015 Triple Bend Stakes (G1) and 2016 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2), earning a total of $864,895. Francoise Dupuis and Louise Julian bred Masochistic, a son of Sought After—Trotinette, by Unusual Heat. Julian and her late husband, Arthur, had raced the fourth dam, Truffles, and bred the third dam, Treasure Isle.

25 YEARS AGO

The California Thoroughbred industry held the inaugural Gold Rush at Hollywood Park April 30, 2000. The day was dedicated to California-breds, with 10 stakes offering total purses of $1.26 million. GREY MEMO won the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, named for the champion Cal-bred who was also Grey Memo’s maternal grandsire. Coming from ninth early under jockey Matt Garcia, Grey Memo scored by 11⁄4 lengths in 1:50.24 for 11⁄8 miles on the dirt. Warren

Stute trained the 3-year-old colt for owners Ridgeley Farm, Ron Manzani, and Russ Sarno. Ridgeley bred Grey Memo, a son of Memo—B. Mozelle. Grey Memo went on to compete through 2004, was voted champion Calbred older male of 2002, and earned a total of $1,736,683. His other stakes victories included the 2002 Godolphin Mile (G2), 2022 San Diego Handicap (G2), and 1999 Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3).

Rise High

50 YEARS AGO

California-bred RISE HIGH celebrated the opening day of the Hollywood Park meeting, April 11, 1975, by capturing the six-furlong Premiere Handicap. Sandy Hawley, who had led all riders in the U.S. in 1970, 1972, and 1973, partnered Rise High, having just moved to California to ride seasonally at Hollywood for the first time. Rise High was one of five winners for Hawley that day. Hal King trained Rise High for owner/breeder Sidney Factor. Rise High was a 5-yearold son of Viking Spirit—Shimmering, by Fleet Nasrullah. He had won the Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar the previous year and had become a stakes winner at 2 in 1972 by taking Del Mar’s Graduation Stakes. Rise High ultimately won nine of 46 races, with eight seconds and seven thirds, for earnings of $139,355.

Masochistic

Grazen

Papa Clem

CTBA working for you

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.

Spotlighting Foals of 2025

With foaling season upon us, now is the time to spotlight your foals in California Thoroughbred. The The May/June and July/August issues will feature Thoroughbreds foaled in California, with advertorials consisting of six to eight photos of foals per page.

The cost to publish a full-page insertion will be discounted down to $500. This represents a discount of more than 50% off the regular full-page advertisement price. Insertions should 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 deadlines: April 1 (May/June issue) and June 2 (July/August issue).

For additional information please contact the magazine’s Advertising Manager, Loretta Veiga, at Loretta@ctba.com or at 626-445-7800, ext. 227. Additionally, photos can be submitted to Ken Gurnick at kgurnick@ctba.com for free inclusion on the CTBA’s website.

NEW CTBA MEMBERS

Greg Burns Monrovia, CA

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Byrens Yorba Linda, CA

Randy Dang San Gabriel, CA

Cedair Dante Henderson, NV

Joseph Di Pietro Tukwila, WA

Robert S. Fetkin Saint Petersburg, FL

Paul Hagemann Beaverton, OR

Patrick E. Harney Solana Beach, CA

Andrew Stronach Ontario, Canada

Daniel Weiner Walnut Creek, CA

Annie Winner Beverly Hills, CA

Ka Hung Wong Chino, CA

GRAZEN

Benchmark – Hazen, by Rubiano 2025 Fee: $6,000 LF

CALIFORNIA’S 2024 LEADING SIRE BY STAKES WINNERS & PROGENY EARNINGS OF $4.3 MILLION LIFETIME EARNINGS IN EXCESS OF $26 MILLION

Leading the way for 2025 GRAZENS’ OLD PAL ($341,190) Captured the Unusual Heat California Cup Turf Classic and SHOCKING GRAY was victorious in the Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint before going on to be the sale topper at the CTBA Winter Mixed Sale

GRAZEN’S Progeny are led by LIEUTENANT DAN ($923,740) 6-Time SW incl. Grade 2 Eddie D S., Grade 2 Green Flash H.-twice, 2nd to GOLDEN PAL in Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, etc.;

S. Y. SKY ($709,540) Multiple SW incl. Grade 3 Monrovia S., etc.; Grade 3 SW JUST GRAZED ME ($506,332); Siren Lure SW at Santa Anita and Sensational Star SW JOHNNY PODRES ($540,150) 2nd Green Flash H.-G3; 2024 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint S. winner ROSE MADDOX ($567,264); 2024 Daisycutter H. winner CONNIE SWINGLE ($509,564); Snow Chief SW OLD PAL ($244,940) 3rd 2024 Crystal Water S.; Sabertooth Multiple Graded SP at 2, 2024; G3 2nd at SA in 2024 Irish Wahine ($322,956); Cornelia Fort ($260,038) 3rd 2024 Fran’s Valentine S.; MSP 3YOs Safa ($276,760), Loretta Lynn ($122,458); etc.

Stakes winner, CONNIE SWINGLE ($509,564) sold for $290,000 as a broodmare prospect Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Mixed Sale.

(805) 769-6685 | www.eclipse-equine.com/stallions

VERSATILE, PRECOCIOUS, ALL CLASS

A Graded stakes winner on dirt and turf at 2. Grade 1 winner on dirt and turf at 3—won the Travers S. (G1) and Belmont Derby Inv. S. (G1)

More than $2.1 million in earnings.

STARTERS/ FOALS 70%

7 STAKES HORSES,

From two crops to race, including Les Is Best, runner-up in this year’s Gowell S. at Turfway Park, and graded stakes-placed Faith Understood, 3rd in the Honeymoon S. (G3) at Santa Anita.

2 STAKES WINNERS—

G1 winners in Puerto Rico in SMOKEN BOY and EL CATOLICO.

THE CHOSEN VRON

BY TRACY GANTZ

When trainer Eric Kruljac was growing up, his grandfather’s trainer, the late Buster Millerick, made a big impression. Kruljac’s grandfather once tried to thank Millerick when his horse won. A salty individual never known to mince words, Millerick growled, “Don’t thank me—thank the horse,” except he coupled it with an adjective not fit for print.

Millerick is perhaps best known for training Native Diver, the first California-bred to earn $1 million. So, it is fitting

that Kruljac has become known for training Cal-bred millionaire The Chosen Vron.

The similarities are uncanny: both deadly sprinters, consistent in their ability to string victories together, and durable enough to return season after season. Native Diver didn’t win a California Horse of the Year title only because the awards hadn’t begun back in the 1960s. The Chosen Vron collected his second consecutive Horse of the Year award for his 2024 exploits.

As the hardware mounted up at the March 3 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association banquet, Kruljac told a few Millerick stories. Then he added a tribute.

“Buster, I’m thanking the horse.”

Kruljac’s fellow owners—Robert Fetkin,

Richard Thornburgh, and John Sondereker—regularly thank Kruljac. The trainer chose Vronsky as the sire to breed to their mare, Tiz Molly, and he shepherded The Chosen Vron through 25 starts over four seasons—five if you count The Chosen Vron’s sole start in the final days of 2020 as a 2-year-old.

In one respect, The Chosen Vron doesn’t resemble Native Diver at all. “The Diver” was nearly coal black, while The Chosen Vron is a gorgeous chestnut. Both improved with gelding, but it’s safe to say that The Chosen Vron has a much better disposition. While Native Diver had a slew of fans, The Chosen Vron’s easygoing nature better suits today’s climate.

The Kona Gold Stakes was one of The Chosen Vron’s five stakes wins during 2024 and 18 throughout his career

The Chosen Vron began both of his Horse of the Year seasons in the Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint on the California Cup card at Santa Anita in January. For the 2024 version, he had to face Brickyard Ride, whose early front-running speed vanquished plenty of talented runners during his career.

Brickyard Ride did his thing, setting fractions of :22.41 and :45.32 in the six-furlong event. But he couldn’t hold off The Chosen Vron, who took over at the eighth pole and scored by 21 2 lengths in 1:09.06 under regular rider Hector Berrios.

“I asked him once and he went on,” Berrios said.

In March, The Chosen Vron returned in graded company for the seven-furlong San Carlos Stakes (G3) after the Tiznow Stakes had to be canceled because, understandably, few Cal-breds wanted to go up against him. Instead, The Chosen Vron met Kentucky-breds by Ghostzapper, Justify, and Gun Runner; an Irish-bred by No Nay Never; and a Cal-bred by Awesome Again.

This time, The Chosen Vron was able to set the pace. Under pressure from Elwood Blues (the son of Justify), he motored even faster than Brickyard Ride had earlier, with the first quarter in :22.27 and a half-mile in :44.42. As the 2-5 favorite, The Chosen Vron scored by a length in 1:20.96.

“When he went to the lead, I was a little bit concerned about seven-eighths of a mile off a pretty long respite,” Kruljac said. “You just wonder, can he sustain it? And he did.”

The Chosen Vron remained in open company for the listed Kona Gold Stakes April 27, this one at 61 2 furlongs. He pressed Forbidden Kingdom’s pace early and had plenty of energy to repel closers, coming to the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Happy Jack in 1:14.82.

Kruljac wanted The Chosen Vron to defend his 2023 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) win, and before the Santa Anita meeting ended, they had another shot in state-bred competition. For the second straight year, The Chosen Vron added the six-furlong Thor’s Echo Stakes, this

time against only three rivals.

The late May date of the Thor’s Echo was well situated so that The Chosen Vron could again compete in the six-furlong Bing Crosby, held July 27, early in Del Mar’s summer meeting. He faced six others—five with black type and an undefeated horse—but it didn’t matter.

Fourth early, The Chosen Vron poked his head in front just before the five-sixteenths pole while three wide. He drew clear in the upper stretch and flashed under the wire in 1:08.99, 21⁄4 lengths in front of

THE CHOSEN VRON

Vronsky — T iz Molly, by T iz Wonderful

Breeder: Tiz Molly Partners

Closethegame Sugar, who was coming off back-toback stakes wins at Churchill Downs.

The Chosen Vron became the sixth horse and third Cal-bred to win the Crosby twice. Cal-breds Kissin’ George (trained by Millerick) and Cherry River each won two editions of the race, and the others included Eclipse Award winner Kona Gold. It is exclusive company.

An ankle injury kept The Chosen Vron out of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), a race in which he finished fifth in 2023. Initially, it was hoped he could return in 2025 for another try at the Crosby and the Breeders’ Cup. But when a follow-up MRI in March showed that the ankle injury needed more time, the partners decided to retire him.

“We came to the conclusion that continued training and racing would not be beneficial to the horse at this time,” Sondereker said. “We owe so much to that horse, and he owes us nothing.”

The Chosen Vron will rehab with Katie Fisher at Kingfisher Farms in the Santa Ynez Valley, Sondereker and Kruljac said. Ultimately, the owners plan to find him a suitable second career.

“Katie runs a great operation,” Sondereker said. “I’m just thrilled that he’s going to be there.”

All of the partners have called The Chosen Vron the horse of a lifetime, and Kruljac noted the gelding’s sweet disposition.

“Give him some carrots and he’s happy,” Kruljac said. “He was so athletic. We just count our blessings that we had him when we did.”

Chestnut gelding (March 28, 2018)

Owners: Sondereker Racing LLC, J. Eric Kruljac, Robert S. Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh

The Chosen Vron as a foal

The Chosen Vron vanquishes graded company in San Carlos

Two-Year-Old Male

SPEEDY WILSON

BY JACK SHINAR

Longtime horseman Nick Alexander may not have been as surprised as some. He bred an untried stallion to a claiming mare and, in doing so, produced the 2024 champion California-bred 2-yearold male, Speedy Wilson.

A brilliant bay colt by Alexander’s young sire Tough Sunday, Speedy Wilson won two of his four starts during a shortened campaign for trainer Phil D’Amato. In his only stakes appearance, Speedy Wilson captured the $176,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes in ne style on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Del Mar Nov. 1.

Alexander may not have expected the result, but he wasn’t shocked. He is excited about the potential stud career of Tough Sunday, a son of Alexander’s sire Grazen, the leading stallion in the state by progeny earnings in each of the past two years.

Tough Sunday, with just six runners hitting the track so far, has had ve winners, including stakes victors Speedy Wilson and Shea Brennan. Alexander believes Tough Sunday’s early success indicates he provides better “precocity” than Grazen, whose ospring tend to improve with maturity.

ough Speedy Wilson’s dam, Cal-bred Queenofhercastle, by Ministers Wild Cat, didn’t excel on the racetrack, her three ospring to race have all been winners. at includes graded stakes-placed Lovesick Blues, a 7-year-old son of Grazen with earnings of $432,000.

“I can’t tell you how many times that has happened,” Alexander added. “And I’ve had stakes-winning mares that never produced anything close to that.”

Queenofhercastle was a gift to Alexander from her prior owner, Peter Jeong. She is a half-sister to Queen Bee to You, a multiple graded stakes winner, “the only black type in (Queenofhercastle’s) family,” Alexander said.

Speedy Wilson continues Alexander’s recent string of Cal-bred divisional titles.

e Santa Ynez rancher had the 2021 Horse of the Year in Lieutenant Dan, the winner of several titles during his career, as

SPEEDY WILSON

well as champions Becca Taylor, top older female in 2022, and 2016 top 3-year-old lly Enola Gray.

Named for the U.S. Marine and Korean War hero, Speedy Wilson didn’t make his debut until Aug. 10 at Del Mar, although D’Amato put plenty of foundation into him with 14 prior recorded workouts. With Efrain Hernandez aboard, Speedy Wilson ran third in his 51 2-furlong bow and came second under Armando Ayuso in his subsequent start at six furlongs three weeks later. In both races, he started slowly.

“He isn’t blessed with a lot of speed, and he got bounced around little bit,” Alexander said.

Speedy Wilson graduated in his next start, Sept. 29 at Santa Anita. Once again ridden by Ayuso, he made up 41⁄2 lengths in the stretch to edge Got’m Cot’m by a neck as the favorite.

Making the jump into stakes company in his next race, the Golden State Juvenile, Speedy Wilson collared his stablemate Shea Brennan, another son of Tough Sunday, to get the lead at the top of the stretch. He and Ayuso then held o the late charge of favored R Heisman to prevail by a halflength in the seven-furlong test.

Speedy Wilson has been sidelined since after having an adverse reaction to a furosemide injection prior to a workout in preparation for the King Glorious Stakes Dec. 15 at Los Alamitos, Alexander said.

“He hasn’t been the same since then,” while su ering from recurring fever, the owner explained.

After three months of stall rest, “they think they’ve got a handle on it,” Alexander added. “Phil said he’s the best he’s looked since this happened.”

Alexander said Speedy Wilson could be ready to return to racing in time for the Del Mar summer stand.

Bay colt (Feb. 12, 2022)

Tough Sunday Queenofhercastle, by Ministers Wild Cat

Breeder/Owner: Nick Alexander

Speedy Wilson and jockey Armando Ayuso take the Golden State Juvenile Stakes

CAROLYN SIMANCIK

G1 STAKES WINNER BY TRIPLE CROWN WINNER AMERICAN PHAROAH

• WON AT 2

AMERICAN THEOREM Introducing

AMERICAN PHAROAH - MIGHTY RENEE, BY MARIA’S MON

A MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT RACE AT DEL MAR

(5.5F, D, DEFEATING HYDROGEN, THUNDER CODE, HONOR AMONG MEN, BACKSHOT, THREE FOOTER, BIG HOOF DYNAMITE, WHIRL CANDY, ZIMBA WARRIOR).

• 2ND AT 2

AMERICAN PHAROAH S. (GR. I) AT SANTA ANITA PARK

(8.5F, D, TO EIGHT RINGS, DEFEATING STORM THE COURT, EXPRESS TRAIN, SHOPLIFTED, DEFENSE WINS, FORE LEFT, NUCKY, COLLUSION ILLUSION).

• WON AT 5

BING CROSBY S. (GR. I) AT DEL MAR (6F, D, DEFEATING GET HER NUMBER, LETSGETLUCKY, SHAAZ, PRINCIPE CARLO, DRAIN THE CLOCK, DIAMOND OOPS, BAGBOSS, HOWBEIT).

TRIPLE BEND S. (GR. II) AT SANTA ANITA PARK (7F, D, DEFEATING PRINCIPE CARLO, GET HER NUMBER, EXAULTED, BRICKYARD RIDE, ELECTOR).

• REPLAY, AN ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING RACE AT SANTA ANITA PARK (8.5F, D, DEFEATING SHOOTERS SHOOT, DIVINE ARMOR, MONGOLIAN WIND, WHO’S THE STAR, SECRET TOUCH).

• 2ND AT 5 PAT O’BRIEN S. (GR. II) AT DEL MAR (7F, D, TO LAUREL RIVER, DEFEATING SENOR BUSCADOR, SPEAKER’S CORNER, THE CHOSEN VRON, DEFUNDED, GET HER NUMBER, C Z ROCKET, PRINCIPE CARLO, RESTRAINEDVENGENCE).

2025 FEE: $2,500 LFSN

Special considerations for stakes producers or multiple mares

Also Standing: DOSIFICADO, GRAYDAR, MIDNIGHT STORM, MOQUEST, TIZAMAGICIAN, WIN THE SPACE, CIRCUMFERENCE (IRE) AND WINNING CAUSE

IN THE AIR TONIGHT

BY TRACY GANTZ

Terry Lovingier has a knack for creating partnerships on horses that work. When Lovingier received In the Air Tonight’s award as champion California-bred 2-yearold female, he asked the other owners to join him on stage to celebrate.

“Terry brings together people that he knows will be perfect together,” said omas Halasz, who owns In the Air Tonight with Lovingier, Anthony Chacon, and Victor Flores. “Victor and Anthony—I can’t think of better partners. I didn’t know them from Adam’s housecat, and all of a sudden, we’re best friends.” at friendship ourished along with In the Air Tonight’s career. She made her rst start at Santa Anita in the spring. In a 41 2-furlong maiden race for California-bred and California-sired 2-year-old llies, she came on from third and, despite having to race wide, won by a nose in :53.01.

Tiago Pereira rode In the Air Tonight for trainer Steve Knapp, an association

that lasted her entire season. Halasz complimented the trainer and the jockey at the awards banquet.

“To have Tiago ride—what a gentleman, what a good rider,” Halasz said. “I met Steve 15 years ago. I was a little guy with one horse, and Steve walked me through it.”

Knapp had In the Air tonight ready for Del Mar, where the lly became a stakes winner in the $101,000 California oroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes Aug. 4. As the 2-1 favorite, In the Air Tonight raced sixth of eight early in the 51⁄2-furlong event, was wide again, but this time powered home to dominate the eld. She scored by 51 4 lengths over irsty Mama in 1:05.37.

“I knew she would nish strong because she has a good nish in her workouts every time,” said Pereira.

ough In the Air Tonight didn’t win any more races at 2, she added to her black type arsenal with stakes placings in the Generous Portion Stakes, Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes, and Soviet Problem Stakes. She even attempted graded company, nishing fourth in the $200,500 Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita behind the classy llies Non Compliant, Nooni, and Tenma, all from the powerful Bob Ba ert barn.

Halasz purchased In the Air Tonight for $50,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale.

“What a beautiful little girl she was,” he said.

Lovingier bred the Sky Mesa mare Angel Allie to Stay irsty, the leading California sire who stands at Lovingier’s Lovacres Ranch.

“It’s a good cross for Stay irsty,” Lovingier said.

In the Air Tonight has plenty of racing ahead of her, but given how well Stay irsty is doing as a broodmare sire, she will also make a valuable broodmare prospect.

“You’ve got Fierceness, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and now you’ve got Coal Battle, who’s one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby (G1),” Lovingier said. “ at’s exciting. It gives all of us a purpose to keep watching and cheering them on.”

Fierceness, the Eclipse Award-winning champion 2-year-old male of 2023, is out of the Stay irsty mare Nonna Bella. Coal Battle, winner of the 2025 Rebel Stakes (G2) and Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, is by the Stay irsty stallion Coal Front.

IN THE AIR TONIGHT

Dark bay/brown filly (March 15, 2022)

Stay Thirsty — Angel Allie, by Sky Mesa

Breeder: Terry C. Lovingier

Owners: Anthony J. Chacon, Victor M. Flores and Terry C. Lovingier

In the Air Tonight became a stakes winner during the summer meet at Del Mar

© BENOIT PHOTO

Grazen – Sunday Dress, by General Meeting

From 6 starters, 4 winners, 2 Stakes Winners

80% Winners, 40% Stakes Winners

Average Earnings Per Starter $83,853

Including Two-Year-Old Stakes Winners

Champion California-bred Two-year-old male SPEEDY WILSON ($156,150) Golden State Juvenile Stakes and SHEA BRENNAN ($177,800) King Glorious Stakes

2nd in the California Chrome California Cup Derby, January 18, 2025

TOUGH SUNDAY, Winner of the Sensational Star S. at Santa Anita Four Times Stakes Placed, Twice Graded incl. 2nd Grade 3 Midnight Lute S.

By California’s Leading Sire of 2024 GRAZEN

Leading Active Lifetime Sire in the State, Sire of the Winners of Over $26M, 22 Stakes Winners, 37 Stakes Horses, 4 Graded Stakes Winners

TOUGH SUNDAY is out of SUNDAY DRESS (GENERAL MEETING), also dam of SUNDAY RULES (dam of Loretta Lynn), SUDDEN SUNDAY (dam of ROSE DAWSON and RUBY BRADLEY), etc.

2025 FEE: $2,500 LF

ECLIPSE THOROUGHBRED FARM

Inquiries to: (805) 769-6685 801 E. Hwy 246, Buellton, CA, 93427 E-mail: horserehab@gmail.com | www.eclipse-equine.com/stallions

SHADY TIGER

BY JACK SHINAR

Rusty Brown’s homebred Shady Tiger passed every test in 2024 while winning on dirt and turf and over a distance of ground.

Shady Tiger went from maiden to twotime Golden State Series stakes winner in a space of just four races for trainer Phil D’Amato and jockey Juan Hernandez. Every step of the way was more impressive than the previous one during a streak in which the bay gelding by Smiling Tiger earned nearly $250,000.

His successful season earned Shady Tiger the California-bred championship as the year’s outstanding 3-year-old male.

Brown, of Irvine, has owned hundreds of horses over the years, mostly in partnerships. But he’s bred only a few of them himself.

“It’s one of those exciting moments,” a proud Brown said of winning the divisional award with Shady Tiger. “He’s such a special guy.”

Brown, along with co-owners Alan Klein and Phil Lebherz, previously won a Cal-bred title in 2022 with 2-year-old lly Sell the Dream.

e partners are best known for their sponsorship of Smiling Tiger, among California’s leading sires for several years. Smiling Tiger died last August.

For that reason, winning the award with Shady Tiger—Smiling Tiger’s second leading earner of 2024—made it even more special, Brown said. (Smiling Tiger sired a second Cal-bred champion of 2024 as well, the 3-year-old lly Grand Slam Smile.)

“Smiling Tiger meant a lot to me,” Brown said.

Shady Tiger also was the last foal from Brown’s broodmare Divine Legacy, by Full Mandate. She was purchased for $6,000 in foal at the 2014 Barretts January sale and produced two other winners besides Shady Tiger.

Shady Tiger raced once as a juve-

SHADY TIGER

nile, nishing second as the favorite in a ve-furlong turf event at Del Mar in mid-November. Seven weeks later, he found the winner’s circle—once again when favored—coming from o the pace to register a neck decision over Two by Four in a six-furlong dirt try.

It was the rst of four consecutive wins in 2024 for Shady Tiger, all at Santa Anita.

He returned to the turf for his next start at six furlongs Feb. 17 and was once again favored. Racing near the rear throughout, Shady Tiger swung out for the stretch drive and rallied from seventh for Hernandez to get up by a nose over Catmansue.

Back on the dirt for the $127,000 Echo Eddie Stakes at 61⁄2 furlongs April 6, Shady Tiger had to overcome some tra c trouble near the quarter pole before surging to a 51⁄2-length victory.

With such a convincing nish to the Echo Eddie, D’Amato was con dent Shady Tiger was ready for a distance test. at arrived May 25 in the $127,500 Snow Chief Stakes presented by City National Bank at 11⁄8 miles on turf. is time Shady Tiger was forwardly placed along the inside, pressing the pace from second before poking his head in front with three furlongs to run. Under pressure all the way to the wire, the sturdy gelding held o a late challenge from Two by Four by a halflength in a game e ort.

Shady Tiger raced just once more in 2024 before D’Amato shut him down. Shortening up for the seven-furlong Real Good Deal Stakes Aug. 2 on the Del Mar main track, Shady Tiger was stuck on the far outside in a 12-horse eld and never threatened while nishing third as the odds-on choice.

“ ere was nothing wrong, but Phil told me, ‘ is is a special horse. He’s got some things ahead of him; let’s give him a little rest,’ ” Brown said.

Bay gelding (March 16, 2021)

Smiling Tiger Divine Legacy, by Full Mandate

Breeder/Owner: Rusty Brown

© BENOIT PHOTO

Shady Tiger partners with Juan Hernandez to get the job done in the Snow Chief Stakes

Gun Runner – Kathballu, by Bluegrass Cat

$1,150,000 Keeneland September Yearling

Sired by GUN RUNNER Hall of Fame Inductee standing for $250,000, & one of the most sought after sires in racing & with the highest A.E.I of any sire in the USA

GUN RUNNER has sired 14 G1 Winners, 10 Millionaires including Multiple Graded Stakes Winner LOCKED ($1,661,650), who dominated in the Santa Anita Big Cap March 1, 2025 by 8 1/2

PEDIGREE OF EXCELLENCE!

Gun Runner’s dominance on the track is matched only by his ability to sire fast, durable, and talented offspring, and Corporal is no exception. With his stellar bloodlines, robust conformation, and exceptional pedigree he is an excellent choice for California Breeders

GUN RUNNER, soon to be recognized as Sires of Sires, has 7 other young sons at stud standing in KY

• GUN PILOT an undefeated Grade 1 winner of the Churchill Downs Stakes

• TABIA a three-time Grade 1 winner, including the Santa Anita Derby and Pennsylvania Derby

• PAPPACAP Grade 2-winning juvenile

• CYBERKNIFE Grade 1 winner

• EARLY VOTING Grade 1 Winner

• SOCIETY Multiple Graded Stakes Winner

• GUNITE Multiple Graded Stakes winner

2025 FEE: $5,000 LF

DEHESA FARMS LLC (Formerly Easterbrook Livestock Management) at San Miguel, California Inquiries to: Shane Easterbrook | (805) 610-9861 | dehesafarms@gmail.com WWW.DEHESAFARMS.COM

GRAND SLAM SMILE

BY JACK SHINAR

She burst upon the Southern California racing scene with a pair of impressive stakes victories to earn top California-bred juvenile lly honors in 2023. But with a year of racing behind her, the Larry and Marianne Williams homebred Grand Slam Smile was even better last season while racking up another divisional championship as the state’s outstanding 3-year-old lly.

at’s the feeling of her recently retired trainer Steve Specht after seeing the chestnut daughter of Smiling Tiger collect three more stakes wins as a sophomore.

Grand Slam Smile is out of the Williamses’ deceased Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam. e broodmare produced four other black-type winners for them, including stakes winners Luck’s Royal Flush and Royal ’n Rando. All eight of her starters were winners.

“She’s really a nice lly,” said Specht of Grand Slam Smile. “It doesn’t really matter—sprinting, synthetic track, turf, dirt, going short or long—she’ll pretty much do

whatever you want her to do. She gives you everything she has.”

ough she went more than four months without racing due to soreness in a rear ankle early in the year, the lly made six starts in 2024. She won three stakes and placed in three others while earning $306,500. For her career, Grand Slam Smile has banked $526,400 while winning six of 11 races with four seconds and a third.

It’s not like everything has gone smoothly for Grand Slam Smile. She has always been temperamental and di cult to train. But with careful handling, Specht managed to bring out the talent that was recognizable from the start.

“We’re very proud of her,” said Dan Kiser, longtime ranch manager for the Williamses’ racing and breeding operation in Parma, Idaho. “I knew that if we could get

GRAND SLAM SMILE

her there (to the track), and Steve did too, we would have a good one.”

Grand Slam Smile began the year in style, drawing o to a 21⁄4-length win in the $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Oaks at one mile on the Santa Anita turf Jan. 13.

She required some time o due to the ankle issue after that but returned to Santa Anita May 25 to score a front-running 41⁄2-length triumph in the $126,000 Melair Stakes at 11⁄16 miles on dirt.

Grand Slam Smile lost her next two starts, both at Del Mar. She ran second to Pushiness in the $151,500 Fleet Treat Stakes at seven furlongs two months after the Melair, then collected her rst graded stakes placing when a distant third in the $150,000 Torrey Pines (G3) over a mile Aug. 31.

She returned to the winner’s circle at Santa Anita six weeks later, defeating older llies and mares in the $103,000 California Dista Handicap over the hillside turf course.

“She never has seemed to run well at Del Mar for some reason, but they can’t beat her at Santa Anita,” Specht said.

Grand Slam Style completed her year with a second in the six-furlong Livermore Valley Stakes at Pleasanton, failing to display her usual closing kick. Her connections decided she was due for a break anyway, but they also discovered a small ake in a front ankle that they had removed.

e lly is in light training for now in the barn of her new trainer Sean McCarthy, with a return to action expected later this year. Kiser said the plan is to keep her in the lucrative Golden State Series for Calbreds in 2025, with a possible graded stakes down the road.

“She’s jogging and backtracking right now. But knowing her, she won’t be jogging for long,” he added.

Chestnut filly (Feb. 14, 2021)

Smiling Tiger — Royal Grand Slam, by Grand Slam Breeders/Owners: Larry D. Williams and Marianne Williams

Grand Slam Smile’s three 2024 stakes wins included the California Distaff Handicap © BENOIT PHOTO

CHISMOSA

BY JACK SHINAR

Owner and breeder Jaime (Jim) Renella calls Chismosa his “iron horse,” and it’s easy to understand why. In a span of 18 months that ended in November with a win in the $100,500 Betty Grable Stakes at Del Mar, the California-bred daughter of Clubhouse Ride ran 19 times—all in stakes events.

e dark bay’s 2024 campaign accounted for 11 of those races and three victories, including her rst graded win in the Las Flores Stakes (G3). She also recorded a pair of graded placings and a couple of thirds while earning $271,500.

Chismosa’s superb season earned her the title of champion California-bred older female as well as being named a nalist for Horse of the Year.

“She’s been an iron horse, so why not? She’s a runner. Let her run,” Renella said of her campaign.

Now 5, Chismosa is out of the Cat Dreams mare You Can Dream, the rst horse Renella owned—via a $20,000 claim he and partner Mike Espinosa made in

2010. She’s also the only mare he’s bred. You Can Dream produced several winners, but Chismosa has been the standout.

Renella never risked losing Chismosa through the claim box. Since graduating at rst asking as a 2-year-old at Del Mar in July 2022, she has never faced anything but stakes opponents.

“We weren’t afraid” of the competition, Renella said. “My trainer, Rafael DeLeon, came from D. Wayne Lukas, and Lukas always told him that if your horse is t and sound, don’t be afraid of anyone else. Lukas wins a lot of races that way.”

It also means there would be some defeats.

Chismosa snapped an eight-race losing streak in her rst start of the year Jan. 1 at Santa Anita, the Las Flores Stakes, with regular rider Tiago Pereira aboard. O

as an 8-1 shot in a short eld headed by graded stakes winners Sweet Azteca and Hot Peppers, Chismosa stalked those two before taking over in the drive and edging clear by 11⁄4 lengths.

“She won it in pretty convincing fashion,” Renella said.

Chismosa would lose ve more races before her next win as DeLeon tried her on turf with only limited success. But she ran second in the Santa Monica Stakes (G2) Feb. 3. at race preceded the listed $100,500 Desert Stormer Stakes four months later, another stalking e ort under Pereira that produced a late-running 11⁄4-length tally over the Chilean-bred Richi.

Later moving to Del Mar for the summer meet, Chismosa met Sweet Azteca again in the $100,500 Rancho Bernardo Stakes (G3) Aug. 25. is time Sweet Azteca was more than ready for the task, going gate to wire for a widening seven-length score over Chismosa, who nosed Anywho for second.

Chismosa returned to Del Mar Nov. 10 for her nal start of the year, the Golden State Series-eligible Betty Grable at seven furlongs. In that one, Chismosa came from o the pace to challenge Big Summer in the stretch, winning by a neck with oddson choice Pushiness third.

Turned out for a few months, her rst extended break since late 2022, Chismosa is back in light training for a nal 2025 campaign that Renella hopes to begin in mid-April. If all goes well, the plan is to sell her at Keeneland in November, he said.

With $579,750 in career earnings while winning six of 22 starts, Chismosa could become a million-dollar earner before she’s done.

“She never changes her lead,” Renella said. “I still have never seen her full potential.”

CHISMOSA Dark bay/brown mare (March 1, 2020)

Clubhouse Ride You Can Dream, by Cat Dreams

Breeder/Owner: Jaime Roberto Renella

Chismosa (outside) defeats Big Summer by a neck in the Betty Grable Stakes © BENOIT PHOTOS

KINGS RIVER KNIGHT

BY TRACY GANTZ

As the video proclaimed during the California oroughbred Breeders Association awards dinner, “Perfection is a di cult standard to achieve, but perfection is exactly what Kings River Knight delivered in 2024.”

Kings River Knight stood alone as the only California-bred champion of 2024 to go undefeated through the year. e champion Cal-bred turf horse did only make three starts, but his winning streak actually began in late 2023. Kings River Knight’s consistency goes further than that—in his rst 16 starts from ages four to six, he won 10 of 16 races with ve seconds.

e gelding conquers his foes with a devastating early turn of foot. He wings out on the lead and dares his rivals to catch him. Most of the time, they simply cannot do it.

Kings River Knight is actually California racing royalty. He comes from one of the oldest and most prestigious breeding operations in the state: Old English Rancho. e Johnston family began it in 1939, when E.B. ( e Pie Man) Johnston bought the 4-year-old gelding En-

glish Harry for $1,250 at Del Mar.

Old English breeding is now in its fourth generation, through the late E.W. (Buddy) Johnston, daughters Mary and Darlene, and grandson Jonny Hilvers, who manages John Harris’ Harris Farms. Buddy died in 2015, but his wife, Judy, remains very involved and Buddy shepherded the racing career of Acclamation, the sire of Kings River Knight and the Eclipse Award-winning champion older horse of 2011.

“I’ve been told that the racing silks that we have and still race with are the oldest racing silks in California,” Judy said at the banquet.

With such a pedigree, Kings River Knight—like his sire—improves with age. Out of the Old English homebred Poteen mare Seasontoperfection, Kings River

KINGS RIVER KNIGHT

Knight became a stakes winner in the 2023 Crystal Water Stakes, his ninth lifetime start and second for trainer John Sadler. He added the Bertrando Stakes and ran second in the California Dreamin’ Stakes before beginning the ve-race winning streak that extended through 2024.

Fittingly, that streak began in the E.B. Johnston Stakes. Kings River Knight nished the year by adding the California Flag Handicap before embarking on his championship season.

Kings River Knight opened 2024 with the Jan. 13 Unusual Heat Turf Classic Stakes Presented by City National Bank at Santa Anita. As the 11-10 favorite, he led throughout the 11⁄8-mile turf event under Juan Hernandez to score by a half-length.

“He’s a lovely horse and he’s really a hard-tryer,” Sadler said after the race.

He is also perfect with Hernandez in the irons. ey returned to capture an allowance/optional claiming race at Santa Anita Feb. 24 prior to the May 25 Crystal Water Stakes at a mile on the turf. Bet down to 1-5, Kings River Knight as usual demolished the competition on the front end, leading throughout and winning by 13⁄4 lengths. at brought his lifetime earnings to $649,830. He is currently back in training for the 2025 season.

e Ellwood Johnston Trust owns Kings River Knight with Leonard Miranda’s Integrity oroughbred Racing and Kenneth Tevelde. At the banquet, Miranda spoke about what a wonderful journey it has been for all the partners.

“I’m very thankful to Old English Rancho for bringing us on,” Miranda said. “If it wasn’t for the horse, we would not know each other. It really is that horse that brings us together.”

Bay gelding (April 7, 2018)

Acclamation — Seasontoperfection, by Poteen

Breeder: Old English Rancho

Owners: Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, LLC, The Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth A. Tevelde

Kings River Knight leads the field home in the Crystal Water Handicap

Champions List

2014 Acceptance My FionaCalifornia Chrome Rovenna Big MacherTop KisserBig Macher California Chrome California Chrome

2013 Tamarando Swiss Lake Yodeler GervinhoDoinghardtimeagain Points OffthebenchTiz FlirtatiousPoints OffthebenchTiz FlirtatiousPoints

Nectar Caracortado Evening JewelThe Usual Q. T.Unzip MeCost of FreedomThe Usual Q. T.Evening Jewel

2009 CaracortadoRepo The Usual Q. T.Excessive BlendDancing in SilksLethal HeatDancing in Silks

California-bred Champions

OVERFLOW CROWD CELEBRATES FINEST

HONOREES ATTRACT ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP

BY TRACY GANTZ

PHOTOS BY RON MESAROS

Teamwork proved the hallmark of the honorees at the March 3 California oroughbred Breeders Association awards banquet. Just about everyone who accepted awards paid tribute to the many people it takes to produce a top runner.

Eric Kruljac, trainer of two-time California-bred Horse of the Year e Chosen Vron, thanked the horse, while his partners thanked him. Kate Barton Penner, accepting Richard Barton Enterprises’ leading breeder award for the second consecutive year, pointed out that it takes her parents and everyone at the farm to produce the many top runners they have had.

en there was trainer Bill Spawr, inducted into the Hall of Fame along with trainer Jay Robbins (who was unable to attend) and Amazombie, the Cal-bred Eclipse Award champion and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Spawr trained for himself and co-owner Tom Sanford.

When Jon Lindo, one of Spawr’s longtime owners, presented Spawr with his plaque, everyone gave Spawr a loud and well-deserved standing ovation. But Spawr in his remarks spent more time making sure he credited the many people who got him there.

“Anybody who has a business knows you’re only as good as the people around them, and I had a real good team,” Spawr said. “Two of those are here tonight—Darryl Rader and Chris Aplin.”

Spawr also thanked La t Pincay Jr. and Mike Smith, two national Hall of

THE CHOSEN VRON Horse of the Year

CTBA Vice Chairperson Ty Green (right) presents The Chosen Vron’s Horse of the Year trophy to Richard and Ly Thornburgh, Jane Ottenstein, Eric Kruljac, John Sondereker, and Sheila and Robert Fetkin

Fame jockeys who attended the festivities to support Spawr. Pincay told the crowd about Spawr’s support of him in perhaps the only time the jockey wasn’t doing well during his stellar career.

“Everyone was saying that I was old,” Pincay said. “Here came Bill, and he started riding me. He picked up my career again. at is something I will always be grateful for because he helped me when I needed the help.”

Pincay later recommended to Smith that he see Spawr, which is how Smith picked up the mount on Amazombie.

“One of the rst horses I got to ride (for Spawr) was Amazombie,” Smith said. “ is horse would beat anything

and everybody anytime—he was one of the greatest horses. And to have the pleasure and the opportunity to win a Breeders’ Cup for Bill Spawr is an honor that I’ll always remember.”

Nick Alexander and Terry Lovingier continue to do well each year at the banquet, primarily through their leading sires Grazen and Stay irsty. Each stallion won two awards, while Lovingier bred In the Air Tonight, the champion 2-year-old female and a daughter of Stay irsty, and Alexander bred Speedy Wilson, the champion 2-year-old male and a grandson of Grazen through his sire, Alexander-bred Tough Sunday.

GRAZEN

• Leading California Sire of California-Conceived Foals by Earnings

• Leading California Sire of California-Conceived Foals by Turf Earnings

Nick Alexander (right) accepts Grazen’s two leading sire awards from CTBA President Doug Burge

STAY THIRSTY

• Leading California Sire of California-Conceived Two-Year-Olds by Earnings

• Leading California Sire of California-Conceived Foals by Number of Winners

Terry Lovingier (right) receives Stay Thirsty’s awards from CTBA Director Dan Harralson

RICHARD BARTON ENTERPRISES

Leading Breeder of California-Foaled Thoroughbreds by Earnings

Kate Barton Penner of Richard Barton Enterprises receives the leading breeder award from Santa Anita General Manager Nate Newby

TIZ MOLLY Broodmare of the Year

Presenter CTBA Director Dr. Stacy Potter with Tiz Molly owners Fetkin, Thornburgh, Kruljac, and Sondereker

STEVE SPECHT Trainer of the Year

Steve Specht accepts Trainer of the Year trophy from California Thoroughbred Trainers’ Bill Patterson (left) and Alan Balch (right)

California-bred Champions

Deceased California sire Smiling Tiger sired two 2024 champions. Rusty Brown bred and raced Shady Tiger, the 3-year-old male champion and a son of Smiling Tiger, while Larry and Marianne Williams bred and raced Grand Slam Smile, the 3-year-old female champion and a daughter of Smiling Tiger.

Phil D’Amato, a former assistant to the late Mike Mitchell, trains Speedy Wilson for Alexander and Shady Tiger for Brown. In his acceptance speech, Brown took time to praise Alexander’s sense of loyalty because the owner/breeder continues to use Mitchell’s silks.

Trainers received thanks from several breeders. Steve Specht was honored as the Trainer of the Year for his success with many Cal-breds, including Grand Slam Smile. Dan Kiser, the Williamses’ ranch manager, credited Specht with managing the challenging lly and turning her into a champion in 2023 and 2024.

Jaime Renella, the owner/breeder of older female champion Chismosa, termed Rafael DeLeon not only his trainer, but his “best friend.”

e nal award prior to e Chosen Vron being named Horse of the Year, went to Kings River Knight as champion turf horse. at award not only recognized a champion runner, it honored the longevity of breeder Old English Rancho and the Johnston family, with four generations in the business, certainly the epitome of teamwork.

THE CHOSEN VRON

Older male, Sprinter

Del Mar’s Josh Rubinstein (second from right) presents The Chosen Vron’s divisional awards to Thornburgh, Kruljac, Fetkin, and Sondereker

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

JAY ROBBINS

Del Mar’s Tom Robbins receives brother Jay Robbins’ Hall of Fame plaque from Santa Anita announcer

AMAZOMBIE

John Unick of sponsor Insurance Office of America (second from left) presents Amazombie’s Hall of Fame plaque to jockey Mike Smith and co-owners Bill Spawr and Tom Sanford

BILL SPAWR

Spawr, accompanied by jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. (right), receives his Hall of Fame plaque from Jon Lindo, one of Spawr’s longtime owners

Frank Mirahmadi

SPEEDY WILSON

Two-year-old male

Nick Alexander receives Speedy Wilson’s award from CTBA Director Adrian Gonzalez

SHADY TIGER

Three-year-old male

Owner/breeder Rusty Brown (center) receives Shady Tiger’s award from CTBA Director Terry Lovingier and Amanda Navarro

GRAND SLAM SMILE

Three-year-old female

CTBA Director Pete Parrella (left) presents Grand Slam Smile’s award to Specht and Betty and Dan Kiser

IN THE AIR TONIGHT Two-year-old female

Thoroughbred Owners of California’s Bill Nader (right) presents In the Air Tonight’s award to Patricia and Victor Flores, breeder Terry Lovingier, Anthony Chacon, trainer

Steve Knapp, Yvonne Chacon, jockey Tiago Pereira, and Tom Halasz

CHISMOSA

Older female CTBA’s Loretta Veiga (left) presents Chismosa’s award to Carmen and Audrey Renella, owner/breeder

Jaime Renella, and trainer Rafael DeLeon

KINGS RIVER KNIGHT Turf

Kings River Knight’s connections, which included Leonard Miranda, Antje Hinz, Mimi Hilvers, Judy Johnston, Linda Barrett, and Mike Walsh, receive his award from CTBA Treasurer George Schmitt (right)

Specht Hits Grand Slam

CONDITIONER ENDS CAREER ON HIGH NOTE

BY JACK SHINAR

The very definition of a “lifer” in the sport of racing after running his own stable for 55 years, trainer Steve Specht reluctantly stepped away in December. The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association certainly took notice of Specht’s outstanding career, however, awarding the respected Northern California-based horseman Trainer of the Year honors for 2024.

Specht’s final season included four stakes victories, three of them by his newly crowned 3-year-old champion filly Grand Slam Smile. He recorded a 22% win rate

from 170 starters and had total purses of $1,003,009. It was the 12th time that Specht surpassed the $1 million mark in seasonal earnings, accomplished this time despite major purse cuts in the northern region.

He said he appreciated the award, adding, “It was a nice gesture. I don’t know that I deserved it.”

Asked what he’s been doing in the short time since he announced his retirement at the conclusion of the Golden State Racing meet at Pleasanton, he gave a slight chuckle and replied, “Not much.”

He had 16 horses in his barn when he retired. Most of them are now with trainers Mike Puype and Dean Pederson.

It’s hard to imagine Specht, best known for the past 22 years as the primary trainer for top California breeders and owners Larry and Marianne Williams, without horses to condition. But with little to no racing to look forward to in the north, he felt he had no choice. While he was always willing to van south for a stakes event, it wasn’t the same for lower claiming-level horses.

“I’m 75 years old—I’m not moving to Southern California and starting over,” he said. “And I didn’t really have any other options. I couldn’t see me shipping down and back for one or two horses on a regular basis. It’s too much.”

Seeing little hope of a renewal of racing in the north, he decided to call it a day,

Steve Specht, honored by the CTBA as Trainer of the Year, made a good team with Grand Slam Smile’s jockey, Frank Alvarado © BENOIT

PHOTO

retiring to his home of the past 35 years in Santa Rosa, though not before seeing Grand Slam Smile complete her second season with multiple stakes wins. The chestnut daughter of Smiling Tiger earned a second divisional championship for the Williams team as well after also being named the state’s most outstanding juvenile filly of 2023.

It was especially gratifying to do it for the Williamses, Specht said.

“The Williamses have been the feather in my cap,” Specht said. “They have kept me in horses pretty much year-round for a long time. Usually eight or nine horses, up to as many as 15. They are the best owners to work for. They never interfere and they let you do your job. We won a lot of races together, and I’d guess 30 to 40 stakes, most of them up here.”

Among those Williams stakes winners is their California homebred Lady Railrider, a daughter of Ride the Rails who earned more than $600,000 in a lengthy career for Specht that included four black-type victories. Other familiar Williams/Specht Cal-bred runners over the years include the multiple graded stakesplaced Antares World and multiple stakes winners Luckarack, Marks Mine, Passarando, and Wild Jewels.

As she is prepared for a 2025 campaign with trainer Sean McCarthy, Grand Slam

Smile has won six of 11 races—including five stakes victories—with four seconds and a third. She has earned $526,400.

In 2024, Specht also collected a stakes win from Keep Movin’ On, a son of Sir Prancealot bred by Tom Bachman and owned by Bachman’s Fairview LLC. The bay gelding won the $95,700 Robert Dupret Derby at Santa Rosa in August.

Grand Slam Smile is the first Spechttrained horse to win a divisional championship while in his barn. McCann’s Mojave, the horse he considers the best he ever trained, won the outstanding older male title in 2004 for trainer Leonard Dorfman.

Owned and co-bred by Mike Willman, former racing publicist for Santa Anita, the

graded stakes-winning McCann’s Mojave “hadn’t been doing so good in Southern California, so Mike sent him up to me (in 2006) to see if we could do any better. I was so glad to have him. That horse could really run.”

Under Specht’s guidance, McCann’s Mojave won the 2007 Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park, then worth $1 million. In his next start, he finished fourth in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (G1), won by Cal-bred Lava Man.

“He had a terrible trip that day,” Specht recalled.

McCann’s Mojave, who earned nearly $1 million under Specht’s guidance, also won a pair of grade 3 stakes, the Berkeley, and All American at Golden Gate Fields. Specht also scored a Berkeley victory with I’madrifter in 2003.

Astride for most of Specht’s best days has been jockey Frank Alvarado.

“He’s been a solid rider for me for 20 years or more,” Specht said. “He’s as solid as they come; he could do it all. Sometimes you get a jockey who has won a lot, thinks he knows it all, and he gives you just a soso effort. But with Frank, I always knew he was going to give me his best every time.”

Specht’s most improbable stakes triumph? That’s easy. Zakaroff in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby (G3), sent off at odds of 48-1 for owner Antone Metaxas. Ridden that day by Kyle Frey, it was one of only two victories from 40 career starts for the Kentucky-bred gelding by Slew’s Tiznow.

Specht grew up in the southern Illinois city of Collinsville, near Fairmount Park. He began his training career in Illinois in 1969 before shifting to California several years later. He saddled more than 10,000 starters and won with more than 1,600 of them. Thanks mostly to McCann’s Mojave, his best year by purse earnings was 2007 with more than $1.4 million. He won a personal best 63 races in 2009.

“I just tried to do the best I could for my horses,” Specht said in summing up his career. “I was always 100% honest with (owners), a lesson I learned a long time ago. You’ve got to give (bad news) to them straight and do it right away. And I always tried to keep my horses healthy, give them time off when they needed it, and run ’em where they could do good.”

© BENOIT PHOTO

RON MESAROS

Alvarado wins the Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks on Grand Slam Smile for Specht

Specht attended the CTBA banquet to accept his award

PARISIAN DREAM

PRANCINGTHRUPARIS DEFEATS PUSHINESS FOR FIRST STAKES SCORE

BY TRACY GANTZ

Owner/breeder Joe Ciaglia ruefully recalls the first time he and his partners tried to race She’s a Big Winner. Jockey Kent Desormeaux won’t forget that September day in 2014 either.

“The first time she went to the track, she kicked Desormeaux in the chest,” Ciaglia said. “We had to scratch, and he had a big hoofprint on him.”

She’s a Big Winner ultimately behaved herself enough to win two of 10 races, including the 2015 Sweet Life Stakes. However, she may prove a better broodmare than a racehorse if her daughter Prancingthruparis is any indication. The 4-year-old California-bred filly sparkled when victorious in the $101,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes March 16 for trainer Peter Eurton, who also trained She’s a Big Winner.

Prancingthruparis had come close to winning stakes, but she had yet to reach the winner’s circle after one despite a record of four wins in 12 starts. In only her second outing, she finished second in the 2023 Generous Portion Stakes, and she had a couple of fourths in four subsequent black-type attempts.

The Irish O’Brien was not an easy spot to try again. Prancingthruparis’ six rivals

for the stakes over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course included favored Shocking Grey, fresh off a win in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes Presented by John Deere over the same course, and second-choice Pushiness, a two-time stakes winner.

Prancingthruparis went off as the sixth choice at 11-1. In her most recent start and first for jockey Armando Ayuso, the 4-year-old filly had won a one-mile allowance/optional claimer on turf by a neck at 38-1.

When the gate opened in the Irish O’Brien, Prancingthruparis broke on top from the outside post, but Pushiness soon took over the lead.

“She broke the best in the race,” Ayuso said. “I knew there was a lot of speed inside me, so I just took a hold a little bit.”

That hold allowed four horses to get ahead of Prancingthruparis, which never posed a problem.

“Before we got to the dirt, I had a lot of filly,” Ayuso said. “So, I stepped to the outside. As soon as she went outside, she started running.”

As they approached the dirt, Prancingthruparis needed to catch only Pushiness and Shocking Grey. She quickly collared Shocking Grey and then dueled with Pushiness in the stretch. Pushiness, making her first start in four months, never gave up, but Prancingthruparis edged past her to score by a half-length in 1:13.18. Sneaker finished third.

“It was amazing—the jockey did a really great job,” said Ciaglia. “Last time we got an easy lead at a mile going wire to wire. He broke great and was smart to settle, so she showed a little bit of versatility there.”

Ciaglia owns and bred Prancingthruparis with SAF Racing and Harry Crusberg. The daughter of California sire Sir Prancealot, Prancingthruparis is the third starter and second winner for She’s a Big Winner.

“It was nice that we bred (She’s a Big Winner) to Sir Prancealot to get more relaxed and add a little more tempo in her because she was a little bit of a speedball,” Ciaglia said. “It is exciting to make the right choice, and it is just good to be here.”

Prancingthruparis defeats Pushiness by a half-length to capture Irish O’Brien Stakes at Santa Anita

© BENOIT PHOTOS

© BENOIT PHOTO

Joe Ciaglia (center), co-owner and co-breeder of Prancingthruparis, and jockey Armando Ayuso celebrate after the Irish O’Brien

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ATTENDING DETROIT RACES AS A YOUNGSTER LED TO HORSE OWNERSHIP

ROBERT FETKIN

BY JACK SHINAR

In late 2024, horse owner

Robert Fetkin caught a couple of bad breaks.

On Sept. 26, he and his wife Sheila’s ocean-front dream home in St. Petersburg on the Florida coast was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene. Less than a month later, his dual grade 1 winner The Chosen Vron— perhaps the best sprinter in the country—was placed on the veterinarian’s restricted list due to concerns about his front fetlocks and ruled out of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar. Seven-year-old The Chosen Vron, of which Fetkin was

co-breeder and owner as part of the Tiz Molly broodmare partnership, would never run again. The California-bred chestnut gelding by Vronsky was recently retired due to his ankle problems. Fetkin’s home, six months into the rebuilding phase, is still under construction.

Yet he has taken it all in stride.

“I’m pretty resilient,” the buoyant 66-year-old restaurateur said. “I’m a person who always looks at the bright side of things.”

The career The Chosen Vron had “was beyond my wildest dreams,” Fetkin noted, pointing to his accomplishments. The gelding

won an amazing 19 times from 25 lifetime starts, 18 of those victories in stakes events, including back-toback renewals of Del Mar’s grade 1 Bing Crosby. The two-time Cal-bred Horse of the Year earned more than $1.7 million.

“He’s by far the best horse I’ve ever been a part of,” Fetkin said. “I’ve said it many times before, but he’s given me the ride of a lifetime.”

Fetkin said he hoped that The Chosen Vron’s injuries would heal with rest and therapy and he would be able to return to competition. But the most recent MRI showing no improvement convinced him and his partners, including trainer Eric Kruljac, that their star’s racing days were over.

“It’s the right thing to do for ‘Vron.’ Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end,” Fetkin said. “He will forever be my favorite horse. He deserves to roll around in the grass and enjoy his well-deserved retirement.”

As for his home, which the Fetkins have owned since relocating from Temecula in 2017, the hurricane made him realize that it was time to move on. The likelihood of further such climate-related disasters was part of the decision, he said, but more important was their lifestyle changes in semi-retirement.

“We’re just traveling more,” he said. “We have family on both coasts; we want to spend more time with them.” He plans to rent out and eventually sell the house once the renovation is complete. And then, there’s racing. A

Robert and Sheila Fetkin pose with The Chosen Vron’s Horse of the Year trophy at the banquet

RON MESAROS

big believer in partnerships, Fetkin said he has a percentage in about 50 horses right now. He has been a fan since he was about 12 when growing up near Detroit. He had an aunt who often took him to old Detroit Race Course in nearby Livonia.

“I never had more than a few dollars in my pocket back then, but I always loved that I could go home with more,” he said.

The fast-food business has been good to Fetkin. Living in San Diego, he began buying into Arby’s restaurant franchises as a young entrepreneur, and at its height, he said he owned about 70 in California. He began selling off those assets about 10 years ago but remains in the restaurant business on a smaller scale while also involved in commercial real estate management.

Fetkin began in racing by claiming a few horses with trainer Paul Aguirre in the early 1990s. Like many aspiring owners, he had bigger dreams.

“When I first started, I said I wanted to go to the Kentucky Derby,” he said. “Then I said if I go there, I want to run in it. And then if we run, I would like to win it.”

I think that partnerships give you a chance to cast a wider net. Also, we’ve made a lot of friends.”

His association with Class Racing Stable, headed by Joe Masino, led him to the filly Tiz Molly. Fetkin, speaking at the recent California Thoroughbred Breeders Association awards banquet in which Tiz Molly was awarded Broodmare of the Year, said he remembers her first race in 2013. After a slow start, he said, “she came flying late to win by a head” at odds of 24-1.

“And I thought we had the next Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner there,” he added.

Robert Fetkin

When injuries ended Tiz Molly’s racing career about 16 months later, Fetkin joined the Tiz Molly Partners, who bought her and bred The Chosen Vron. They also have two foals out of Tiz Molly by noted California sire Clubhouse Ride (Clubhouse Cutie and Goodgollytizmolly), with a third on the way, Fetkin said.

Fetkin, as part of Ten Strike Racing, is excited about the prospects

of 4-year-old Into Mischief filly Almostgone Rocket, also owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations. The Kentucky-bred Almostgone Rocket won all three of her starts in 2024 by a combined 22 lengths, including the listed Jersey Girl Stakes at Saratoga by six lengths in June. She was expected to make her first start of the year for trainer Brad Cox in the $250,000 Matron Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 29.

Fetkin’s Derby dream? The closest he has come so far is also with Ten Strike Racing, part owner of Loggins, who sustained a suspensory injury that ended his career in 2022 after just two races. Following an eight-length debut win at Churchill Downs, the Cox-trained son of Ghostzapper went off favored in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and lost by a neck to eventual juvenile champion Forte.

But Fetkin continues to dream. He’s become affiliated with another partnership group, Fletcher’s Small Batch Thoroughbreds, which formed an offshoot of about 10 owners last year named SBT Holy Grail.

“I rely a lot on Fletch,” Fetkin said. “He has the best eye for young horses I’ve seen.”

He added, “Our goal is to get to the Kentucky Derby. We have three colts we bought as yearlings last year, and we’re targeting the ’26 Derby.

“I think that partnerships give you a chance to cast a wider net,” Fetkin explained. “It gives you more action all the time. A lot of people are doing that now. You have a better chance of getting a nice stakes horse and you mitigate the risk. Also, we’ve made a lot of friends.”

COURTESY OF ROBERT FETKIN

The Fetkins have enjoyed California-bred The Chosen Vron, who has given them “the ride of a lifetime”

FEBRUARY 18, 2025 – MARCH 23, 2025

3-YEAR-OLDS & UP

Acclamation—Roberta's Mango: Blueberry Eyes (18-5), m, 6 yo, Will Rogers Downs, SOC, 3/19, 1mi, 1:42.57, $7,800.

Acclamation—Mesaatmimiscafe: Table for Two (18-5), g, 6 yo, Turf Paradise, AOC, 3/19, 1mi (T), 1:35.22, $13,865.

American Pharoah—Marks Mine: America's Mark (108-20), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 2/22, 1mi (T), 1:35.92, $36,600.

Big Bad Leroybrown—Celebration: Wegonahavagoodtime (7-3), g, 6 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 3/23, 6f, 1:11.55, $14,040.

Cairo Prince—Chilukki's Song: Duplication (108-24), g, 5 yo, Turf Paradise, SOC, 2/19, 1mi (T), 1:36.32, $8,555.

Cairo Prince—Chicalelee: Touchdown Brown (108-24), g, 7 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 2/23, 1mi (T), 1:34.82, $36,600.

Clubhouse Ride—Pica: Picahouse (54-13), g, 4 yo, Turf Paradise, SOC, 2/18, 1mi (T), 1:37.08, $8,555.

Clubhouse Ride—Secret Thorn: Sharp Ride (54-13), m, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 2/23, 6 1/2f, 1:16.47, $36,600.

Curlin to Mischief—Love Makor: It's Turbo (29-7), g, 5 yo, Turf Paradise, AOC, 3/3, 6 1/2f, 1:17.11, $12,980.

Curlin to Mischief—Crystal House: See Through It (29-7), g, 8 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/7, 6 1/2f, 1:15.64, $53,820.

Curlin to Mischief—Roses for Joni: Fowler Blue (29-7), g, 6 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/14, 1mi, 1:36.85, $40,200.

Danzing Candy—Hottestthingintown: All Jokes Aside (35-9), g, 5 yo, Turfway Park, STR, 3/13, 6f, 1:10.65, $14,763.

Danzing Candy—Melanistic: Danzingwith Maxine (35-9), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 3/21, 6f (T), 1:10.32, $27,360.

Desert Code—Orange Cove: Sanger (12-3), g, 6 yo, Turf Paradise, AOC, 3/5, 7 1/2f (T), 1:29.32, $13,800.

Grazen—Miranda Rose: Tom Horn (68-26), h, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 2/22, about 6 1/2f, 1:12.07, $47,580.

Grazen—Lady Rosberg: Nothing Is Forever (68-26), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/16, 1mi, 1:38.64, $40,200.

Grazen—Patsy G and Me: Crown Magic (68-26), g, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 3/21, 1mi, 1:40.89, $14,040.

Haimish Hy—Ultimate Summer: Ultimate Hy (1-1), m, 8 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/15, 1mi (T), 1:36.74, $40,200.

I'll Have Another—Kuva: Binging (19-6), c, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/21, 5f (T), 55.82, $40,200.

Kafwain—Babe I'm Ready: Babe's Got Appeal (3-1), m, 7 yo, Turf Paradise, STR, 2/27, 5f, 57.75, $8,845.

Lemon Drop Kid—Lorelei's Song: Lite Ranchin Kid (16-5), g, 4 yo, Turf Paradise, AOC, 3/6, 5 1/2f, 1:02.91, $13,500.

Lookin At Lucky—Geode: Private Gem (77-14), c, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 2/21, 6 1/2f (T), 1:15.86, $22,440.

Majestic Harbor—Tizfit: Tiz's Harbor (16-4), c, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, STR, 3/17, 6f, 1:13.42, $17,280.

Mrazek—Taffeta: Check's On the Way (9-2), g, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 3/7, 6f (T), 1:10.33, $27,360.

Mrazek—Full of Sugar: Knightwithlouis (9-2), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/14, 6f, 1:10.78, $40,200.

Mucho Macho Man—Always Sweet: Atomic Drop (62-21), g, 7 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 3/9, 1mi (T), 1:36.09, $15,180.

Northern Causeway—Ann's Intuition: Clarina (18-3), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/2, 5 1/2f, 1:05.54, $26,130.

Northern Causeway—Divine Miss Indy: Runkerry (18-3), h, 8 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/9, 6f, 1:11.29, $26,130.

Shaman Ghost—Daddy's Duo: Dendera (26-11), m, 6 yo, Turf Paradise, AOC, 3/17, 1mi (T), 1:36.20, $13,275.

Sir Prancealot (IRE)—Sunday Eve: Princessprancealot (50-16), f, 4 yo, Sunland Park, ALW, 2/20, 6 1/2f, 1:15.96, $17,280.

Sir Prancealot (IRE)—She's a Big Winner: Prancingthruparis (50-16), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 2/22, 1mi (T), 1:36.06, $47,580.

Sir Prancealot (IRE)—She's a Big Winner: Prancingthruparis (50-16), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, STK, Irish O'Brien S., 3/16, about 6 1/2f, 1:13.18, $60,000.

Sky Mesa—Cuddle Alert: Supernal (61-18), g, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/15, 6f, 1:09.99, $40,200.

Smiling Tiger—Lutess: Cowboy Mike (70-11), g, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 2/21, 1mi, 1:36.44, $49,140.

Smiling Tiger—Hotazel: Mr. Disrespectful (70-11), g, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 3/22, 1mi, 1:38.07, $27,360.

Southern Image—Cee's Joy: Cee's the Image (6-1), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 3/8, 6f, 1:11.18, $14,040.

Stanford—Magic Lily: Book Smart (53-23), g, 6 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/1, 6f, 1:09.89, $52,260.

Stanford—Lisa's Lion: Lion's Lair (53-23), m, 6 yo, Santa Anita Park, SOC, 3/17, 6f, 1:13.01, $12,960.

Stay Thirsty—Donita's Ruler: I'm a Bad Boy (87-12), g, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 2/28, 1mi (T), 1:36.57, $40,200.

Street Boss—Eternally: Boss Sully (83-30), g, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/15, 6f (T), 1:08.37, $53,820.

Street Boss—Intoitagain: Runamileinmyshoes (83-30), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/22, 1mi (T), 1:34.14, $52,260.

Tamarkuz—Bonus Spin: Go Go Sadie (23-8), m, 6 yo, Turf Paradise, STK, ATBA Sales Overnight S., 2/22, 6f, 1:09.65, $23,895.

Unionize—Squeeze Me Tight: Lady Gregory (3-1), m, 6 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/2, 6f (T), 1:09.32, $40,200.

Vancouver (AUS)—Sweet Boss: Stamp My Passport (15-8), g, 6 yo, Turf Paradise, AOC, 3/13, 1mi, 1:37.30, $13,950.

Vronsky—Lost Prophet: Double Jab (28-5), g, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 3/8, 6f (T), 1:09.16, $40,200.

Win the Space—Time for Luck: Lucky Vegas (5-1), m, 5 yo, Sunland Park, SOC, 3/20, 6 1/2f, 1:15.94, $8,400.

MAIDENS

Atreides—Kailani Tiger: Hakuhia (13-4), m, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/14, 5 1/2f, 1:05.68, $8,700.

Bodexpress—Some Temper: Hothead (23-3), g, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 3/15, 6f (T), 1:09.16, $39,000.

Bodexpress—Fracci: Hellova Louella (23-3), f, 3 yo, Los Alamitos, MCL, 3/16, 4 1/2f, 53.70, $4,035.

Bolt d'Oro—Yawannagokid: Bolt Zapper (122-39), g, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/7, 6f, 1:10.98, $22,200.

Cat Burglar—Ebony Cat: Cruel Endeavor (24-5), g, 4 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 2/25, 6f, 1:10.75, $5,800.

Circumference (IRE)—Tap the Till: Speed of Elon (5-1), c, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 3/16, 1mi (T), 1:36.59, $39,000.

Clubhouse Ride—Orange Cove: Orange Thunder (54-13), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 2/22, 1mi (T), 1:36.53, $36,000.

Clubhouse Ride—It's Vengeance: Renatus (54-13), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/17, 5 1/2f, 1:06.98, $16,800.

Coil—Aclevershadeofjade: Vinniebob (3-2), g, 6 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 3/3, 1mi, 1:38.23, $5,900.

Dads Caps—One More Summer: Lava Lucy (35-9), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 2/23, 6f (T), 1:08.67, $36,000.

Dads Caps—Castilla: Caviar Cowboy (35-9), g, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/14, 6f, 1:11.75, $8,400.

Daraybi (FR)—We Chance It: Intense Moment (1-1), m, 6 yo, Los Alamitos, MCL, 3/2, 4 1/2f, 53.92, $3,820.

Dosificado (CHI)—Goldies Meeting: Evertoriano (8-2), h, 5 yo, Los Alamitos, MCL, 3/1, 4 1/2f, 53.60, $3,980.

Dosificado (CHI)—Glitterspeed: Paislees Promise (8-2), g, 4 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 3/19, 1 1/16mi, 1:44.03, $5,900.

Grazen—Razzberry Mousse: Sent by Angels (68-26), m, 5 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 2/26, 5f, 58.06, $7,080.

Grazen—Fast Gator: Grazen Gator (68-26), f, 3 yo, Sunland Park, MSW, 3/7, 6 1/2f, 1:18.75, $15,120.

Grazen—Margie Blackjack: Razen the Stakes (68-26), g, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 3/17, 6f (T), 1:09.74, $39,000.

Lord Nelson—Dancinthenightaway: Goodnight Nellie (72-20), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/7, 5 1/2f, 1:04.97, $22,200.

Mr. Big—Perched: Bruiser (37-11), g, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/21, 1mi, 1:43.58, $8,700.

OM Harris Farms (800) 311 6211 www.harrisfarms.com

Om—I'm Sassy: Om Sassy (25-4), f, 3 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 3/3, 5 1/2f, 1:04.86, $8,120. Om—Margie's Minute: Om N Joy (25-4), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 3/14, 6 1/2f, 1:16.11, $39,000.

Point Piper—Amare: Lovely Idaho (5-2), f, 4 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 3/9, 6f (T), 1:08.68, $39,000.

ROUSING SERMON BG Thoroughbred Farm (951) 654 9100 www.bgthoroughbreds.com

Rousing Sermon—Mother Luck: Lucky Sermon (9-4), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/7, 6f, 1:13.63, $9,000.

■ The accompanying list includes runners that are both California-foaled and California-sired winners in 2024 of all recent North American races, except straight claiming races.

■ Abbreviations used for the class of race are similar to those used by Equibase: Alw–allowance; Hcp–overnight handicap; names of stakes race are spelled out, with the grade of the race, when applicable, in parentheses.

Sir Prancealot (IRE)—Caution Sign: Jetfire (50-16), g, 4 yo, Sunland Park, MCL, 2/28, 4 1/2f, 51.99, $6,240.

Sir Prancealot (IRE)—Sweet Boss: Hornsby (50-16), g, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/15, 6f, 1:12.64, $22,200.

Smiling Tiger—Style Award: Wink and a Grin (70-11), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 3/23, 1 1/8mi (T), 1:50.30, $39,000.

Smokem—Elusive Beauty: Memosis (6-2), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 3/2, 6f, 1:13.28, $22,200.

STANFORD

Harris Farms (800) 311 6211 www.harrisfarms.com

Stanford—Foxy Jade: Burningdaylight (53-23), m, 5 yo, Sunland Park, MCL, 2/20, 5 1/2f, 1:05.28, $6,900.

Stanford—Pulpation: Captain Willis (53-23), c, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 2/28, 5 1/2f, 1:06.70, $8,700.

Stanford—Shez Coming in Hot: Roman Gratis (53-23), g, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 3/1, 6 1/2f, 1:17.41, $39,000.

Stay Thirsty—Heavenly Pride: Reboso (87-12), g, 3 yo, Turf Paradise, MOC, 2/18, 6f, 1:10.58, $12,390.

Stay Thirsty—Midnight Gypsy: Bob's Kid (87-12), g, 3 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 3/17, 5f, 59.39, $6,960.

Tiz a Minister—Thou Shalt Not: Racer Rex (4-1), g, 5 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 2/27, 5f, 57.19, $7,080.

Vronsky—False Statement: Lady of Sky (28-5), f, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, MCL, 2/22, 6f, 1:11.58, $19,800.

INTERNET ADVERTISING

FOOT FRACTURES

BY HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

Ahorse’s foot has three bones—the coffin bone (third phalanx), the lower end of the short pastern bone (second phalanx) that attaches to the coffin bone, and the small navicular bone that sits behind the coffin bone. These bones articulate together in the coffin joint.

Of these three bones, the one most commonly fractured is the coffin bone, and in a variety of ways, typically a high-impact injury. The foot might land with excessive impact on an uneven surface, or a rear foot might fracture if the horse kicks a concrete wall. The most common cause is impact from a hard landing.

The hoof capsule is designed to protect the bone. The outside horn is hard and immobile, though it can expand and contract at the heels, and the sole is tough and resilient.

The coffin bone is shaped like a horseshoe; the outer edges are

called wings. Toward the back, one of the wings may fracture. This is often a racehorse injury, but may occur in any horse galloping around, hitting something hard. It might also be the result of cumulative stress due to speed and repetitive impact.

Amy Santonastaso, VMD, DABVP of the equine field service at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, said sometimes a person never figures out what caused the fracture, but it’s usually trauma-related.

“The horse may have been stomping, or kicking at something, stepping on an immovable surface—some kind of extreme impact. These are the most common causes,” she said. “Horses that have some kind of pathology and degeneration of the coffin bone, such as laminitis or inflammation of the bone, would be more at risk for fracture because of poor quality of the bone.”

Travis Burns, associate professor and chief of farrier services at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, said most coffin bone fractures in adult horses are the result of trauma, but there are also many fractures in young foals.

“A study here by Dr. Scott Pleasant showed that a high percentage of foals had a coffin bone fracture during their first year of life, and these are usually type 7,” Burns said.

TYPES OF FRACTURE

Coffin bone fractures are classified into six different types, and seven including the fractures in young foals.

“They are all based on location—where they occur on the bone,” said Santonastaso. “The second reason they are classified is to determine whether or not they have joint involvement, because this affects treatment and prognosis and how sound the horse might be in the future.

“Type 1 fractures are on the wings of the bone, either on the inside or the outside of the foot. These fractures don’t involve the joint and are less likely to have complications in healing or to develop arthritis. These tend to resolve quicker, with correct treatment, and the horse will usually have fewer future problems.

“Type 2 fractures are also located on the side—either the inside or outside of

the bone—but do involve the joint. These have somewhat poorer prognosis; we worry about inflammation in the joint. The joint may have been disrupted, and this also predisposes to arthritis in the future. Treatment is similar (to immobilize the bone), but when the joint is involved, we also consider injecting products to decrease inflammation in the joint.”

One of the newer treatments in fractures with joint involvement is using ortho-biologics.

Radiographs show a coffin bone fracture before (top) and after healing (bottom)

“They tend to promote healing better than some of the things used in the past,” said Santonastaso. “We now use autologous protein solution, PRP (platelet-rich plasma), and several other ortho-biologics. Earlier, all we had were steroids, which are good at reducing inflammation, but they can delay healing.

“These types of fractures can be tricky to differentiate as they get closer to the joint itself. But it is important to identify them correctly when deciding on treatment and

looking at prognosis. We need to know whether or not the joint is involved.”

Type 3 is right down the center of the coffin bone and always involves the joint.

“These tend to be more likely to displace—with the two pieces separating and moving away from each other,” said Santonastaso. “The more disruption in the joint, the farther apart those fragments can be, and the more likely to result in arthritis.”

Type 3 is usually worse than a Type 1 or Type 2 fracture.

“We generally treat these the same,” said Santonastaso. “Many of the mechanical strategies to immobilize the hoof are the same, but for this type of fracture there is also a surgical option.

“It’s not an easy fix because it tends to be complicated and there are issues with any kind of surgery inside the foot; it’s a difficult environment to try to disinfect. The nature of the coffin bone itself presents a challenge. It’s not a flat bone; it’s curved, and the surgery tends to be technically challenging. You have to find the right surgeon to do this. Therefore, we end up treating a lot of these conservatively, and again this is where I tend to utilize intra-articular joint treatments, preferably with ortho-biologics.”

Type 4 is at the top of the coffin bone— the extensor process—which protrudes upward a little where the tendon attaches to the bone.

“In my experience, these are less common,” said Santonastaso. “Sometimes we find these on radiographs, but they are not causing a problem for the horse. We generally just monitor these and don’t do anything to treat them if the horse isn’t lame.

“If the horse is having issues that we can localize to that area, we could surgically remove the fragment. But it’s difficult. Sometimes these can recover, with surgical treatment early on to remove the fragment, but there can also be complications because the extensor process is part of the coffin joint, and we worry about the longterm development of arthritis.”

Type 5 is when the coffin bone is broken into multiple pieces.

“This is generally the worst situation, since the more pieces there are, the more they tend to move around, and the more

DR. NAT WHITE PHOTOS

they move around, the harder it is for them to heal,” said Santonastaso. “This type of fracture can result from severe trauma to the foot, or because the coffin bone itself is unhealthy, not very strong, and more readily fractured.”

Type 6 is a solar margin fracture.

“This is on the outer edge of the coffin bone and can be acute, from trauma, but can also be associated with chronic inflammation of the foot,” said Santonastaso. “This might be the case if the horse has thin soles and suffers a lot of trauma and concussion when working on hard ground or stomping. These fractures are most commonly seen in horses that have some degeneration of the coffin bone because of long-term inflammation, so we also see these in laminitis cases.

“If the bone itself isn’t the cause of the fracture, there is better prognosis because these tend to heal fairly well. There is less movement in this fracture because most of the bone is still intact. There is less likely to be movement when the horse is bearing weight—loading and unloading the foot. This is one of the potentially ‘better’ types of fracture to encounter if the coffin bone itself is healthy. But if it’s not healthy, we run into problems of not getting it to heal.”

Type 7 is the type seen frequently in young foals. Foals heal quickly, however, and in many cases a person might not realize the bone was broken.

“We think these Type 7 fractures are trauma-related, partly because of the dysmature hoof capsule and coffin bone in the foal, and smaller hoof,” Burns said. “Most of these heal nicely, generally have good prognosis.”

According to the late Paul Goodness, chief of farrier services at Virginia Tech’s Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va., for many years, a coffin bone fracture in a foal may heal with just a month of reduced activity. Most of these foals simply have wing fractures or solar margin fractures. In these instances, nothing special needs to be done if the foal can be confined for three or four weeks. But if they must be turned out, the farrier must create some kind of tiny shoe to help immobilize that foot.

Everything happens fast in a foal. The tiny shoe the farrier might use must

be changed often—perhaps every two weeks—and a bigger one applied. If you leave one on too long, it will do damage by restricting hoof growth.

A person might bring the foal into a stall in the morning, take off the shoe or cast, leave him in the stall all day, and reapply the shoe/cast that evening and let the mare and foal go back to the field. Goodness had excellent success with this strategy.

“In general, even with articular fractures of the coffin bone in a horse that’s under two years of age, if we can diagnose it early and treat it, the prognosis is very

good,” said Santonastaso. “These young horses are still making new bone as they grow, laying down bone, and the body is already primed to heal.

“The study that was done here before I arrived looked at many foals and radiographed them and found a lot of fractures in foals that were not showing any signs. This is important to keep in mind. If you have a lame foal, you definitely need to check for this and rule out all other potential sources of lameness before you blame it on the fracture because sometimes these can just be incidental and heal just fine on their own.”

The veterinary college has a herd of horses, and undergraduates can take a course in which they breed, raise, and train horses.

“When I was a resident, the intern and I were able to take radiographs of some of those foals, just for our own interest, to prove that there were sometimes fractures that were never detected,” said Santonas-

taso. “We saw some of those Type 7 fractures in babies that were doing just fine, with no signs of problems.”

Prognosis varies with the various types, whether or not the joint is involved, and how much of the coffin bone is involved.

“As we go from Type 1 to Type 2 to Type 3, the foot needs to be immobilized longer,” said Santonastaso.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Often, a foot fracture is diagnosed because the owner suspects a fracture and calls the veterinarian, who then radiographs the foot.

“Sometimes, however, a fracture might be mistaken for some other problem,” said Santonastaso. “The most common reason for sudden acute lameness is a subsolar abscess, putting painful pressure on sensitive inner parts of the foot. It can be confusing, and obviously this needs to be treated differently.

“It’s not always easy to differentiate. The definitive way to diagnose a subsolar abscess is to open it up and establish drainage. But it’s not always easy to find the abscess tract, and sometimes it takes a while.

“The veterinarian goes to the farm, and the horse responds positively to a hoof tester—which can be true for both an abscess and a fracture. There is increased digital pulse, which is also true for both. If you are playing the odds, you’d guess that the horse has a foot abscess, and even if you don’t find the tract, you soak the foot, put on wraps and different dressings to try to draw out the infection. Then, if it’s not getting better and you still can’t find the abscess tract, that’s when it’s time to radiograph the foot and make sure it’s not a fracture.”

Soaking with warm water would be counterproductive for a fracture. It needs cold and anti-inflammatory medication instead.

“Also, soaking the foot makes the hoof wall softer and more pliable,” said Santonastaso. “The bone might be more mobile, when you need it to be stabilized so it can heal.”

Though foot abscesses are a lot more common than coffin bone fractures, keeping fractures in mind might mean fewer are misdiagnosed.

“When coffin bone fractures first occur,

An articular fracture extends into the coffin joint

DR. NAT WHITE

sometimes they don’t show up radiographically,” said Burns. “It may take a bit of time before the fracture line shows. It is important to have a proper diagnosis to know how to treat it, however.”

With any fracture, anywhere in the body, the primary goal is immobilization.

“The difference with a coffin bone fracture is that it is already in its own little box; the hoof helps stabilize it and tends to act as a cast,” Santonastaso said.

The hoof capsule has some movement, however, especially at the back and at the sole, to expand and contract as the foot takes weight and then unloads.

“This is normal, natural. and healthy for the foot, to minimize concussion,” said Santonastaso. “But in all types of coffin bone fractures, we need to stop movement as much as possible. We use therapeutic shoeing—bar shoes, multiple clip shoes, rim shoes, casting material, etc.

“Back when I was a student, we had to do a whole hoof cast (extending above the hoof), since we didn’t have any material strong enough to just put over the hoof. Now we have newer material that is better, since it is stronger, and we can also put it right against the hoof. The closer it is to the fracture, the more immobilization we get.

“I work with Travis Burns, and he’s an excellent farrier and very skilled with these procedures. Often, we use multiple clip shoes and other types of special shoeing and can use pads to help keep the bony column from descending. All of this can decrease movement. Along with that, resting the horse—not allowing much exercise—can help. If the joint is involved, we use the intra-articular therapies to help promote healing and reduce inflammation.”

Farriers apply many kinds of shoes to stabilize the foot.

“The goal is to restrict overall hoof movement, and then give the bone time to heal,” said Burns. “Some people nail the shoe on. Some prefer to glue it on and not put the horse through the trauma of nailing, with a sensitive, painful foot. Some places put lag screws through the bone to hold it together, but we don’t.”

A young horse destined to become a racehorse would have a good prognosis if it does not involve a joint surface.

“When it does, it never heals perfectly,” said Burns. “But veterinarians now use ortho-biologics and regenerative therapies to try to help a joint fracture repair, with a better prognosis. Here in our referral practice, we see about five to 10 coffin bone fractures per year.”

Farriers and veterinarians sometimes debate the best ways to treat various fractures.

“Many farriers want to immediately provide frog and sole support to help prevent movement of the bony column, and this is generally what I do the most,” said Burns. “But sometimes there is an advantage in waiting.

“Paul Goodness generally wouldn’t add any frog and sole support beyond just a heart bar shoe until later. He didn’t use anything to pack the sole until about four weeks after the initial fracture. He’d seen horses that resented pressure on the coffin bone because it created more pain. So, this is one of those things that I keep in the back of my mind—whether or not to use a firm packing material to try to stabilize the coffin bone.”

It is important to be responsive to the horse. If a treatment produces pressure and pain, you need to adjust accordingly. You don’t want a horse to continue to favor the damaged foot and keep putting too much weight and pressure on the other foot. A horse must also be able to stay on its feet.

Many fractures can heal with good prognosis without surgery, depending on how much disruption there has been at the joint. Anything articular has a much more guarded prognosis.

“If it’s just a solar margin fracture or just a Type 1 fracture—involving a wing— there is much better prognosis and a good chance of getting back to athletic performance than if it’s a Type 3 fracture that affects the joint,” said Burns.

“We can’t bed rest horses,” said Santonastaso. “Also, we don’t want the horse favoring a painful foot so much that he puts too much weight on the good foot, with risk for supporting-limb laminitis. Often immobilization of the hoof (no movement in the fracture) will make the horse more comfortable. But we don’t want to forget about the opposite leg.”

Limiting movement and exercise is helpful. It’s best to keep the horse quiet, though high-strung or nervous individuals don’t like to be inactive.

“We have new options to medicate horses that need a little help staying calm,” said Santonastaso. “Travis and I recently treated a yearling, and she definitely needed extra help to keep her calm and quiet during stall rest.”

DR. ALICIA

BERTONE

Screws can be used to hold the coffin bone together

Special shoes can sometimes help foot fractures while they heal

2025 LEADING BREEDERS IN CALIFORNIA BY EARNINGS (THRU

2025 LEADING SIRES IN CALIFORNIA BY AVERAGE EARNINGS PER RUNNER

Sire

1 Mrazek, 2013, by Square Eddie 9 4

2 Grazen, 2006, by Benchmark

3 Jersey Town, 2006, by Speightstown

4 I’ll Have Another, 2009, by Flower Alley

5 Point Piper, 2010, by Giant’s Causeway 5 2

6 Stanford, 2012, by Malibu Moon 53 27

7 Sir Prancealot (IRE), 2010, by Tamayuz (GB) 62 21

8 Curlin to Mischief, 2011, by Curlin

9 Circumference (IRE), 2012, by Galileo (IRE) 5

10 Danzing Candy, 2013, by Twirling Candy 35 12

11 Clubhouse Ride, 2008, by Candy Ride (ARG)

12 Mr. Big, 2003-24, by Dynaformer

13 Tamarando, 2011, by Bertrando

14

15

17

2025 LEADING TURF SIRES IN CALIFORNIA

1 I’ll Have Another, 2009, by Flower Alley

2 Grazen, 2006, by Benchmark

3 Sir Prancealot (IRE), 2010, by Tamayuz (GB)

4 Clubhouse Ride, 2008, by Candy Ride (ARG)

5 Stanford, 2012, by Malibu Moon

6 Danzing Candy, 2013, by Twirling Candy

7 Vronsky, 1999, by Danzig

8 Stay Thirsty, 2008, by Bernardini

9 Om, 2012, by Munnings

10 Acclamation, 2006, by Unusual Heat

11 Curlin to Mischief, 2011,

2025 LEADING SIRES IN CALIFORNIA BY MONEY WON

Leading California Sires Lists

2025 LEADING SIRES IN CALIFORNIA

1 Mrazek, 2013, by Square Eddie

2 Uptown Rythem, 2011, by Speightstown

3 Grazen, 2006, by Benchmark

4 Empire Way, 2009, by Empire Maker

5 Win the Space, 2012, by Pulpit

6 Point Piper, 2010, by Giant’s Causeway 5

7 Gallant Son, 2006, by Malabar Gold 6

8 Curlin to Mischief, 2011, by Curlin

9 Rousing Sermon, 2009, by Lucky Pulpit

10 Stanford, 2012, by Malibu Moon

11 Jersey Town, 2006, by Speightstown

12 Sir Prancealot (IRE), 2010, by Tamayuz (GB)

13 Clubhouse Ride, 2008, by Candy Ride (ARG)

14 Mr. Big, 2003, by

15

16

18

19

20

2025 LEADING SIRES IN CALIFORNIA

EARNINGS PER START

1 Mrazek, 2013, by Square Eddie

2 Grazen, 2006, by Benchmark

3 Tough Sunday, 2012, by Grazen 4 10 $70,030 $7,003

4 Sir Prancealot (IRE), 2010, by Tamayuz (GB) 62 129 $689,368 $5,344

5 I’ll Have Another, 2009, by Flower Alley 61 169 $882,893 $5,224

6 Jersey Town, 2006, by Speightstown 12

7 Mr. Big, 2003, by Dynaformer

8 Stanford, 2012, by Malibu Moon

9 Circumference (IRE), 2012, by Galileo (IRE)

10

11 Curlin to Mischief, 2011, by Curlin

12

13

14 Om, 2012, by Munnings

15

16

2025 LEADING SIRES IN CALIFORNIA BY NUMBER OF WINNERS

2025 LEADING SIRES IN CALIFORNIA BY NUMBER OF RACES WON

Danzing Candy, 2013, by Twirling Candy

11 Mr. Big, 2003-24, by Dynaformer

Dads Caps, 2010, by Discreet Cat

13 Curlin to Mischief, 2011, by Curlin

Cat Burglar, 2010, by Unbridled’s Song

15 Vronsky, 1999, by Danzig

16 Graydar, 2009, by Unbridled’s Song

Jersey Town, 2006, by Speightstown

Tamarando, 2011, by Bertrando

Acclamation, 2006, by Unusual Heat

20 Rousing Sermon, 2009, by Lucky Pulpit

2025 LEADING LIFETIME SIRES IN CALIFORNIA

Stallion (Foreign Foaled), Year, Sire

1 Grazen, 2006,

2 Clubhouse Ride, 2008, by Candy Ride (ARG)

4 Bluegrass Cat,

5 Stay Thirsty, 2008, by Bernardini

6 Sir Prancealot (IRE), 2010, by Tamayuz (GB)

7 Majestic Harbor, 2008, by Rockport Harbor

8 I’ll Have Another, 2009, by Flower Alley

9

13 Idiot Proof,

Graydar, 2009, by Unbridled’s Song

18 Misremembered, 2006, by Candy Ride (ARG) 11

19 James Street, 2007, by El Prado (IRE)

20 Passion for Gold, 2007, by Medaglia d’Oro 5

21 Richard’s Kid, 2005, by Lemon Drop Kid

Tamarando, 2011, by Bertrando

23 Desert Code, 2004, by E Dubai

Slew’s Tiznow, 2005, by Tiznow

25 Danzing Candy, 2013, by Twirling Candy

26 Big

39

45

48 Conquest Farenheit, 2014, by Scat Daddy

49 Texas Ryano, 2011, by Curlin

50 Boat Trip, 2009, by Harlan’s Holiday

These statistics are for active California-based sires with a minimum of 50 foals of racing age, ranked here by their lifetime Average Earnings Index (AEI.) The statistics shown here are compiled by The Jockey Club Information Systems (TJCIS). While every effort is made to prevent errors and omissions, California Thoroughbred cannot guarantee their complete and total accuracy. Sires that are dead, pensioned, or no longer standing in California remain on these lists until their last Cal-bred crop turns 3 years old. Statistics are from all available Northern Hemisphere racing with earnings adjusted for Hong Kong and Japan. Stakes winners and wins follow TJCIS stakes rules. Percentages are based upon number of named foals of racing age.

Stakes & Sales Dates

2025 REGIONAL RACE MEETINGS

Santa Anita Park, Arcadia Dec. 26-June 15

Los Angeles County Fair at Los Alamitos, Los Alamitos June 18-July 8

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar July 18-Sept. 7

Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos Sept. 10-23

Santa Anita Park, Arcadia Sept. 24-Oct. 28

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar Oct. 30-Nov. 30

Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos Dec. 3-16

2025 REGIONAL SALE DATES

SEPTEMBER 23

FASIG-TIPTON FALL YEARLINGS & HORSES OF RACING AGE Pomona, Calif. (ENTRIES CLOSE JULY 7)

California-Bred/California-Sired STAKES RACES

APRIL – MAY

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

SATURDAY, MAY 24

ree-Year-Olds

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LOCATED AT 100 SANTA DE MARIA DR.

SHOWN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

THE HOME IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH TO LIST.

HORSE SET-UP HAS A PROFESSIONALLYBUILT ARENA. AND HUNDREDS OF MILES OF TRAILS OUT OF YOUR GATES.

PLEASE CALL TO SET UP APPOINTMENT TO VIEW THIS PROPERTY. ROBINS RANCHES (AGT) BRE #01039978 925-550-2383. WWW.ROBINSRANCHES.COM ROBINFROST1@YAHOO.COM

ROBINS RANCHES THINKING OF SELLING YOUR HORSE PROPERTY ??

ROBIN HAS OVER 30 YEARS SELLING EQUINE PROPERTY HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

PLEASE GIVE HER A CALL TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR RANCH. THANK YOU.

ROBINS RANCHES (AGENT) BRE #01039978 (925) 550-2383

ROBINFROST1@YAHOO.COM

Janet Del Castillo

3708 Crystal Beach Road Winter Haven, FL 33880

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! janet.delcastillo@gmail.com

Introducing Graded Stakes Winner

Quality Road - Hot Spell, by Salt Lake

CHAMPION BLOODLINES

PROVEN PERFORMANCE

GRADED STAKES

WINNER OF $379,700

2025 Fee: $5,000 LFG

HOPKINS

By QUALITY ROAD – Sire of multiple Grade 1 winners. Out of the Multiple Stakes Winner, Graded Stakes producing mare HOT SPELL (by SALT LAKE) – A fast, durable mare from a proven family of sprinters and middle-distance horses.

HOPKINS is a Graded Stakes winner, with a brilliant racing career that demonstrates his natural talent, durability, and competitive Spirit, Speed, Stamina & Versatility – Whether sprinting or stretching out in distance. An impressive pedigree and performance on the track make him an excellent choice for California’s breeding program. Don’t miss the chance to be part of the next generation of champions—book your mare to HOPKINS today!

FINNEUS

Stay Thirsty – My Fiona, by Ghostzapper

California Two-Year-Old Champion of 2022. First crop will arrive in 2025.

2025 Fee: $4,000 LFSN

SMOKEM

Union Rags – One Smokin’ Lady, by Smoke Glacken

A Leading Sire in 2023, California’s Leading Second Crop Sire in 2022.

2025 Fee: $2,500 LFSN

STAY THIRSTY

Bernardini – Marozia, by Storm Bird

# 1 Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds in CA. Sire of Champion Cal-bred TwoYear-Old Female – In the Air Tonight

2025 Fee: $10,000 LFG

Terry Lovingier - Cell (562) 547 9848 or email terry@lovco.com | www.lovacres.com