Governor Goteven’s Golden State Stakes Double

Governor Goteven takes the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes at Del Mar

EVEN BETTER

SECOND-GENERATION HOMEBRED WINS CTBA AND GENEROUS PORTION STAKES

BY TRACY GANTZ

Linda Templeton once owned the acreage that is now Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Farm in Warner Springs. So she fnds it especially gratifying that she bred Governor Goteven by supporting Lovacres stallions. Tat flly has developed into a major California-bred 2-year-old flly by capturing the $98,000 California Toroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes Aug. 1 and $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes Aug. 30, both at Del Mar.

“Tere’s a connection with all of us,” Templeton said.

Tat connection includes Walther Solis, whose long training career included many seasons as Lovingier’s conditioner. Solis trained Governor Goteven’s frst two dams, Time Linda Goteven and Linda’s Bluf.

“I bought her grandmother in Ken

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tucky,” said Templeton. “She ran okay the frst little bit. Ten she got hurt and we bred her.”

Linda’s Bluf, a daughter of Pollard’s Vision—Pine Forest, by Pine Bluf, cost just $1,700 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale. Te flly started twice without winning before the injury.

In breeding Linda’s Bluf, Templeton logically chose a stallion standing at Lovacres. Time to Get Even, when bred to Linda’s Bluf, sired Time Linda Goteven. Tat flly also had an abbreviated racing career, but she is making up for that as a broodmare. Governor Goteven, by Lovacres stallion Govenor Charlie, is undefeated in three starts for Templeton and trainer Lisa Bernard.

Like many other owners, though, Templeton was initially unable to watch Governor Goteven compete because of COVID-19 restrictions. Te flly debuted

at Santa Anita May 29, winning a maiden California-bred race by a neck at 18-1.

Fortunately, owners were frst allowed at Del Mar to watch their horses compete the weekend of the CTBA Stakes.

“I’m so thankful,” said Templeton. “It just feels so funny without people.”

Under the protocols established by Del Mar and the local county health department, the day of the CTBA Stakes, two licensed owners per horse could attend and sit in the box seats. Fans were still not allowed, however, and only about 100 people occupied the cavernous grandstand.

Winner’s circle ceremonies were still banned, so Templeton had to celebrate in the box. She sat with Solis, and Lovingier immediately came up and congratulated her.

Governor Goteven faced four other fllies in the 5 1 ⁄2-furlong CTBA. Big Andy, technically still a maiden because of a disqualifcation from frst in her frst start followed by a second-place fnish, went of as the 6-5 favorite. Governor Goteven was the 3-1 second choice.

When the gate opened, Governor Goteven, ridden by Tiago Pereira, battled with Reign of Fire for the lead.

“My flly was game, though, and she was willing to go with her,” said Pereira. “We put the other flly away and just went on with it.”

Governor Goteven began pulling away at the eighth pole. Big Andy closed ground and passed Reign of Fire, but she couldn’t catch Governor Goteven, who triumphed by 3 1 ⁄2 lengths in 1:05.55.

Bernard had never before trained a horse to compete at Del Mar.

“I feel fantastic; it’s very wonderful,” Bernard said. “She has been a really fun 2-year-old to deal with, and I knew she was training really well.”

While Templeton now splits her time between Southern California and Arizona, she lived near Del Mar for many years. Her late husband, Robert, was a grading

Governor Goteven keeps her unblemished record in the Generous Portion Stakes

contractor and worked on the houses on the hill opposite Del Mar racetrack.

“We used to sit up on that hill when they were building those houses and watch the Fourth of July freworks up there,” she said.

GENEROUS PORTION STAKES

Only second-place Big Andy returned from the CTBA Stakes to challenge Governor Goteven in the Generous Portion, slated at six furlongs, an eighth of a mile farther than the CTBA. Four other fllies joined those two: Los Alamitos maiden winner I’m So Anna, Golden Gate Fields maiden winners Emma’s Dance and Do You Hear Tat, and Del Mar maiden winner Mucha Woman.

I’m So Anna had defeated a feld of 10, scoring by four lengths. Terefore, bettors sent her of as the 11-10 favorite in the Generous Portion over Governor Goteven at 2-1.

Bernard gave Governor Goteven two works at Del Mar between the CTBA and the Generous Portion, and the young flly thrived on the training regimen.

“She knows her job, knows what she needs to do,” Bernard said a few days before the race. “It has clicked in for her, and you can tell she knows she won and she’s proud of herself. Fillies are like that; they take things to heart.”

Another change during the interim was that Templeton went from a one-horse stable to two. She has been partners with Lovingier on many horses through the years, but was down to just Governor Goteven. She looked at Lovingier’s yearlings at the farm and selected a son of Stay Tirsty—Pebble Beach Baby, by Rock Hard Ten, buying him for $40,000 at the Aug. 11 California Toroughbred Breeders Association Stakes Northern California yearling sale.

Governor Goteven paid for the new acquisition in the Generous Portion, earning $57,000 for the victory. With Pereira again aboard, she vied with Emma’s Dance early, but had plenty left to keep I’m So Anna from closing past second. Governor Goteven defeated I’m So Anna by 4 1 ⁄2 lengths in 1:12.21. Big Andy fnished another halflength back in third.

“I’ve always felt she needs to go longer,” Bernard said. “She’s a big flly who needs to get her feet under her and get in her best stride.”

Bernard has ridden since she was 10, and she also retrains retirees for second careers. She trains fve at San Luis Rey Downs and was thrilled to be two stakes for two starts at Del Mar.

“It defnitely is a dream come true,” said the trainer. “Tere are no words to describe it.”

Governor Goteven and jockey Tiago Pereira celebrating after the Generous Portion win

POSITIVE WINNER

POSITIVITY EARNS STAKES DIPLOMA AT DEL MAR

BY EMILY SHIELDS

Chadwick Calvert’s C T R Stables is having a banner summer, and it’s all thanks to California-bred or -sired runners.

On May 17, Love Wins won an open maiden special weight by 3 3 ⁄4 lengths at Santa Anita. On May 22, Positivity broke his maiden there by 3 1 ⁄4 lengths. Reign of Fire got it done June 13 at 11-1, then ran third in the $98,000 California Toroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 1.

Te next day Positivity stepped up to the plate by taking the $100,500 Graduation Stakes by a half-length. Te Cal-bred son of Paynter won the 5 1 ⁄2-furlong sprint under Drayden Van Dyke for trainer Luis Mendez, despite being bumped twice and having fve lengths to make up in

the lane. Te 5-1 shot ultimately fought of rivals, outlasting Good With People and Scooby to the wire. Te fnal time was 1:05.49 on the Del Mar dirt track.

“We’ve had a pretty good year,” Calvert said, citing a trip to Saudi Arabia with Legends of War in February as the kick-of point to a big season. “We won three of the frst four maiden races (for juveniles) this year. I love Paynter, and if I can get a Cal-bred Paynter? Tat’s pretty nice.”

Agent John Brocklebank bought Positivity for Calvert for $20,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita fall yearling sale in 2019. Te bay colt was bred by Allen Farm out of the City Zip mare Sam’s Sunny City, who has three winners from her frst three starters. Positivity is her frst stakes winner. Second dam Sam’s Sunny Halo, by Prospector’s Halo, won 16 of 81 starts and earned $407,204. She was a stakes winner at Pimlico in 1999.

“John bought those three horses for me,” Calvert said

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of his three winning juveniles. “We talk about them beChadwick Calvert’s 2-year-old Cal-bred Positivity earns a half-length victory in forehand, he looks them over at the sale, then he takes the Graduation Stakes for jockey Drayden Van Dyke and trainer Luis Mendez them to St. George, Utah, for training.”

After breaking his maiden, Positivity was nominated to the pres“I kind of wish we’d run him in the (grade 2) Best Pal,” Calvert tigious Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, but the said. “Te plan is to keep him against Cal-breds for now, but you COVID-19 pandemic made travel a logistical nightmare. never know. Te further the better for him.”

“We just decided to take him back to Utah for a couple of Despite Positivity’s success, Calvert believes Love Wins is the weeks,” Calvert said. “Tere wasn’t much he could do, but he best of the group. Te oversized flly by Haynesfeld—Love You really loves training every day. We later shipped him back to So, by War Chant, was scratched out of the CTBA Stakes and is Luis at Del Mar.” targeting a November comeback at Del Mar. As for Reign of Fire,

After the Graduation win, Mendez—who was winning the race the Arizona-bred by California stallion Vronsky—Red Hot Renee, for the second consecutive year, following Big Returns in 2019— by Roar, is also likely to stay in similar company. texted Calvert: “Positivity is a beast.” Te colt was already looking “I’m having quite the year with those Cal-breds,” Calvert mused. to go back into training. “I’m always on the lookout for more Cal-breds.”