Member Profle Gayle Van Leer

CTBA Member PROFILE GAYLE VAN LEER

BY EMILY SHIELDS

A WOMAN FOR ALL SEASONS

One of the prominent names in California racing is that of Gayle Van Leer, a former trainer and farm manager turned successful bloodstock agent who has been behind a parade of graded stakes winners for decades. After trying her hand in just about every aspect of the sport, Van Leer is more than happy with her bloodstock business and continues to excel at her favorite sport.

Although she is best known as the racing manager for perennial leading California-based owner Golden Eagle Farm, Van Leer began her career in racing well before that gig.

“I started as an exercise rider,” she said. “I was working the 2-year-old sales, and I was a really good rider, which got people’s attention.”

She ultimately opened her own training barn, taking in second-string horses for leading trainers around Southern California. Her program at San Luis Rey Downs in the 1980s helped develop Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old male Roving Boy.

How did she land the famous Golden Eagle position? Van Leer laughed while remembering the day she marched right up to John Mabee, who owned the farm with wife, Betty.

“I happened to be passing by the racing offi ce, where two trainers were arguing with each other,” she said. “Both of them worked for Golden Eagle. T ey both wanted to enter a horse in the same race, but they couldn’t. One trainer said it happened all the time; there were so many horses and it was tough to get into a race. I walked up to John and said, ‘I’d like to talk to you about why you should hire me.’ ”

Mabee was only startled for a moment.

“He was taken aback, but then he started quizzing me,” Van Leer said.

A breakfast meeting later in the week resulted in the job: Van Leer would manage the Mabeees’ racing stable.

“I used my training background and organizational skills and my networking with all these trainers that I already knew,” Van Leer said. “It was just a matter of coordinating everyone together and making it fair so that everyone had a chance to run. I added order to the operation so it could run more smoothly, horses could be placed better. And the rest is history.”

Best Pal was a yearling when Van Leer joined the team. T at California-bred legend went on to earn $5,668,245 in an era without the Dubai World Cup (G1) or Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).

“Go forward the nine years I was there, and you’ll see Dramatic Gold, Fantastic Look, and Jeanne Jones,” Van Leer said.

Although her time as Golden Eagle racing manager is long over, Van Leer still hunts for familiar pedigrees when scouring the sales catalogues.

“It was such an inf uential period of time,” she said. “I’ve found the pedigrees popping up as far away as Australia.”

Now Van Leer operates a bloodstock agency.

“Basically, I’m a real estate agent for horses,” she said.

ANNE M. EBERHARDT PHOTOS

“I give advice if you want to start a farm. It’s a gamut of things from mating mares, working internationally, buying and selling horses. I love it, I’m happy.”

But she warns that the lifestyle is not as attractive as it sounds.

“People think it sounds glamorous, but the travel– especially in the spring and fall with back-to-back sales–is constant. Every time I catch up, it’s time to go again.”

During the Keeneland September yearling sale, Van Leer looks at 150 horses a day.

“If there is no selling that day I can see even more,” she said. “During breeding stock sales days, I’ve got some people on babies, some on mares, so that’s 50 or 60 a day. I laughingly say that those sales are like being on vacation.”

Van Leer works with an iPad, entering notes and keeping organized digitally.

“I’m a big technology person,” she said. “Te iPad makes it easy for you.”

Whatever she is doing is working. American Teorem was grade 1-placed in 2019. Moose Mitchell, a Cal-bred son of Danzing Candy, is an exciting juvenile who broke his maiden at Santa Anita Oct. 30. Van Leer purchased the Stormy Atlantic mare Surrender, who quickly produced grade 3 winner Red Flag. Om was recommended to trainer Dan Hendricks; the Munnings colt earned $1,355,082 and missed by just a nose in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), but he is possibly more famous for defeating subsequent Triple Crown winner American Pharoah as a juvenile.

Van Leer purchased the dams of Danzing Candy, six-time stakes winner Enola Gray, grade 2 winner Pee Wee Reese, and grade 1winner Evita Argentina, and she recommended the purchase of seven-time graded stakes winner Hystericalady as well.

After the horses leave the sales ring and head of to the breeding shed or the track, Van Leer stays involved in her purchases.

“I don’t just buy them and then say, ‘Good luck.’ I am very involved

California’s favorite son and multiple champion Best Pal was a yearling when Van Leer took over the reins as racing manager at John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm

I don’t just buy them and say, ‘Good luck.’ I am very involved in the racing, and I go out every morning and watch them train.”

— Gayle Van Leer in the racing, and I go out in the morning and watch them train.” While Van Leer used to live on farm property, she now has a “regular” house. “At frst I thought having a house on horse property was really exciting, but there’s no peace,” she said. “Someone is always knocking at your door, so I never had any desire to own my own farm.” In addition to bloodstock Often Van Leer will inspect up to 150 horses per day at a sale work, Van Leer ofers consultations, appraisals, portfolio management, and advice for mating mares. Her website, gaylevanleer.com, has a considerable section on new owner education, including the pros and cons of getting involved at each level of the sport. “I like working with new people,” she said. “I want them to understand the good parts and the bad parts. I absolutely love it; and I love happy clients.”

OCTOBER 24, 2021 – NOVEMBER 14, 2021

3-YEAR-OLDS & UP

.Acclamation—Reba Is Tops: Rebalation (49-24), m, 5 yo, Golden Gate Fields, ALW, 10/31, 6f, 1:10.10, $24,180. Acclamation—Mesaatmimiscafe: Table for Ten (49-24), g, 5 yo, Golden Gate Fields, STR, 11/7, 1 1/16mi, 1:43.84, $13,680. Aragorn (IRE)—Take the Picture: Tequila Mary (9-4), m, 8 yo, Turf Paradise, SOC, 11/6, 5f (T), 56.96, $10,025. Bayern—Queenie Cat: Bella Vita (121-77), f, 4 yo,

Del Mar, STK, Betty Grable S., 11/7, 7f, 1:22.23, $57,000. Clubhouse Ride—Warren's Jitterbug: Warrens

Candy Girl (54-27), f, 3 yo, Del Mar, AOC, 11/4, 1mi (T), 1:36.08, $43,200. Curlin to Mischief—Crystal House: See Through It (35-13), g, 4 yo, Del Mar, AOC, 11/13, 5f (T), 57.04, $43,200. Cyclotron—Cultural Icon: Cultured Pearl (26-10), m, 5 yo, Golden Gate Fields, STR, 11/5, 1 1/16mi, 1:45.07, $13,680. Dominus—Stealth Cat: So Cal Memory (102-54), g, 3 yo, Zia Park, ALW, 11/2, 5 1/2f, 1:3.65, $19,800. English Channel—Winds of March (IRE): Freeport

Joe (183-103), g, 4 yo, Golden Gate Fields,

ALW, 11/7, 1mi, 1:36.89, $24,180. Golden Balls (IRE)—Ocean Style: Tropical Terror (7-2), g, 4 yo, Del Mar, AOC, 11/3, 1mi (T), 1:34.93, $43,200. Grazen—Excusabull: Grazen Valor (101-53), f, 4 yo, Grants Pass, STR, 11/8, 6 1/2f, 1:21.02, $4,015. Harbor the Gold—Reba Is Tops: Top Harbor (72-38), c, 3 yo, Golden Gate Fields, STK, El

Dorado Shooter S., 10/31, 6f, 1:9.46, $45,000. He Be Fire N Ice—Baby Garcia: Ice Or Fire (16-9), h, 5 yo, Golden Gate Fields, WCL, 10/29, 5 1/2f, 1:4.23, $5,500. James Street—Oh Molly Brannigan: Reiwa (16-8), f, 4 yo, Golden Gate Fields, ALW, 10/30, 1mi (T), 1:39.15, $24,180. James Street—Tribal Charm: Blazing Charm (16-8), f, 4 yo, Delta Downs, ALW, 11/4, 1mi, 1:43.27, $21,600. Lucky Pulpit—Heat Striker: Strike It Lucky (58-36), g, 4 yo, Grants Pass, AOC, 11/1, 6f, 1:13.94, $4,235. Marino Marini—Grey Lassie: Toni Two Pocket (21-9), f, 4 yo, Golden Gate Fields, WCL, 11/6, 5 1/2f, 1:4.21, $9,000. Ministers Wild Cat—Ms Vanenzza: Old Indian Trick (87-47), g, 6 yo, Delta Downs, ALW, 11/5, 5f, 59.44, $21,600. Mucho Macho Man—Not Unusual: Mucho Unusual (90-40), m, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 10/30, 1 1/8mi (T), 1:47.38, $50,700. Munnings—My Cinsation: Letsgetlucky (279-153), g, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, AOC, 10/30, 6f, 1:9.25, $37,800. Northern Afeet—Fanny Chenal: Nice Ice (78-30), m, 6 yo, Del Mar, AOC, 11/7, 1mi (T), 1:35.12, $55,890. Old Topper—El Sierra Tahoe: Tip Top Gal (12-7), m, 5 yo, Golden Gate Fields, AOC, 10/30, 5 1/2f, 1:3.74, $24,960. The Pamplemousse—Lucky Leah: La Waun (12-4), g, 6 yo, Parx Racing, SOC, 10/25, 6f, 1:10.57, $17,400. Papa Clem—Heartless Honey: Papa's Honey (31-17), g, 4 yo, Grants Pass, ALW, 11/8, 5 1/2f, 1:8.46, $3,795. Popular—Lemon Supreme: Popular Kid (2-1), g, 7 yo, Remington Park, ALW, 10/27, 1mi, 1:37.35, $39,000. Salute the Sarge—Dawnsdu: Dusalut (12-5), g, 5 yo, Grants Pass, STR, 11/9, 5 1/2f, 1:9.26, $6,985. Slew's Tiznow—Babes Bridge It: Mikes Tiznow (35-16), g, 6 yo, Del Mar, AOC, 11/4, 5f (T), 56.50, $57,720. Smart Bid—Tribal Syn: Tribal Bid (32-12), f, 3 yo, Turf Paradise, AOC, 11/11, 5f (T), 57.08, $14,486. Square Eddie—Cryptic: Shinny (91-42), g, 4 yo,

Turf Paradise, SOC, 11/6, 1mi, 1:38.57, $7,538. Square Eddie—Ascription: Descartes (91-42), g, 4 yo, Golden Gate Fields, AOC, 11/14, 1mi, 1:37.76, $24,180. Suances (GB)—Loni's Appeal: Camino Del Paraiso (7-6), g, 8 yo, Golden Gate Fields, STK, Joseph

T. Grace S., 11/6, 1 1/16mi, 1:43.49, $39,450. Surf Cat—Cintron: Lagatha (19-8), f, 4 yo, Golden

Gate Fields, STR, 11/14, 5 1/2f, 1:4.04, $13,680. Tapiture—Pleasure Cruise: Teton Valley (222-117), c, 3 yo, Santa Anita Park, STR, 10/29, 6f, 1:8.15, $21,780. Unionize—Honeysuckle Rose: Cool Mountain Lad (14-10), g, 3 yo, Golden Gate Fields, ALW, 11/12, 5 1/2f, 1:2.91, $24,180. Unusual Heat—Irish Winnie: Irish Heatwave (27-14), g, 5 yo, Santa Anita Park, STR, 10/29, 1mi (T), 1:34.41, $30,240. Unusual Heat—Street Surprise: Lava Lane (27-14), f, 4 yo, Del Mar, AOC, 11/12, 5f (T), 56.53, $43,200. Vronsky—Tiz Molly: The Chosen Vron (79-40), g, 3 yo, Turf Paradise, STK, Hank Mills Sr. S., 11/5, 6 1/2f, 1:14.74, $36,828.

2-YEAR-OLDS & UP

Fullbridled—Sweetly Peppered: Dr Pescado (8-7), c, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, STK, Golden Nugget

S., 11/13, 6f, 1:11.51, $39,250. Mr. Big—Two Faced Moon: Big Switch (66-32), f, 2 yo, Del Mar, STK, Golden State Juvenile

Fillies S. Presented by PNC, 11/5, 7f, 1:22.39, $99,750. Reagan Republican—Spanishsugarrr: Alesha (1-1), f, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, STR, 11/6, 5 1/2f, 1:5.20, $13,680. Southern Image—Nada Joke: Vaping Angel (22-13), f, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, STK,

Pike Place Dancer S., 10/30, 1mi (T), 1:40.90, $45,000. Stay Thirsty—My Fiona: Finneus (170-93), c, 2 yo,

Del Mar, STK, Golden State Juvenile S., 11/5, 7f, 1:23.00, $99,750. MAIDENS

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

Acclamation—Roberta's Mango: Blueberry Eyes (49-24), f, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 11/6, 1mi, 1:42.05, $7,800. Acclamation—Subpoena the Dress: Issa Court (49-24), f, 3 yo, Del Mar, MSW, 11/13, 1mi (T), 1:36.98, $42,000. Anziyan Royalty—My Charming Tiger: My Tigress (6-4), m, 5 yo, Los Alamitos, MCL, 11/6, 4 1/2f, 52.49, $3,425. Bayern—Last Resort: Professors' Pride (121-77), f, 2 yo, Del Mar, MSW, 11/14, 6f, 1:10.18, $42,000. Bluegrass Cat—Run Rosie Run: Roses R Blue (87-32), f, 3 yo, Del Mar, MCL, 11/13, 5 1/2f, 1:4.56, $21,600. Boisterous—Flight Service: Flight Speed (53-35), g, 3 yo, Zia Park, MCL, 10/25, 1mi, 1:41.15, $8,100. Coach Bob—Camila Cabaletta: Al Millon Bob (5-3), c, 4 yo, Indiana Grand Race Course, MCL, 10/25, 1 1/16mi, 1:49.40, $8,100. Curlin to Mischief—Awesome Alibi: Awesome

Curlin (35-13), g, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields,

MCL, 11/5, 1mi, 1:41.89, $6,600. Dads Caps—Manaal: Manaalaboutdamoney (11-4), g, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 10/29, 5f, 59.05, $6,300. Dads Caps—Dream's (CHI): Summanus (11-4), g, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 11/7, 5 1/2f, 1:6.00, $6,600. Danzing Candy—Sunrise Avenue: Moose Mitchell (15-7), g, 2 yo, Santa Anita Park, MSW, 10/30, 6f, 1:10.81, $36,600. Gervinho—Strawberry Flash: Alexander's Dream (23-9), c, 3 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 10/30, 5 1/2f, 1:3.50, $8,400. Golden Balls (IRE)—Ocean Style: Ms Blue Ocean (7-2), f, 3 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 11/6, 5 1/2f, 1:4.99, $6,300. Grazen—Lookin for Jonesy: Gerlach's (101-53), g, 3 yo, Del Mar, MCL, 11/4, 6 1/2f, 1:16.65, $15,000. Grazen—Logical Single: Seems Logical (101-53), f, 4 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MSW, 11/7, 6f, 1:10.75, $23,400. Haynesfeld—Bellicose: Primer Dimer (69-34), g, 3 yo, Del Mar, MCL, 11/13, 1mi, 1:38.72, $15,000. He Be Fire N Ice—Savannah Sky: Sky On Ice (16-9), f, 3 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MSW, 10/30, 1 1/16mi (T), 1:47.66, $23,400. James Street—Lady From Shanghai: Shanghai

Mist (16-8), f, 3 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 11/12, 1mi, 1:39.78, $5,500.

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

Lakerville—Silber: Marksman On Target (31-13), g, 3 yo, Los Alamitos, MCL, 11/7, 4 1/2f, 53.14, $3,820. Lakerville—Silber: Thisonesforbarry (31-13), f, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 11/12, 5 1/2f, 1:6.45, $6,300. Misremembered—Annie Rutledge: Divine Feminine (42-15), g, 2 yo, Del Mar, MCL, 11/3, 5 1/2f, 1:5.58, $21,600. Misremembered—Fantastic Mizz: Curious Inji (42-15), f, 3 yo, Turf Paradise, MOC, 11/11, 7 1/2f (T), 1:30.44, $12,644.

The accompanying list includes runners that are both California-foaled and Californiasired winners in 2021 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.

Munnings—Mobilize: Not That Serious (279-153), c, 2 yo, Churchill Downs, MCL, 11/12, 6f, 1:13.21, $20,720. Musketier (GER)—Recovery Girl: Setson (23-11), g, 4 yo, Fort Erie, MCL, 10/26, 1mi 70yd, 1:46.38, $7,560. Old Topper—Don't Lose Faith: Good Old Faithful (12-7), c, 3 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MSW, 11/14, 5 1/2f, 1:3.86, $23,400. Phantom Wildcat—Lucky Lass: Half Hoping (15-9), f, 3 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MSW, 11/14, 6f, 1:11.77, $23,400. Proud Tower Too—Lost On Champagne: See You

At the Top (10-3), f, 3 yo, Zia Park, MCL, 10/26, 1mi, 1:41.19, $7,500. Richard's Kid—Ban: Bandeena (32-16), f, 3 yo,

Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 10/29, 1mi, 1:39.70, $6,600. Richard's Kid—Feel the Rush: Hey Now (32-16), c, 2 yo, Turf Paradise, MOC, 11/6, 5f, 58.97, $12,493. Roi Charmant—Ballydonnell Drive: Bally's Charm (11-6), g, 2 yo, Del Mar, MSW, 11/12, 1mi (T), 1:36.09, $42,000. Saburo—Proud Gal: Country Dude (1-1), g, 2 yo,

Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 11/13, 5 1/2f, 1:4.75, $8,400. Shackleford—Corleone: Kid Corleone (212-115), c, 2 yo, Del Mar, MSW, 11/13, 6 1/2f, 1:15.58, $42,000. Shaman Ghost—No Tunes: Gold Rush Gal (33-15), f, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MSW, 10/29, 5 1/2f, 1:6.01, $23,400. Shaman Ghost—Athina Lee: Amanda Rose (33-15), f, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 11/13, 5 1/2f, 1:5.35, $8,400. Smart Bid—Astuzia: Running On Empty (32-12), g, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MCL, 11/14, 5 1/2f, 1:6.15, $6,300.

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

Smiling Tiger—Sweet Esprit: Allergic to Logic (102-51), f, 3 yo, Zia Park, MCL, 11/7, 6f, 1:10.45, $6,600. Southern Image—Broke the Slump: Vallejo (22-13), f, 4 yo, Delta Downs, MCL, 11/3, 5f, 1:1.10, $9,000. Square Eddie—Berengaria: Squared Straight (91-42), g, 4 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 11/5, 5 1/2f, 1:4.59, $7,099. Stay Thirsty—Foxy Indian: Cowboy Charlie (170-93), c, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MSW, 11/7, 5 1/2f, 1:5.50, $23,400. Stay Thirsty—Hadarra: Spicy Sommelier (170-93), f, 3 yo, Turf Paradise, MCL, 11/8, 5 1/2f, 1:5.67, $7,099. Surf Cat—Woman Warrior: Tallemark (19-8), g, 4 yo, Del Mar, MSW, 11/3, 1mi (T), 1:36.06, $42,000. Tale of the Cat—Hail Mary: Lucas McCain (80-41), g, 4 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MSW, 10/31, 5 1/2f, 1:3.81, $23,400. Tamarando—Angel Diane: Tam's Little Angel (16-4), f, 2 yo, Golden Gate Fields, MSW, 11/6, 5 1/2f, 1:4.93, $23,400. Tamarkuz—Bonus Spin: Go Go Sadie (25-14), f, 2 yo, Turf Paradise, MOC, 11/5, 5f, 58.42, $12,493. U S Ranger—Soul Flyer: Girl Ranger (48-22), f, 2 yo, Del Mar, MCL, 11/7, 5 1/2f, 1:4.11, $21,600.

I NT E R N E T A D V E RT I S I N G AVA I L A B L E

For further information, contact Loretta Veiga (626) 445-7800 ext. 227