June 2012 $5.00
JUNE 2012
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED
VOL. 136 NO. 6
Happy 75th CTBA: A Diamond In The Rough
C O L U M N
From the Executive Corner
by SUE GREENE
www.ctba.com
one more wonderful portion of the huge puzzle that pieces together the inner workings of our great industry. We have made huge strides over the past three quarters of a century to take the vision of these remarkable Thoroughbred breeders of earlier times into our modern, fast moving and ever changing environment. I am extremely honored today, to be able to stand in the same company as our Past Presidents, the first being Henry P. Russell. This initial group of visionary men also included Charles S. Howard, the owner of Seabuiscut, Carleton F. Burke, Charles E. Perkins, Walter Wells, Edwin Janss and Henry N. Isenberg, all of whom served terms as the CTBA’s President during its early years. However, the man among these leaders who truly was responsible for getting the association underway was Russell. His wisdom and enthusiasm formed what we now know as the CTBA. Russell was challenged when he presented his ideas, but he remained tireless in his task and finally persevered. Over the past 75 years, California has been home to some of the best nurseries in the world. We have had many, many great breeding operations and a number of breeding dynasties from Louis B. Mayer, Rex Ellsworth and John and Betty Mabee to our current leading breeders, Buddy and Judy Johnston’s Old English Rancho.
©Stackhouse
Continued on next page
©Rudi Groothedde
In 1937, an innovative group of Thoroughbred racehorse owners formed an association to promote the racing and breeding of Thoroughbreds in California. This pioneer group of visionary men and women were the foundation for the present California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA). California’s history since the Spanish explorers arrived on the West Coast has always involved horses. Like their predecessors, the men and women who formed the CTBA were people who had a generous and deep affection, as well as an appreciation, for the beautiful Thoroughbred horse. The breeding industry they built became world-renowned in a short period of time. Early on, the CTBA came upon numerous obstacles that threatened to abolish the sport of horse racing in California. Fortunately, our predecessors were as ambitious and passionate as we are today about preserving our breeding and racing industry. This remarkable group of people built the foundation and standards that Thoroughbred breeding and racing has strived to maintain over the years. Today, we continue to expand and develop these aims through legislative initiatives, improved racing bonuses, incentive programs and much more. Our predecessors generously gave their time, resources, and talents; gifts to our industry that continue with our current Board of Directors. In taking a look back over the last 75 years, I was drawn to one of the first stands our breeders’ association took regarding racing in California. In 1932, the breeders of California took the position to withdraw their support of a bill to legalize horse racing in the Golden State. They felt that this bill would not ensure the kind of racing that would bring credit to the State of California or to the Thoroughbred breeding industry. When racing was reinstituted, this same group of breeders demanded that high standards be established to insure the integrity of racing, as well as that of the breeding industry, in both California and the nation. Seventy-five years later, we continue to uphold these standards through various associations that are all working together to promote our great industry. Today, we are taking a stand on the current internet poker bills and the sports wagering bill. We have made huge strides legislatively through veterinary advancement, improved genetics, and an expanded knowledge of the mechanics of racing in general. I was struck by a comment in the Silver Anniversary edition of our CTBA magazine, The Thoroughbred of California, regarding the first Thoroughbred of record to enter California named Black Swan. This mare arrived from Australia on a sailing ship in 1852, when she landed in San Francisco, and from there she walked to Los Angeles since our great vanning companies of today had yet to be invented! This is
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 1
C O L U M N
From the Executive Corner Cont’d. We have also seen a lot of great stallions come into our state to service mares, and witnessed top racehorses being bred and raised in California. The Golden State has bred and raised such celebrated runners as the Kentucky Derby winners Morvich, Decidedly and Swaps, Preakness Stakes winners Old England, Kalitan, Candy Spots and Snow Chief, and Belmont Stakes winners Comache and Africander, to name but a few of the old greats. Times flourished, racing flourished and breeding farms prospered. New breeders began arriving to the state and more Thoroughbred farms began to appear as we became one of the best horse racing opportunities in the nation. The CTBA organization continued to guide and lead as the “Sport of Kings” flourished in California. The large group of Directors who have served over the years, have been able to successfully share both their experiences and ideas that, in turn, helped form our current Breeders Awards Program, Stallion Awards Program, tax incentives, etc., while also keeping vigil over legislative developments in our state. The CTBA has been involved with sales since hosting its first sale in January of 1939. Since that time, it has hosted countless yearling, two-year-old and mixed sales throughout the Golden State. Today, we continue to provide a venue for California’s breeders to showcase their yearlings in the ring. While sales nationwide have changed over the past three quarters of a century, we have been striving to bring higher recognition, as well as actual financial rewards, to the breeders and sellers of all Cal-breds. During the early years of the CTBA, one of the fundamental purposes of the Horse Racing Act was the “encouragement of agriculture and breeding of horses in this state.” The early law instructed every licensee conducting a horse racing meet to run at least one race a day limited to Cal-breds. This has continued through today, and through the vision of CTBA and its Directors and staff, this concept has grown into our current program, which now includes the new Maiden Bonus Program and newer Golden State Series of stakes races. In the early days, prior to 1937, owners were required to certify the qualifications of their horses in order to receive the three percent Breeder Awards. Following the organization of the CTBA, a registry was developed and profected over the years, all resulting from the racing board ruling in 1940, stating that horses must be a registered Cal-bred before being eligible for award money. The rules for Cal-breds have changed slightly over the years, but the basic concept remains, and breeders are continuing to reap those rewards. The association’s magnificent library, dedicated to Carleton F. Burke, is nestled in the center of the current CTBA building in Arcadia and is the home to countless rare, vintage books, other volumes detailing our breeding and racing history and, of course, the incomparable Seabiscuit memorabilia
2 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
display. Original sets of racing silks of former Presidents line the halls of the building, while one wing houses the CTBA’s Registration, Sales and Executive Departments and the other the California Thoroughbred Magazine Department. Kent Cochran was the actual “wheel horse” of the magazine editorially from the early 1940s until 1955, while the magazine has seen numerous changes over its own 70-plus years of history, including a name change, the addition of color pages and now an online digital version. The California Thoroughbred Foundation (CTF) has also played an important role in the history of the CTBA. Incorporated apart from the CTBA, but still associated with it, the CTF works both on furthering education and publishing information on subjects that benefit horse production in general, including the establishment of research projects by aiding with contributions to clinics and labs. Over these several decades, the CTF has given generously to both research and scholarships for those entering the equine industry. In looking back over the past 75 years, we have made tremendous strides as an association to both serve our breeding community and promote horse racing in the state. We have fought many battles legislatively, and have seen wonderful allies in Sacramento working for our benefit. In 1937, we had no internet, no casinos to compete with, no social media and no larger sporting events to attend. Our sport was truly the “Sport of Kings” and the celebrities were at the racetracks, visible for all of us to see. We are now in competition with card rooms and large casinos, our foal crop is declining nationwide and we have continued production cost increases. We don’t have the exclusivity on gaming that we once enjoyed and we have to deal with term limits for our legislators who had, until recently, somewhat lost touch with our industry. We need to reconnect with the public, legislators and our members as we continue to fight for our beloved sport. When I look back at the Past Presidents, I am honored and humbled to stand alongside these huge giants of our game. The people who have taken the CTBA from 1937 to present, have worked tirelessly and with great passion to ensure the integrity, beauty, enjoyment and, yes, profit that breeding and racing a Cal-bred can bring. Times have certainly changed, but those of us who truly love these Thoroughbreds know that we will always strive to preserve what has been placed in our hands as stewards of the breeding and racing industry of California. We will continue to press ahead with legislation that will enhance our purse structures, we will forge ahead with new sale venues that showcase our Cal-breds and we will continue to explore ideas for better incentive programs. We are working together to improve the breeding and racing of Thoroughbreds in California, and I sincerely hope at the next anniversary of the CTBA, our predecessors will hold us in as high a regard as I hold those who have come before us, as well as those who currently stand with me. Happy 75th CTBA and, oh yes, remember that diamonds, like Cal-breds, are a girl’s best friend!
www.ctba.com
C O L U M N
Managing Editor’s Welcome
©Veiga
In Good Company In celebrating its Diamond Jubilee this year, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) is in good company. Others enjoying 75th anniversary celebrations in 2012, are the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco who were also both established in 1937, while a monarch’s Diamond Jubilee of 60 years on the throne is additionally being celebrated by Queen Elizabeth II of England this year. So this June 2012 issue of our monthly California Thoroughbred magazine celebrates the milestone by presenting a complete cross-section of editorials featuring the successes that the CTBA has been associated with during the past 25 years. It was felt that this was the most appropriate way to mark the occasion, seeing as the overall history of the CTBA was diligently covered in both the June 1962 and June 1987 issues of The Thoroughbred of California which celebrated its 25th and 50th anniversaries, respectively. We cover the past 25 years worth of: the CTBA’s Presidents, Hall of Fame and auction history; California’s leading breeders, leading sires, Broodmares of the Year and Horses of the Year; California-bred Eclipse Award, Breeders’ Cup and Valkyr Trophy winners, millionaires and highest-priced sellers in the sales ring; California Cup, California Gold Rush and Sunshine Millions; and the significant legislation that impacted the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry. There is also a complete section on this year’s California Gold Rush XIII day held at Betfair Hollywood Park on April 28. It features an overall wrap-up of the event, two pages of Katey Barrett photographs and reviews of the eight Cal-breds who won stakes events on the 10-race program that paid out almost $1.175 million in purses. Peter and Ellen Johnson, the owners of Unusual Heatwave who won the $300,000 Snow Chief Stakes during the 13th renewal of Gold Rush, are featured as our CTBA Member Profile this month, while we include a detailed review of the Barretts May Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training held at Fairplex on May 14. We also have a wrap-up of the wins in the first two legs of this year’s Triple Crown, the grade I Kentucky Derby (May 5) and Preakness Stakes (May 19), by the California-based I’ll Have Another whose connections, owners Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill, are all CTBA members. Plus, there’s an Industry Insight piece that provides a sentimental look back— through the eyes of Patricia Pope—to 50 years ago on May 5, 1962, when the Kentucky Derby, was won by Decidedly who was bred and raised by her late husband, George Pope Jr., at their now-defunct El Peco Ranch in Madera. Racing In Southern California features the May stakes wins at Betfair Hollywood Park by the Cal-bred fillies Teddy’s Promise and Halo Dolly, while this month’s Down on the Farm article examines the importance of genetic testing. Our latest Guest Forum contribution shines the spotlight on Something Lucky, the 1987 California Champion Three-YearOld Male, and we also publish the list of California’s leading breeders through April 30, while the balance of the magazine includes all our other regular columns, features and departments that we hope will also prove to be both enjoyable and helpful. Until next time, may you breed the In the Company of…Rosemary Stringer, who retires as the Membership and Subscriptions Manager of the best to the best and not just have to California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) hope for the best! on June 1, after more than 30 years of service —Rudi Groothedde to the association, at the CTBA’s offices in Arcadia during May of 2012. rudi@ctba.com
4 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
©California Thoroughbred 2012 (ISSN1092-7328) 201 Colorado Place, Arcadia, California 91007 Telephone: (626) 445-7800 or 1-800-573-CTBA (California residents only) FAX: (626) 445-6981 E-mail address: ctbainfo@ctba.com Owned and published by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the production of better Thoroughbred horses for better Thoroughbred racing. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies of the CTBA or this magazine. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without first obtaining written permission from California Thoroughbred. All advertising copy is submitted subject to approval. We reserve the right to reject any copy that is misleading or that does not meet with the standards set by the publication. Acknowledgment: Statistics in this publication relating to results of races in North America are compiled by the Daily Racing Form. Charts by special arrangement with Daily Racing Form Inc., the copyright owners of said charts. Reproduction forbidden. OFFICERS President: SUE GREENE Vice President: PETE PARRELLA Treasurer: JOHN H. BARR Secretary: DANIEL Q. SCHIFFER Executive Vice President and General Manager: Doug Burge DIRECTORS - John C. Harris, Jeanne L. Canty, Leigh Ann Howard, John H. Barr, Daniel L. Harralson, Daniel Q. Schiffer, William H. Nichols, Rosemary A. Neeb, Jane Johnson, William H. de Burgh, Pete Parrella, Sue Greene, Mary Knight, Bonnie Vessels Ex Officio: E. W. (Bud) Johnston & Donald J. Valpredo ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Chief Financial Officer: James Murphy Sales Coordinator: Cookie Hackworth Registrar and Incentive Program Manager: Mary Ellen Locke Membership: Rosemary Stringer Assistant Registrar: Dawn Gerber Executive Assistant & Event Coordinator: Christy Chapman Web Site Managing Editor: Ken Gurnick Librarian/Receptionist: Vivian Montoya RACETRACK LIAISON: Scott Henry CALIFORNIA CUP Coordinator: Cookie Hackworth PUBLICATIONS STAFF Editor: Doug Burge Managing Editor: Rudi Groothedde Advertising Manager: Loretta Veiga Art Director: John Melanson Production: Charlene Favata-Markel Subscriptions: Rosemary Stringer California Thoroughbred is published monthly in Arcadia, Calif. Periodical postage is paid at Arcadia, Calif., and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the California Thoroughbred, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018 California Thoroughbred is printed by Modern Litho Print Co. SUBSCRIPTIONS-$55.00 per year USA $85.00 per year Canada & Mexico CTBA on the Internet — http://www.ctba.com
www.ctba.com
June 2012 Contents VOLUME 136 NO. 6
On This Month’s Cover This year represents the 75th anniversary of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) which was founded by a group of horsemen who, in 1937, realized the need to promote their Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry in the Golden State ©Katey Barrett Photo & 75th Anniversary Insignia Concept, Design and Illustrations by John Melanson
Departments 8 12 14 74 76 78 79 80 82 84 87
News Bits The CTBA Working For You California Thoroughbred Foundation (CTF) Notes—June 2012 Leading Breeders in California Leading Sires in California Leading Lifetime Sires in California Leading Two-Year-Old Sires in California Dates in California CTBA Calendar Classified Advertising Indexes to Advertisers & Stallions Advertised
Cover Story – California Thoroughbred Breeders Association: 75th Anniversary (1937 - 2012)
17 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 31
The CTBA Turns 75 by Rudi Groothedde
CTBA Presidents by Rudi Groothedde
CTBA Hall of Fame by Rudi Groothedde
California’s Leading Breeders by Rudi Groothedde
California’s Leading Sires by Emily Shields
California Broodmares of the Year by Tracy Gantz
California Horses of the Year by Emily Shields
California-Bred Eclipse Award Winners by Mike Compton
32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46
California Cup by Marcie Heacox
California Gold Rush by Emily Shields
Sunshine Millions by Rudi Groothedde
Valkyr Trophy Winners by Gene Williams
California-Bred Millionaires by Emily Shields
CTBA Auctions by Rudi Groothedde
Highest-Priced California-Breds by Lisa Groothedde
Legislation & The CTBA by Doug Burge & Bob Fox
California-Bred Breeders’ Cup Winners by Emily Shields
Special Feature – California Gold Rush
49 50 52 53
A Winning Combination by Rudi Groothedde
Glimpses of Gold Rush XIII Photographs by Katey Barrett
Unusual Heatwave: An Unusual Double by Emily Shields
54 55 56
Mobilized: The Third Time’s A Charm by Jackie Barnes
Warren’s Jitterbug: Making Memories by Marcie Heacox
A Mixed Bag by Rudi Groothedde
Willa B Awesome: A Wise Decision by Emily Shields
©Robert Burge
Features
California-based runners filled five of the first eight positions in this year’s grade I, $2,219,600 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville on May 5, led by the winner I’ll Have Another (left) who is owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam and trained by Doug O’Neill, all members of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA), and the runner-up Bodemeister (right) whose trainer Bob Baffert is also a member of the 75-year-old association.
The July 2012 Cover Story California’s Leading Breeder of 2011, Buddy & Judy Johnston’s Old English Rancho 6 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
62 64 66 68 70 72 59 61
CTBA Member Profile: Peter & Ellen Johnson—On The Fast Track To Success by Emily Shields
Regional Sales: Gaining Momentum by Lisa Groothedde
The Triple Crown: Go Get Another by Emily Shields
Industry Insight: Decidedly—Madera Horse Wins Kentucky Derby! by Robbie Rodriguez
Racing In Southern California: Cal-Bred Fillies Show Their Class by Emily Shields
Down on the Farm: The Importance Of Genetic Testing—And A Few Cautions by Heather Smith Thomas
Advertorials California-Bred Foals: The 2012 Foal Crop—Woodbridge Farm California-Bred/Sired Foals: 2012 Foals For Spensive
Columns
1 4 88
From the Executive Office: Happy 75th CTBA—A Diamond In The Rough by Sue Greenee
Managing Editor’s Welcome: In Good Company by Rudi Groothedde
Guest Forum: Something Lucky—A Something Special Horse by John Califano www.ctba.com
pg 8-9 NewsBits June 2012 5-22-2012 1209pm:Layout 1 5/23/12 3:31 PM Page1
D E P A R T M E N T
Northern California Report: Third Time Lucky
News Bits The budding rivalry between the three-year-old Southern California turf stars Stoney Fleece and Chips All In moved north to Golden Gate Fields on May 12, when the former notched a hard-earned first win against his adversary. The son of Decarchy caught and edged Chips All In by a nose on the wire to capture the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, while posting a final time of 1:43.70. Stoney Fleece won the grade III, $100,000 Generous Stakes in November, but had finished behind his rival in two stakes races since. “My horse had been chasing the other but I told (winning trainer John) Sadler I’m going to make the differ-
©Vassar Photos
Lava Man Leaves Mark On Triple Crown
©Shields
I’ll Have Another and Lava Man
The Triple Crown racing series—an exclusive engagement for three-year-old Thoroughbreds—has received an unprecedented boost this year from a popular 11-year-old gelding: California-bred Lava Man, who escorted the Doug O’Neill trainee I’ll Have Another to the starting gate prior to the colt’s victories in the 2012 Kentucky Derby (grade I) on May 5 and Preakness Stakes (grade I) on May 19.
8 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
ence,” said jockey Kevin Krigger afterward. He tracked Chips All In over the firm Lakeside course and, though outkicked in early stretch, wore down the leader in the last strides. Bred in California by Joseph T. Alvarez III, Stoney Fleece is out of the graded stakes-winning Deputed Testamony mare, Gold Fleece, also the dam of grade III winner Golden Rahy. Purchased for $1,200 at last year’s Barretts January Mixed Sale, he was claimed for $40,000 from his first start by Sadler on behalf of Gary and Cecil Barber, and is now one of seven stakes winners by his sire who stands at Magali Farms.— Jerry Klein
A seven-time grade I winner and two-time California Horse of the Year, Lava Man retired from competition in January 2010 with lifetime earnings of $5,268,706, but remained at O’Neill’s Hollywood Park barn to transition into his new career as a stable pony. Lava Man was bred by Lonnie Arterburn and Eve and Kim Kuhlmann, and ranks as the thirdhighest Cal-bred earner of all time.
Wheeler Elected To Hall Of Fame The late West Coast trainer Robert Wheeler has been posthumously elected as a 2012 inductee to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. Wheeler saddled the winners of 1,336 races from 1938 through 1992, including the 1982 Eclipse Champion Older Female Track Robbery and the California-bred stakes winners Miss Todd, Old Pueblo and grade I winner B. Thoughtful. He died in 1992 at the age of 71. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Aug. 10 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Robert Wheeler
www.ctba.com
pg 8-9 NewsBits June 2012 5-22-2012 1209pm:Layout 1 5/23/12 3:31 PM Page3
CTBA Magazine Features New Format For Annual Foal Photos A D V E R T O R I A L
Comic Strip
out of
Useless Bay filly foaled February 2, 2012
Owned by Clay Elrod, Oakdale, California
Tannersmyman out of
Gemstone Rush colt foaled April 9, 2012
Owned by Gerald Redman, Phoenix, Arizona
Desert Code out of
Puff Maddie filly foaled April 15, 2012
Owned by Woodbridge Farm Desert Sun, Oakdale, California
Tannersmyman out of
Ma Ka Bet colt foaled April 26, 2012
Owned by Jim Eaton, Phoenix, Arizona
Lucky Pulpit out of
Wild Reflection colt foaled January 28, 2012
Owned by Woodbridge Farm, Oakdale, California
Tannersmyman out of
Ready Maid filly foaled April 14, 2012
Owned by Jim Eaton, Phoenix, Arizona
4537 Albers Road, Oakdale, CA 95361 phone: (209) 576-0629 fax: (209) 576-0652 alt: (209) 613-6020 Sueshorse45@yahoo.com http://www.woodbridgethoroughbreds.com
www.ctba.com
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
00
Including pages 59 and 61 of this June 2012 issue of California Thoroughbred, the official publication of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA), this year’s crop of foals born in the Golden State are being spotlighted as full page advertorials with each page featuring six foals from a specific Thoroughbred farm or by a particular stallion, including detailed information on every foal and their location. For this service, a fee of $500 per page will be charged, representing a discount of more than 50 percent on the cost of a regular full-page advertisement in the monthly magazine. The deadline for submitting photos of these California-bred foals in sets of half a dozen for a particular issue will be during the first week of the month prior to that magazine; June 4 for the July issue; July 6 for the August issue; and August 6 for the September issue. All photos submitted need to be at a high quality resolution of at least 300 dpi and include the details of the foal’s sire, dam, sex, date of birth and breeder, and the magazine reserves the right to request a replacement image.
Rosemary Stringer Retires From The CTBA At Santa Anita Park on April 20, a retirement party for Rosemary Stringer was held to celebrate her 30plus years of employment with the California Thoroughbred Breeders ©Veiga ©Heacox Association (CTBA), with the day’s third race named “Happy Trails Rosemary” in her honor. Rosemary joined the CTBA’s clerical department in October of 1981, and retired as its Membership and Subscriptions Manager nearly 31 years later on June 1, 2012.
D E P A R T M E N T
Those Grand Cal-Bred Mares In five states across the U. S., half a dozen runners out of California-bred mares won black-type races, including a graded stakes event. On Feb. 18, Antifreeze’s seven-year-old Forest Camp gelding Force Freeze won the grade II, $150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Stakes in Florida to improve his record to 22-8-4-3 with $853,719 in earnings. A stakes winner at four in 1995, Antifreeze was bred by Jack Liebau and Leigh Ann Howard. The $99,500 Tom Ridge Stakes for threeyear-olds at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania on May 15, was won by the Speightstown colt Sum of the Parts who is out of the 1999 California Champion Older Female, Enjoy the Moment. She was bred by Jacoby Family Trust and her son’s record now stands at 7-3-1-0 with $145,263 in earnings. At Prairie Meadows in Iowa, Tapajo won the $60,000 Goldfinch Stakes on April 20, while on May 11, Sakakawea was the winner of the $70,000 Mamie Eisenhower Stakes for the third consecutive year. The former is a three-year-old filly by Tapit, out of the 16-
year-old Bertrando daughter Sleep Away Camp who was bred by Edward Nahem, and she has now earned $80,727 from two wins, a second and a third in six starts. Sakakawea, a six-year-old daughter of Rossini who has earned $344,075 from a 20-10-4-0 record, is out of the four-time winner Sarouka, by Beau’s Eagle, whose breeder was Fred Massery. Ten Ninety Seven, a sophomore gelding by Sideburn out of the four-time winner L. L. S. Cat, an 11-year-old daughter of Distinctive Cat, won the $55,334 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby at Turf Paradise in Arizona on April 28. He now has a bankroll of $49,388 from a record of 12-2-2-2 and his dam was bred by Oscar Munguia. The $55,000 Trao Classic Sprint Stakes at Will Rogers Downs in Oklahoma on April 24, was won by five-year-old Stickrossmountain, a gelded son of National Saint and the unraced Cutlass Reality mare Luci’s Reality. She was bred by A & T Stock Farm and her offspring’s 11 starts to date have produced six wins, two placings and earnings of $122,711.
Making The Grade The following runner(s), either California-bred or sired by stallions currently based in the Golden State, won or placed in graded stakes races in North America (U. S., Canada & Puerto Rico) from April 23 to May 20 inclusive: Antares World m.5. Decarchy—Alashir’s World 3rd Grade III Wilshire Handicap $100,000 1 1/16 m. (T) Betfair Hollywood Park April 29 Breeders: Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams Amazombie g.6. Northern Afleet—Wilshe Amaze 2nd Grade II Churchill Downs Stakes $441,600 7 f. Churchill Downs May 5 Breeder: Gregg Anderson Disposablepleasure f.3. Giacomo—My Canada 2nd Grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes $300,000 1 1/8 m. Pimlico Race Course May 18 Breeder: Doug Branham
Continued on next page www.ctba.com
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 9
D E P A R T M E N T
News Bits Cont’d. 5::#2&3
#9
This 10-year-old Marco Bay stallion, the 2005 Santa Anita Derby (grade I) winner and $1,428,141earner whose oldest foals are twoyear-olds of 2012, has relocated from Pennsylvania to stand at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona.
CURRENT CALIFORNIA SIRES OF STAKES WINNERS
4#--+0/ '73 the grassy, $51,750 Dahlia Stakes: his six-year-old daughter Idle Talk.
#(7#+/ Third Chance, a four-year-old daughter of this Tommy Town Thoroughbreds sire, won the $118,950 Governor’s Lady Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course on April 28.
-.0&#602 This Magali Farms stallion was represented at Pimlico Race Course on April 21 by the 15-1 winner of
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%4+0/ Sundarban First Arrivals5%4+0/ For Bonnrita, Two California-based stallions were represented by the births of their respective first foals this spring. On March 18, the Boundary mare Sojka dropped a filly by the Ridgeley Farm stallion Bonnrita, a 10-year-old multiple winner by Gulch who is owned by Nancy Markwell. The six-year-old A.P. Indy stallion Sundarban, a multiple winner who stands at Milky Way Farm, attained his first three offspring on April 29: a pair of colts out of the winning mares Aunt Pink, by Unusual Heat, and Royal Wager, by Valid Wager, and a filly Sundarban–Aunt Pink Bonnrita–Sojka out of the Distant View mare Obligation.
5%4+0/ The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2012 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training yielded six-figure prices for three horses touting California ties during its April 23-26 run in Florida. A California-bred Belong to Me filly sold for $150,000 to Mayberry Farm. Produced by the unraced Star of the Crop mare Move Smartly, she worked a furlong in :10.1 prior to the auction.
10 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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9%-0420/ On April 28, this Old English Rancho resident achieved his first stakes winner when his three-yearold colt Valentine Boy outran 12 rivals, including older horses, in the $62,800 NTRA Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.
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† Indicates stallions who have died or have been retired from the stud. • Indicates stallions who have moved out of state but have California-bred two-year-olds of this year. All sires will remain on the list until the year after their last foals are two-year-olds.
%4+0/ The same preview time was shared by a colt who was sired by the Harris Farms stallion Heatseeker (Ire), produced by Mr. Greeley’s grade II-placed, stakes-winning daughter Bronze Autumn and purchased by Arnold Zetcher for $115,000. A Street Hero colt out of the stakes-placed winner Star of Atticus, by the Magali Farms sire Atticus, secured a $160,000 bid from Mike House after he also worked one furlong in :10.1.
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California’s Thoroughbred Breeding Industry Continues With Declines According to the statistics published in The Jockey Club’s 2012 Fact Book, declines were recorded by the Thoroughbred breeding industry in California for the seventh consecutive year. California’s registered foals of 2010 numbered 1,935, representing a 21.2 percent drop from the 2,455 recorded 12 months earlier, while 2,446 mares were bred to 186 stallions in the Golden State last year. These figures represented decreases of 11.2 and 19.9 percent, respectively, as
compared to the 232 stallions who covered 2,754 mares in 2010, resulting in an increase in the average book size from 11.9 to 13.2 For registered foals of 2010, California dropped to fourth behind Kentucky, Florida and Louisiana, but again occupied that same position behind these three states by mares bred, while also remaining third behind Kentucky and Louisiana by stallions bred.
California Closers Friday, June 1, is the closing date for free nominations to Barretts Equine Ltd.’s inaugural “Race Ready” Horses in Training Sale being held in the paddock of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Sunday, July 22…The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) will hold an Open Forum at Hollywood Park in Inglewood on Sunday, June 3…From Friday, June 8 to Sunday, June 10, the Western States Horse Expo will be held at Cal Expo in Sacramento…The California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association (CTFMA) will hold its next monthly meeting at the San Luis Rey Downs Country Club in Bonsall on Tuesday, June 19 …From Sunday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 27, the American Horse Council (AHC) will hold its Annual Meeting and National Issues Forum in Washington, D. C…On Thursday, June 28, the next monthly meeting of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), to which Steve Beneto was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown on May 17, will be held at Hollywood Park in Inglewood…A couple of Thoroughbred-related web sites were launched in April and May, www.ahomeforeveryhorse.com for content about horses in need of care and shelter and www.cleanhorseracing.org that is dedicated to the reform of medication rules, while a number of pamphlets developed for the CHRB’s Racing Injury Prevention Program by the University of California, Davis, can be accessed online at www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vorl.
Q ualifying Claiming Levels The following claiming levels for California owners premiums and stallion awards are currently in effect: Hollywood Park—$40,000 Golden Gate Fields—$20,000 (closes June 17)
Pleasanton (Alemeda County Fair)—$20,000 (opens June 21)
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D E P A R T M E N T
Ducky Drake Retired The durable California-bred Ducky Drake went out on top at Sunland Park on April 8, with a 5 1/2-furlong claiming race victory that marked the end of his eight-year career. The 10-year-old Benchmark gelding, whose 56-race tally includes 22 wins, 12 seconds and nine thirds, earned $718,538 while competing in New Mexico,
Arizona, Oklahoma and Iowa—but, ironically, never in his home state. An eight-time stakes winner out of the Pleasant Colony mare Alice May, he was bred by Ralph and Aury Todd and retired to the home of one of his final co-owners, John Pinkerton, for whom he won the $125,000 Iowa Sprint Handicap at Prairie Meadows in June of last year.
10 Years Ago
June 16, 2002
On June 16, 2002, the $69,575 Malcolm Anderson Stakes at Bay Meadows Racecourse was won by the two-year-old colt Taraval who was bred in California by John S. Kurimai III. By Bold Badgett, out of ©La Veck the stakes-winning Reb’s Policy mare Taraval Two Kids, he again scored in black$69,575 Malcolm Anderson Stakes type company in his next start before retiring the following year with a $155,537 bankroll and record of 10-4-3-1 that also included a further stakes win in his final career start.
25 Years Ago Misshigh Andmighty, a California-bred daughter of Battle Call and the four-time winner Yeroc Yesak, by Jacinto, won two stakes races for threeyear-old fillies at Golden Gate Fields within a couple of weeks in 1987. Bred by Brook Stud Co., she won the $55,900 Impressive Style Stakes on June 7, and the June 21 Songstress Stakes worth $45,900 for her third and final black-type win of a career that included six wins, 12 placings and $217,845 in earnings from 34 starts.
50 Years Ago The $28,900 Honeymoon Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park on June 19, 1962, was won by Refanute who became the first stakes winner for her sire Bit of Ireland (Ire). Bred in California by Owl Stables and out of the unraced Compton Lady, by King’s Abbey (GB), she retired three seasons later having earned $40,870 from a 68-4-5-7 record before producing Sporting Lass who won the 1971 Oak Leaf Stakes and is the third dam of 2009 Cal-bred stakes winner Dewey’s Special.
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The 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. June 4 Deadline For CTBA’s Nor Cal Yearling Sale
Monday, June 4, is the closing date for entries to this year’s Northern California Yearling Sale, being hosted by the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (CTBA) for the ninth consecutive year. The auction will be held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton on Tuesday, Aug. 14, starting at noon, and supplemental entries will be accepted until the day of the sale. The entry fee is $300 for this auction, which numbers more
than 500 winners and 27 stakes winners among its graduates, including the graded stakes winners Sierra Sunset and Autism Awareness and $724,983-earner Bai and Bai. The sale’s upset price and its minimum commission charge will be $1,000 and $500, respectively. For additional information about the sale, the CTBA’s Sale Coordinator, Cookie Hackworth, can be contacted at either cookie@ctba.com or (626) 445-7800, extension 243. CTBA Returns To Horse Expo
From Friday, June 8 to Sunday, June 10, the CTBA will again have a booth at the Western States Horse Expo being held at Cal Expo in Sacramento. It will be manned by some of the association’s representatives, including its Event Coordinator, Christy Chapman.
The CTBA Calendar Corner Barretts Paddock Sale at Del Mar Sunday, July 22 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar Northern California Yearling Sale Tuesday, August 14, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton Barretts October Yearling Sale Tuesday, October 9 & Wednesday, October 10 Fairplex (Hinds Pavilion), Pomona For information, contact the CTBA’s Event Coordinator Christy Chapman at either christy@ctba.com or (800) 573-2822, ext. 247.
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D E P A R T M E N T
Notes — June 2012 California Thoroughbred Foundation 2012 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Mrs. Jeanne L. Canty, President Warren Williamson, Vice-President Gregory L. Ferraro, DVM, Treasurer Mark W. McCreary, Secretary Peter P. Daily Jane Goldstein
Mrs. Gail Gregson Neil O’Dwyer Gerald F. McMahon Mrs. Ada Gates Patton Thomas S. Robbins John W. Sadler Peter W. Tunney
Mrs. Kenneth M. Schiffer, Director Emeritus
New Books Added To The Library The Carleton F. Burke Library is always on the lookout for new equine editions and two recent publications have recently been added to its collection. The Kentucky Derby Vault brings many new and interesting stories to this seminal race. In addition to human and equine biographies it includes numerous items of Kentucky Derby memorabilia. One can find copies of Derby programs, winning tickets and vintage postcards within this volume. Written by Andrew Plattner, with a forward by horse racing analyst Tom Hammond, this volume will provide an afternoon full of pleasurable reading. Also new to the Library is Katey Barrett’s latest book, The Hill. One of the pre-eminent equine photographers in the nation, Ms. Barrett has been providing pictures of Santa Anita Park’s one-of-a-kind downhill turf course layout for more than 30 years. Within this edition you will see the best of the best as Katey captures the Thoroughbreds and jockeys as they warm-up and then race this unique course. Color and motion are Katey’s tools and with her eye she will bring you literally and figuratively into this extraordinary world.
The California Thoroughbred Foundation The California Thoroughbred Foundation (CTF) is dedicated to the advancement of equine research and education. Since 1958, the Foundation has operated as a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation that can accept tax deductible contributions. For more than four decades, the CTF has sponsored numerous research and educational projects and awarded scholarships to veterinary students at U.C. Davis and Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. The Foundation maintains the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library, one of the most extensive collections of
equine literature found anywhere. Several generous donations of book collections and artwork form the core of the library, which is housed in the CTBA offices in Arcadia. Among its 10,000 volumes are current veterinary publications, turf histories, sales catalogs, and books spanning a wide range of subjects from equine nutrition and care to fine arts. The latest instructional videos also are available for viewing in the library. The resources of the CTF’s Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library are available to the public for research and pleasure.
Memorial Donations The CTF accepts donations in memory of relatives and friends, with all such donations allocated to Scholarship Funds of the Foundation and to the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library. Please remember members of our industry with a donation to the CTF Memorial Fund. Donations may be sent to CTF, P. O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018.
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C O V E R
The CTBA Turns 75 by RUDI GROOTHEDDE Formed by a small group of visionary horsemen in 1937, as the California Breeders Association, today’s California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, boasting a great legacy that this Golden State breeding and racing institution promises to preserve and build on until its next major milestone in 2037. In the past 25 years, the CTBA has been instrumental in instituting a number of major enhancements to the Golden State’s Thoroughbred industry, including the establishment of the lucrative, popular and successful California-bred stakes race days of California Cup, California Gold Rush and Sunshine Millions, as well as its prestigious Hall Of Fame which currently boasts 63 members. The last quarter of a century has also seen an increased number of Cal-breds succeeding on the national stage, from many locally bred Eclipse Award and Breeders’ Cup winners to 50 more millionaires and a host of $1 million-plus sellers at public auction. Through page 47, this extensive cover story section also pays tribute to the state’s leading breeders and sires, its Broodmares of the Year, Horses of the Year and Valkyr trophy winners, and the CTBA itself, for its work in the auction and legislative fields during this time period. The CTBA’s current Board of Directors, numbering 14 of California’s most experienced and diversified breeders led by Sue Greene as their President, is backed up by the Executive Vice President and General Manager, Doug Burge. One of those directors is Bill Nichols, the CTBA’s longest serving member having joined the association more than 57 years ago in 1955. There is also a 10-strong staff of dedicated and hard-working individuals who work in such CTBA departments as the Executive Office, Magazine, Cal-Bred Registration, Sales, Library, Membership, Web Site, etc. The CTBA’s official monthly publication, the California Thoroughbred magazine, was originally published as The Thoroughbred in July of 1941, and then as The Thoroughbred of California from August of 1945 to December of 1996. The CTBA’s membership list has also enjoyed a rich history of its own over the years, having included many influential and famous people on it. Those include Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the
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United States (1981-1989), who was a member from 1947 to 1999, and current 45-year member Monty Roberts, the legendary “Horse Whisperer” who was recently invited by Queen Elizabeth II of England to join her in this year’s Diamond Jubilee celebrating her 60-year reign. So even though the current downturn in the Thoroughbred industry remains a concern, the CTBA’s glorious history ensures plenty of hope for a future that will see the association celebrate its century of service to California’s Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry before we even know it.
S T O R Y
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C O V E R S T O R Y
CTBA Presidents by RUDI GROOTHEDDE When the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1987, Donald Valpredo was serving his second of what would be three consecutive annual terms as the group’s President, a position held by 10 other members since. Valpredo, whose Valpredo Farms in Bakersfield traces its California horse racing and breeding roots back to the 1940s, through his late father John, was instrumental in the formation of California Cup and also partnered with Harris Farms as the breeders and owners of Soviet Problem, the 1994 California Horse of the Year. John Harris was the next CTBA President and he served from 1989 to 1991, and again in 1996 and 1997. Also a Past Chairman of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), Harris and his wife Carole own Harris Farms in the San Joaquin Valley, where his late father Jack started farming in the 1930s. Spanning more than 20,000 acres, the Coalinga facility was the leading breeder of California-breds in 2010. At the helm of the CTBA in 1992 and 1993, was Jack Liebau Sr. The primary author of much of the current law regarding today’s lucrative Incentive Awards Program for Cal-breds, Liebau has been the President of Betfair Hollywood Park since 2005, and was the co-owner of California champion Boo La Boo. Joe Parker was the President of the CTBA in 1994 and 1995, after joining the association in 1979. He is the owner of both Peach Tree Farm in Sanger and Equine Insurance Agency in Arcadia. In 1998 and 1999, John Barr served as the CTBA’s President and is now the President of the Oak Tree Racing Association. Barr also served on the boards of The Jockey Club and Breeders’ Cup Ltd., and has bred and raced horses in California for more than 40 years. From 2000 to 2002, the CTBA President was Wes Fitzpatrick. His tenure ended on a high note when Continental
Red, whom he bred and owned with his wife Sharon, became that year’s California Horse of the Year. Dan Schiffer, whose father Ken Schiffer held the same position from 1977 to 1982, was the CTBA’s President in 2003 and 2004. From 1980 to 2005, Schiffer managed his family’s Hat Ranch West and his mother, Mary “Bay” Schiffer, has been a member of the CTBA since 1957. The next two Presidents of the CTBA have since sadly passed away. In March of last year, 2005 President Keith Card died at the age of 83, but not before seeing his Hi Card Ranch homebred California Flag become the joint California Horse of the Year in 2009. Card was also the driving force behind the 2007 reinstatement of the CTBA’s Hall of Fame which Past President Lou Rowan had founded during the association’s 50th anniversary in 1987. Scoop Vessels, the CTBA President in 2006 and 2007, tragically died on Aug. 11, 2010, when his plane that he was piloting crashed in Oregon. Also a Past President of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), his Vessels Stallion Farm in Bnsall remains a showpiece for the local Thoroughbred industry. In 2008, Leigh Ann Howard became only the second woman to lead the CTBA, following Cecilia deMille Harper’s 1963 to 1966 term. A member of the association since 1968, Howard has been active in every phase of the industry over the years, including as the current manager of the San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in Bonsall. Sue Greene then took over as the CTBA’s President in 2011, and the owner and manager of Woodbridge Farm in Oakdale is currently enjoying her second term at the helm. Greene helped breed and raise the 2006/2007 Valkyr Trophy winner Mistical Plan, while her 30-plus years of hands-on experience with horses keeps her in good stead as the CTBA celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Presidents Of The Caliornia Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA): 1987 – 2012
Donald J Valpredo 1986 – 1988
Weston L. Fitzpatrick 2000 – 2002
John C. Harris 1989 – 1991 & 1996 – 1997
Daniel Q. Schiffer 2003 – 2004
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Keith E. Card 2005
F. Jack Liebau 1992 – 1993
Joe F. Parker 1994 – 1995
Frank “Scoop” Vessels III 2006 – 2007
John H. Barr 1998 – 1999
Leigh Ann Howard 2008 – 2010
Susan E. Greene 2011 – 2012
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G O L D E N G AT E F I E L D S C O N G RAT U LAT E S T H E
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ON THEIR
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C O V E R S T O R Y
CTBA Hall Of Fame by RUDI GROOTHEDDE Twenty-five years ago, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) established the Hall Of Fame for California horse racing, due primarily to the efforts of Louis R. Rowan, the President of the CTBA from 1955 to 1960. The October 1987 and 1988 ceremonies included 18 inductees each—26 people and 10 horses—but because Lou Rowan had passed away in September of 1988, following his induction at the inaugural event, the Hall Of Fame was discontinued. However, it was reinstated in 2006, when Keith E. Card, who had been the CTBA President the previous year, was the driving force behind its resurrection. After the 36 original Hall Of Fame members were reintroduced in the February 2006 ceremony, the first new class of inductees was unveiled a year later. The late John Mabee and his wife Betty were added to a list including such other legendary local breeders as Elias “Lucky” Baldwin, Rex Ellsworth, Ellwood Johnston, Louis Mayer, George Pope Jr. and Connie Ring, while the late Senator Ken Maddy also joined such other illustrious company boasting the last names of Crosby, Hooper, Howard, Koester, LeRoy, Longden, Pincay, Millerick, Shoemaker, Strub, Tenney, Whittingham and Woolf, amongst others. On the equine side, the California-bred duo of Best Pal and Free House were placed alongside their fellow Californiabred greats Ancient Title, Emperor of Norfolk, Honeymoon,
Morvich, Native Diver and Swaps, as well as sires Alibhai (GB), Determine, Fleet Nasrullah and Khaled (GB). In the five years since, the names of 22 more inductees— split evenly between people and horses—have been added to the magnificent Hall Of Fame trophy that is permanently housed in the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library at the CTBA’s offices in Arcadia. Designed by Card and his wife Barbara, its 61 gold-plated plaques pay homage to the Hall Of Fame’s 63 present members. Though Keith Card passed away in March of 2011, he had fittingly been able to enjoy his own induction held a month earlier, when Cal-bred Snow Chief, stallion Pirate’s Bounty and the late Brian Sweeney were also celebrated. In 2008, John Harris, Mel Stute and Russell Baze, as well as the Cal-breds Decidedly and Flying Pasted, were honored, while the following year’s list included the Cal-bred trio of Gummo, Iron Reward and Melair and Cecilia de Mille Harper, Kjell Qvale and Dr. Jack Robbins. The late Bob Walter and his wife Barbara, along with Calbreds Flying Continental and Hill Rise were recognized in 2010, while this year’s distinguished group included the Cal-bred duo of Brown Bess and Quicken Tree, as well as Ellwood “Buddy” Johnston; the owner of Old English Rancho—founded by his dad, the 1987 inductee who passed away in 1981—which last year became California’s leading breeder for the 14th time in its famed history.
California Hall Of Fame: 1987 ‰2012 Horses Alibhai (GB) Ancient Title Best Pal Brown Bess Decidedly
Owners & Breeders Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin Keith Card Cecilia de Mille Harper
Determine Emperor of Norfolk Fleet Nasrullah Flying Continental Flying Paster Free House Rex Ellsworth John C. Harris Fred W. Hooper Charles S. Howard
Gummo Hill Rise Honeymoon Iron Reward Khaled (GB) Melair Ellwood B. Johnston Ellwood W. Johnston John & Betty Mabee Louis B. Mayer
Morvich Native Diver Pirate’s Bounty Quicken Tree Snow Chief Swaps George A. Pope Jr. Kjell H. Qvale Connie M. Ring Robert H. & Barbara Walter
Other Individuals Bing Crosby Joe Hernandez Colonel F. W. “Bill” Koester
Trainers Farrell W. Jones
Jockeys Johnny Adams
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Mervyn LeRoy Senator Ken Maddy Jack K. Robbins DVM
Louis R. Rowan Dr. Charles H. Strub Brian Sweeney
R. H. “Red” McDaniel M. E. “Buster” Millerick
William Molter Mel Stute
Meshach Tenny Charlie Whittingham
Russell Baze John Longden
Laffit Pincay Jr. Bill Shoemaker
Jack Westrope George Woolf
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C O V E R S T O R Y
California’s Leading Breeders by RUDI GROOTHEDDE Following in the tradition of such leading California breeders of yesteryear as Rex C. Ellsworth and Louis B. Mayer, who between them captured 24 consecutive local breeding titles from 1943 to 1966, the last quarter of a century has once again seen a select group of breeders—five in total—dominate these rankings by continuing to breed great Thoroughbreds. In 1987, Old English Rancho was the Golden State’s leading breeder of California-breds with an earnings total of $1,390,920. The Ontario-based farm, which was collecting its 13th such title overall, edged out John and Betty Mabee with their progeny bankroll of $1,238,748. Last year, after another close battle, Old English Rancho returned to the top of the rankings with $2,249,807 in earnings, as compared to the $2,201,159 recorded by Tom and Debi Stull’s Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, the leaders in 2009 with a total of $2,401,922. Now based in Sanger, Old English Rancho secured the number one spot mainly due to the accomplishments of Acclamation, the 2011 Eclipse Champion Older Male and California Horse of the Year. Meanwhile, the Mabees didn’t have to wait long to reclaim the spot that they had first held in 1984, when they returned to the top of the breeders list in 1988, signaling the beginning of an 18-year run for them which elevated them into the company of the greatest breeders that California has ever seen. Through 2005, their leading runners included the $2,154,827-earner Nostalgia’s Star, the multiple grade I winner
General Challenge, the grade I-winning fillies Magical Allure and Favorite Funtime and—of course—Best Pal: the winner of the inaugural Pacific Classic; a six-time grade I victor; the earner of $5,668,245; and a three-time California Horse of the Year (1990-1992). The Mabees’ 1988 to 2005 winning stretch yielded almost $60 million in Cal-bred earnings and three Eclipse awards for the them as the nation’s leading breeders. From 2006 to 2008, Martin and Pam Wygod then reigned supreme as the Golden State’s top producers of Thoroughbreds. During those 36 months, their Cal-breds earned more than $10.5 million and were led by the grade Iwinning millionaire Idiot Proof. After Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ win in 2009, runner-up Harris Farms then parlayed its S2 million-plus in earnings for that year into a $2,488,432 bankroll, enough for its first leading breeder title in 2010. That year’s graded stakes winner Cost of Freedom, previously a grade I winner in 2008, helped John and Carole Harris’ breeding powerhouse to score the win by more than $600,000 in Cal-bred earnings. In 2011, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds again occupied the second spot, this time with a $2,201,159 total. Harris Farms placed third with $2,013,946 and the Wygods followed in fourth, thus ensuring that when it comes to producing Calbreds, the competition is surely again going to be close among California’s leading breeders through the next 25 years and beyond.
California’s Leading Breeders: 1987– 2011 Old English Rancho . . . .1987 & 2011 John & Betty Mabee . . .1988 to 2005 Martin & Pam Wygod . .2006 to 2008 Tommy Town Thoroughbreds . . . .2009 (Tom & Debi Stull) Harris Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010 (John & Carole Harris)
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C O V E R S T O R Y
California’s Leading Sires by EMILY SHIELDS Some of the finest stallions in the country have led the sire lists in California since 1987. The multiple grade I winner Flying Paster reigned as the state’s leading stallion for five consecutive seasons until 1991, during which time his top representatives were the dual grade I winner Flying Continental, another millionaire in Letthebighossroll, and his fellow graded stakes winners Approved to Fly, Flying Victor and Endow. Flying Paster stood at Cardiff Stud Farms, also the residence of Skywalker, California’s leading sire of 1993. That 1986 Breeders’ Cup Classic (grade I) winner was best known for Bertrando, the 1993 Eclipse Champion Older Male and multiple grade I victor who followed in his sire’s footsteps to become the state’s leading stallion in both 2005 and 2007. The $3,185,610-earner’s best offspring include the grade I winners Bilo, Officer and Unfurl the Flag, as well as dual grade II winner Queenie Belle, the dam of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (grade I) victor Unrivaled Belle. Bertrando, who was pensioned from stallion duty in December of 2011, stood at River Edge Farm, as did Pirate’s Bounty, the leading sire in 1992 and from 1994 through 1997. He died in 2006, and among those progeny who contributed most to his five titles were the grade I winners Pirate’s Revenge and Private Persuasion, both from his 1991 crop, and graded stakes winners Pacificbounty and Bountiful Native, the latter of whom was a California champion like Pirate’s Revenge. Golden Eagle Farm’s royally-bred stallion General Meeting led the list in 1998 and 1999. The multiple grade I winners
Excellent Meeting ($1,402,396) and General Challenge ($2,877,178 ) represented him in the 1999 Kentucky Derby, while grade I winner Magical Allure had been his mainstay the previous year. Thanks to the heroics of the Eclipse Horse of the Year and two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (grade I) winner Tiznow ($6,427,830), Harris Farms’ Cee’s Tizzy topped the sire standings in 2000 and 2001. He also sired Gourmet Girl, the 2001 Eclipse Champion Older Female, and Tiznow’s full brother Budroyale who earned $2,840,810. For three consecutive years from 2002 until 2004, Vessels Stallion Farm’s In Excess (Ire) led the standings. Overall, he has sired 14 California champions, including the millionaires Texcess, Valentine Dancer and Excessivepleasure. His grade I-winning son Indian Charlie went on to become one of the leading stallions in the nation before his death in 2011. In 2006, grade I winner Swiss Yodeler took his place atop the list by siring Thor’s Echo ($2,461,490), the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (grade I) winner who was named the Eclipse Champion Sprinter of that year. He relocated from Pepper Oaks Farm to Harris Farms for the 2009 breeding season. Another recent Harris Farms arrival is California’s current leading sire Unusual Heat, who has led the stallion list every year since 2008. He stood at Old English Rancho from 1999 to 2010, and is responsible for Acclamation, last year’s California Horse of the Year, fellow local champion The Usual Q. T. and a third millionaire in Unusual Suspect.
California’s Leading Sires: 1987– 2011 Flying Paster . . . . . . . . . . .1987-1991 Pirate’s Bounty . . .1992 & 1994-1997 Skywalker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993 General Meeting . . . . . . . . .1998-1999 Cee’s Tizzy . . . . . . . . . . . .2000-2001 In Excess (Ire) . . . . . . . . . .2002-2004 Bertrando . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 & 2007 Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . .2008-2011
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C O V E R S T O R Y
California Broodmares Of The Year by TRACY GANTZ Though stallions often receive the glory when talk turns to bloodlines, broodmares contribute more than their fair share. Not only do they provide half of the genes, they are the ones who raise the future racehorses. Since 1955, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) has honored the maternal contribution with its annual California Broodmare of the Year award. The past 25 years have seen a plethora of mares who would be welcomed in any broodmare band in the country. A trio of them have produced not one, but two grade I winners bred in California. Ray Stark’s Careless Notion took the 1980s by storm with Fabulous Notion and Cacoethes. Fabulous Notion, a two-time California champion, won the 1983 Santa Susana Stakes, a grade I race now called the Santa Anita Oaks, as well as five other California stakes. Cacoethes did most of his running in Europe, but garnered his grade I victory, the 1990 Turf Classic Handicap, in New York. He received the CTBA’s first-ever Cal-bred grass championship that year. Segue to the 1990s for John and Betty Mabee’s Excellent Lady, whose best offspring knocked them dead in Southern California. Flashy General Challenge, another two-time California champion, won the 1999 Santa Anita Derby and later that year took on older horses to capture the Pacific Classic Stakes. He added the Santa Anita Handicap at four.
In the fall of 2000, Notable Career captured the Oak Leaf Stakes for two-year-old fillies. In the first decade of the 21st century, David Abrams’ Penpont (NZ) picked up the double grade I torch. She produced full siblings Unusual Suspect and Golden Doc A in back-toback years, 2004 and 2005. The filly Golden Doc A struck first with a victory in the 2008 Las Virgenes Stakes. Though Unusual Suspect began winning stakes in 2007, he didn’t add his grade I until 2010 in the Hollywood Turf Cup. Six other Broodmares of the Year of the past quarter century are notable for a single outstanding champion. Together, their foals have accounted for 13 California Horse of the Year titles. Those mares and their famous offspring were: Miss Snowflake (Eclipse Award three-year-old male champion and Preakness winner Snow Chief, earner of $3,383,210); Chickadee (Eclipse Award female turf champion Brown Bess, earner of $1,300,920); Ubetshedid (Best Pal, second all-time leading Cal-bred earner with $5,668,245); Fountain Lake ($3,178,971-earner Free House); Cee’s Song (Eclipse Horse of the Year and two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow, leading Cal-bred earner with $6,427,830); and Li’l Ms. Leonard (Lava Man, third-leading Cal-bred earner with $5,268,706).
California Broodmares Of The Year: 1954/1955 – 2010/2011 1954/1955............................................Iron Reward 1955/1956 ..........................................Feather Time 1956/1957 ........................................Flying Choice 1957/1958 .................................................Paradise 1958/1959 ...........................................Honeymoon 1959/1960 ..............................................War Whisk 1960/1961...................................................Dama II 1961/1962 ..........................................Miss Larksfly 1962/1963 ........................................... Candy Dish 1963/1964 ....................................................Djenne 1964/1965 ..............................................Fleet Diver 1965/1966 ............................................Mrs. Rabbit 1966/1967..............................................In Regards 1967/1968 .............................................Mother Wit 1968/1969 ............................................Red Curtain 1969/1970...............................................Bell’s Lark 1970/1971.............................................Our Cricket 1971/1972 .........................................Mama Mouse 1972/1973...............................................Fleet Judy 1973/1974 ...................................................Solidity 1974/1975 .....................................Seems a Queen 1975/1976...........................................Cool Snooze 1976/1977 ..............................................Soft Snow 1977/1978 ........................................Fluffy Thought 1978/1979 ....................................................Procne 1979/1980 .........................................Golden Shore 1980/1981 ......................................O’L Clementine 1981/1982........................................Good Thought 1982/1983 ........................................Available Miss
26 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
1983/1984 ........................................First Time Out 1984/1985 ...........................................Iza Valentine 1985/1986 ....................................Melrose Nugget 1986/1987 ...................................Miss Snowflake 1987/1988 ......................................Variety Queen 1988/1989....................................Careless Notion 1989/1990.............................................Chickadee 1990/1991 .......................................General Store 1991/1992 ...........................................Ubetshedid 1992/1993 ......................................Fagers Charm 1993/1994 ...............................................Star Gem 1994/1995 ............................Cheyenne Birdsong 1995/1996..........................................Symbolically 1996/1997 ......................................Fountain Lake 1997/1998 .............................................Forumstar 1998/1999..............................................Rare Lady 1999/2000 ......................................Excellent Lady 2000/2001............................................Cee’s Song 2001/2002 ....................................Image Of Super 2002/2003 ......................................Guilded Times 2003/2004 .................................................Rio Tejo 2004/2005 ...............................Jetinwith Kennedy 2005/2006........................................Miss Soft Sell 2006/2007....................................Li’l Ms. Leonard 2007/2008 ........................................Penpont (NZ) 2008/2009 ...............................................Ultrafleet 2009/2010 .............................................Fort Silver 2010/2011................................Jewel of the Night
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HRTV HRTV and and HRTV.COM HRTV.COM would like to congratulate the California Thoroughbred Breeders Breeders Association Association on 75 75 years years on THE NETWORK FOR HORSE SPORTS THE NETWORK FOR HORSE SPORTS
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of success! of success!
C O V E R S T O R Y
California Horses Of The Year by EMILY SHIELDS In the last quarter of a century, California’s Horses of the Year have been a particularly competitive group. Snow Chief and Best Pal are the only California-breds to win three California Horse of the Year titles each. Snow Chief, a dual grade I winner as a juvenile, is most famous for his victory in the 1986 Preakness Stakes (grade I). He returned with a shortened season as a four-year-old to win the grade I Charles H. Strub Stakes before retiring with $3,383,210 in earnings for his breeder and co-owner Carl Grinstead. The popular Golden Eagle Farm gelding Best Pal ran for seven seasons, and was crowned as the state’s best from 1990 through 1992. John and Betty Mabee’s popular homebred won five grade I events during that span and overall he scored 18 victories in 47 starts with earnings of $5,668,245. John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery’s homebred Free House won the award in both 1997 and 1998, following grade I victories in the Santa Anita Derby and the Pacific Classic Stakes. The son of Smokester also hit the board in all three 1997 Triple Crown races and won $3,178,971 before his retirement. Three-time Eclipse Award winner Tiznow was the nation’s Horse of the Year in 2000, and earned that honor at home both that year and in 2001. The only two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, who won seven graded stakes in his 15-race
28 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
career and earned $6,427,830, was bred and co-owned by Cecila Straub-Rubens. Unlike many of his dual Horse of the Year counterparts, Lava Man was unable to race successfully outside his home state. The seven-time grade I winner, who was honored in 2005 and 2006, is best known for winning the Hollywood Gold Cup three times and the Santa Anita Handicap twice. He was bred by Lonnie Arterburn and Eve and Kim Kuhlmann. Windy’s Daughter became the first female California Horse of the Year in 1973, and six others have followed suit. Brown Bess (1989), Cat’s Cradle (1995), Moscow Burning (2004), Nashoba’s Key (2007) and Evening Jewel (2010) were all grade I winners, while Soviet Problem (1994) won 15 of 20 starts and finished second in a field of males in the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (grade I). In 1993, Bertrando won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s leading older horse after adding a pair of grade I races to his resumé. Millionaire Cavonnier was awarded in 1996, after winning the grade I Santa Anita Derby and just missing the Kentucky Derby (grade I) by a nose. In 2009, Breeders’ Cup winners California Flag and Dancing in Silks shared the honor after voters could not choose between them. Most recently, Acclamation was awarded in 2011, after being named the Eclipse Champion Older Male.
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California-Bred Champions: 1973 – 2011 Two-Year-Old Male 2011 Rousing Sermon
Two-Year-Old Female
Three-Year-Old Male
Three-Year-Old Female
Older Male
Older Female
Sprinter
Turf Horse
Horse of the Year
Ismene
Burns
Teddy’s Promise
Acclamation
Ultra Blend
Amazombie
Acclamation
Acclamation
2010
Bench Points
California Nectar
Caracortado
Evening Jewel
The Usual Q. T.
Unzip Me
Cost of Freedom
The Usual Q. T.
2009
Caracortado
Repo
The Usual Q. T.
Excessive Blend
Dancing in Silks
Lethal Heat
Dancing in Silks
California Flag
Evening Jewel California Flag/ Dancing in Silks
2008
Babs Moossa
Saucey Evening
Bob Black Jack
Lethal Heat
Cost of Freedom
Nashoba’s Key
Bob Black Jack
Bold Chieftain
Bob Black Jack
2007
Georgie Boy
Spring Awakening
Idiot Proof
Romance Is Diane
Lava Man
Nashoba’s Key
Idiot Proof
Nashoba’s Key
Nashoba’s Key
2006
Pirates Deputy
Romance Is Diane
Brother Derek
Bai and Bai
Lava Man
Moscow Burning
Thor’s Echo
Lava Man
Lava Man
2005
Brother Derek
Sierra Sweetie
Proud Tower Too
Leave Me Alone
Lava Man
Dream Of Summer
Bordonaro
Valentine Dancer
Lava Man
2004
Texcess
Memorette
Cozy Guy
Yearly Report
McCann’s Mojave
Moscow Burning
Bear Fan
Moscow Burning
Moscow Burning
2003 Don’tsellmeshort
House of Fortune
Excessivepleasure
Valentine Dancer
Joey Franco
Cee’s Elegance
Joey Franco
Ninebanks
Joey Franco
2002 Icecoldbeeratreds
Humorous Lady
Calkins Road
Super High
Grey Memo
Above Perfection
Disturbingthepeace
Continental Red
Continental Red
2001
Officer
Lady George
Romanceishope
Golden Ballet
Tiznow
Gourmet Girl
Go Go
Native Desert
Tiznow
2000
Proud Tower
Jetin Excess
Tiznow
Cover Gal
General Challenge
Smooth Player
Richter Scale
Smooth Player
Tiznow
1999
Gibson County
Cover Gal
General Challenge
Smooth Player
Budroyale
Enjoy the Moment
Big Jag
Native Desert
Budroyale
1998
Daring General
Controlled
Indian Charlie
Magical Allure
Free House
Fleet Lady
Big Jag
Native Desert
Free House
1997 Ex Marks the Cop
Career Collection
Free House
Fleet Lady
Awesome Daze
Avenue of Gold
Surachai
Gastown
Free House
1996 In Excessive Bull
Starry Ice
Cavonnier
Belle’s Flag
Megan’s Interco
Cat’s Cradle
Letthebighossroll
Megan’s Interco
Cavonnier
1995
Cavonnier
Batroyale
Desert Pirate
Cat’s Cradle
Best Pal
Pirate’s Revenge
Wild Gold
Work the Crowd
Cat’s Cradle
1994
Fandarel Dancer
Embroidered
College Town
Work the Crowd
Best Pal
Soviet Problem
Soviet Problem
Soviet Problem
Soviet Problem
1993
Individual Style
Work the Crowd
Denmars Dream
Soviet Problem
Bertrando
Southern Truce
Softshoe Sure Shot
Journalism
Bertrando
Incindress
Bertrando
Charm a Gendarme
Best Pal
Bountiful Native
Answer Do
Blaze O’Brien
Best Pal
1992 Moscow Changes 1991
Bertrando
Don B’s Princess
Best Pal
Teresa Mc
Bruho
Somethingmerry
Letthebighossroll
Somethingmerry
Best Pal
1990
Best Pal
Theresa’s Pleasure
Real Cash
Materco
Flying Continental
Brown Bess
Sensational Star
Cacoethes
Best Pal
1989
Individualist
Dominant Dancer
King Glorious
Kool Arrival
Stylish Winner
Brown Bess
King Glorious
—
Brown Bess
1988
King Glorious
Approved to Fly
Aloha Prospector
Super Avie
Nostalgia’s Star
Brown Bess
Calestoga
—
King Glorious
1987
Purdue King
Variety Baby
Something Lucky
Perchance to Dream
Snow Chief
Fran’s Valentine
Zany Tactics
—
Snow Chief
Saros Brig
Snow Chief
Melair
Super Diamond
Fran’s Valentine
Melair
—
Snow Chief
1986 Flying Lieutenant 1985
Snow Chief
Lady Maxine D.
Slew the Dragon
Fran’s Valentine
Barberstown
Capichi
Debonaire Junior
—
Snow Chief
1984
Right Con
Fran’s Valentine
Fali Time
Vagabond Gal
Silveyville
Fancy Wings
Debonaire Junior
—
Silveyville
Fali Time
Boo La Boo/ Bright Orphan
Billy Ball
Fabulous Notion
Prince Spellbound
Avigaition
Expressman
—
Fali Time
Remember John
—
Prince Spellbound
—
Eleven Stitches
1983 1982
Aguila
Fabulous Notion
Prince Spellbound
Avigaition
Silveyville
Frieda Frame/ PastForgetting
1981
Racing Is Fun
A Kiss for Luck
Silveyville
Past Forgetting
Eleven Stitches
Princess Karenda
I’m Smokin
1980
Bold and Gold
Astrious
Jaklin Klugman
Princess Karenda
Beau’s Eagle
Wishing Well
Beau’s Eagle
1979
The Carpenter
Hazel R.
Golden Act
Variety Queen
Jumping Hill
B. Thoughtful
—
—
Golden Act
1978
Flying Paster
Tourulla
Capt. Don
B. Thoughtful
Bad ’n Big
Grande Brisa
—
—
Flying Paster
1977
Chance Dancer
B. Thoughtful
Bad ’n Big
Don’s Music
Crystal Water
Dancing Femme
—
—
Crystal Water
1976
Fleet Dragoon
Special Warmth
Crystal Water
Any Time Lady
Ancient Title
Just a Kick
—
—
Crystal Water
1975
Telly’s Pop
Walk in the Sun
Messenger of Song
Our First Delight
Ancient Title
Modus Vivendi
—
—
Ancient Title
Hot n Nasty
Stardust Mel
Ancient Title
Impressive Style
—
—
Ancient Title
Gentleman’s Sketch
Ancient Title
Modus Vivendi Sandy Blue/ Windy’s Daughter
Royal Owl
Minstrel Miss
—
—
Windy’s Daughter
1974 The Bagel Prince 1973
Century’s Envoy
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Jaklin Klugman
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 29
C O V E R S T O R Y
C O V E R S T O R Y
California-Bred Eclipse Award Winners by MICHAEL COMPTON Named for the undefeated 18th century British racehorse and influential sire, the prestigious Eclipse Awards have paid homage to horse racing’s annual champions since 1971, and after Snow Chief was voted the Eclipse Champion Three-YearOld Male in 1986, the past quarter century has seen a further six California-breds fittingly collect eight more of these titles. In 1987, the Eclipse Champion Turf Female was Brown Bess, bred and owned by Suzanne Pashayan (Calbourne Farm/ Calbourne Stable). A 1982 daughter of Petrone (Fr), she included two grade I wins among her record of 9-5-1-2 and $720,875 in earnings for that year. In 1993, two grade I victories and a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (grade I) helped Bretrando secure the Eclipse Champion Older Male trophy. Bred and coowned by Ed Nahem, the 1989 son of Skywalker completed the year with a $2,217,800 bankroll from a 9-3-4-1 record. Tiznow was honored as the 2000 Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Male and Horse of the Year, and then the 2001 Champion Older Male, after posting respective records of 9-5-3-0/$3,445,9650 and 6-3-1-2/$2,981,880. Bred and co-owned by Cecilia Straub-Rubens, he boasts back-to-back victories in the grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic. Another Cal-bred offspring of Cee’s Tizzy making headlines in 2001, was the six-year-old mare Gourmet Girl who was bred
30 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
by Carl and Olivia Cannata. She earned $554,950 from three wins in six starts as that year’s Eclipse Champion Older Female. Thor’s Echo’s only two wins of the year were in grade I company, including the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but it was enough for him to be the 2006 Eclipse Champion Sprinter. Bred by Fast Lane Farms, Block and Forman, the son of Swiss Yodeler’s earnings for the year were $1,838,937. Acclamation, a 2006 son of Unusual Heat whose all five wins included three at the grade I level, was the Eclipse Champion Older Male of last yer. Bred by the Old English Rancho of Buddy and Judy Johnston, he banked $1,126,000 from seven starts in 2011. The 2011 Eclipse Champion Male Sprinter was Amazombie, by Northern Afleet and bred by the late Gregg Anderson. The five-year-old’s 9-5-1-3 record for last year yielded $1,327,000 in earnings, while his two grade I wins included a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. In addition to these Cal-breds, four members of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) received a total of 14 Eclipse Awards since 1971. John and Betty Mabee took the title of Breeder of the Year in 1991, 1997 and 1998, while Trainer of the Year trophies went to Charlie Whittingham (1971, 1982 and 1989), Bobby Frankel (1993 and 2000 to 2003) and Bob Baffert (1997 to 1999).
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C O V E R
California-Bred Breeders’ Cup Winners by EMILY SHIELDS A total of five California-breds have won six Breeders’ Cup World Championship races since its inaugural edition at California’s Hollywood Park in 1984. The mighty Tiznow first did it as a sophomore in 2000, when he won the grade I, $4,369,320 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in Kentucky by a neck after a long stretch battle against subsequent Cartier Horse of the Year winner Giant’s Causeway. Breeder Cecilia Straub-Rubens, who owned the son of Cee’s Tizzy in partnership with Michael Cooper, died a mere three days after the stirring victory. Her children Pamela Ziebarth and Kevin Cochrane took over in her place, and watched as Tiznow stunned the world again in 2001, by becoming the only horse to win the Classic twice, this time by a nose over Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sakhee at Belmont Park in New York. Thanks to his Breeders’ Cup scores, Tiznow received three Eclipse Awards during his career, including the 2010 Horse of the Year title. As a sire, he has produced his own Breeders’ Cup winner in Folklore who won the 2005 running of the Juvenile Fillies (grade I) worth $972,020. Thor’s Echo was a 15-1 shot when he defeated 13 rivals in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs. The Swiss Yodeler gelding scored by four widening lengths in this grade I race worth $1,951,080. Bred by the late Steve
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Warner’s Fast Lane Farms in partnership with Carlton Block and Harry Forman, he was subsequently voted that year’s Eclipse Champion Sprinter. In 2009, Cal-breds made it a double by winning both the $909,000 Turf Sprint and $1,818,000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (grade I) at Santa Anita Park. A gelded son of Avenue of Flags, California Flag scored a brilliant front-running victory in the Turf Sprint for breeder Keith Card’s Hi Card Ranch to avenge his 10th place finish from the previous year. Then the Black Minnaloushe gelding Dancing in Silks, bred by the late Ron Jex, scored his fourth consecutive win as a 25-1 surprise in the Sprint. Amazombie is hoping to defend his Breeders’ Cup title this year, after he won the grade I, $1,363,500 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs last fall, scoring by a neck over the front-running Force Freeze. A son of Northern Afleet, the 2011 Eclipse Champion Male Sprinter was bred by the late Gregg Anderson and was making his first start outside of California after four previous stakes wins there. The Breeders’ Cup has been held in California a total of eight times; again at Hollywood Park in 1987 and 1997, and then at Santa Anita in 1993, 2003, 2008 and 2009. The popular two-day event, which boasts purses of $25,500,000, returns to Santa Anita this year.
S T O R Y
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 31
C O V E R S T O R Y
California Cup
by MARCIE HEACOX One of the most important developments in the history of the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry in California during the last 25 years is the California Cup, a multi-stakesrace event for California-bred or California-sired horses held every autumn. Spearheaded by Lou Rowan and Don Valpredo, it was inaugurated on Nov. 3, 1990, and continues more than 200 races later. Bel’s Starlet is among the Cal Cup’s most successful horses with victories in both the 1991 and 1992 Distaff Handicap. Sired by Bel Bolide, the Golden Eagle Farm homebred earned $863,802 in her career, punctuated by nine stakes victories. Another John and Betty Mabee homebred, Best Pal, captured the 1993 Classic Handicap. The son of Habitony (Ire) and 1991/1992 California Broodmare of the Year, Ubetshedid, was California Horse of the Year from 1990 to 1992. The six-time grade I winner is second on the all-time Calbred earnings list with $5,668,245 and is a member of the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. Two horses were multiple Cal Cup winners in 1994. Blaze O’Brien took his first Mile Handicap in 1992, then a second one two years later. Barry Isaacs and David Sofro bred the son of Interco and Cal-bred Irish O’Brien, a dual stakes winner. He earned $909,350 and his most prestigious triumph was in the 1995 Inglewood Handicap (grade III). His Legacy secured his third Starter Handicap in 1994 to become the first three-time Cal Cup winner. He also won the 1991 and 1992 renewals. Mr. and Mrs. Laurie Kahn bred the son of Pocketful in Vail and the Cal Cup comprised three of the four stakes wins in his eight-year career. Robert Walter’s Cavonnier won the 1995 Juvenile Stakes. The next year, he took the Santa Anita Derby (grade I) and finished second in the Kentucky Derby (grade I), a campaign that earned him the title of California Horse of the Year. The millionaire’s sire was Batonnier. The versatile gelding Megan’s Interco was the first horse to prevail in two different Cal Cup races. He finished first in the 1993 and 1995 Mile on turf and the 1996 Classic on dirt. He earned $1,062,465 for his owner and breeder Milton Bronson, including a win in the 1994 Shoemaker Handicap (grade II). His sire was Interco and his dam was the dual stakes-winning Cal-bred Don’s Quillo. Cat’s Cradle triumphed in the 1996 Distaff following her 1995 California Horse of the Year run that included a win in the Acorn Stakes (grade I). She was sired by her owner and breeder Georgia Ridder’s Flying Paster, the 1978 California Horse of the Year. Belle’s Flag is another multiple Cal Cup winner by virtue of victories in the 1996 and 1998 Matron Handicaps. She also scored back-to-back grade IIs in the 1997 El Encino and La Cañada Stakes for her owner and breeder Ernest Auerbach. She was a daughter of Avenue of Flags. Multiple grade II winner and 1999 California Horse of the
32 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
Year Budroyale won the 1998 Classic. By Cee’s Tizzy out of 2000/2001 California Broodmare of the Year, Cee’s Song, and bred by the Cecilia Straub Revocable Trust, Budroyale earned $2,840,810 in his 52-race career. He’s eighth on the all-time Cal-bred earnings list topped by his full brother, Tiznow. Chichim was best in the 1999 and 2000 Distaff, the latter of which gave jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. a record 9,000 career wins. Owner Marianne Millard bred the daughter of Chimineas in partnership with Bea Rous. Native Desert’s 1999 and 2001 Mile victories were among his 15 stakes wins in 74 career starts. He’s by Desert Classic and his breeder was Fred Watarida. The gelding earned $1,828,177 over eight years. Little Sister Stich’s 2001 Starter and 2002 Distaff wins accounted for half of her career stakes tally, including the 2002 Monrovia Handicap (grade III). Her sire is Seattle Bound and owner Gary Howard bred the mare in partnership with his wife, Marlene Howard. Millionaire Dream of Summer won the 2004 and 2005 Matron in a career that included an Apple Blossom Handicap (grade I) victory. By Siberian Summer, her success has carried over to the breeding shed through her 2011 grade I-winning son, Creative Cause. Both were bred by James Weigel. Sheepshead Bay Handicap (grade II) winner Moscow Burning finished first in the 2003 and 2005 Distance Handicap. She holds the all-time earnings record among Cal-bred fillies and mares—$1,417,800. Harris Farms and the Ken Maddy Trust bred the daughter of Moscow Ballet. Texcess became the second horse to win two different Cal Cup events in the 2004 Juvenile and 2006 Classic. Despite having only one other black-type victory to his credit, he earned $1,235,335. He’s by In Excess (Ire) and was bred by Ron Gomez. Millionaire Bold Chieftain is the only horse with two Classic wins; in 2007 and 2009. The career highlight for the son of Chief Seattle was the 2010 San Francisco Mile Stakes (grade II). He was bred by Ernest Langbein, trainer Bill Morey, Kenneth Robinson and Dwaine Hall, who also owned him during his eight-year career. Dancing In Silks parlayed his 2009 Sprint Handicap victory into an upset score in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Stakes (grade I) and the title of joint California Horse of the Year. The millionaire son of Black Minnaloushe was bred by Ron Jex. La Nez is the third and most recent horse to achieve victory in two different Cal Cup contests—the 2009 Juvenile Fillies Stakes and 2010 Distaff. She was bred by Chance Kruljac, son of her trainer Eric Kruljac, and is by Storm Creek. Vessels Stallion Farm’s pensioner In Excess (Ire) and Harris Farms’ Unusual Heat have the most Cal Cup wins as sires with seven apiece. Over on the human side, two breeders have dominated. Solo or in partnership, Harris Farms and the Mabee family each have 12 wins.
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C O V E R S T O R Y
California Gold Rush by EMILY SHIELDS California Gold Rush debuted at Hollywood Park in Inglewood on April 30, 2000, as a 10-race event worth more than $1.25 million in purses. It has now been held 12 more times, producing a total of 125 races won by some of the best California-breds. Although the format of the event has changed over the years, the premise remains the same: California’s best competing for exceptional purse money. Grey Memo topped the first Gold Rush card when he won the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes. Already a grade III winner, the son of Memo (Chi) went on to win a group II and a grade II race in 2002, for his breeder and co-owner Ridgeley Farm. Also on the card, Cardiff Stud Farm’s homebred Spinelessjellyfish, by Skywalker, was the winner of the $175,000 Khaled Stakes. He would go on to also win it in 2001, providing jockey Chris McCarron with his 7,000th career victory. Also at Gold Rush II, the Slewvescent son Ringaskiddy won the $100,000 Quicken Tree Stakes before becoming a grade I winner in 2002. Lazy Slusan won the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes before winning her second grade I event of 2001. The Robert Walter Family Trust bred both horses. At Gold Rush III in 2002, Favorite Funtime and Native Desert were the highlights of the card. John and Betty Mabee’s homebred Favorite Funtime won the final start of her career in the B. Thoughtful Stakes, just over two months after she had won in grade I company. She retired with wins in seven of her 14 starts. The Desert Classic gelding Native Desert made five appearances in the Khaled from when he won it in 1998, before the Gold Rush day existed, to 2003, when he finished second. Bred by Fred Watarida, the popular winner of the 2002 renewal had earned $1,828,177 after making his 74th and final career start in November of 2003. The $150,000 Tiznow Stakes at Gold Rush IV helped to propel Joey Franco to his California Horse of the Year title in 2003. It was the first of four victories that year, including a grade I triumph, for the son of Avenue of Flags. Jerry Frankel bred and owned the colt, who was also named the Golden State’s Champion Older Male and Champion Sprinter. A pair of fillies bred by Harris Farms won at Gold Rush V in 2004. Subsequent California Horse of the Year and eventual millionaire Moscow Burning won the $150,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes, prior to a grade II win in her next start. Homebred Alphabet Kisses broke her maiden by 6 1/2 lengths in the $60,000 Magali Farms Stakes, and went on to win a grade I race at the end of that year. She returned to Gold Rush in 2005 to win the B. Thoughtful Stakes as well.
34 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
A pair of future grade I winners also took down races at Gold Rush VI. Unfurl the Flag won the Tiznow Stakes prior to his top drawer win, while Leave Me Alone captured her first black-type victory in the $200,000 Melair Stakes before winning at the highest level later in 2005. The daughter of Bold Badgett, who was named the 2005 California Champion Three-Year-Old Female, was bred by Old English Rancho, Lynn Quinn and Anne Pond. Lava Man stole the show at Gold Rush VII in 2006, by winning the Khaled Stakes in-between a couple of grade I scores. Lonnie Arterburn and Kim and Eve Kuhlmann bred the son of Slew City Slew, who won his second state Horse of the Year title that season. Grade I winner Greg’s Gold capped a remarkable comeback when he won the 2007 Tiznow Stakes at Gold Rush VIII, nearly two years after being sidelined with a bowed tendon. The Lake George gelding raced for his breeder Bill Boswell. The superstar filly Nashoba’s Key won the Fran’s Valentine on the same card, which was her third win in an eventual streak of seven that included two grade I races. The daughter of Silver Hawk raced for her breeder Warren Williamson. Eventual millionaire Dancing in Silks broke his maiden in the $63,200 NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) Stakes at Gold Rush IX in 2008. The Black Minnaloushe gelding went on to win the grade I, $1,818,000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2009. Two future Breeders’ Cup runners contested the 12th edition of Gold Rush in 2011. Last year’s grade I, $1,363,500 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Champion Male Sprinter, Amazombie, who hopes to duplicate those feats again this year, won the Tiznow Stakes, one of his four stakes scores of 2011. Gregg Anderson was the breeder of this millionaire son of Northern Afleet, while BnD Chase Thoroughbreds and Elven Adams bred Ultra Blend who won a grade I event and finished fourth in the $1,818,000 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (grade I) following her win in the B. Thoughtful Stakes. This year’s grade I, $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks winner Willa B Awesome then bypassed the prestigious $1 million Kentucky Oaks (grade I) to run in the Melair Stakes at Gold Rush XIII where the Awesome Gambler filly won for her breeder and co-owner Terry Lovingier. Pam and Martin Wygod lead all California breeders in California Gold Rush winners with six. The pensioned Bertrando leads all California sires with eight victors, followed by the active Harris Farms stallion Unusual Heat’s six winners that put him in a tie with the pensioned duo of Cee’s Tizzy and In Excess (Ire).
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Betfair Hollywood Park would like to thank the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association for 75 years of caring for the California Racing Industry through their dedication and service.
C O V E R S T O R Y
Sunshine Millions
by RUDI GROOTHEDDE In October of 2002, Frank Stronach’s Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC) announced that Sunshine Millions, a day of eight black-type races—split evenly between Santa Anita Park in California and Gulfstream Park in Florida—worth $3.6 million in purse money and only for California-breds and Florida-breds, would be held for the first time on Jan. 25, 2003. All the races would switch venues each year, and the signature $1,000,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes began its tenure at Gulfstream with a win by Florida-bred Best of the Rest. That inaugural running of the lucrative Sunshine Millions day may have produced just one Cal-bred winner, Adminniestrator in the $500,000 Turf Stakes at Santa Anita, but locally bred runners were soon making their presence felt at the annual event. In 2004, at Santa Anita, Valentine Dancer won the $500,000 Filly & Mare Turf Stakes and Silent Sighs won the $250,000 Oaks Stakes. The former then repeated in the $500,000 Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream the following year, when Cal-bred Musique Toujours also won the Classic worth $1 million at the Hallandale track and both A to the Z ($500,000 Turf) and Red Warrior ($300,000 Sprint Stakes) triumphed in Arcadia. Cal-breds enjoyed their best results in the history of the series when they won five races in 2006. There were wins at Santa Anita by Lava Man in the $1,000,000 Classic, Moscow Burning in the $500,000 Filly & Mare Turf and Da Stoops in the $300,000 Dash Stakes, while Gulfstream was host to victories in the $500,000 Distaff Stakes and $300,000 Sprint by House of Fortune and Bordonaro, respectively.
Twelve months later, a Cal-bred quartet of winners kept the Golden State’s momentum going. The Classic again went to California when McCann’s Mojave took the $1 million event, while Shaggy Mane also won the $300,000 Filly & Mare Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream and Santa Anita’s victors were Lava Man in the $500,000 Turf and Mistical Plan in the $250,000 Oaks. The next three editions of Sunshine Millions then signaled the return of a Florida-bred domination, including no wins by Cal-breds in the Sunshine State. Bob Black Jack was the lone Cal-bred winner in 2008, with a track record breaking triumph in the $250,000 Dash at Santa Anita, while the same location saw 2009 wins by Georgie Boy ($300,000 Sprint) and Beltene ($250,000 Oaks). A year later, the Sunshine Millions day was cut to six races worth $1.8 million, and Santa Anita’s program saw respective victories by the Cal-bred duo of Bold Chieftain and Quisisana in the $500,000 Classic and $200,000 Filly & Mare Sprint. The Arcadia track then hosted a Cal-bred sweep in 2011, when Evening Jewel ($300,000 Distaff), Caracortado ($300,000 Turf) and Amazombie ($200,000 Sprint) all triumphed. Following nine years of cross country competition, during which Cal-breds won 24 of the 68 races contested, the format of the event changed again this year. The six stakes races were held at Gulftream for Florida-breds only, while that same day’s Sunshine Million program at Santa Anita featured three longstanding Cal-bred black-type events, the Crystal Water, Sensational Star and Valentine Dancer Stakes, and a couple of graded stakes.
California-Bred Winners At Sunshine Millions: 2003 – 2012 2003 Adminniestrator ($500,000 Turf Stakes) 2004 Valentine Dancer ($500,000 Filly & Mare Turf Stakes) Silent Sighs ($250,000 Oaks Stakes) 2005 Musique Toujours ($1,000,000 Classic Stakes)
2007 McCann’s Mojave ($1,000,000 Classic Stakes) Lava Man ($500,000 Turf Stakes) Shaggy Mane ($300,000 Filly & Mare Sprint Stakes) Mistical Plan ($250,000 Oaks Stakes)
A to the Z ($500,000 Turf Stakes)
2008 Bob Black Jack ($250,000 Dash Stakes)
Valentine Dancer ($500,000 Filly & Mare Turf Stakes)
2009 Georgie Boy ($300,000 Sprint Stakes)
Red Warrior ($300,000 Sprint Stakes) 2006 Lava Man ($1,000,000 Classic Stakes) House of Fortune ($500,000 Distaff Stakes) Moscow Burning ($500,000 Filly & Mare Turf Stakes)
Beltene ($250,000 Oaks Stakes) 2010 Bold Chieftain ($500,000 Classic Stakes) Quisisana ($200,000 Filly & Mare Sprint Stakes) 2011 Evening Jewel ($300,000 Distaff Stakes)
Bordonaro ($300,000 Sprint Stakes)
Caracortado ($300,000 Turf Stakes)
Da Stoops ($300,000 Dash Stakes)
Amazombie ($200,000 Sprint Stakes)
36 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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reeders Association for their B d e r ughb o r o h T he California racing industr y a t i g n n r i c o f . Santa Anita salutes the Cali dvan a o t n icatio d 75 yea e d rs of hard work and PROUD HOST OF THE 2012 BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP www.santaanita.com
C O V E R S T O R Y
Valkyr Trophy Winners by GENE WILLIAMS In 1987, just the third double winner of the cherished Valkyr Trophy, which annually honors that past year’s (June to May) outstanding California-bred filly, was crowned. That equine star was the super-speedy Melair, whose feat was not repeated again until 2011, a span of 25 years. In between, the list of Valkyr winners as voted by the members of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) was a superlative one, but lacked the two-year consistency and brilliance of Melair and the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 winner Evening Jewel. When Melair, bred and owned by Marianne Millard and Bea Rous, won the trophy for the second straight year, she joined B. Thoughtful (late 1970s) and Fabulous Notion (early ’80s) as the only two-time winners. Melair clinched this honor with her superlative victory in Hollywood Park’s grade II Silver Screen Handicap, in which she defeated the 1986 Preakness Stakes (grade I) champion Snow Chief. Eschewing the traditional path of running in the Hollywood Oaks (grade I), the daughter of Debonair Roger was sent against males, having devastated fields of her generation of fillies on several occasions. The filly shot immediately to the front and led every step of the way, breaking her own six-furlong track record of 1:08 3/5 with a 1:08 clocking for that distance on the way to a winning time for the mile of 1:32 4/5, believed to be the fastest mile time ever run by a filly at that time.
Sadly, that was her final career race due to a near-fatal bout of colic early the next year, leaving her undefeated in five starts. After some very tense moments that covered two colic surgeries, Melair battled her way back to good health and spent time as a broodmare for her breeders. The most recent dual Valkyr Trophy winner was the dual grade I winner Evening Jewel ($1,221,399), bred by Betty Mabee and her son, Larry. She was campaigned by the Braly Family Trust and trained by James Cassidy. Retired last year, after being sold to longtime owners and breeders Aaron and Marie Jones, Evening Jewel is now in foal to Medaglia d’Oro. She last raced in May of her four-year-old year, and posted grade I victories in the Del Mar Oaks and Keeneland’s Ashland Stakes, both in 2010. In one of Evening Jewel’s most dramatic races, she was caught on the wire by the eventual Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Female, Blind Luck, in the 2010 Kentucky Oaks (grade I). Several top-quality fillies, including nine grade I winners, followed Melair as Valkyr Trophy winners. Heading that list is the 2000/2001 winner Golden Ballet, a two-time grade I winner and now the dam of 2011 Breeders’ Cup (grade I) winner Drosselmeyer The other grade I-winning Valkyr Trophy victors were Hollywood Glitter, Kool Arrival, Dominant Dancer, Cat’s Cradle, Magical Allure, Alphabet Kisses, Mistical Plan and Golden Doc A.
Valkyr Trophy Winners: 1950/1951 – 2010/2011 1950/1951 ..............................................................Ruth Lily 1951/1952 ......................................................... Toubolady 1952/1953 .......................................................... Hollys Girl 1953/1954 .....................................................Maid O’Haste 1954/1955..............................................................Transpire 1955/1956 ...........................................................Miss Todd 1956/1957 ...............................................................Blue Vic 1957/1958.....................................................Market Basket 1958/1959 .................................................................Khalita 1959/1960 ........................................................Sybil Brand 1960/1961....................................................................Linita 1961/1962 .........................................................Mighty Fair 1962/1963 .....................................................Honey Bunny 1963/1964 ..........................................................Delhi Maid 1964/1965 ...........................................................Admirably 1965/1966.............................................................. .Century 1966/1967 ........................................................Mira Femme 1967/1968 ........................................................... Forgiving 1968/1969 .....................................................Time to Leave 1969/1970 ......................................................Tipping Time 1970/1971 .......................................................June Darling 1971/1972 ...................................................Miss Lady Bug 1972/1973................................................Windy’s Daughter 1973/1974 .........................................................Sandy Blue 1974/1975 ...................................................Modus Vivendi 1975/1976 ..................................................Our First Delight 1976/1977 ..................................................Special Warmth 1977/1978 .....................................................B. Thoughtful 1978/1979 .....................................................B. Thoughtful 1979/1980 .....................................................Variety Queen 1980/1981 ...............................................Princess Karenda
38 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
1981/1982 ...................................................Past Forgetting 1982/1983 .................................................Fabulous Notion 1983/1984 .................................................Fabulous Notion 1984/1985 ...................................................Fran’s Valentine 1985/1986 ................................................................. Melair 1986/1987 ................................................................ Melair 1987/1988 .............................................Hollywood Glitter 1988/1989 .......................................................Kool Arrival 1989/1990 ..............................................Dominant Dancer 1990/1991 ...............................................Somethingmerry 1991/1992 ........................................................Wicked Wit 1992/1993 .................................................Soviet Problem 1993/1994 ...............................................Work the Crowd 1994/1995 .......................................................Cat’s Cradle 1995/1996 .......................................................Supercilious 1996/1997.........................................................Belle’s Flag 1997/1998 ..........................................................Fleet Lady 1998/1999....................................................Magical Allure 1999/2000...........................................Show Me the Stage 2000/2001 ....................................................Golden Ballet 2001/2002...............................................Above Perfection 2002/2003 .........................................................Super High 2003/2004 ..............................................Moscow Burning 2004/2005 ................................................Alphabet Kisses 2005/2006 .....................................................Cambiocorsa 2006/2007 .....................................................Mistical Plan 2007/2008 ....................................................Golden Doc A 2008/2009 ........................................................Lethal Heat 2009/2010 ..................................................Evening Jewel 2010/2011 ...................................................Evening Jewel
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21455 N. Clements Road, Clements, California 95227 â&#x20AC;˘ (209) 759-3315/FAX (209) 759-3428 e-mail: legacyranchnorth@aol.com â&#x20AC;˘ website: www.Legacyranchinc.com
C O V E R S T O R Y
California-Bred Millionaires by EMILY SHIELDS In 1967, Native Diver became the first California-bred millionaire. Four more Cal-breds matched that feat before Snow Chief became the first to break the $2 million barrier in 1986. Later that year, the filly Fran’s Valentine and the colt Nostalgia’s Star also became millionaires; the latter reached the $2 million plateau in 1988. Meanwhile, Snow Chief passed the $3 million in earnings mark during 1987. Since then, 50 additional horses bred in the Golden State have passed this milestone, with eight of them also becoming multimillionaires. In all there are 58 Cal-bred millionaires. Golden Eagle Farm’s homebred Best Pal reached a million in earnings as a juvenile of 1990, then proceeded to add another million to his name with each passing racing season. He crossed the $5 million mark in 1994, when he ran fifth in the grade I, $2,748,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and retired with earnings of $5,668,245 in 1996. Bertrando, bred and co-owned by Ed Nahem, become a millionaire in February of 1993, when finishing second in the grade I, $500,000 Charles H. Strub Stakes. By November, he had amassed over $3 million, thanks in part to his victories in the grade I Pacific Classic and Woodward Stakes and his
40 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
second-place finish in the $2,748,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic (grade I). He retired with earnings of $3,185,610. John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery’s homebred Free House also earned over $3 million, capping that mark after winning the grade I, $1,000,000 Santa Anita Handicap as a five-year-old in 1999. The son of Smokester also won the 1998 Pacific Classic and 1997 Santa Anita Derby, both grade I events. When the gelding Budroyale passed the $2 million mark in 1999, no one could have guessed that his full brother Tiznow would later go on to win $6,427,830 in the next two years. Cecilia Straub-Rubens bred the multiple graded stakeswinning sons of Cee’s Tizzy, who each took part in the grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic: Budroyale finished second in 1999 edition, while Tiznow won it in 2000 and 2001. Tiznow remains the leading Cal-bred money-winnerer of all time. General Challenge became Golden Eagle Farms’ second homebred millionaire when the son of General Meeting won the grade I, $1,180,000 Pacific Classic in 1999. The gelding then passed $2 million when he won the grade I, $1,000,000 Santa Anita Handicap six months later. He
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retired to live out his life at Golden Eagle with $2,877,178 in earnings. When Lava Man made his first million in August of 2005, it already seemed to be a Cinderella miracle for the former claimer. He reached the $3 million plateau one year later when winning the grade I, $1,000,000 Pacific Classic Stakes. He surpassed $5 million while winning his third coonsecutive grade I, $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes in 2007. Lonnie Arteburn and Eve and Kim Kuhlmann bred the gelding who retired with $5,268,706 in earnings. Lava Man was trained by Doug O’Neill, as was the speedy dual grade I winner Thor’s Echo, who broke $2 million when he won the grade I, $1,951,080 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2006. The son of Swiss Yodeler was bred by Steve Warner’s Fast Lane Farms in partnership with Carlton Block and Harry Forman. There have been 10 additional female millionaires since Fran’s Valentine, starting with the Calbourne Farm homebred Brown Bess who passed this mark as the Eclipse Champion Turf Female in 1989. The 2001 Eclipse Champion Older Female, Gourmet Girl, who was bred by Carl and Olivia Cannata, reached that threshold in 2001, as did the dual grade I winner Lazy Slusan who was bred by The Robert H. Walter Family Trust. Moscow Burning, the 2004 California Horse of the Year who was bred by Harris Farms and Ken Maddy Trust, is the highest earning Cal-bred filly to date with $1,417,800. She reached seven figures in 2006, a year which produced four other Cal-bred millionaires, the most for any single season.
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Ultra Blend, who was bred by BnD Chase Thoroughbreds and Elven Adams, became the most recent female seven-figure earner in 2011. The other millionaire mares are Valentine Dancer (2005), Dream of Summer (2005), Somethinaboutlaura (2007), Nashoba’s Key (2008) and Evening Jewel (2010). In 2011, Eclipse Champion Older Male, Acclamation, and Eclipse Champion Male Sprinter, Amazombie, both became millionaires and each will attempt to surpass the $2 million mark this year. Bred by the Gregg Anderson, the grade 1, $1,363,500 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Amazombie has $1,725,378 to his name, while Acclamation, who was bred and is co-owned by the Old English Rancho of Buddy and Judy Johnston, has earned $1,628,048. All-Time Leading California-Bred Money Winners Horse (Year Foaled)
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
Earnings
1. Tiznow (1997)
15
8
4
2
$6,427,830
2. Best Pal (1988)
47
18
11
4
$5,668,245
3. Lava Man (2001)
47
17
8
5
$5,268,706
4. Snow Chief (1983)
24
13
3
5
$3,383,210
5. Bertrando (1989)
24
9
6
2
$3,185,610
6. Free House (1994)
22
9
5
3
$3,178,971
7. General Challenge (1996)
21
9
3
1
$2,877,178
8. Budroyale (1993)
52
17
12
2
$2,840,810
9. Thor’s Echo (2002)
28
5
4
6
$2,461,490
59
9
17
13
$2,154,827
10. Nostalgia’s Star (1982)
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 41
C O V E R S T O R Y
C O V E R S T O R Y
CTBA Auctions by RUDI GROOTHEDDE The first auction that the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) hosted was held at Hollywood Park in 1939, and when the CTBA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1987, three of its seven sales that year, two mixed auctions and a two-year-old sale, were still being held there. However, the association that had seen such international greats as Alleged and Sunday Silence pass through its auction ring was down to one sale by 1994, after hosting four auctions the previous year. From 1994 to 2003, the CTBA hosted just the Del Mar Yearling Sale. That auction enjoyed its 51st and final renewal the following year, when the CTBA reinstated the Northern California Yearling Sale at Pleasanton that it had last hosted at Bay Meadows Racecourse in 1993. The main reason for the overall drop in CTBA sales during the last 25 years, was the formation of the Barretts sale company which introduced an initial schedule of five auctions—at its newly constructed Hinds Pavilion sales complex at Fairplex in Pomona—during 1990. Today, Barretts Equine Ltd.’s annual auctions include a mixed sale, two juvenile auctions and a yearling sale. The CTBA was still hosting seven auctions in 1990, including a two-year-old sale at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, a juvenile and horses of racing age auction both there and at Bay Meadows, and a Pleasanton yearling sale. In 1991, both Del Mar’s combined auction and mixed sale were gone, while by 1993, the Northern California sale of two-year-olds and
horses of racing age, which had relocated to Vallejo for two years, was also no longer a part of the CTBA’s auction calendar. From 1987 to 2004, the CTBA’s annual Del Mar sale added many chapters to its long and storied history. In 1991, it was held for the first time in the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s new Satellite Wagering & Sale Pavilion at the fairgrounds and then it was held at nearby Del Mar HorsePark from 1996 to 2003. The paddock at Del Mar proved to be its final venue after it had been hosted by CTBA Sales, not its California Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) subsidiary, since 1997. The Del Mar sale has produced many successful California-bred graduates in each decade of its existence, including the 1958 Santa Anita Derby winner Silky Sullivan, 1961 national champion grass horse T. V. Lark and 1975 Santa Anita Handicap winner Stardust Mel, as well as the grade I-winning trio of the 1980s, Fabulous Notion, Flying Julia and Silver Circus. Between 1987 and 2004, a number of other top Cal-breds went through the auction ring, including: Richter Scale in 1995, a $15,500 purchase who became a grade I winner and earned $1,139,958; Gourmet Girl in 1996, the 2001 Eclipse Champion Older Female who sold for $3,500 before winning two grade I events and earning $1,255,373; and Officer in 2000, a $175,000 purchase whose grade I-winning two-yearold season led to a stud career in Kentucky and now Korea.
Congratulations CTBA Thank you for 75 years of unparalleled dedication to the Breeding and Racing Industry Some of the Hat Ranch bred/or owned Cal-bred stakes horses and stakes producers: General Store—California Broodmare of the Year 1991 Desert Pirate—Champion Cal-bred three-year-old 1995 Double Discount—World Record Holder Gum—Track record holder • Summer Sale—Track record holder Best Dress • Booklore • Francie •Arp • Alphy Boy • Rosy Cloud • Off My Beat Little Red Cloud • Commisary • Real Decision • Powder Room • Bright Lady Timoteo • Winter Spirit • Our Pagan • Cute Sister • Artaxerxes • Zee Maestro Griselle • Kingdom Bound • Inez • Fashion Book • Chain Store • Ginseng Mini Skirt • Hepatica • Summer Dress • Justine • Ilona • Off My Cloud
Best Wishes, Bay & Dan Schiffer 42 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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C O V E R S T O R Y
Highest-Priced California-Breds
by LISA GROOTHEDDE When the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) marked its 50th anniversary in 1987, only two California-bred horses had recorded seven-figure purchase prices at public auction: grade I winner A Kiss for Luck, who sold for $1.45 million while in foal to Nureyev at a Keeneland mixed sale in November 1985, and the multiple stakes-winning filly Shywing, who fetched $1 million while catalogued as a horse of racing age at the inaugural Matchmaker International auction hosted by California Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) at Hollywood Park in October 1986. In the ensuing quarter-century, Cal-breds have commanded greater respect in the commercial market. Eleven additional state-breds have brought prices of $1 million or more in sales rings nationwide, bringing the total number to 13 seven-figure sellers recorded during the 75-year existence of CTBA. Among this elite group, 12 are females and nine were California champion racehorses. Santa Anita Park grade I winner Magical Allure holds distinction as the most expensive Cal-bred in history. The 1995 General Meeting mare, who was bred by John and Betty Mabee, sold to Shadwell Estate Company for $4.2 million while pregnant with her first foal, by Storm Cat, during the 2000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Ranking second on the list of all-time highest-priced Calbreds is the state’s costliest representative of his gender: the unraced Red Bullet colt Unbridled Slew, who elicited a sale-
topping $2.5 million bid from Darley Stable at the 2006 Barretts May Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. Third highest is the 2001 Eclipse Champion Older Female Gourmet Girl, a multiple grade I-winning millionaire by Cee’s Tizzy who carried a $2.25-million pricetag during the 2002 Keeneland November sale. Two Cal-bred mares have each traversed the seven-figure barrier twice. The maiden winner Servaline, a Storm Cat half-sister to four-time grade I winner Excellent Meeting, sold for $2 million as a Keeneland July select yearling in 2001 and re-sold for $1.275 million as a Keeneland November broodmare in 2006. The dual grade I winner Golden Ballet, by Moscow Ballet, fetched $1.6 million at the 2001 Keeneland November auction as a three-year-old broodmare prospect and $1.4 million at the same vendue in 2010, one year before her son Drosselmeyer captured the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic (grade I). The Keeneland November sale has been particularly conducive for Cal-bred mares. Dual grade II winner Career Collection sold for $1.9 million in 2000, grade I winner River’s Prayer sold for $1.5 million in 2007, grade I winner Romance Is Diane sold for $1.35 million in 2008 and 2004 California Horse of the Year Moscow Burning sold for $1 million in 2006. Grade I victories also led to top-tier prices for Kool Arrival, who brought $1.25 million at the 1989 CTS Fall Mixed Sale, and Leave Me Alone, who sold for $1 million at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Selected Fall Mixed Sale. All-Time Highest-Priced California-Breds Sold At Public Auction
Magical Allure . . . . . . . . . .$4,200,000 Unbridled Slew . . . . . . . . .$2,500,000 Gourmet Girl . . . . . . . . . . .$2,250,000 Servaline . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,000,000 Career Collection . . . . . . .$1,900,000 Golden Ballet . . . . . . . . . .$1,600,000 River’s Prayer . . . . . . . . . .$1,500,000 A Kiss for Luck . . . . . . . . .$1,450,000 Golden Ballet . . . . . . . . . .$1,400,000 Romance Is Diane . . . . . .$1,350,000 Servaline . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,275,000 Kool Arrival . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,250,000 Leave Me Alone . . . . . . . .$1,000,000 Moscow Burning . . . . . . .$1,000,000 Shywing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,000,000
44 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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C O V E R S T O R Y
Legislation & The CTBA by DOUG BURGE & BOB FOX Over the course of the past 25 years, there have been numerous Senate and Assembly bills that have impacted the Thoroughbred industry in California. Many pieces of legislation have been specific to the state incentive and racing program, while others had more broad impacts on wagering and distributions. Key legislation that directly changed/enhanced the California -bred program was usually spearheaded by the late Senator Ken Maddy. Senator Maddy was an important friend to racing and had an appreciation for the breeders, whom he recognized as the backbone of the industry. Through the assistance of Senator Maddy, and many legislators who followed, the Cal-bred program has grown in both funding and opportunities. Examples include: 1) an increase in revenues due to license fee relief; 2) an expansion of owners awards; 3) protection and growth of restricted racing opportunities, including stakes; 4) allocation of industry dollars to fund the maiden bonus program; 5) changes to the stallion award eligibility; and 6) the addition of California-sired eligibility for restricted races. Specific legislation that impacted the entire racing industry is outlined as follows: SB 27 (Maddy) License Fee Relief, Chapter 335, Statutes of 1998 SB 27 was a landmark piece of legislation, authored by Senator Maddy, without a doubt the strongest supporter of
46 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 2012
Thoroughbred breeding and racing that has ever served in the legislature. It was a complex bill that did several things that were beneficial to the industry. This bill significantly reduced the license fees and created a private statewide marketing organization for Thoroughbred and fair racing, to be funded by specified deductions from the portion of takeout of satellite wagering facilities dedicated to purses and commissions. The bill provided for the transfer of any moneys remaining upon the expiration of this authority to a specified industry organization for purposes of existing law. The bill had a number of other important provisions, including a provision that no impact fee shall be paid by the operator of any satellite wagering facility that was licensed in the prior year to conduct a live racing meeting in the northern zone, and that license fees applicable to wagers made in the inclosures of the host associations shall be reduced by 0.3 percent. The bill also provided that no impact fee shall be paid by the operator of a satellite wagering facility that was licensed in the prior year to conduct a live Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse race meeting in the central or southern zones, and that license fees applicable to wagers made in the inclosures of these host associations shall be reduced by 0.15 percent. The bill provided that these reductions in license fees shall be distributed solely to the host associations in the form of commissions. AB 471 (Hertzberg) Advance Deposit Wagering, Chapter 198, Statutes of 2001 AB 471 stated findings and declarations of the Legislature regarding online wagering and account wagering. It authorized any racing association or fair to accept advance deposit wagers, or to allow these wagers through a betting system or multijurisdictional wagering hub, upon approval by the board, and to form partnerships, joint ventures or any other affiliation to further this purpose. The bill also provided that an advance deposit wager is a method of making a parimutuel wager in which a person in California or elsewhere establishes an account with a licensee, betting system or multijurisdictional wagering hub, and subsequently issues wagering instructions concerning the funds in this account, thereby authorizing the entity holding the account to place wagers on the account ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behalf. There were a number of other provisions related to Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) in the bill.
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AB 1308 (Torrico) Takeout Flexibility, Chapter 410, Statutes of 2007 This bill authorized a Thoroughbred association or fair, subject to approval by the board, to deduct from the parimutuel pool for any type of wager, an amount, not less than 10 percent nor more than 25 percent at the joint request of the Thoroughbred association or fair and the horsemen’s organization. The amount deducted is to be distributed as prescribed in this chapter. SB 16XX (Ashburn) Fair Funding, Chapter 12, Statutes of 2009/2010 2nd Extraordinary Session SB 16XX changed the provisions related to the total amount paid to the state as license fees by racing associations and fairs. The current law provided that if the amount was less than $40,000,000 in any calendar year, all associations and fairs that conducted live racing during the year of the shortfall would remit to the state, on a pro rata basis according to the amount paid as license fees by each association or fair, the amount necessary to bring the total amount paid to the state as license fees to $40,000,000. This bill deleted those provisions and instead provided that, any association or fair that conducts a racing meeting shall pay a license fee to fund the California Horse Racing Board and the equine drug testing program in accordance with a formula devised by the board in consultation with the industry. This bill also required, on July 1, 2009, and each July 1 thereafter, the transfer of $32,000,000 from the General Fund to be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the separate account of the Fair and Exposition Fund created for
satellite wagering revenues, and continuously appropriated those moneys for allocation for the financial support of the network of California fairs. The bill would require that all of the amount in excess of $11,000,000 be transferred to the Fair and Exposition Fund for allocation as specified in existing law, except that no part of this transferred money would be further transferred to the General Fund. There were additional provisions related to the funding of fairs. SB 1072 (Calderon) Takout Increase/Purse Funding, Chapter 283, Statutes of 2010 This bill required every Thoroughbred association or fair that conducts a live race meeting to deduct an additional two percent of the total amount handled on exotic wagers requiring the selection of two wagering interests, and three percent on exotic wagers requiring the selection of three or more wagering interests. The bill also required that these funds be distributed into the purse account of the meet conducting racing in the zones in which the wager was placed, to be used to augment overnight purses. The bill authorized exchange wagering, defined by the bill as a form of parimutuel wagering in which two or more persons place identically opposing wagers in a given market, provided that the entity offering exchange wagering is licensed by the board and has entered into an exchange wagering agreement between the licensee, the applicable racing association or fair conducting live racing, and the horsemen’s organization responsible for negotiated purse agreements for the breed on which exchange wagers are accepted.
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A Winning Combination California Gold Rush by RUDI GROOTHEDDE grade I winner Willa B Awesome who took down the $288,000 Melair Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for three-yearold fillies by a nose over Starry Skies as the even money favorite. The other black-type winners of the day were the five-year-old mare Warren’s Jitterbug in the B. Thoughtful Stakes and the six-year-old horse Mobilized in the Tiznow Stakes, both $125,000 events at 7 1/2 furlongs. A couple of four-year-olds, the filly Sparkling Style and the gelding Gatheratthealter, won the day’s stakes races for allowance runners at seven furlongs, the $$71,400 Warren’s Thoroughbreds Stakes and $72,800 Grey Memo Stakes. Winning the two 6 1/2-furlong stakes events for maidens, the $61,400 Alphabet Kisses Stakes and $62,800 NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) Stakes, were Warren’s Internet and Valentine Boy, respectively. If having “Warren” in the names of two of the day’s stakes winners wasn’t enough, the three-year-old Cal-bred filly Warren’s Mo Money had opened the program with a win in a maiden claiming race at the $50,000 level for her breeder and owner Ben Warren. So, if you are planning to have your Cal-bred compete at California Gold Rush XIV next year, you may want to: 1. be Ben Warren or Terry Lovingier; 2. sell your Cal-bred to the Johnsons or, best of all; 3. contact Rafael Bejarano’s agent Joe Ferrer to secure his client’s services right now!
©Katey Barrett
California Gold Rush and Rafael Bejarano, now that’s a winning combination! For the second time in four years, the newly anointed U. S. citizen rode a record five winners on Hollywood Park’s annual Gold Rush day. Back on April 25, 2009, they were the California-bred stakes winners Waveline, Bootleg Annie, Tribal Justice, Pretty Unusual and Liberian Freighter. This time, Peruvian native Bejarano booted home the Cal-bred stakes-winning quartet of Warren’s Jitterbug, Gatheratthealter, Unusual Heatwave and Mobilized, as well as Florida-bred Streakin’ Mohican who won a claiming race at six furlongs on the turf in a track record time of 1:07.24. Peter and Ellen Johnson are others that one would be wise to also follow at Gold Rush. On April 24, 2010, Alphie’s Bet won the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes in their silks and this year, they are the owners of Unusual Heatwave who was the winner of that same race which is now worth $300,000; the 1 1/8-mile race for three-year-olds is part of the new Golden State Series of annual stakes races worth $4.65 million to Cal-breds and California-sired runners only. This year’s 10-race Gold Rush program paid out $1,173,800 in purses overall, with $1,106,400 of that total being pocketed by the connections of those runners in the day’s eight restricted stakes events on the Inglewood track’s main all-weather Cushion Track surface. Also claiming a lion’s share of this money was Terry Lovingier’s homebred
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California Gold Rush
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California Gold Rush
Unusual Heatwave: An Unusual Double
by EMILY SHIELDS No one could have guessed that the 2001 Candi’s Gold mare Miss Alphie would go on to have an enormous impact in the breeding shed. She made seven starts in her racing career, all in Southern California, and never won. She retired with paltry earnings of $26,032 after only one season on the track as a four-year-old. But she has since sparkled as a broodmare, producing two winners of the $300,000 Snow Chief Stakes. Alphie’s Bet did it first in 2010, and now Unusual Heatwave has emulated his older brother in winning the 1 1/8-mile main track contest at Betfair Hollywood Park. While odds-on Alphie’s Bet won decisively, Unusual Heatwave and jockey Rafael Bejarano had to work for their win, which came by a half-length at the expense of favored Stoney Fleece. The duo completed the trip in 1:51.63. “I think this win says a lot about Miss Alphie,” coowner Peter Johnson said. He and wife Ellen own Unusual Heatwave in partnership with the colt’s breeder, Teresa McWilliams. Those three also teamed up with trainer Alexis Barba as the connections of Alphie’s Bet. While Alphie’s Bet, a son of Tribal Rule (Ballena Vista Farm), came into his Snow Chief as a grade III winner already, Unusual Heatwave was struggling to find his niche. His lone win had come in a maiden special weight race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita Park, and he was coming off a fourth-place finish in the $74,260 Pasadena Stakes at a mile, also on the grass. “I thought he was only a sprinter,” McWilliams said. “He had never been worse than fourth, so we knew he was good, but we weren’t sure
how good. I was so surprised when he won, and now we know he’s not just a sprinter and he can run on different surfaces.” McWilliams delighted in the victory, which bumped Unusual Heatwave’s record to two wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine tries with earnings of $265,262. She has a soft spot for the colt, whose unusually kind temperament sets him apart. “He wasn’t as big as Alphie’s Bet when he was born, so I felt that he was just Alphie’s kid brother. He has got a lovely temperament though; he was kissing me on the nose right before the race as I was telling him to relax and try to go the distance. He doesn’t bite, and he’s so gentle. The way he acts in the paddock, it seems like I could get on and ride him.” Trainer Barba noted that Unusual Heatwave “came out of the race great” and that the connections will be “looking at the Affirmed Handicap on June 3.” The grade III, $100,000 contest is open to sophomores and will be run over 1 1/16 miles. The Johnsons, who now own Miss Alphie outright, have moved the mare to Kentucky, where she gave birth to a Henrythenagivator foal earlier this year. As for her $303,320-earner Alphie’s Bet, the strapping five-year-old horse has returned to training after undergoing the oftensuccessful stem-cell therapy treatment and will rejoin Barba’s string this summer. He is unraced since finishing third in the grade II, $150,000 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 14, 2010. McWilliams is understandably excited about the prospect of Alphie’s Bet’s return. “It will be nice having the brothers together!”
Unusual Heatwave
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$300,000 Snow Chief Stakes
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Willa B Awesome: A Wise Decision
California Gold Rush
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by EMILY SHIELDS The winner of the grade I, $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks is usually hustled right out of California and into either another prep race for the Kentucky Oaks (grade I), or bound straight for Louisville itself. Unlike most of her predecessors, Californiabred Willa B Awesome stayed home to compete against her fellow state-breds during California Gold Rush XIII at Betfair Hollywood Park on April 28. The result was typical Willa B Awesome one: a thrilling finish yielding a narrow victory. “To be honest, I thought we got beat,” breeder and coowner Terry Lovingier admitted after the $288,000 Melair Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile contest for sophomore fillies on the allweather Cushion Track. “I thought her body was in front, but I thought she got out-bobbed. That other filly ran a winning race, we were just a little luckier, I guess!” That other filly was Starry Skies, the 2-1 second choice who was getting eight pounds from even-money favorite Willa B Awesome. Starry Skies led every step of the way until her rival collared her at the top of the stretch, starting a game battle down the lane between the two fillies. Both ran willingly and neither deserved to lose, but the photo finish revealed that Willa B Awesome’s nostril had hit the line first ahead of that of Starry Skies, with Starlight Magic a further 3 1/2 lengths back in third. “Fortunately, our filly has a slightly longer neck and nose,” Lovingier joked. Winning by a nose is nothing new to Willa B Awesome, who took home her March 31 Santa Anita Oaks trophy after that margin of victory. On that day, she and regular rider Mar-
tin Pedroza defeated grade II winner Reneesgotzip and grade I winner Eden’s Moon in a desperate finish. Both of those fillies shipped out of state to run in grade I events next time out, but the decision to keep Willa B Awesome home proved to be a wise one. “Of course there’s a little regret about missing out on the pomp and circumstance of something like that,” Lovingier said of the Kentucky Oaks. “We would have liked to do it, because she is a special filly. But in the Kentucky Oaks, there were ten fillies just like her. Business wise, there’s no regret.” Lovingier owns Willa B Awesome in partnership with Phil Daniels, Patsy London and John Winters. Willa B Awesome’s lengthy campaign was another factor in the decision. The daughter of Lovingier’s stallion Awesome Gambler has started 13 times, more than most fillies her age. She debuted exactly one year and a week before the Melair, breaking her maiden first out on April 21, 2011. Trainer Walther Solis has guided her through five wins, three seconds and two thirds while earning $593,896. Now, the game chestnut filly will get a well-deserved break. “She’s been in continuous training for over a year,” Lovingier said. “We’re going to rest her at my farm (Lovacres Ranch) for a little bit. She’ll be in the pasture right next to my house. After a few weeks we’ll see how she is doing.” The next goal could be the grade II, $150,000 Hollywood Oaks on June 23. “We have enough time, that if she does well we’ll bring her back for the Oaks, but we’re going to let her tell us.”
Willa B Awesome
©Benoit photos
$288,000 Melair Stakes
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California Gold Rush
Mobilized: The Third Time’s A Charm
by JACKIE BARNES “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” so the old saying goes. Mobilized, trained by Gary Mandella, proved that adage true when he captured the $125,000 Tiznow Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on April 28. The California Gold Rush XIII day also provided jockey Rafael Bejarano with a unique double, as it was the second time he had scored five wins at this annual event. In addition to his victory on Mobilized, he won four other races; three stakes, including the $300,000 Snow Chief Stakes aboard the 5-2 second favorite Unusual Heatwave. The Tiznow Stakes, run at the distance of 7 1/2 furlongs, had attracted a field of nine runners which was reduced to eight when Sammy’s a Runnin’ scratched. Italian Rules was the 2-1 race favorite, with Mobilized the 5-2 second choice and former grade I winner M One Rifle the third pick at 7-2. The Bruce Headley trained M One Rifle was first out of the gate and took command with Joy Boy, who folded after a halfmile, in second. Italian Rules stumbled leaving the gate, placing him in sixth ahead of Spud Spivens and Mobilized. M One Rifle still lead by two length at the top of the lane, with Kingpin Ryno moving up steadily from fourth. Bejarano and Mobilized had passed Italian Rules and were now launching a serious bid from behind. In an electrifying move, Mobilized quickly engulfed the field to win drawing away by 7 1/4 lengths for his first career stakes victory. Prior to this win, he had finished third in the
two previous runnings of the Tiznow and also last year’s Berkeley Stakes (grade III) at Golden Gate Fields. The final time for the distance was 1:29.47. Bred by the late Robert Reseigne Mobilized is owned by Double JH Stables Inc. and the Estate of Robert E. Reseigne. Mandella commented after the race, “Big race today. He’s as good now as he ever has been in his life. He’s won on the grass and synthetic, short or long, but I think his forté is the Betfair Hollywood Park main track. He’s most a home on this surface.” Mobilized is a son of the multiple graded stakes winner Soul of the Matter who earned $2,302,818, and whose winds included the grade I Super Derby and three grade II events. The son of grade I-winning millionaire Private Terms has sired many winners besides Mobilized and the stakes-placed winner Soulful City (Jpn). Mobilized’s dam Valleyofthebells is the dam of three winners, including Bellsblade who won the $75,000 Work the Crowd Stakes and earned $96,760. Valleyofthebells is a half-sister to 12-time stakes winner Valley Loot, by Demaloot Demashoot, a winner of 14 races with earnings of $584,885. Mobilized now has a bankroll of 360,080 from a record of 22-6-1-6. This victory was particularly sweet for the six-yearold horse, as it just goes to prove that if you keep on trying then the third time’s a charm.
Mobilized $125,000 Tiznow Stakes
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Warren’s Jitterbug: Making Memories
California Gold Rush
by MARCIE HEACOX California-bred Warren’s Jitterbug contributed to a memorable California Gold Rush XIII day for her connections when she won the $125,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on April 28. The five-year-old chestnut mare’s score was the second of three wins for owner/breeder Benjamin Warren and his private trainer, Jorge Gutierrez. She also kicked off a quintet of victories for jockey Rafael Bejarano, one day after he was sworn in as a U. S. citizen. The Peruvian native also won five races during the 2009 edition of Gold Rush. It had been more than two years since he last rode Warren’s Jitterbug. “I talked to Bejarano’s agent (Joe Ferrer) and I told him I’d wait for him just in case he didn't have a mount,” Gutierrez said. “He told me he’d ride her and asked if she was ready and I told him I thought she had a big chance. It worked out perfect.” Making her first start in more than six months, Warren’s Jitterbug was sent off at 11-1 odds, the longest shot of seven fillies and mares. She dropped back more than six lengths at one point, but gradually picked off every horse in the field and held off a late-running Going for a Spin by a half-length. She completed 7 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather Cushion Track surface in 1:31.44.“I thought I was going to win easier than I did, but when she was in front by herself, she felt like she was waiting on the other horses,” Bejarano said. Sister Kate, a full sister to two-time California champion Brother Derek, was 1 3/4 lengths farther back in third-place. She was followed by Camille C, Halo Dolly, A Jealous Woman and Miss Becca.
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It was the 16th running of the race named after Cal-bred mare B. Thoughtful, a grade 1 winner of $424,755. Her trainer, Robert Wheeler, is one of this year’s four inductees into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. Warren’s Jitterbug is the most successful offspring of both her sire, Affirmative, and dam, Jitterbug Jan, by Peaks And Valleys. She’s the richest and only stakes-placed runner from five crops by Affirmative, a son of Unbridled who placed once in four starts. Jitterbug Jan’s other foals include a yearling colt by Artie Schiller and a 2012 son of Onebadshark. As a racehorse, Jitterbug Jan hit the board in 14 of 24 starts, winning four times. She had the most wins and earnings—$91,005—of her dam Butterfield Eight’s nine foals. Warren’s Jitterbug debuted as a two-year-old in April of 2009 and broke her maiden eight starts later in February of 2010. She then won only two of her next 14 starts—an allowance optional claimer and a dead-heat in the $89,925 Sandy Blue Handicap during the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s 2010 meet. She was winless last year, including a fifth-place run in the B. Thoughtful. The $71,250 winner’s share of this year’s B. Thoughtful purse was the richest Warren’s Jitterbug’s earned. Overall she’s banked $355,994 from a record of 24-4-8-4. Gutierrez said Warren’s Jitterbug will now stretch out and switch back to turf. “This (her B. Thoughtful win) will set her up perfectly for the rest of the summer,” he said. “If everything goes well and she comes out of this good, we’ll have fun with her.”
Warren’s Jiterbug
©Benoit photos
$125,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes
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A Mixed Bag
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California Gold Rush by RUDI GROOTHEDDE It was a mixed bag of California-breds who won the four minor stakes races contested on the all-weather Cushion Track surface at Hollywood Park on April 28, during the 13th edition of the Inglewood track’s annual California Gold Rush day. A relatively recent claim and a graduate of two auctions, both four-year-olds, won the allowance events, while the corresponding races for maidens were taken by a couple of homebred three-year-olds who both became the first stakes winners for their sires. On A Dream & A Prayer Carded as the fifth event on a 10-race program that paid out almost $1.2 million in purse money, the $72,800 Grey Memo Stakes for colts and geldings was won by Gatheratthealter who was bred by Larry and Marianne Williams. A four-year-old son of this couple’s leading third-crop sire Lucky Pulpit (Harris Farms), he was making his first appearance in the winner’s circle for owner Live Your Dreams Racing Stable after this syndicate claimed him for $32,000 at the same venue on Dec. 9, 2011. Having already won separate stakes races on the Gold Rush XIII card, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Rafael Bejarano then successfully teamed up with this 8-1 third favorite against 12 fellow Cal-bred winners. After breaking slowly from post position eight and being squeezed out to last, Bejarano cleverly angled Gatheratthealter to the rail where he quickly moved up to third place while approaching the far turn in this seven-furlong contest. The duo then made a three-wide bid at the top of the stretch before dueling to the wire with both the race’s eventual runner-up Relentless Heat, who had followed Gatheratthealter down the backstretch, and third-placed Summer Hit, who had set the pace with Classic Bobby. Caffeine High, the 7-5 favorite, finished eighth after never being a factor.
With his victory by a nose in 1:23.74, the chestnut gelding banked $42,000 to improve his earnings to $121,268 from a record of 14-5-2-2, while Bejarano’s debut ride aboard him was followed by three more wins on the day, matching the five record breaking victories he posted at California Gold Rush X in 2009. Gatherathtelater’s other four career triumphs include two wins on the turf at Golden Gate Fields in 2010, and 2011 victories on the synthetic tracks at Hollywood Park and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Gatherathtealter is the seventh foal and third stakes performer out of the 17-year-old Nashwan mare Gather the Group, also the dam of the Williams’ homebred stakes winner of 2005 and 2006, Gn. Group Meeting. She has a 2012 Lucky Pulpit foal and a yearling colt by Swiss Yodeler, who also stands at Harris Farms. A Stylish Double The $71,400 Warren’s Thoroughbreds Stakes, which attracted seven Cal-bred fillies and mares and two California-sired Kentucky-bred distaffers as the second race of the day, was the other stakes race won by Bob Baffert when four-year-old Sparkling Style was a 2 1/2length winner as the 2-1 favorite. Bred in California by Todd Sheehan and Donald Lindemann, Sparkling Style’s only other career win came last year at California Gold Rush XII when she won the $63,200 Alphabet Kisses Stakes on her racing debut for owner Arnold Zetcher LLC. After jumping well from post position seven with Joe Talamo aboard her for the first time, the bay filly raced threedeep early before taking the lead approaching the quarter pole from fellow pace-setter River Kiss, who eventually finished third. Carrie Rose completed a Cal-bred trifecta by closing from seventh to second, while the winner earned $42,000 in posting a final time of 1:23.71 for the seven furlongs.
Gatheratthealter
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$72,800 Grey Memo Stakes
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shall and Andrew Molasky, when the three-year-old defeated a dozen fellow Cal-breds in 1:17.86. With Chantal Sutherland in his irons for the first time, the chestnut colt broke well from post position three and settled in fourth on the rail while tracking the 5-2 favorite Night Wind before making his bid for the lead by coming out three-wide on the turn. Valentine Boy then proved best in the stretch with a victory by 1 1/4 lengths over fellow 6-1 wagering choice Sizzlin’ Joe, who rallied from seventh to edge out Sixty Stars, another runner making his racing debut, for second. Valentine Joe’s payday of $36,000 upped his winnings to $49,700 from a 3-1-1-0 record under trainer Mike Harrington that also includes an unplaced effort on the main track at Hollywood Park on July 2, 2011, followed by a runner-up finish on Del Mar’s main all-weather Polytrack surface just 22 days later. He is out of the winning Cape Canaveral mare Calamity June, whose first foal Hi Ho Yodeler was also a stakeswinning Mike Harrington trainee with a victory in the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for two-year-old fillies during 2010. The nine-year-old dam’s only other foal is a
Sparkling Style
Valentine Boy
$71,400 Warren’s Thoroughbreds Stakes
$62,800 NTRA Stakes
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Sparkling Style may have sandwiched a couple of unplaced 2011 efforts at Hollywood Park and Del Mar between her two Gold Rush wins, but her current bankroll of $81,782 represent a profitable return on the $40,000 paid for her at Barretts Equine Ltd.’s Inaugural California Cup Yearling Sale in October of 2009. She’d previously sold for $5,000 to Janavar Thoroughbreds LLC at the 2008 Barretts October Mixed Sale. Kentucky-based Badge of Silver is Sparkling Style’s sire and her dam is Decades of Style (Ire), an unraced daughter of A.P. Indy whose first foal Seattle Ruler won the $108,350 Barretts Juvenile Stakes in 2009. The 10-year-old mare also has the yearling colt Cleardofallcharges, by Candy Ride (Arg), and a 2012 son of Stormin Fever (Golden Eagle Farm) named Thursday’s Child. The New Kid On The Block Closing out the day’s racing was the $62,800 NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) Stakes for maiden colts and geldings, and the 6 1/2-furlong contest provided the Old English Rancho sire Cyclotron with his first stakes winner. Valentine Boy also made his third lifetime start a memorable one for his breeders and owners Todd Mar-
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California Gold Rush Cont’d. Swiss Yodeler half-sister to Valentine Boy who was foaled earlier this year. An “A-Plus” Effort Race number four was the $61,400 Alphabet Kisses Stakes, and proving superior among the nine maiden Cal-bred fillies who lined up for this event at 6 1/2 furlongs was Warren’s Internet. The Benjamin Warren homebred three-year-old is from the first and only crop of Excess Danger, who stood at Warren’s Thoroughbreds in 2008, and the dark bay filly went to post as the race’s third betting choice at 6-1. Receiving the services of jockey Martin Pedroza, who had ridden Warren’s Internet to a fourth-placed finish over the main dirt track at Santa Anita Park on her March 30 racing debut, the Jorge Gutierrez trainee prevailed by a nose
over the 9-5 race favorite This Means War. Fellow firsttimer Tiz a Daisy ran third after the winner had recorded a final time of 1:18.28 following a trip that included a threewide spot in sixth on the backstretch, after breaking from the outside post position, and an impressive come-frombehind rally in the stretch. Warren’s Internet’s $36,000 share of the purse money increased her earnings to $39,360, while she also became the third winner of the day bred and owned by Benjamin Warren, following Warren’s Mo Money who opened the program with a win in a $50,000 maiden claiming race and Warren’s Jitterbug who won the $125,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes. Twelve-year-old Go for Quality, a winning daughter of Elusive Quality, is the dam of Warren’s Internet and this half-sister to 1999 multiple stakes winner Isaypete has five previous foals to her name, including the $194,096-earner Warren’s Got Game.
Warren’s Internet $61,400 Alphabet Kissses Stakes
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A D V E R T O R I A L
Comic Strip out of
Useless Bay filly foaled February 2, 2012 Owned by Clay Elrod, Oakdale, California
Tannersmyman out of
Gemstone Rush colt foaled April 9, 2012 Owned by Gerald Redman, Phoenix, Arizona
Desert Code out of
Puff Maddie filly foaled April 15, 2012 Owned by Woodbridge Farm & Desert Sun, Oakdale, California
Tannersmyman out of
Ma Ka Bet colt foaled April 26, 2012 Owned by Jim Eaton, Phoenix, Arizona
Lucky Pulpit out of
Wild Reflection colt foaled January 28, 2012 Owned by Woodbridge Farm, Oakdale, California
Tannersmyman out of
Ready Maid filly foaled April 14, 2012 Owned by Jim Eaton, Phoenix, Arizona 4537 Albers Road, Oakdale, CA 95361 phone: (209) 576-0629 fax: (209) 576-0652 alt: (209) 613-6020 Sueshorse45@yahoo.com http://www.woodbridgethoroughbreds.com
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Membership Benefits Include: Subscription to California Thoroughbred Magazine Stallion Directory Industry Directory FREE Access To California Tracks Cal-bred Registration Discounts Legislative Updates Educational Seminars & Various Social Activities Advertising Discounts California Thoroughbred Weekly CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS ASSOCIATION 201 Colorado Place, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018 • (800) 573-2822 • Fax (626) 445-6981 • www.ctba.com
A D V E R T O R I A L
Dorm Union colt foaled February 21, 2012
A Rose For You colt foaled April 9, 2012
Image Ofa Prinecess colt foaled January 24, 2012
Nip colt foaled April 17, 2012
Whatever colt foaled May 3, 2012
Spensive窶認EE: $2,500-LFSN (Consideration To Approved Mares)
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Standing at: Inquiries to Marguerite Eliasson 18122 Littlepage Road, Ramona, California 92065 (760) 789-1498/FAX (760) 789-7906 e-mail: earanches@aol.com 窶｢ website: www.spensive.com www.ctba.com
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F E A T U R E
CTBA Member Profile
Peter & Ellen Johnson: On The Fast Track To Success
by EMILY SHIELDS As recently as 2004, Peter Johnson and his wife Ellen had almost no knowledge of the sport of horse racing. The Santa Barbara residents became involved through their friendship with Teresa McWilliams, who offered them a 50-percent share in an unraced daughter of Candi’s Gold. “She told us we could even name the horse,” Peter Johnson recalled, “so we called her Miss Alphie, after my mother in law.” Although Miss Alphie hit the board only three times in her career, she was the springboard that got the Johnsons into the sport. Only eight years later, they are campaigning a compact stable of classy horses, and have even graced racing’s biggest stage: the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby was hardly on the horizon when the Johnsons first started visiting the Southern California tracks to see Miss Alphie race. Although she was forced into retirement before she ever won, the Johnsons and McWilliams decided to pursue a broodmare career with her. “Because she was our first horse and because of her name, we made it clear that even if she didn’t work out as a broodmare, we would keep her for a pet,” Johnson recalled. “I couldn’t even tell you why we wanted to do it because her pedigree wasn’t that strong.” It’s a good thing they pursued it, as Miss Alphie has surprised by producing two
winners of the $300,000 Snow Chief Stakes. Alphie’s Bet, a hefty, strapping son of Tribal Rule, did it first in 2010, and his lighter, gentler brother Unusual Heatwave won it on April 28. Although Alphie’s Bet was already a grade III winner heading into the Snow Chief, Unusual Heatwave was a frustrating maiden winner, and had been running well but was unable to break through since. “Sometimes Unusual Heatwave would show that turn of foot that Alphie’s Bet showed us,” Johnson said, “but we were a little surprised that he hadn’t run better up until then. I kept believing that talent had to be in there, and he finally demonstrated it in the Snow Chief.” Although the Johnsons are indebted to McWilliams for their introduction to the sport, they have proceeded to have their own impressive successes as well. “Shortly after Miss Alphie was retired, I went to a Barretts sale and brought home a new horse named Dr. J J. Teresa did not want to become partners on that horse, so we just raced him ourselves.” Dr. J J, a California-bred son of Skimming, won enough races that the Johnsons remained interested in the sport. “I was so encouraged that I went to the sale the next year and bought another horse. That became Victory Pete.” Victory Pete, a son of Five Star Day, broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 10, 2008. He then finished third
©Benoit
©Benoit
Unusual Heatwave—$300,000 Snow Chief Stakes—April 28, 2012
62 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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in both the $150,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita’s grade III, $200,000 Sham Stakes. Although he was entered in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park with an eye on the Kentucky Derby, he was forced to scratch the day before the race. Johnson said, “That was my first blush with big racing.” Victory Pete did not return to the races for more than eight months, but has since become dual grade II-placed while earning $347,945. Although he is still running strongly in stakes as a seven-year-old, a stallion career is looming in his future. “We will make every attempt to give him a chance,” Johnson said. “He’s a great horse and has good genes to pass onto his foals.” Although Victory Pete was unable to continue the quest to the Triple Crown races, the Johnsons returned to the Derby trail only two years later with their Make Music for Me. After they purchased him for $95,000 at the Barretts two-year-old sale in March of 2009, Ellen named the son of Bernstein, as she does with all of the Johnsons’ horses. As a maiden, Make Music for Me ran second behind eventual Preakness Stakes (grade I) winner Lookin At Lucky twice in graded stakes at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club before finishing third behind that rival in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (grade I) at Hollywood Park. Make Music for Me finally broke his maiden as a sophomore in the $68,710 Pasadena Stakes, and Johnson wanted to run in the grade I Santa Anita Derby. That same season, however, Alphie’s Bet had won the grade III, $150,000 Sham Stakes. It was determined that he would race at Santa Anita, while Make Music for Me would head to Keeneland to contest the Blue Grass Stakes (grade I).
F E A T U R E
Both horses ran poorly to the point where Alphie’s Bet was knocked off the Triple Crown trail and Make Music for Me became a Kentucky Derby “bubble” horse. “We went from 14th in the earnings to 24th,” Johnson said. “Since we were already in Kentucky, I said, ‘Let’s keep the horse here, something might happen.’ Sure enough on the morning of the draw I got a call that said, ‘We’re in.’” Make Music for Me was sent off at 30-1 and finished a strong fourth, only 4 3/4 lengths behind the winner Super Saver. “He was dead last, so buried you couldn’t even see him,” Johnson recalled, “so that finish was an exciting experience for my wife and our family.” Even Johnson is aware of his unlikely rise in the business. “From 2004 to 2010, I went from knowing nothing about Thoroughbred racing to having a horse in the Derby. People go all their lives trying to do what we did in five years.” Make Music for Me finished ninth in the Belmont Stakes (grade I), and has earned $529,100 with a record of four wins, three seconds and three thirds in 25 starts. He is one of the handful of horses the Johnsons have in training with little-known Alexis Barba, “I’m a strong advocate of no drugs, and that’s one of the reasons why I have Alexis Barba as the trainer. I know that she’s honest and concerned about the horse’s welfare.” While Peter Johnson is busy planning matings for Miss Alphie, who now resides in Kentucky at Jim Squires’ Two Bucks Farm and is in foal to Gio Ponti, Ellen, who designed the couple’s silks, has gotten involved with horseback riding lessons. The husband-and-wife team, California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (CTBA) members since 2007, are now looking forward to long-term involvement in the sport.
ALPHIE’S BET
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$250,000 Snow Chief Stakes—April 24, 2010
©Benoit Photos
Grade III Sham Stakes—March 6, 2010
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 63
F E A T U R E
Gaining Momentum Regional Sales by LISA GROOTHEDDE The juvenile sale season in California concluded with a commanded six-figure prices during the single evening session flourish on May 14, when the 2012 Barretts May Sale of this year; seven horses passed this plateau at the 2011 sale. Two-Year-Olds in Training matched the encouraging Wavertree also accounted for the second-highest seller this precedent set by the 2012 Barretts March Sale of Selected year, a $210,000 colt by Lion Heart whose own :10 work for Two-Year-Olds in Training by posting significant gains in all one furlong attracted the attention of buyer Dennis O’Neill. major indices. Produced by the Seattle Slew mare Seattle Qui, he is a halfFrom the 85 horses who entered the auction ring of the brother to the Hollywood Park juvenile stakes winner Classical Hinds Pavilion in Pomona, 69 were reported as sold for Slew, a gelding who also placed in two graded stakes. gross receipts of $2,986,500, representing a 12.4 percent Lindenbaum returned to the upper echelon of the market to boost from the $2,657,000 in purchase the auction’s top-priced filly, funds paid for 72 juveniles at the a $200,000 daughter of Rock Hard corresponding sale in 2011. The Ten out of the grade III-placed stakes average price for a racing prospect winner Requesting More, by Norquesincreased by 17.3 percent this tor. Consigned by Steven Venosa’s year, from $36,903 to $43,283, SGV Thoroughbreds, she worked a while the median improved by furlong in :10 1/5 prior to the sale. 15 percent, from $20,000 to The best-selling California-bred of $23,000. The buy-back rate was the 2012 auction was also the 18.8 percent, compared to 19.1 second-highest-priced filly overall: percent last year. Early Game, a daughter of Swiss “I would say that the March and Yodeler who elicited a $125,000 May two-year-old sales indicate bid from Nobuo Oda after she the market is continuing to grow posted a one-furlong work in :10 2/5. stronger for young horses,” said Consigned by McCarthy Bloodstock Bill Baker, the Vice President of on behalf of her breeder, Harris Farms, Barretts Equine Limited. “Japanese she is the fifth named foal participation was strong in both out of the dual stakes-winning sales, but two of the three horses Steinlen (GB) mare Top of Our purchased by Japanese clients in Game, a half-sister to the dam of the May sale were purchased to the Cal-bred grade I winner and tworun in California, including the time state champion Cost of Freedom. high-priced California-bred.” Sharing the same timed result Baker believes the quality of for his pre-sale move was City State, horses offered commercially in a City Zip colt whose $75,000 California is also improving, as is ©Benoit purchase price was the highest for This daughter of Swiss Yodeler, consigned by the outlook for upcoming auctions. his gender among state-breds at this “I would say the March sale cat- McCarthy Bloodstock as agent for Harris Farms, year’s sale. Produced by the Stately sold for $125,000 as the highest-priced alog was significantly stronger than Cielo mare Stately Belle, he was California-bred at this year’s 2011 and the May sale catalog was bred by Four Quarters Corp. and Barretts May Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. slightly stronger,” he noted. “The selected by Dan Agnew from the market has definitely strengthened in the last 18 months and, Havens Bloodstock Agency consignment. based on nominations for our October yearling sale, I believe Of the 47 Cal-breds listed in the 123-horse catalog this the momentum will continue.” year, 20 of the 27 ultimately offered brought a collective Leading the way at the 2012 Barretts May sale was a $550,500 to yield an average price of $27,525. During the speedy Master Command colt out of the dual stakes-placed 2011 sale, 29 state-breds grossed $611,000 for an average of winner Grinch, by Salt Lake. The Kentucky-bred youngster $21,069 each. sold to agent Brett Lindenbaum for $300,000 after he Lindenbaum topped the list of buyers with three juveniles worked one furlong in :10 for Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree purchased for an aggregate $560,000. Havens ranked as the Stables consignment during the May 11 under-tack preview leading consignor, with 26 horses sold for $676,000. conducted at Fairplex Park. For complete results of the 2012 Barretts May sale, visit The sale-topping colt was one of nine juveniles who www.barretts.com.
64 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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FEATURE YOUR FOALS IN THE BEST LIGHT A D V E R T O R I A L
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The April to August 2012 issues of the California Thoroughbred magazine will include Advertorials featuring this year’s crop of foals born in the Golden State. For More Information, Contact: Loretta Veiga, Advertising Magager, at Loretta@ctba.com/(626) 445-7800 ext.227 or Rudi Groothedde, Managing Editor, at rudi@ctba.com/(626) 445-7800 ext.226
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS ASSOCIATION 201 Colorado Place, P. O. Box 60018 • Arcadia, CA 91066-6018 • www.ctba.com
F E A T U R E
The Triple Crown
Go Get Another
by EMILY SHIELDS As a whole, California did exceptionally well in both the first two jewels of the 2012 Triple Crown. Runners based in the Golden State finished in five of the top eight spots in the Derby, including Ahmed Zayat’s Bodemeister, who finished a courageous second after setting a torrid pace. Creative Cause finished fifth, while the Bob Baffert-trained Liaison ran sixth. Baffert also trained Bodemeister. The lone California-bred in the field was Rousing Sermon, who is owned by Larry and Marianne Williams. Rousing Sermon closed from 14th to be eighth at the wire with a difficult trip. The son of Lucky Pulpit is expected to go up against I’ll Have Another in the Belmont Stakes. California swept the trifecta in the Preakness, with I’ll Have Another again running down Bodemeister in the shadow of the wire. They finished 8 3/4 lengths ahead of a game Creative Cause, who is owned by Heinz Steinmann and trained by California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (CTBA) member Mike Harrington; the Reddams, O’Neill, the Williams and Baffert are also CTBA members. Creative Cause is out of the grade I-winning California champion, Dream of Summer. Unfortunately, California did not perform nearly as well in the grade I, $1,000,000 Kentucky Oaks, run the day before the Derby on May 4. Baffert entered two fillies, grade II-placed Jemima’s Pearl and Las Virgenes Stakes (grade I) winner Eden’s Moon, but they could do no better than 10th and 14th, respectively. The winner was Believe You Can, a previous dual graded stakes winner by Proud Citizen. ©Jim McCue
©Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
©Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
After a streak from 1997 through 1999, when the Southern California-based horses Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Charismatic attempted to capture the Triple Crown but were narrowly denied, the opportunity has risen again. Paul and Zillah Reddam’s I’ll Have Another, who is based at Betfair Hollywood Park, has won the first two legs of the Triple Crown. He first took the grade 1, $2,219,600 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands at Churchill Downs on May 5, then followed it up with a gutsy score in the grade I, 1,000,000 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland on May 19. Little-known jockey Mario Gutierrez rides the chestnut son of Flower Alley, who is trained by Southern California-based Doug O’Neill. The connections masterfully planned a conservative spring campaign leading up to the big sprint contests: I’ll Have Another prepped for his historic Triple Crown run by winning the grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes and then the grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, both at Santa Anita Park in California. The last Santa Anita Derby winner to wear the roses was Sunday Silence in 1989, and the last California-based Derby winner was Giacomo in 2005. Mike Pegram’s Lookin’ At Lucky was the most recent to win the Preakness in 2010. Now I’ll Have Another has a chance to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. The last horse who attempted the feat was Big Brown in 2008; the New York-based colt was eased around the far turn of the Belmont Stakes (grade I), the final leg of the Triple Crown.
I’ll Have Another, owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam and trained by Doug O’Neill who are all California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) members, won the first two legs of this year’s Triple Crown, the grade I, $2,219,600 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville on May 5, (left & above), and the grade I, $1,000,000 Preakness Stakes at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course in Maryland on May 19. 66
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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I. Beginning April 26th, a $17,500 bonus will be made available for owners of registered California-Bred or Sired maidens in Maiden Special Weight races at the Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar meetings in Southern California; and a $10,000 bonus for owners of registered California-Bred or Sired maidens in Maiden Special Weight races in Northern California and at all Fair meetings throughout the state. Only races at 4 1/2-furlongs or longer will qualify. *Paid directly to owner in approximately 45 racing days. II. Significant eligibility changes for California-breds.
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F E A T U R E
Industry Insight
Decidedly: Madera Horse Wins Kentucky Derby!
by ROBBIE RODRIGUEZ Saturday, May 5, 2012, marked the 50th Anniversary of the win by Decidedly, a colt who was foaled and raised at El Peco Ranch in Madera, California, in the 88th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5, 1962. Decidedly was bred and owned by George A. Pope Jr. Trained by Horatio Luro and ridden by jockey Bill Hartack, Decidedly broke a 21-year-old track record set by the 1941 Triple Crown winner Whirlaway. The gray son of Determine received his early training on the racetrack at the Fresno District Fairgrounds during the winter of 1960-61. “When Decidedly was a yearling, George used to say, ‘Decidedly has such perfect action on his shoulder, that if you were (riding him) holding a full glass of water, you wouldn’t spill a drop.’ ” Patricia Pope, said as she held back her tears. Mrs. Pope wasn’t at the Derby in Louisville that day. She was under ‘no travel’ orders from her doctor because she was pregnant with their daughter, so she stayed at home and watched the big race on television. Her husband, George, however was at the Derby. “I spoke to George in the morning and in the evening leading up to the Derby, so I knew how Decidedly was doing,” said Mrs. Pope. “We had many friends, and one of George’s very good friends was Louis Hagan. Louis was a very, very tall man and when Decidedly made his move in the Derby, Louis got so excited that George couldn’t even see the end of the Derby because he sat the bottom of the box (seat).” When asked if she and her husband thought they were going to win the Derby going into the race, Patricia Pope sharply replied, “You don’t run in a Classic unless you think you can run in the first three (first, second or third). You don’t crowd the field.” In a key race leading up to the 1962 Derby, Decidedly came down with an infection that kept him out of the
Decidedly and George A. Pope Jr.
68 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah Park. Mrs. Pope said, “Decidedly was just running circles in his stall so trainer Horatio Luro built a big tent where you could see in but not out, and then Luro put in a goat for Decidely to chase around and around. Decidedly never hurt the goat, just around and around they’d go and every once in awhile, George would let the goat out of the stall door,” Mrs. Pope said laughing. “He’s peeking,” Luro told the Popes. “Decidedly was a temperamental horse, but he gave it his all,” Mrs. Pope said. Mrs. Pope kept reminding her husband George how 1962 was the Chinese year of the Tiger, and how she felt that was a good sign leading up the Derby. When asked how racing was different back then, Mrs. Pope said, “Back then, the air was beautiful. Everybody knew everyone at the racetrack, it didn’t matter what country you were in. There were more people that were real horseman. When I started in racing, girls weren’t allowed to even gallop horses. It changed because they are good horseman.” Mrs Pope laughed and said, “George used to say that they won’t remember who the President was, but if your horse was running in Kentucky on Derby day, they’ll remember your horse.” In 1964, two years after Decidedly won the Derby, Mrs. Pope finally went to the Derby as Mr. and Mrs. George Pope Jr. had another Derby hopeful in Hill Rise. Hill Rise went off as the 7-5 post-time favorite with jockey Bill Shoemaker aboard and in a thrilling stretch drive, Northern Dancer beat Hill Rise by just a neck. The Popes only ever had two Kentucky Derby starters; Decidedly in 1962 (first), and Hill Rise in 1964 (second). Amazingly, 10 years ago on the first Saturday of May in 2002, when the gates opened for the Kentucky Derby, Patricia Pope’s granddaughter was born. It is astronomical odds just to have a horse run in the Kentucky Derby, let alone own a horse who wins the race, and then to have your granddaughter born on the 40th anniversary of that winner is even more extraordinary. This granddaughter was proudly named after her grandfather George Pope Jr. George Pope Jr. is buried on the Madera farm next to his champion sires and broodmares, including Decidedly, Hill Rise, J. O. Tobin, and Wishing Well. Wishing Well was the dam of the 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence, while J. O. Tobin beat the 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew in that year’s Swaps Stakes (grade I) at Hollywood Park. “George was a fine horseman,” Mrs. Pope said. “If you’re good enough to compete against the best,” Patricia Pope stated, “that’s pretty good for a small barn from this California valley (San Joaquin Valley), the best valley in the world.”
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$15
plus tax ( shipping )
Horse Safety on the Farm Proper care of horses, especially handling them safely, is best learned by working closely with an experienced person. This video is intended to serve only as a starting point for training, not as a substitute for one-on-one supervision and training. Video & Training Workbook in both English & Spanish Included.
Please Contact: Vivian Montoya CTBA Receptionist and Librarian at (626) 445-7800 or vivian@ctba.com
Racing In Southern California
Cal-Bred Fillies Show Their Class
by EMILY SHIELDS A pair of California-bred four-year-old fillies with opposing running styles won stakes races at Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood during May. A Flying Finish Ted and Judy Nichols’ homebred Teddy’s Promise delivered in a flashy comeback performance on May 6, when she bested five open-company rivals to take the $84,950 Time To Leave Stakes. The daughter of Salt Lake had not started since finishing fifth in the grade I, $300,000 Santa Moncia Stakes on Jan. 28. Prior to that effort, Teddy’s Promise had won the grade I, $300,000 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 31. In the Time To Leave, Teddy’s Promise was taken back to last by jockey Victor Espinoza, who waited patiently while three rivals quickly sprinted clear of the field. Teddy’s Promise could not drop too far behind, as the race was only five furlongs over the all-weather Cushion Track at Hollywood, but Espinoza bided his time until just before the quarter pole. When he asked Teddy’s Promise for run, the 5-2 third wagering choice exploded, rallying wide and mowing down her rivals in the lane. By the time she’d hit the wire, a half-length in front of dual stakes winner Rumor, Espinoza sat immobile in the saddle. The final time was a brisk :57.41 seconds. The win was the sixth in 15 starts for Teddy’s Promise, who also has two seconds and a third with $412,818 in earnings. Ron Ellis trains Teddy’s Promise, who is out of the Capote mare Braids and Beads. She is expected to start twice more at the current Hollywood meet,
first in the $70,000 Desert Stormer Handicap on June 17, followed by the grade II, $200,000 A Gleam Handicap on July 14. The Lone Speed Where Teddy’s Promise closed in a dramatic rush, Halo Dolly led every step of the way in the $71,750 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for Cal-breds on May 20. Under jockey Joe Talamo, Halo Dolly received early pressure from fellow 2011 dual stakes winner and the 3-5 race favorite Sugarinthemorning, but never seemed bothered. Down the backstretch, her ears were flicking back and forth and she ran keenly to the turn before shaking clear off her rival in the lane. Halo Dolly won by 2 1/2 lengths, while Sugarinthemorning finished second and the 2009 and 2010 stakes winner Camille C checked in third. The grassy mile race went in 1:34.82. A four-year-old filly by the Cottonwood Creek Ranch stallion Popular, Halo Dolly races for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who owns the filly in a partnership that includes Blackmore, Hoefflin, Hoefflin, O’Farrell, Robin, Tahajian and Todaro. Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez bred Halo Dolly out of the unraced Comic Strip (Gray’s Farm) mare Spanish Halo. Halo Dolly is now 10 for 18 lifetime with three seconds and a third. She boasts a five for seven record on the grass, and is three for five in 2012. Assistant trainer Dan Ward indicated that the $361,780-earner is expected to try graded stakes company for only the second time next out, possibly in the grade II, $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile on July 7.
Teddy’s Promise—$84,950 Time To Leave Stakes—May 6, 2012
Halo Dolly—$71,750 Fran’s Valentine Stakes—May 20, 2012
©Benoit photos
F E A T U R E
70 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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F E A T U R E
Down on the Farm
The Importance Of Genetic Testing— And A Few Cautions
by HEATHER SMITH THOMAS
©Robert Drake
Researchers are studying many facets of equine genetics. Many of their findings are benefiting horse owners and breeders, especially when making breeding decisions. Nena Winand, DVM, PhD (a veterinary molecular geneticist at Cornell University who is also a horse owner), says our increasing knowledge of genetics has helped immensely in our understanding of diseases that are single-gene traits. “Genetic defects and single-gene traits will always be important because they keep emerging in horse populations. There is no way to avoid them, so it is important to stay on top of these. One thing that HERDA (Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia) taught us (even though some people were resistant to this knowledge in the beginning) is that recessive traits may exist in horse populations for many decades before they are recognized. By that point, carrier status for the trait has already become widespread in breeds or closed breeding populations. Yet still today, when a trait emerges and is recognized, people are shocked,” says Winand. She has been working with a “new” disease emerging in a large population of horses and says horsemen have been resistant in recognizing this as a genetic problem. “My research interest is musculoskeletal and connective tissue integrity, and we’ve identified several gene defects that
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horsemen will be learning more about in the near future. Presently we are looking at the frequency of these defective alleles (gene copies) in the relevant horse population. People must learn to expect these types of things cropping up and to monitor for them, rather than coming at these problems after the fact,” she says. Developing tests for emerging defective traits will always be important. Performance Genes “Another new development in equine genetics is testing for ‘performance-based genes’. This area of interest has been fueled by the recognition of sequence polymorphisms in the myostatin gene that are associated with a tendency for success at certain racing distances in Thoroughbred racehorses. Studies describing these associations were published by the laboratories of Emmeline Hill (Dublin, Ireland) and Matthew Binns (Midway, Kentucky) in 2010,” says Winand. “Information on markers for speed may prove useful in certain contexts, though the horsemen I’ve spoken to believe that horses who have a proclivity for sprinting look different (because they have a different pattern of muscling), than the classic distance horses. These individuals felt that people can visually determine this, and that successful horsemen had been doing this for a long time. While their attitude seemed to be that this new information won’t be that useful, I think information on these markers will be useful in certain context. For example, if you are a breeder and you want to breed horses to perform optimally over certain distances and are dealing with heterozygous mares (a mix of these genes), this testing might allow you to channel sire selection,” she says. Recently, the Hill laboratory—in collaboration with several Japanese scientists—showed that these sequence variants of the myostatin gene influence body composition, suggesting that horses with high skeletal muscle mass may perform better in short-distance races, while horses with lower muscle mass may perform optimally in longer distance races,” explains Winand. “Additionally, the Hill laboratory has demonstrated sequence variants in two other genes (COX412) and CKM) that may contribute to racing performance, although these associations may be weak. So it seems that by capitalizing on the available genomic tools, we are beginning to objectively define physical and genetic contributors to racing performance, with the goal of helping breeders and owners maximizing the performance potential of their horses,” she says. Are Tests Accurate? There are new labs opening every day, and it’s difficult
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for horsemen to choose where to send samples if they are breeding horses and don’t know much about DNA testing. One thing you can do is talk to your breed association and find out which lab(s) they recommend. “Another problem is that there’s no regulation of the DNA testing industry, particularly as it relates to animals, at this time. Some of the genetic labs exist outside of any regulatory structure, and that may potentially be a problem. There are established laboratories like UC-Davis, University of Kentucky, Cornell and University of Minnesota. While it’s not always the case, institutional labs (such as the Cornell Health Diagnostic Center) are accredited by the AAVLD (American Association of Veterinary Lab Diagnosticians) and comply with its regulatory structure. This structure is in place to ensure that disease testing performed at large diagnostic labs is done up to standards. It’s a very rigorous system, with frequent site inspections by teams of inspectors. It’s a very good regulatory system,” says Winand. There are also voluntary regulatory systems in the private sector, but many of the smaller veterinary labs offering animal genetic testing may not take advantage of such systems. “There is therefore no external visible assurance over what is done at those labs. This are several issues right now, regarding quality control in DNA testing, ethical sample acquisition, and perhaps even validity of test claims. In particular, we need to be cautious about what research is available to support what we are testing for, and what horse owners are paying for, to test,” she explains. There are some labs testing for things they claim they have discovered that are associated with performance, but
when these are proprietary markers or sequence variants, rather than those who have been identified in published studies, there’s no way to prove or disprove their claims,” she says. Horse owners need to realize there are some gray areas in DNA testing. If they are sending samples to a private lab, they need to ask questions. Is this an AAVLD lab? If not, what structures are in place to make sure the lab is reliable? Is the basis for the test published? Does the laboratory have patent rights for testing, or have they licensed rights from the appropriate entity? “The AAEP recently issued a cautionary statement about genetic testing, largely in response to what was happening in the Thoroughbred industry. This statement is on the AAEP web site,” says Winand. In addition, breed registries may be able to steer owners in the direction of reliable, established laboratories. It’s an interesting and exciting time, learning more about genetics. We are on the threshold of many new discoveries, but people will need to know how to best utilize these findings and the research that might be helpful to their own situation. “There will be a certain learning curve. I think it started when we realized one institution wasn’t going to do all the genetic testing. When other institutions started developing tests, and holding the patent rights to tests, that created a more complex situation for the horse industry, and it’s not going to change. It will just become more complicated. There are good researchers at all the major schools and the public must learn to navigate those waters.”
The Equine Genome Sequence Other aspects of genetic studies include various areas of research looking at a specific focus such as development and/or function of particular cell types or tissues, specific types of diseases or other traits people consider important. We can now look at the genetics that underlie some of these things directly, and genome sequences are a helpful tool. Currently, there is still just the sequence from only one horse, Twilight, a Thoroughbred mare who was produced by a special inbreeding program to try to make this horse homozygous at many loci. “People need to realize that the genome sequence since the first assembly is continuously being edited and improved. It’s a work in progress. At first the sequences were very rough, with many mistakes. As a starting point in studying specific genes, for example, we first compare everything to Twilight’s sequence,” says Nena Winand, DVM, PhD. “For instance, if I have a horse in which I want to look at a defect in a certain gene, I clone that gene, sequence that gene (in the horse I’m looking at), and then compare it to Twilight’s sequence. Where I find differences, the question is then: Is that difference real? Or is it a sequencing artifact on my end? Once I rule that out, then I ask: Is
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the sequence from Twilight real or is there an error in the gene sequence entry? Or are these two horses legitimately different at that position? If they are different, is it a neutral polymorphism (a sequence variant that has no impact on the function of the encoded protein) that doesn’t mean anything in terms of the gene or is it something that could cause a dysfunction of the encoded protein? And if so, what does that mean? To answer the latter question, studies of the structure and function of the wild-type and mutant proteins are desirable.” Winand says the genome sequence is a very useful tool to start out with, but eventually we need to look at different horses. “We can use Twilight’s sequence as ‘normal’ for some things. However, if you were looking for something specific in a Thoroughbred, you would start with Twilight as a comparison, but would ultimately use non-breed controls and then within-breed controls to answer some of these questions,” she explains. “You can do genetic research without having a genome sequence. We’ve done it for years, and I’ve done it since the early 1980s without having genome sequences for anything. It’s not a make-or-break thing but it does make things much easier.”
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 73
F E A T U R E
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D E P A R T M E N T
Leading Breeders in California Ranking Breeder 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
Available Statistics Through April 30, 2012 Total Earnings Leading Earner (Sire) Earnings
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$735,965 Terry C. Lovingier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .725,574 Benjamin C. Warren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .649,416 Harris Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .633,723 Pam & Martin Wygod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .526,102 Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .497,635 Old English Rancho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .386,442 Dr. & Mrs. William T. Gray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301,379 Red Baron’s Barn LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .271,461 Rod & Lorraine Rodriguez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214,662 Nick Cafarchia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210,304 Charlotte M. Wrather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209,868 Betty L. Mabee & Larry Mabee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196,421 Harris Farms, Donald Valpredo & John Nicoletti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193,460 Montecito Stables LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190,244 Joseph P. Morey Jr. Revocable Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181,000 Dr. John Piconi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172,153 Williamson Racing LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163,800 Abrams, Huston & Thoroughbred Equine Mgt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160,728 BnD Chase Thoroughbreds Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,799 Dr. Edward C. Allred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139,571 R. Gregg Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136,807 Mercedes Stables LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135,821 Nick Alexander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133,634 Curt & Lila Lanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133,464 Harris Farms & Donald & Michael Valpredo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129,150 Heinz Steinmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124,813 Win More Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121,200 Robert Reseigne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120,390 Vessels Stallion Farm LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114,098 Mike Machowsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113,908 Joshua & Jason Litt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105,080 Applebite Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104,739 JayArDee Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102,528 Legacy Ranch Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98,939 Pete Cristofi & Bob Nugent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95,810 Milt A. Policzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94,931 Mary H. Caldwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94,760 Dennis & Norine Grenier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93,700 John & Diane Fradkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93,080 Michelle MacDonald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91,528 Alex Paszkeicz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91,011 Lee & Susan Searing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90,188 Jeff Stiefel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87,760 Bruce Headley & Irwin & Andrew Molasky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87,528 Old English Rancho & Patsy & Sal Berumen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86,573 Madera Thoroughbreds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84,892 Richard A. Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83,741 Jim Schlagel & Dr. Joseph Sciarra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82,900 Patricia Youngman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82,636
Light Up the Sky (Speightstown) $60,216 Willa B Awesome(Awesome Gambler) $420,000 Warren’s Amber (Broadway Moon) $131,600 Bench Glory (Benchmark) $71,368 Corner Office (Bertrando) $64,128 Rousing Sermon (Lucky Pulpit) $130,000 Norvsky (Vronsky) $130,000 Joy Boy (Tribal Rule) $80,740 A Little Hot Sauce (Suances (GB)) $61,200 Halo Dolly (Popular) $71,060 Italian Rules (Tribal Rule) $99,800 La Sombre (Unusual Heat) $80,040 Siempre Mio (Dixie Union) $51,900 Compari (Redattore (Brz)) $158,700 Unusual Heatwave (Unusual Heat) $190,244 Trapper’s Bounty (Trapper) $43,866 Shigeru Kaicho (Benchmark) $146,413 Holladay Road (Street Cry (Ire)) $163,800 Lindz Winz (Vronsky) $131,916 Chokecherymary (Capsized) $106,800 Ribald (Unusual Heat) $77,500 Amazombie (Northern Afleet) $114,000 The Black (Cherokee Run) $78,369 Macho Dorado (Macho Uno) $41,385 Noise of the Crowd (Roar) $40,880 Starry Skies (Sky Mesa) $125,400 Nebikon (Swiss Yodeler) $45,200 Derby Gold (Bertrando) $121,200 Mobolized (Soul of the Matter) $120,390 Love That Action (Quick Action) $34,760 Caracortado (Cat Dreams) $60,000 Kingpin Ryno (In Excess (Ire)) $105,080 Finish Rich in Nyc (Gotham City) $29,640 Frumious (Grindstone) $90,000 Rockinarz Recruit (Our New Recruit) $29,190 Relentless Heat (Unusual Heat) $80,600 Shewhomustbeobeyed (Good Journey) $45,150 Sister Kate (Benchmark) $91,050 Best Present Ever (Unusual Heat) $77,200 Starlight Magic (Marino Marini) $71,000 Advance Ticket (Formal Gold) $51,845 Sweetly Peppered (Peppered Cat) $54,147 Me Salty (Salt Lake) $26,600 Valley Cat (Royal Cat) $71,920 Cyclometer (Cyclotron) $87,528 Jonny’s Choice (Unusual Heat) $32,480 Got Even (Stephen Got Even) $20,100 Abella (Benchmark) $47,400 Unusual Jazz (Unusual Heat) $82,900 Vicki Victoria (Swiss Yodeler) $67,560
GRAND TOTAL OF EARNINGS FOR ALL BREEDERS FOR JANUARY 1 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2012, IS $22,340,084 The statistics contained in this ranking are compiled by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc. While every effort is made to prevent errors and omissions, California Thoroughbred cannot guarantee their complete and total accuracy. Statistics cover California-bred foals racing in North America (U. S., Canada and Puerto Rico), Argentina, Australia, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates only.
74 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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D E P A R T M E N T
Available Statistics Through May 6, 2012
Leading Sires in California
Leading Sires by Number of Races Won
Leading Sires by Money Won Rank Sire Runners 1. Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 2. Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 3. Kafwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 4. Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 5. In Excess (Ire)† . . . . . . . . . . 67 6. Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 7. Southern Image . . . . . . . . . 70 8. Bertrando† . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 9. Giacomo# . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 10. Awesome Gambler . . . . . . . .19 11. Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . . . 72 12. Salt Lake* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 13. Redattore (Brz)• . . . . . . . . . . 58 14. Vronsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 15. Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . . . 69 16. Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . . 59 17. Good Journey . . . . . . . . . . . 33 18. Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 19. Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 20. High Brite* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 21. Aragorn (Ire)# . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 22. Suances (GB) . . . . . . . . . . . 17 23. Formal Gold• . . . . . . . . . . . 49 24. Cyclotron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 25. Olmodavor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 26. Siberian Summer* . . . . . . . 37 27. Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 28. Perfect Mandate . . . . . . . . . 31 29. Globalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 30. Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . . . 51 31. Sea of Secrets . . . . . . . . . . . 55 32. Muqtarib† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 33. Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 34. Silic (Fr) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 35. Rocky Bar# . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 36. Momentum . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 37. Capsized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 38. Terrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 39. Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 40. Cee's Tizzy† . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 41. Comic Strip . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 42. Ten Most Wanted . . . . . . . . 26 43. Crafty C. T.• . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 44 Onebadshark . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 45. Our New Recruit* . . . . . . . . 18 46. Flame Thrower . . . . . . . . . . . 28 47. Freespool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 48. Memo (Chi)• . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 49. One Man Army . . . . . . . . . . 11 50. Peppered Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
76 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
Starts 259 299 288 268 211 272 220 233 206 58 255 169 164 76 221 199 113 92 193 177 144 60 190 14 139 115 86 95 114 154 173 49 83 35 114 137 70 90 71 92 74 92 45 39 51 84 142 72 40 25
Races Won Earnings 45 $1,615,682 58 1,043,136 36 987,237 37 909,143 38 725,610 38 717,200 36 715,313 30 700,668 25 650,212 8 619,784 41 608,421 35 497,761 16 489,996 10 441,631 32 441,611 20 435,716 15 426,785 15 424,629 21 424,349 28 421,707 16 389,449 10 309,449 17 286,926 7 275,540 21 273,270 14 265,679 17 260,534 12 243,900 18 240,618 19 237,268 26 236,795 9 217,339 6 207,636 4 206,704 17 197,674 16 186,762 9 183,794 9 177,623 14 160,515 13 159,863 9 159,355 8 151,170 7 150,919 11 149,052 7 148,286 9 141,484 12 138,522 13 138,039 6 128,271 4 125,851
Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Runners
Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . 73 Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . 72 In Excess (Ire)† . . . . . . . . 67 Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Kafwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Southern Image . . . . . . . 70 Salt Lake* . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . 69 Bertrando† . . . . . . . . . . . 75 High Brite* . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Sea of Secrets . . . . . . . . 55 Giacomo# . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Olmodavor . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . 59 Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . 51 Globalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Formal Gold• . . . . . . . . . 49 Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Rocky Bar# . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Starts
Races Won
299 259 255 211 272 268 288 220 169 221 233 177 173 206 193 139 199 154 114 190 86 114
58 45 41 38 38 37 36 36 35 32 30 28 26 25 21 21 20 19 18 17 17 17
Earnings $1,043,136 1,615,682 608,421 725,610 717,200 909,143 987,237 715,313 497,761 441,611 700,668 421,707 236,795 650,212 424,349 273,270 435,716 237,268 240,618 286,926 260,534 197,674
Leading Sires by Average Earnings Per Runner (Minimum 10 Runners)
Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Runners
Awesome Gambler . . . . . . . 19 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Vronsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Silic (Fr) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Suances (GB) . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Muqtarib† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Crafty C. T.• . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Onebadshark . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Good Journey . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 One Man Army . . . . . . . . . 11 Kafwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 In Excess (Ire)† . . . . . . . . . 67 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Southern Image . . . . . . . . . 70 High Brite• . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Giacomo# . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Bertrando† . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Races Won 8 45 10 4 10 15 9 58 7 11 15 17 6 36 38 37 36 28 25 30
Average Earnings/ Earnings Runner $619,784 1,615,682 441,631 206,704 309,449 424,629 217,339 1,043,136 150,919 149,052 426,785 260,534 128,271 987,237 725,610 909,143 715,313 421,707 650,212 700,668
$32,620 22,133 19,201 18,791 18,203 16,985 15,524 13,908 13,720 13,550 12,933 11,842 11,661 11,219 10,830 10,331 10,219 9,80719 9,705 9,342
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Leading Sires by Turf Earnings
Leading Sires by Number of Winners
(Minimum 50 Starts Lifetime)
Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 8. 9.
13. 14.
17. 19.
Benchmark........................ 75 Ministers Wild Cat...............72 Unusual Heat ......................73 Kafwain .............................. 88 Tribal Rule ...........................88 In Excess (Ire)†................... 67 Old Topper ......................... 86 Southern Image.................. 70 Bertrando† ......................... 75 Giacomo#........................... 67 Swiss Yodeler..................... 69 High Brite* ...........................43 Salt Lake* ........................... 58 Marino Marini ..................... 59 Decarchy ............................ 60 Sea of Secrets.................... 55 Olmodavor ........................ 41 Stormin Fever..................... 51 Formal Gold•...................... 49 Globalize ............................ 32
Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Runners
Winners
Races Won
38 32 30 28 28 27 27 25 22 22 22 22 19 18 18 18 16 16 14 14
58 41 45 36 37 38 38 36 30 25 32 28 35 20 21 26 21 19 17 18
Earnings $1,043,136 608,421 1,615,682 987,237 909,143 725,610 717,200 715,313 700,668 650,212 441,611 421,707 497,761 435,716 424,349 236,795 273,270 237,268 286,926 240,618
Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Races Runners Starts Winners Won
Unusual Heat ............ 47 In Excess (Ire)†........... 16 Vronsky ...................... 13 Good Journey ............ 19 Kafwain ..................... 10 Redattore (Brz)• ........ 14 Benchmark................ 22 Suances (GB) .............. 7 Muqtarib† .................. 3 Tribal Rule ...................17 Decarchy.................... 17 Ministers Wild Cat...... 13 Capsized..................... 3 Bertrando†................. 24 Olmodavor ................. 11 Aragorn (Ire)# ............ 23 Perfect Mandate ....... 10 Popular....................... 4 Old Topper ................ 15 Peppered Cat............. 4
116 40 27 53 16 24 40 17 8 28 31 21 4 30 24 41 19 9 20 6
13 6 4 6 1 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 1 3 5 3 4 2 2 2
19 7 4 6 2 3 5 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 6 3 4 2 2 2
Leading Sires by Median Earnings Per Runner
Leading Sires by Average Earnings Per Start
(Minimum 10 Runners)
(Minimum 50 Starts)
Runners
Suances (GB)................... 17 Silic (Fr) ........................... 11 Unusual Heat ................... 73 Crafty C. T.• ......................11 Takin It Deep• .................. 15 Popular ........................... 22 One Man Army................ 11 Tizbud............................. 26 Awesome Gambler ......... 19 Iron Cat ........................... 14 Onebadshark ................... 11 Globalize.......................... 32 Benchmark ..................... 75 Boomerang ..................... 11 Game Plan ...................... 23 Ministers Wild Cat ........... 72 Rocky Bar# .......................30 Lucky Pulpit ..................... 25 Our New Recruit*............. 18 Memo (CHI)•................... 21
Races Won 10 4 45 7 9 17 6 6 8 13 11 18 58 7 14 41 17 15 7 13
Median Earnings/ Earnings Runner $309,449 206,704 1,615,682 150,919 92,597 260,534 128,271 207,636 619,784 93,183 149,052 240,618 1,043,136 80,036 160,515 608,421 197,674 424,629 148,286 138,039
$13,922 9,855 9,830 8,960 7,013 6,934 6,326 6,288 6,285 6,218 6,110 5,499 5,433 5,377 4,985 4,755 4,674 4,476 4,360 4,224
Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Runners
Awesome Gambler......... 19 Unusual Heat ................. 73 Vronsky .......................... 23 Suances (GB) .................. 17 Lucky Pulpit ................... 25 Good Journey ................. 33 Benchmark..................... 75 In Excess (Ire)†............... 67 Kafwain .......................... 88 Tribal Rule ..................... 88 Southern Image ............. 70 Giacomo#....................... 67 Popular.......................... 22 Bertrando† ..................... 75 Redattore (Brz)• ............. 58 Salt Lake* ....................... 58 Our New Recruit* ............ 18 Aragorn (Ire)# ................. 53 Old Topper ..................... 86 Capsized ....................... 22
Earnings $877,287 291,958 256,152 255,846 247,468 220,341 217,901 156,566 136,990 132,117 124,712 115,692 108,634 102,704 102,329 98,800 90,094 81,562 77,970 73,894
Starts
Earnings
Average Earnings/ Start
58 259 76 60 92 113 299 211 288 268 220 206 86 233 164 169 51 144 272 70
$619,784 1,615,682 441,631 309,449 424,629 426,785 1,043,136 725,610 987,237 909,143 715,313 650,212 260,534 700,668 489,996 497,761 148,286 389,449 717,200 183,794
$10,686 6,238 5,811 5,157 4,616 3,777 3,489 3,439 3,428 3,392 3,251 3,156 3,029 3,007 2,988 2,945 2,908 2,705 2,637 2,626
The statistics contained in these rankings are compiled by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc. (TJCIS). While every effort is made to prevent errors and omissions, California Thoroughbred cannot guarantee their complete and total accuracy. A dagger (†) indicates that a stallion has been pensioned, an asterisk (*) that he has died, a dot (•) that he is now standing elsewhere, a number sign (#) that he did not stand in California in 2011 but is standing in the state in 2012, a double dagger (‡) that he is not standing in California in 2012 but will stand in the state in 2013 and in bold that he is a freshman sire. In all cases, a sire will remain in the rankings until the year after his last California foals are two-year-olds. Statistics cover racing in North America (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico), England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates only.
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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 77
D E P A R T M E N T
D E P A R T M E N T
Leading Lifetime Sires in California Crops of No Stallion, Year Foaled, Sire
Crops of Average Foals of Racing Crop Racing Age Size Age
Available Statistics Through May 6, 2012 Runners
Winners
2-Y-O Winners
Stakes Winners
Graded Stakes Winners
Progeny Earnings
Average Earnings Index
Comparable Index
1. Unusual Heat, 1990, by Nureyev 12 47 567 382-67% 273-48% 31-5% 32-6% 10-2% $33,528,397 2.18 1.25 2. Lucky Pulpit, 2001, by Pulpit 3 22 66 31-47% 24-36% 13-20% 3-5% 0-0% $1,580,891 1.97 1.24 3. Awesome Gambler, 2004, by Coronado's Quest 2 39 77 25-32% 8-10% 6-8% 1-1% 1-1% $907,646 1.88 0.77 4. Vronsky, 1999, by Danzig 5 15 77 34-44% 22-29% 3-4% 3-4% 1-1% $1,816,985 1.72 0.94 5. Cee's Tizzy†, 1987, by Relaunch 20 36 728 502-69% 365-50% 58- 8% 39-5%. 9-1% $36,185,577 1.67 1.17 In Excess (Ire)†, 1987, by Siberian Express 17 57 967 689-71% 509-53% 114-12% 63-7% 11-1% $42,876,021 1.67 1.43 7. Southern Image, 2000, by Halo's Image 4 84 336 147-44% 98-29% 29-9% 5-1% 2-1% $5,245,618 1.51 1.42 8. Good Journey, 1996, by Nureyev 7 48 336 131-39% 73-22% 10-3% 3-1% 2-1% $5,193,901 1.47 1.05 9. Tribal Rule, 1996, by Storm Cat 7 63 444 240-54% 156-35% 67-15% 22-5% 2-0% $11,833,216 1.46 1.21 10. One Man Army, 1994, by Roman Diplomat 7 9 63 44-70% 29-46% 2-3% 4-6% 1-2% $2,455,216 1.44 0.97 11. Salt Lake*, 1989, by Deputy Minister 17 73 1,247 1,024-82% 822-66% 244-20% 72-6% 24-2% $60,271,991 1.42 1.42 12. Bertrando†, 1989, by Skywalker 16 63 1,009 733-73% 501-50% 118-12% 54-5% 12-1% $41,642,353 1.39 1.56 13. Memo (Chi)•, 1987, by Mocito Guapo (Arg) 15 35 525 336-64% 240-46% 43-8% 28-5% 9-2% $17,954,162 1.32 1.12 14. Birdonthewire, 1989, by Proud Birdie 15 17 255 181-71% 129-51% 37-15% 10-4% 1-0% $11,567,766 1.30 1.39 Rocky Bar#, 1998, by In Excess (Ire) 5 16 80 44-55% 37-46% 15-19% 10-3% 1-1% $2,089,008 1.30 0.78 16. Benchmark, 1991, by Alydar 11 59 652 462-71% 348-53% 91-14% 33-5% 8-1% $25,392,927 1.27 1.17 17. Stormin Fever, 1994, by Storm Cat 10 62 624 457-73% 324-52% 104-17% 30-5% 12-2% $25,474,893 1.23 1.43 18. Beau Genius†, 1985, by Bold Ruckus 19 39 749 611-82% 460-61% 138-18% 39-5% 5-1% $34,561,448 1.19 1.16 19. Formal Gold•, 1993, by Black Tie Affair (Ire) 11 43 469 365-78% 282-60% 77-16% 19-4% 5-1% $18,330,888 1.15 1.36 Kafwain, 2000, by Cherokee Run 6 67 402 284-71% 192-48% 69-17% 16-4% 4-1% $11,021,828 1.13 1.30 21. Robannier, 1991, by Batonnier 13 8 100 65-65% 38-38% 8-8% 3-3% 0-0% $2,911,671 1.12 1.08 22. Olympio*, 1988, by Naskra 17 30 511 389-76% 286-56% 60-12% 30-6% 4-1% $18,807,339 1.11 1.30 23. Atticus, 1992, by Nureyev 12 36 434 310-71% 187-43% 38-9% 13-3% 5-1% $12,704,054 1.08 1.49 24. Kelly Kip, 1994, by Kipper Kelly 9 12 108 86-80% 72-67% 16-15% 2-2% 1-1% $4,312,930 1.06 1.01 Snow Chief*, 1983, by Reflected Glory 21 13 270 181-67% 111-41% 27-10% 9-3% 1-0% $5,646,313 1.06 1.30 26. High Brite*, 1984, by Best Turn 21 44 923 713-77% 577-63% 145-16% 46-5% 9-1% $35,471,920 1.05 1.18 Popular, 1999, by Saint Ballado 5 15 75 44-59% 36-48% 14-19% 1-1% 0-0% $1,566,197 1.05 0.97 Siberian Summer*, 1989, by Siberian Express 11 35 382 287-75% 204-53% 26-7% 13-3% 4-1% $12,136,145 1.05 0.89 Swiss Yodeler, 1994, by Eastern Echo 11 61 674 499-74% 352-52% 147-22% 25-4% 2-0% $23,365,796 1.05 1.11 30. Decarchy, 1997, by Distant View 6 44 265 154-58% 100-38% 32-12% 7-3% 1-0% $5,761,710 1.03 1.00 31. Aragorn (Ire)#, 2002, by Giant's Causeway 3 57 170 103-61% 59-35% 21-12% 1-1% 0-0% $2,741,526 1.02 1.47 Tizbud, 1999, by Cee's Tizzy 5 26 130 52-40% 22-17% 4-3% 3-2% 0-0% $1,293,298 1.02 0.93 33. Silic (Fr), 1995, by Sillery 8 19 150 103-69% 67-45% 11-7% 2-1% 1-1% $6,794,464 1.01 0.93 34. Giacomo#, 2002, by Holy Bull 3 58 175 100-57% 61-35% 20-11% 5-3% 2-1% $2,484,016 1.00 1.47 Redattore (Brz)•, 1995, by Roi Normand 6 84 501 337-67% 191-38% 43-9% 16-3% 12-2% $6,144,450 1.00 1.21 36. Suances (GB), 1997, by Most Welcome (GB) 5 17 83 36-43% 22-27% 2-2% 1-1% 0-0% $1,201,163 0.99 1.23 37. Lake George, 1992, by Vice Regent 13 12 159 100-63% 59-37% 10-6% 5-3% 1-1% $4,150,093 0.98 1.04 38. Old Topper, 1995, by Gilded Time 9 53 475 363-76% 272-57% 102-21% 19-4% 0-0% $14,246,926 0.97 0.88 Perfect Mandate, 1996, by Gone West 9 33 296 154-52% 95-32% 18-6% 11-4% 0-0% $5,650,507 0.97 1.26 40. Marino Marini, 2000, by Storm Cat 5 48 241 133-55% 93-39% 26-11% 5-2% 0-0% $4,359,824 0.96 1.03 Sea of Secrets, 1995, by Storm Cat 10 43 429 336-78% 249-58% 74-17% 20-5% 2-0% $16,560,775 0.96 1.09 42. Ministers Wild Cat, 2000, by Deputy Minister 4 53 211 125-59% 77-36% 26-12% 8-4% 0-0% $3,284,570 0.93 1.01 43. Western Fame, 1992, by Gone West 11 25 279 186-67% 136-49% 45-16% 13-5% 0-0% $7,280,720 0.91 0.81 44. Olmodavor, 1999, by A.P. Indy 5 41 205 123-60% 85-41% 24-12% 6-3% 1-0% $3,686,918 0.90 1.38 Poteen, 1994, by Irish River (Fr) 7 11 74 50-68% 36-49% 4-5% 3-4% 0-0% $1,948,118 0.90 0.81 46. Crafty C. T.•, 1998, by Crafty Prospector 5 18 89 47-53% 36-40% 9-10% 1-1% 0-0% $2,054,777 0.89 0.94 Iron Cat, 1995, by Storm Cat 11 12 135 99-73% 82-61% 7-5% 5-4% 0-0% $3,368,060 0.89 1.02 48. Michael's Flyer†, 1986, by Flying Paster 17 6 107 53-50% 27-25% 5-5% 3-3% 0-0% $1,918,862 0.88 0.59 Thisnearlywasmine, 1994, by Capote 8 8 67 37-55% 25-37% 5-7% 0-0% 0-0% $1,327,261 0.88 0.74 50. Epic Honor, 1996, by Honor Grades 8 9 70 49-70% 38-54% 6-9% 1-1% 0-0% $2,197,074 0.8 0.74 76.Grey Memo, 1997, by Memo (CHI) . 610. 60 26-43% 19-32% 5- 8%. 0- 0%. These are for active California-based sires with 00% statistics $771,153. 0.86a minimum 0.76of 50 foals of racing age, ranked here by lifetime Average Earnings Index (AEI) The statistics contained in these rankings are compiled by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc (TJCIS) While every effort is made to prevent errors and omissions, California Thoroughbred cannot guarantee their complete and total accuracy A dagger (†) indicates that a stallion has been pensioned, an asterisk (*) that he has died, a dot (•) that he is now standing elsewhere, a number sign (#) that he did not stand in California in 2011 but is standing in the state in 2012, a double dagger (‡) that he is not standing in California in 2012 but will stand in the state in 2013 and In bold that he is a freshman sire. In all cases, a sire will remain in the rankings until the year after his last California foals are two-year-olds Statistics cover racing in North America (US, Canada and Puerto Rico), England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) only Percentages are based upon number of foals of racing age
78 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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Available Statistics Through May 6, 2012
Leading Two-Year-Old Sires in California
Leading Sires Of Two-Year-Olds by Money Won Rank Sire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Runners
Starts
Awesome Gambler . . . . . . . . 3 Redattore (Brz)• . . . . . . . . . 2 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Nineeleven . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Cee's Tizzy† . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Suances (GB) . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tannersmyman . . . . . . . . . 3 Globalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Cindago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Wild Cat Ridge . . . . . . . . . . 1 Rio Verde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Momentum . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Guarani† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . . . 2 Olympio* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Cactus Creole . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Awesome Spirit . . . . . . . . . 1 Council Member . . . . . . . . 1 Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Rocky Bar# . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Bertrando† . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Best Minister . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Mud Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Don'tsellmeshort . . . . . . . . . 1 Our New Recruit* . . . . . . . . 1 Blue Afleet† . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
3 2 1 1 1 1 4 4 2 2 1 1 3 2 3 3 1 2 6 2 1 1 2 1 4 1 1 1 2 1
Races Won
Earnings
1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
$50,960 43,680 40,560 31,200 10,400 10,400 7,293 6,777 6,590 4,550 3,510 3,120 2,100 2,015 1,879 1,801 1,755 1,372 1,233 1,050 1,040 1,040 686 686 597 350 350 260 207 70
AWESOME GAMBLER (LOVACRES RANCH) Leading Two-Year-Old Sire in California by Money Won and Number of Winners (joint) through May 6, 2012.
Leading Sires Of Two-Year-Olds by Number of Winners Rank Sire
1. Awesome Gambler .......... 3 Redattore (Brz)• ................ 2 Unusual Heat .................... 1 Nineeleven ...................... 1 Singletary............................1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Redattore (Brz)• ................ 2 Awesome Gambler ............ 3 Cindago ............................ 2 Tannersmyman ....................3 Globalize ............................ 3 Momentum ........................ 2 Ministers Wild Cat ............ 2
Races Won Earnings 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Races Won
Earnings
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
$50,960 43,680 40,560 31,200 1,879
(Minimum 2 Runners)
(Minimum 2 Runners)
Runners
Winners
Leading Sires Of Two-Year-Olds by Median Earnings Per Runner
Leading Sires Of Two-Year-Olds by Average Earnings Per Runner Rank Sire
Runners
$43,680 $50,960 $6,590 $7,293 $6,777 $2,100 $1,801
Average Earnings/ Runner Rank Sire $21,840 16,987 3,295 2,431 2,259 1,050 901
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Runners
Redattore (Brz)• . . . . . . . . 2 Awesome Gambler . . . . . . 3 Cindago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Tannersmyman . . . . . . . . . 3 Momentum . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . 2 Globalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Races Won 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Median Earnings/ Earnings Runner $43,680 50,960 6,590 7,293 2,100 1,801 6,777
$21,840 13,520 3,295 2,411 1,050 901 585
The statistics contained in these rankings are compiled by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc. (TJCIS). While every effort is made to prevent errors and omissions, California Thoroughbred cannot guarantee their complete and total accuracy. A dagger (†) indicates that a stallion has been pensioned, an asterisk (*) that he has died, a dot (•) that he is now standing elsewhere, a number sign (#) that he did not stand in California in 2011 but is standing in the state in 2012, a double dagger (‡) that he is not standing in California in 2012 but will stand in the state in 2013 and in bold that he is a freshman sire. In all cases, a sire will remain in the rankings until the year after his last California foals are two-year-olds. Statistics cover racing in North America (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico), England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates only.
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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 79
D E P A R T M E N T
D E P A R T M E N T
Dates in California
Regional Race Meetings, Stakes Races and Sale Dates
2011 AND 2012 REGIONAL RACE MEETINGS Golden Gate Fields (Pacific Racing Association), Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dec. 26, 2011-June 17, 2012 Hollywood Park, Inglewood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April 25-July 15, 2012 Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .June 21-July 8, 2012 California State Fair (Cal Expo), Sacramento . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 11-22, 2012 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 18-Sept. 5, 2012 Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 25-Aug. 12, 2012 Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aug. 15-26, 2012 Golden Gate Fields (Los Angeles Turf Club), Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aug. 17-Sept. 16, 2012 Fairplex Park, Pomona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sept. 7-23, 2012 San Joaquin County Fair, Stockton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sept. 19-30, 2012 Santa Anita Park (Pacific Racing Association), Arcadia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sept. 26-Nov. 4, 2012 Fresno County Fair, Fresno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oct. 3-14, 2012 Golden Gate Fields (Pacific Racing Association), Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oct. 18-Dec. 16, 2012 Hollywood Park, Inglewood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nov. 7-Dec. 16, 2012
JUNE AND JULY 2012 REGIONAL STAKES RACES Date June June June June
Track 2 2 3 9
Hol GG Hol Hol
June 9 June 9 June 9 June 10 June 16 June 16 June 16 June 16 June 17 June 22 June 23 June 23 June 24 June 24 June 30 June 30 June 30
Hol Hol GG Hol Hol Hol Hol GG Hol Hol Hol Pln Hol Pln Hol Hol Pln
July 1 July 1 July 4 July 4 July 7 July 7 July 7 July 8 July 8 July 14 July 14 July 14
Hol Pln Hol Pln Hol Hol Pln Hol Pln Hol Hol Hol
Stakes (Grade)
Conditions
Distance
Added Value
Californian Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .$150,000g Campanile Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f., Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g# Affirmed Handicap (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Charles Whittingham Memorial . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/4 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . .250,000g Handicap (Gr. I) Honeymoon Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g Manhattan Beach Stakes . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70,000+ Silky Sullilvan Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o, Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g# Redondo Beach Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70,000+ Vanity Handicap (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250,000g Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes . . .2-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 1/2 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Cinderella Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 1/2f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Lost In The Fog Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+ Desert Stormer Handicap . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70,000+ Tsunami Slew Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70,000+ Hollywood Oaks (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g California Wine Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+ Beverly Hills Handicap (Gr. III) . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/4 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Livermore Valley Wine Stakes . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+ Shoemaker Mile (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300,000g Triple Bend Handicap (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250,000g Alameda County Fillies & Mares . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+ Stakes Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70,000+ + Alamedan Handicap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+ Swaps Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g Sam J. Whiting Memorial Handicap . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75,000gg Hollywood Gold Cup (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/4 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500,000g Royal Heroine Mile (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes . . . . . .2-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 1/2 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+ Le Cle Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70,000+ Everett Nevin Alameda County Stakes . . .2-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 1/2 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+g American Oaks (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. (Invitational) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/4 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . .400,000g A Gleam Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000g Landaluce Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000g
80 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 2012
www.ctba.com
Date
Track
July 14 July 15 July 18 July 20 July 21 July 21 July 21 July 22 July 22 July 25 July 27 July 28 July 28 July 28 July 29 July 29
Stakes (Grade)
Conditions
Distance
Added Value
Hol
Hollywood Juvenile Championship . . . .2-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$200,000g (Gr. III) Hol Sunset Handicap (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/2 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Dmr Oceanside Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000+ Dmr CTBA Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-y-o f., Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . .5 1/2 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Dmr Eddie Read Stakes (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . .300,000g Dmr Osunitas Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . .85,000+ Sac California State Fair Fillies & . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75,000g Mares Sprint Dmr San Clemente Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g Dmr California Dreamin’ Handicap . . . . . .3-y-o & up, Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . .1 1/16 m. (T) . . . . . . . . .100,000g Dmr Wickerr Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85,000+ Dmr Cougar II Handicap (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/2 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Dmr Fleet Treat Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f., Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000g Dmr San Diego Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000g Sro Diamond Jubilee Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+ Dmr Bing Crosby Stakes (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300,000g Sro Luther Burbank Handicap . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . .50,000+ *Purse includes money from Cal-bred Race Fund **Purse includes money from Breeders’ Cup Fund #-Purse includes money from Golden State Series Fund
2012 REGIONAL SALE DATES July 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Paddock Sale at Del Mar of Selected Horses of Racing Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Please contact Barretts Equine Ltd. for details) August 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Northern California Yearling Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Entries closed April 9) October 9 & 10 . . . . . . . . . . . .Barretts October Yearling Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Nominations closed April 20)
It Pays To Be Cal-Bred
California-Bred/California-Sired Stakes Races June to September DEL MAR
www.ctba.com
Friday, July 20
Sunday, July 22
Saturday, July 28
$100,000 CTBA Stakes Two-Year-Old Fillies 5 1/2 Furlongs
$100,000 California Dreamin’ Handicap Three-Year-Old & Up 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
$200,000 Fleet Treat Stakes Three-Year-Old Fillies 7 Furlongs
Wednesday, August 1
Friday, August 3
$100,000 Graduation Stakes Two-Year-Olds 5 1/2 Furlongs
$200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes Three-Year-Olds 7 Furlongs
Sunday, August 19
Wednesday, August 29
Monday, September 3
$100,000 Solana Beach Handicap Three-Year-Old & Up, Fillies & Mares 1 Mile (Turf)
$150,000 Generous Portion Stakes Two-Year-Old Fillies 6 Furlongs
$150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes Two-Year-Olds 6 Furlongs
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012 81
D E P A R T M E N T
D E P A R T M E N T
Important Events, Dates and California-Bred Stakes Races
CTBA Calendar
June 2012 SUNDAY
Father’s Day Golden Gate Fields Closing Day
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Alameda County Fair Opening Day
CALIFORNIA-BRED/CALIFORNIA-SIRED STAKES RACE(S) SATURDAY, JUNE 2 $100,000(G) CAMPANILE STAKES 3YO FILLIES, 1 MILE (TURF)
SATURDAY, JUNE 9 $100,000(G) SILKY SULLIVAN STAKES 3YO, 1 MILE (TURF)
Golden Gate Fields, Albany, Calif.
Golden Gate Fields, Albany, Calif.
IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FRIDAY, JUNE 8 TO SUNDAY, JUNE 10 HORSE EXPO INC. WESTERN STATES HORSE EXPO Cal Expo, Sacramento, Calif.
TUESDAY, JUNE 19 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED FARM MANAGERS ASSOCIATION (CTFMA) MONTHLY MEETING San Luis Rey Downs Country Club, Bonsall, Calif.
THURSDAY, JUNE 28 CALIFORNIA HORSE RACING BOARD (CHRB) MONTHLY BOARD MEETING Hollywood Park, Inglewood, Calif.
California Thoroughbred Breeders Association 201 Colorado Place, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018 • (626) 445-7800 • Fax (626) 574-0852 82 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
www.ctba.com
Standing For 2012 Breeding Season BONNRITA
Dark Bay or Brown Horse; Feb. 19, 2002
The Only Son of GULCH to stand in California By GULCH (1984), champion sprinter in U. S., Stakes winner of $3,095,521, 1st Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), etc. Among the leading sires in U. S., sire of 20 crops of racing age, 1,100 foals, 910 starters, 72 stakes winners, 1 champion, 642 winners of 2,304 races and earnings of $86,008,667 U. S., including THUNDER GULCH (Champion in U. S., $2,915,086, 1st Kentucky Derby (G1), etc.), NAYEF (Hwt. In England and United Arab Emirates, $3,594,157 USA, 1st Juddmonte International S. (G1), etc.), EAGLE CAFE ($4,227,985 USA, 1st Japan Cup Dirt, etc.), BRAVE TENDER ($2,708,334 USA, 1st Arlington Cup, etc.), COURT VISION (to 5, 2010, $2,606,521 USA, 1st Woodbine Mile S. (G1), etc.), THE CLIFF'S EDGE ($1,265,258, 1st Toyota Blue Grass S. (G1), etc.), WALLENDA ($1,205,929, 1st Super Derby (G1), etc.), ESTEEMED FRIEND ($805,237, 1st General George H. (G1), etc.). First dam is by DEPUTY MINISTER, leading broodmare sire of more than 180 stakes winners, including CURLIN, RAGS TO RICHES, HALFBRIDLED, JAZIL, BOB & JOHN etc.
Fee: $2,000-LF, No Booking Fee—First Foals Due 2012 5 Two-year-old winners out of 7 (71.43%) in 1st dam of Bonnrita.
BREED FOR YOUR 2-YR-OLD WINNER!! For Inquiries please contact Nancy Markwell 818 472 5626
Standing At:
RIDGELEY FARM 3901 W. Esplanade Ave., Hemet, CA 92545
D E P A R T M E N T
Cash with order. $1.00 a word. $15.00 minimum. Deadline 1st of preceding month. Additional charges for bordered ads. Include area and zip codes. California Thoroughbred reserves the right to edit all copy.
Classified Advertising
JOB MARKET
BOARDING
$35 A DAY Breaking and Training the easy and fast way. All-Weather Track • Starting Gate Covered Round Pen • Hot Walker Bring us your young horse! 10 years of track experience DAEHLING RANCH 916-685-4965 E-mail: daehlingranch@hotmail.com www.daehlingranch.com
$10.00 A DAY
200 acres irrigated pasture with lots of lush grass, safely divided into 4- to 10-acre pastures. Individual paddocks available. Grain fed daily. Bring us your broodmares, foals, yearlings, lay-ups. Electronic supervised foaling stalls. For more information and pictures call
DAEHLING RANCH 10045 Grant Line Rd. Elk Grove, CA 95624 916/685-4965
Email: daehlingranch@hotmail.com www.daehlingranch.com
Looking for someone to start yearlings? Listen to what people are saying about COLE RANCH. “I thought I was saddling a four-year-old rather than a two-year-old. . .and that was on the colt’s very first day at the track.” – Kristin Mulhall “Steve consistently delivers horses that are ready to rock and roll. They are well broke in every respect and a pleasure to train.” – Mike Puype “The last horse Cole Ranch brought us went to the main tract the next morning, galloped like a seasoned professional and was comfortable with all the little things as well.” – Kent Swazy, assistant to Eoin Harty “Two year olds from Cole Ranch are prepared well above the norm with soft mouths and mannerly dispositions ready to begin their careers as race horses.” – Patty Harrington “Horses from Cole Ranch are well started. They do everything they’re supposed to do from day one.” – Steve Specht “When Steve brings a horse to me, I know it will have been started correctly. They’re fit and well prepared, manageable and eager.” – Howard Zucker “Every horse Steve has trained for us has been well prepared. Our trainers have only the best things to say about him. It comes down to confidence. Steve doesn’t take short cuts.” – Richard Reid, Three Cent Stables “Steve starts all my horses. The horses always look great and behave like older horses. He takes his time and obsesses about the little things. He loves his work and it shows.” – Roger McNamara, Caro Farm
COLE RANCH Steve and Dana Cole (805) 990-3669 Steve@thecoleranch.com
84 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
EXCELLENT CARE AT AFFORDABLE RATES. Years of experience with breeding, foaling and dealing with all types of leg injuries. Nothing fancy, large paddocks, good feed with lots of TLC. $185 per month. Standing for 2012–Pious. Contact Gloria Renteria 619-766-4557.
BREEDING
FREE BREEDING TO SINGLETARY. for Stallion 2012 and season. 925-354Have Broodmare, need 5237/550-2383 farm. Big MSW/ stakes placed 8 year old Cape Town out of Storm Bird mare. 10 yr old Abaginone mare's second foal allowance winner.925SILKS 550-1168 orRACING email, superj42@aol.com.
As a service of the California Thoroughbred industry, all related “Help Wanted” classified advertising will be placed in this section at no charge. Employers are encouraged to use this space to advertise job opportunities available within the industry. Similarly, we urge individuals seeking such employment to list their interests and qualifications.
Accountant for Horse Operations Harris Farms Horse Division located in southwest Fresno County is seeking a motivated, detail oriented person to perform daily accounting functions and analysis of operational performance. The applicant will also communicate with our clients and vendors for services billed and performance updates. College graduates and candidates with knowledge of horse racing and breeding preferred. The applicant should have requisite skills in maintaining a complete set of books for a small business entity and a passion for involvement in the breeding and training of Thoroughbreds in the California racing industry. Our company offers a competitive wage and benefit package for this position. Upward advancement with an established, progressive company possible. Please apply on-line at www.harrisranch.com or submit your resume to dmcglothlin@harrisfarms.com and to bcape@harrisranch.com
WEST COAST RACING COLORS. June Gee. Silks, Blinkers and Horse apparel. 626-359-9179
THOROUGHBREDS AT STUD A.P. INDY son standing in Calif. Super pedigree, beautiful conformation. Under Caution $1,500 and second mare FREE. FREE 925354-5237/550-2383
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D E P A R T M E N T
BUSINESS CARDS
18200 Yorba Linda Blvd. Suite 207-A Yorba Linda, CA 92886 Office 949-264-1464 Facsimile 949-242-2454 Toll Free 888-403-9444 lisalerch@legalequestrian.com www.legalequestrian.com
www.horselawyers.com EQUINE
LAW
1 (800) 745-9336 THE LAW OFFICES OF BING I. BUSH JR. APC
Offices in Southern California & Lexington Kentucky Email: b.bush@horselawyers.com
SWIFT
JUSTICE
Joyce Canaday Equine Arts
(323) 429-0005 www.JoyceEquineArts.com
www.ctba.com
Lillian Nichols
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 2012 85
D E P A R T M E N T
Classified Advertising Cont’d. BUSINESS CARDS
Laurel Fowler Insurance Broker, Inc. Tel (800) 700 6263 (805) 473 2227 Fax (805) 473 0202
Lic.# O.B.57610
Suzanne Cardiff Pedigree Research Consultation 413 W. Camino Real Arcadia, CA 91007-7302 Phone (626) 445-3104 Fax (626) 445-0743
877 Noyes Rd., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
www.thoroughbredinfo.com/showcase/cardiff.htm
JEANNIE GARR RODDY Broker Associate
626 862-0620 Cell 818 583-1217 Direct Line 818 583-1231 E-Fax jeannie.garr@dicksonpodley.com DRE # 00941946
846 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, Flintridge, CA 91011
Who says you can’t get anything for FREE anymore? Call 732-747-8060 for a FREE WEEK of the THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS the only seven-day-a-week newsletter delivered right to your fax machine.
The TDN keeps you up-to-date with:
• Racing and breeding news • Stakes previews and results • Allowance and maiden results • European and Japanese results • Feature stories and columns • And much, much more, on a daily basis! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. So call for your FREE week today! 86 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
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This index is provided as a service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or ommisions. Bold figures indicate a page that features a stallion. NOTE: Inside Back Cover, IBC; Outside Back Cover, OBC; Inside Front Cover, IFC
Index to Advertisers & Stallions Advertised ADVERTISERS
Audi Brand Specialist/Tina Hoover ................85 Ballena Vista Farm................................OBC, 25 Bay and Dan Schiffer .....................................42 Betfair Hollywood Park...................................35 Cal-Bred Maiden Bonus Program..................67 Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired Stakes Races..................81 California Thoroughbred Weekly ....................58 Cole Ranch.....................................................84 CTBA 12/13 Industry Directory .....................12 CTBA Foal Advertorial....................................65 CTBA Membership .........................................60 CTBA Northern California Yearling Sale.........43 Daehling Ranch ........................................40, 84 Daily Racing Form ..........................................28 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club...........................17 E.A. Ranches..............................................5, 61 Equine Insurance............................................87 Equinesavings.com ........................................75 Farm Safety Video ..........................................69 Gayle Van Leer Thoroughbred Services........85 Gloria Renteria................................................84 Golden Gate Fields.........................................19 Harris Farms ...........................................IFC, 84 HRTV ..............................................................27 Joyce Canaday Equine Arts...........................85
Legacy Ranch...........................................13, 39 Legal Equestrian/Lisa L. Lerch.Esq................85 Lillian Nichols/Halters.....................................85 Linda Cardenas-Subias-Law Office ...............85 Magali Farms..................................................21 NTRA-Working for you ...................................16 Oak Tree Racing .............................................33 Old English Rancho........................................23 Ridgeley Farm ................................................83 Santa Anita Park.............................................37 The Blood-Horse ............................................24 The Jockey Club Information Systems, Inc .........................................................31, 71 The Loftin Firm LLP........................................85 Thoroughbred Daily News..............................86 Thoroughbred Times ......................................45 Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC ...................3 Trainers Praise Natural Alternative, EPO-Equine...................................................7 TVG.Com ........................................................41 Vessels Stallion Farm .....................................15 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Assoc.....44 Woodbridge Farm.....................................30, 59 www.horselawyers.com .................................85
STALLIONS Aragorn (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 25 Bonnrita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Chattahoochee War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Desert Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Dixie Chatter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 25 Drum Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Elusive Bluff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Heatseeker (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Idiot Proof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 25 Kafwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Lucky J. H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
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Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Papa Clem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Recap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 25 Rocky Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Spensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 61 Square Eddie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Stormy Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Tannersmyman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30, 59 Thorn Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC, 25 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 2012 87
D E P A R T M E N T
C O L U M N
Guest Forum
Something Lucky: A Something Special Horse
by JOHN CALIFANO
88 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JUNE 2012
On May 23, in the 1 1/16-mile Will Rogers Handicap (grade III) with a purse of $92,350, he won by a length with highly respected The Medic checking in next, followed by favorite Persevered and Kentucky Derby contender On the Line. The winner validated his credentials four weeks and a day later, in the grade II, $114,150 Cinema Handicap at 1 1/8 miles. Smartly positioned in third, he stalked pacesetters On the Line and Savona Tower before overtaking them in the stretch. The Medic also advanced but couldn’t catch the new leader who hit the wire 2 1/2 lengths clear in 1:46 4/5, for a new stakes record. “When he won the Will Rogers and Cinema Handicap, we thought he was the best horse in California,” Warren beamed. After finishing sixth in the Swaps Stakes (grade I), Something Lucky finished second in the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s grassy 1 1/16-mile La Jolla Handicap (grade III) worth $100,000. His final start was in the Del Mar Derby (grade II), but another bleeding bout knocked him out of contention. “I was against running him that day because he had bled in the workout before that,” Warren remarked. The horse’s earlier accomplishments deservedly saw him voted the 1987 California Champion Three-Year-Old Male. His career resume reflected 12 starts for four wins, one second, one third and $269,875 in earnings. Returning to Old English Rancho for stud duty in 1989, Something Lucky eventually sired 15 crops numbering 176 foals for 116 starters, including 70 winners, with earnings of nearly $3 million. His notable offspring included the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes winners Individual Style, a colt who also won the 1993 Hollywood Prevue Breeders’ Cup Stakes (grade III), and the filly Always the Lady. Other progeny were his dual stakes-placed daughter Sweetcakesanshakes, who gave rider Eddie Delahoussaye his 6,000th win, and the Canadian-bred, stakes-winning filly Something Classy. Something Lucky was pensioned in 2005, and died from the infirmities of old age three years later. Fondly remembered, when this champion shined, his star was clearly visible and bright.
©T. Abahazy
Twenty-five years ago, his hoof print made a prominent mark on the California racing scene. The colt Something Lucky was bred at Old English Rancho in Ontario, California, foaled on Feb. 27, 1984, and owned by Buddy, Betty and Judy Johnston, John and Marjorie Stonebraker, and Harold and Peg Meloth. A fivegeneration outcross, Something Lucky was sired by the bay horse Somethingfabulous, a Virginia-bred, grade I-placed runner by the legendary sire of sires Northern Dancer (Can). Out of the Princequillo (Eng) mare Somethingroyal, Somethingfabulous was a half-brother to the 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Something Lucky’s dam, the bay mare Luck’s Fancy, by Lucky Fleet, had a brief race career, recording a win and a placing in three starts. Something Lucky’s second dam, Regradi, an eight-time winner from 88 starts, was a roan granddaughter of the immortal Man o’ War, through his son War Relic. “He had a great temperament,” recalled Something Lucky’s trainer Donald Warren. “He was very nice to gallop and work. Very well mannered. He was a very well balanced bay horse, just average size probably.” Something Lucky made one juvenile start, at Hollywood Park on Nov. 16, 1986, in a six-furlong maiden special weight, finishing fourth among eight. His three-year-old debut came on Feb. 7, 1987, at Santa Anita Park, again over six furlongs, when he defeated eight other maiden California-breds. His form transferred to stakes company when he captured Santa Anita’s $65,100 Bolsa Chica Stakes at six furlongs on Feb. 25. “It was muddy all week,” Warren said. “I remember getting permission to work the horse because every day they were sealing the track. He went :47 and change.” Travelling next to Golden Gate Fields, Something Lucky finished eighth in the Lafayette Stakes. “His biggest problem was keeping him from bleeding,” the trainer recollected. Although given the anti-bleeding medication Lasix, it was an ongoing malady. But Something Lucky still became a force in key races against top horses on the West Coast. Generally close to the pace, Something Lucky set much of it in the grade I, $125,000 San Felipe Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Mar. 22, before finishing fourth behind Chart the Stars, Alysheba and Temperate Sil. His next effort came 13 days later, in the 50th Santa Anita Derby (grade I), over 1 1/8 miles and worth $503,250. As Temperate Sil posted a 5 1/2-length victory, Something Lucky was nosed out of second money by a closing Masterful Advocate, the race’s 2-5 favorite. The colt bled in Golden Gate’s California Derby (grade II) on Apr. 18, and finished fifth. His next two starts however, both over the turf course at Hollywood Park, would showcase his true talent.
Something Lucky—Grade II Cinema Handicap—June 21, 1987
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