NewsBits CAL-BRED FIRE VICTIM A WINNER
CURRENT CALIFORNIA
SIRES OF STAKES WINNERS
6
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED ❙ March 2021 ❙ www.ctba.com
SWs
1010
48
MINISTERS WILD CAT
532
32
ROCKY BAR •
201
27
KAFWAIN †
696
22
SQUARE EDDIE †
272
20
STAY THIRSTY
523
19
ATTICUS †
522
16
EDDINGTON
499
14
SOUTHERN IMAGE
584
14
SMILING TIGER
237
14
VRONSKY
313
14
SIR PRANCEALOT (IRE)
370
13
GRAZEN
193
12
TIZBUD
238
9
GRAYDAR
312
8
MISREMEMBERED
123
7
SLEW’S TIZNOW
158
7
BLUEGRASS CAT •
Blea Appointed New EMD
† Indicates stallions who have died or have been retired from stud. ● Indicates stallions who have moved out of state but have California-bred 2-year-olds of this year. All sires will remain on the list until their last Cal-bred crop turns 3 years old. COURTESY OF OWNERVIEW
Dr. Jef Blea, a well-respected racetrack veterinarian, has been appointed as the equine medical director (EMD) serving the California Horse Racing Board. He will take over in July upon the retirement of Dr. Rick Arthur from the position. Blea brings 28 years of veterinary experience with him, and before that he had a brief Dr. Jeff Blea stint as a jockey. He is a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Southern California Equine Foundation and served as a director of the Dolly Green Research Foundation from 1999-2015. He is currently a trustee of the California Toroughbred Foundation. Dr. Gregory Ferraro, chairman of the CHRB and a former equine veterinarian himself, described Blea as “a nationally known and widely respected equine veterinarian. He is recognized for his clear thinking and fairness in his decision making.” Arthur noted, “Dr. Blea is an excellent choice to become EMD. He has a broad background in horse racing and is well respected by his colleagues here in California and nationally.”
FOALS OF RACING AGE
STALLION
California-bred Lovely Finish, a survivor of the 2017 Lilac Fire at San Luis Rey Downs, scored an emotional maiden victory for owners Joe Herrick Racing Stables and Red Silk Stables at Los Alamitos Feb. 13. Ridden by Anthony Locke, Lovely Finish pulled away from her rivals in route to a 3 1⁄2-length win in the 1,000-yard race during the Los Alamitos evening Quarter Horse meeting. “I had to keep myself from getting emotional because she and I almost lost our lives together,” said Herrick. In saving Lovely Finish from the wildfre Dec. 7, 2017, Herrick was burned on 23% of his body. After months of recovery for both trainer and horse, Lovely Finish, who had started only once, returned to the races, running third in a 51⁄2-furlong race during the Los Angeles County Fair Meet at Los Alamitos Sept. 20, 2018. Te 6-year-old daughter of Marino Marini—Corazon de Leo, by Flame Trower, has fnished third or better in each of her eight starts. “She’s run well every time,” Herrick added. “She’s never had a bad race. I’ve taken care of her and never ran her when she was compromised. We’ve really taken care of this horse.” Occasionally, Lovely Finish has been a little fnicky while waiting in the starting gate. Herrick has responded by spending a lot of time schooling her in the mornings at San Luis Rey Downs. “She was waiting on the horses to come to her tonight,” said Herrick. “She was only going to run as hard as she needed to.”
QUALIFYING CLAIMING LEVELS The following claiming levels for California owners premiums and stallion awards are currently in effect: SANTA ANITA PARK / $40,000 GOLDEN GATE FIELDS / $20,000
Under contract arrangements between the CHRB and the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis, the EMD serves as a member of its faculty. “As equine medical director,” said Blea, “I look forward to working with industry stakeholders in further advancing the progressive transformation of horse racing in California with the emphasis on horse safety, welfare, and integrity.”
