California Thoroughbred Magazine

January 2011 $5.00 JANUARY 2011

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED

VOL. 134 NO. 1

NUMBER ONE IN CALIFORNIA! The Usual Q. T.

Three-time Leading Sire UNUSUAL HEAT

"ENOIT 0HOTO

4HE LEADING SIRE IN #ALIFORNIA WITH PROGENY EARNINGS OF

FOLLOWING

IN AND

IN Unusual Heat IS THE l RST SIRE REPRESENTED BY THREE #AL BRED 'RADE ) WINNERS IN A SINGLE SEASON The Usual Q.T., Unusual Suspect and Acclamation IN Nureyev-Rossard, by Glacial s &%% ,& PAYABLE .OV OF YEAR BRED

Hi Ho Yodeler

Leading Sire of 2-year-olds SWISS YODELER

"ENOIT 0HOTO

! PERENNIAL LEADER ON #ALIFORNIA S JUVENILE SIRE LISTS Swiss Yodeler HAS YEAR OLD EARNINGS OF

AVERAGING JUST OVER ANNUALLY

A l GURE NO OTHER #ALIFORNIA SIRE CAN MATCH )N FOUR OF HIS YEAR OLDS WON OR PLACED IN STAKES INCLUDING Hi Ho Yodeler

%ASTERN %CHO $RAPEAU BY 2AJA "ABA s FEE: $5,000 LF PAYABLE AT FOALING

Lucky Pulpit

Leading Freshman Sire LUCKY PULPIT

-ESAROS 0HOTO

! REMARKABLE YEAR OF l RST CROP SUCCESS FOR THIS SON OF Pulpit WHO IS THE LEADING #ALIFORNIA &RESHMAN SIRE OF IN ALL CATEGORIES AND THE LEADING 9EAR /LD 3IRE BY !VERAGE %ARNINGS PER 2UNNER

%IGHT WINNERS AND NINE STARTERS HAVE WON RACES STAKES AND PLACED TIMES IN STARTS AVERAGING PER START Pulpit-Lucky Soph, by Cozzene s &%% ,& PAYABLE AT FOALING 3IRE PROGENY STATISTICS AVAILABLE THOUGH

ALSO STANDING:

TIZBUD

SINGLETARY

STORMY JACK

Cee’s Tizzy-Cee’s Song,

by Seattle Song &%% ,&

Sultry Song-Joiski’s Star,

by Star de Naskra FEE: $1,500 LF

Bertrando-Tiny Kristin,

by Steelinctive FEE: $1,500 LF

DESERT CODE

LUCKY J. H.

DOWNTOWN SEATTLE

E. Dubai-Chatta Code,

by Lost Code &%% ,&

Cee’s Tizzy- Lucky C. H.,

by A. P. Indy FEE: $1,500 LF

Seattle Slew-Soviet Problem,

by Moscow Ballet FEE: $1,000 LF

7 /AKLAND !VE s #OALINGA #! *OHN # (ARRIS 0RESIDENT s $AVID % -C'LOTHLIN (ORSE $IVISION -ANAGER s $R *EANNE "OWERS 2ESIDENT 6ETERINARIAN 4EL OR s &AX s WWW HARRISFARMS COM s % -AIL DAVEMCGLOTHLIN HARRISFARMS COM

A Time For Reflection

From the Executive Corner

by LEIGH ANN HOWARD

www.ctba.com

is called the “west side,” which is farming country, is a little restaurant and sports bar filled daily with farmers and families. These folks would love to put in a satellite. Aren’t these the people we hope to get interested in our sport? Our sport should not be hidden from kids and families just because gambling is involved. It is time to separate us from the “dark smoky back room atmosphere” attitude so many outsiders visualize when they think of horse racing.

Our Educational Committee, headed by board member Rosemary Neeb, has done an outstanding job bringing the “second career” options to the forefront these past three years. Working with the Oak Tree Racing Association we have produced information that has been made available to everyone on the Internet. This has been enhanced by our new web site and touted to horse expos, the State Fair and the county fairs we have visited during the past two years.

Our Legislative Committee has been able to continue its job of keeping our position viable with both our state and federal governments. Political Action Committee (PAC) funds are highly regulated by both state and federal laws. The filing rules are complex and carefully followed by our tax attorneys. If anything were amiss we certainly would not be hearing about it from an anonymous blogger.

This past year we lost one of our current leaders when his airplane went down in eastern Oregon. While all of our losses this year have been sad, the sudden death of Frank “Scoop” Vessels was particularly hard on our board. He was in the prime of his life, active in a myriad of horse boards and councils, actively running his farm and enjoying his youngest son’s maturation. Scoop’s wife, Bonnie, always by his side, agreed to take his place on our board. Having the owner of one of California’s largest breeding and training farms creates a good balance on our board and we are so glad Bonnie plans to continue.

Our Maiden Bonus Program has been a huge success.

While the California sales have been poor, both in the north and in the south, the same situation is being mimicked across the country. We are talking about various ways of enhancing our product even more than the Maiden Bonus Program but nothing seems very plausible yet. Of course, the drop in the number of mares bred will certainly change the “supply and demand” side of the equation at the sales in the future.

The past three years as the President of this association have been a pleasure. I have enjoyed working with the board and the staff and plan to continue being active in our industry. ©Mesaros

Here we are in a new year, moving forward with hope for a better economy. We have had the pleasure of watching the wonderful mare Zenyatta through all her training and racing career. Jerry and Ann Moss have been the perfect owners, John Sherriffs the perfect trainer and Dottie IngordoSherriffs the perfect agent. With California exuberance, they all happily shared this wonderful mare with the world.

This team stepped out of the racing world and caught the attention of the non-racing public. These non fans are the people we simply cannot reach with all the money we spend in advertising. The awe-inspiring books and movies about Seabiscuit and Secretariat need to be followed quickly by a great movie about Zenyatta.

This year, we will have the wonderful option of running on either dirt or all-weather tracks in Southern California. Something for everyone. Many of us would love to see a dirt track in the north that could trade dates with Golden Gate Fields like Bay Meadows Racecourse once did. The track at Cal Expo in Sacramento would be a good choice.

The Northern California Equine Association (NCEA), led by Joe Daehling, Ellen Jackson, Debbie Robinson and Eileen Matson, has done a marvelous job of getting the breeders, owners, and racetrackers together. They have meetings from the Sacramento area to Golden Gate with good speakers and interesting programs. This group is very aware of the issues that affect them both on the farms and at the tracks. By banding together, they have a stronger voice than the north has had in the past. As the President of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA), I have been able to attend many of their meetings and been able to share information in person. Several of our CTBA board members also attend regularly. We have the same situation down south with the California Thoroughbred Farms Managers Association (CTFMA).

One important issue, at least by my estimation, is the placement of the satellite facilities that have been allotted to our industry by the legislature. Clearly these terminals should be set in places where our industry gets the most exposure to the uninitiated. Let’s use this opportunity to reach out and make new fans. If our satellites were located in restaurants where families go out to eat and in local small town hang-outs we could be showing our industry more as a sport. Instead, most of our leaders want to focus the new satellites at the already gambling population such as the card clubs in very populated areas. Up in Modesto, on what

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 1

C O L U M N

Managing Editor’s Welcome

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Upon review, the year of 2010 for Thoroughbred breeding and racing in California can be summed up in the title of the 1966 Italian/Spanish epic spaghetti western film, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

The “Good” included the 18 individual California-bred winners of 24 separate graded stakes races, including grade I winners Acclamation, Evening Jewel, The Usual Q. T. and Unusual Suspect, the latter three of whom are now also among the 55 Cal-bred millionaires of all time, as well as the Maiden Bonus Program that is proving to be a huge incentive to breeders in the Golden State.

The “Bad” included the passing of the following giants of the local industry: E.A. Ranches owner Ernest Auerbach; Caliornia Thoroughbred’s freelance writer Larry Bortstein; Thoroughbred Information Agency founder Don Engel; famous actor John Forsythe; three-time Eclipse Award-winning breeder Betty Mabee; retired trainer Noble Threewitt; Rancho Felicia founder Walter Thomson; Vine Hill Ranch matriarch Barbara Walter; California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) Past President Frank “Scoop” Vessels; Cal-bred Preakness Stakes winner Snow Chief; and the prominent sires High Brite and Salt Lake.

The “Ugly” was pretty much all the other bad news of the year: from small fields, lost race days, reduced purses and the continual fight for a share of horseracing’s ever-decreasing pie; to the ongoing and often heated debates of allweather versus dirt, Blame versus Zenyatta and the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) versus the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC).

Hopefully, with such good news on the horizon as the purse money increases at Santa Anita Park during its current Winter/Spring meet, the tide will turn and 2011 will be more like the 1946 American drama film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

This January 2011 issue of California Thoroughbred includes a cover story on Ballena Vista Farm and its substantial stallion roster of Benchmark, Bertrando, Dixie Chatter, Idiot Proof, Sea of Secrets and Tribal Rule, previews of both the $1,800,000 Sunshine Millions IX day on Saturday, Jan. 29 and the Barretts January Mixed Sale on Monday, Jan. 24, as well as a CTBA Member Profile on Peter and Barbara Walski.

Those stallions who are new to stud in California for 2011 are detailed, while there are also reviews of Cost of Freedom’s two recent stakes wins, including a grade III victory, and the past month’s other black-type wins at Hollywood Park by fellow Cal-breds Dance With Gable and Ultra Blend.

There is an Industry Insight article on the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), an Another Man’s Treasure piece on how the dual stakeswinning Cal-bred Spot the Diplomat has made a difference in the lives of Grant and Greta Hays and their autistic sons Jack and Dylan in Texas, and a Down on the Farm editorial titled “Eye Injuries In Horses.”

Completing this magazine are the biographies and mission statements of the five CTBA members on the ballot for the association’s 2011 Board of Directors election and a Guest Forum contribution on Tell, who lived out his life as a stallion in California during the 1980s and early 90s, while the balance of this current publication includes all our other regular columns, features and departments that we hope will also prove to In the Company of. . .Leigh Ann Howard, the be both enjoyable and helpful.

President of the California Thoroughbred Until next time, may you breed the best to Breeders Association (CTBA) for the past the best and not just have to hope for the best! three years, during the Caliornia Gold Rush X day at Hollywood Park on April 24, 2010.

—Rudi Groothedde rudi@ctba.com

©Benooit

C O L U M N

2 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

©California Thoroughbred 2011 (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: LEIGH ANN HOWARD Vice President: PETE PARRELLA Treasurer: JOHN H. BARR Secretary: SUE GREENE Executive Vice President and General Manager: Doug Burge DIRECTORS - John C. Harris, Jeanne L. Canty, Leigh Ann Howard, John H. Barr, Daniel L. Harralson, Keith E. Card, Daniel Q. Schiffer, William H. Nichols, Rosemary A. Neeb, Myron Johnson, William H. de Burgh, Pete Parrella, Sue Greene, Mary Knight 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 Co-Chairs: Sherwood C. Chillingworth & John H. Barr Coordinator: Cookie Hackworth MAGAZINE STAFF Editor: Doug Burge Managing Editor: Rudi Groothedde Advertising Manager: Loretta Veiga Art Director: John Melanson Production: Charlene Favata 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

January 2011

Contents VOLUME 134 NO. 1

Donald and Karen Cohn’s Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, a 220-acre full-service facility which opened for business more than 20 years ago, now boasts arguably the strongest stallion roster in California after the River Edge Farm quartet of Tribal Rule, Bertrando, Benchmark and Dixie Chatter joined resident sires Idiot Proof and Sea of Secrets (all left to right) following the 2010 breeding season. © Ron Mesaros photos

Departments 6 16 18 72 76 77 80 82 83 86 87

News Bits The CTBA Working For You California Thoroughbred Foundation (CTF) Notes—January 2011 Leading Sires in California Leading Lifetime Sires in California Leading Two-Year-Old Sires in California Dates in California CTBA Calendar Classified Advertising Index to Advertisers Index to Stallions Advertised

21

Thoroughbred Farms In California: Ballena Vista Farm—The Dawn Of A New Era

by Rudi Groothedde

©Mesaros photos

On This Month’s Cover

Cover Story

Features

30 34 38 42 46 50 54 58 62 68

Sunshine Millions: Cal-Breds Set To Make An Impact At Sunshine Millions IX

by Emily Shields

CTBA Member Profile:Peter & Barbara Walski—Worth The Gamble

by Emily Shields

California Sires: The Golden State’s New Stallions For 2011

by Rudi Groothedde

Regional Sales: Winter Wonderland

by Lisa Groothedde

The Grade California-Breds: Cost Of Freedom—Outrunning His Age

by Emily Shields

Racing In Southern California: Cal-Bred Highs And Lows At Hollywood Park

by Emily Shields

Industry Insight: CARMA—A New Frontier In Thoroughbred Retirement

by Marcie Heacox

Another Man’s Treasure: Spot The Diplomat—A Healing Cal-Bred

by Emily Shields

Down on the Farm: Eye Injuries In Horses

by Heather Smith Thomas

CTBA Directors Election: Five Members To Run On CTBA’s 2011 Ballot

©Benoit photos

Columns

In the space of just 17 days, the seven-year-old gelding Cost of Freedom, by Cee’s Tizzy and bred in California

by Harris Farms Inc., won two stakes races at Hollywood Park; the grade III, $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes on November 25 (left) and the $71,706 Miles Tyson Stakes on December 11 (right).

4 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

1 2 88

From the Executive Office: A Time For Reflection

by Leigh Ann Howard

Managing Editor’s Welcome—The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

by Rudi Groothedde

Guest Forum: The Story Of Tell

by Jackie Barnes

The February 2011 Cover Story

The 2011 Inductees To The CTBA’s California Hall Of Fame www.ctba.com

STORMIN F EVER Storm Cat-Pennant Fever, by Seattle Slew

Sire of 3 Graded Stakes Winners on 3 Different Surfaces in 2010!

• CHECK THE LABEL ($493,894), winner of the Garden City Stakes (G1) on turf at Belmont.

• A LITTLE WARM ($752,280), winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on dirt at Saratoga.

• BIOFUEL ($758,492), winner of 4 stakes in 2010, including the Selene Stakes (G3) on poly at Woodbine.

• Leading Sire in CA of 2010 Stakes Winners with 6 SW’s, including G2 Winner TOBRITA on 11/27/2010.

• Sire of recent 2-Year-Old stakes horse Jerry’s Fever, 2nd in the Golden Nugget S. at Golden Gate on 11/20/2010.

2011 Fee: $6,500 (stands and nurses)

GOLDEN EAGLE FARM

Janine McCullough, General Manager • 27236 Highway 78 East Ramona, California 92065-6703 Toll Free: (877) 34-EAGLE • 760-789-2821 • Fax: 760-788-8377 • www.goldeneaglefarm.com

D E P A R T M E N T

Northern California Report: The Force Of Momentum

News Bits For a turf specialist who rallies late, holding an early six-length lead on an all-weather surface was a new experience for California-bred Catsalot. But trainer Leonard Powell’s filly had no trouble adapting, as she coasted home three lengths ahead of Antares World in the $75,600 Pacific Heights Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 18.

“I thought, ‘Well, all this is different,’” Powell said afterward, having been resigned to running this four-yearold despite the nine-furlong contest for Cal-breds being shifted to the all-weather Tapeta surface. “I had no other race for her,” he said. “I told Julien (Couton) to just let her find her momentum. She needs to relax and that is easier done from behind.”

But Couton, who was aboard for Catsalot’s last win in

Important Dates For Study Shows AllSunshine Millions™ Weather Surfaces IX Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011

$1,000 Regular Nominations Close

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Pre-Entries

Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011

Post Position Draw

Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011

SUNSHINE MILLIONS ™ IX

June, went to the front when the 2-5 favorite and expected pacesetter Antares World did not fire. After six panels in 1:14.96, Couton was ©Vassar thoroughly in command.

Catsalot $75,600 Pacific Heights Stakes “Usually she drops back December 18, 2010 but nobody wanted the lead,” he said. “She gave me a nice kick in the stretch.”

Catsalot is the first stakes winner for Momentum, raced by the filly’s breeder Paul Reddam and who stands at Vessels Stallion Farm, out of the group II-placed winner Clerical Error (Ire), by Kendor (Fr). Powell and owner Magalen Bryant claimed Catsalot for $40,000 from her second start for Reddam in November of 2008. She has now earned $246,721 from a 26-5-9-3 record.—Jerry Klein

Applebite Farms To Close Applebite Farms in French Camp, the Thoroughbred facility inherited in 1994 by Joan Rogers from her parents who had purchased the property in the 1930s, will close at the end of this month.

A complete dispersal of the farm’s bloodstock, comprising of 16 broodmares, eight yearlings, one two-year-old and the stallion Gotham City, will be part of this year’s Barretts January Mixed Sale, while Rogers will retain ownership of the sire Western Fame whose new location has not yet been finalized. As agent for Zayat Stables LLC, Applebite will also offer a threestrong group including its other resident stallion E Z Warrior, at Fairplex in Pomona on Monday, Jan. 24.

Win For Image Of Super’s Granddaughter, Image Of Super!

Horseracing is full of in a $12,500 maiden claiming interesting stories, but race at Golden Gate Fields as a maybe none more so four-year-old on Dec. 9. than the California-bred Bred by Don and Gary Silduo of Image of Super vers, the elder Image of Super and Image of Super, by had her eighth and final foal in ©Vassar Zanthe and Victory Gal2001, and is the dam of four Image Of Super (2006) Image Of Super (1985) lop, respectively. multiple stakes winners, December 9, 2010 July 12, 1988 The former, a multiincluding the younger Image ple stakes-winning three-year-old of 1988 and the 2001/2002 of Super’s dam Super High, High Brite’s 2002 California California Broodmare of the Year, is the third dam of the latter, Champion Three-Year-Old Female and 2002/2003 Valkyr a Harris Farms homebred who scored her first career victory Trophy winner.

Capturing The Cal-Bred Foals Of 2011 For the second consecutive year, the May to August issues of the California Thoroughbred magazine and its California Thoroughbred WEEKLY newsletter, the official publications of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA), will feature photo-essays of the 2011 crop of foals born in the Golden State.

To be considered for the strict selection process that is in place for the inclusion of high quality images in the monthly magazine, professional photographer Ron Mesaros can be contacted at either rmesaros@msn.com or (310) 455-1410 to arrange for photos to be taken and submitted by the Mon6 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

day deadlines of March 28 (Northern California), April 25 (Central Valley), May 30 (Central Coast) and June 27 (Southern California). Additional photos of this year’s California foals can now be submitted for inclusion on the CTBA’s www.ctba.com web site.

All submissions of 2011 California-bred foals need to include their sire, dam, sex, date of birth and name of breeder(s) or they won’t be considered. Rudi Groothedde, the magazine’s Managing Editor, can be contacted at either rudi@ctba.com or (626) 445-7800, extension 226, for further information about this popular annual project.

Continued on page 8 www.ctba.com

D E P A R T M E N T

Those Grand Cal-Bred Mares

News Bits Cont’d.

California-Breds Countrywide Sprinting on dirt tracks in New Mexico, California-breds by two Ballena Vista Farm stallions scored their second black-type victories of 2010.

On Nov. 27, Lathrop Hoffman’s homebred three-year-old filly Hayley’s Halo earned $33,000 while winning the $55,360 Zia Park Distaff Stakes at six furlongs. By Sea of Secrets out of the unraced Peaks and Valleys mare Hilo Halo, this dual stakes winner has raced 13 times for five wins, three placings and $172,060 in earnings.

Ducky Drake, an eight-year-old son of Benchmark and the unraced Pleasant Colony mare Alice May, is now a seven-time stakes winner after a victory worth $30,000 in the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 KLAQ Handicap at Sunland Park on Dec. 11. Bred and owned by Ralph and Aury Todd, this gelding now boasts a bankroll of $515,939 from a 41-16-11-5 record.

©Coady

Hayley’s Halo

Easy wins by a trio of runners out of California-bred mares were recorded this past month.

At Hollywood Park on Nov. 26, Reba Is Tops posted the fourth stakes win of her 26-race career when she won the $61,980 Raise Your Skirt Stakes at six furlongs on the turf by 1 1/4 lengths. Out of Miss Kyama, a five-time winner bred

by Wellman and Shoemaker, this sixyear-old daughter of He’s Tops has won 12 races and placed nine times for earnings of $361,229.

The 3 3/4-length winner of the $129,845 New Mexico Eddy County Stakes at Zia Park on Dec. 5, was Jannas Pride, a two-year-old gelding out of the winning Candi’s Gold mare

Janna who was bred by Ted Aroney and Ron and Fran Stolich. The son of Desert God has earned $115,350 from a 5-3-0-1 record after winning this one-mile test on the dirt.

Exactly one week later, the fouryear-old filly Cali Baby’s win by 1 1/2 lengths in the $120,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap going six furlongs on the dirt at Sunland Park was her fourth consecutive victory and the second black-type win of both this year and her career to date. By Thatsusintheolbean and Ole’s stakes-placed winner Aquarellist, who was bred by Annabelle Stute, she has eight wins, two seconds and $335,774 in earnings from 14 starts.

Graded Stakes Downgrading Trend Continues For California The Golden State’s black-type program was given a similar blow to last year, when the latest review by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) of 689 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000 resulted in 10 upgrades and 24 downgrades overall for 2011, including no upgrades and seven downgrades—five of them on the turf—for California events.

Downgraded from grade I to grade II is the Oak Tree Racing Association’s Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes, while Golden Gate Fields’ San Francisco Mile Stakes is now a grade III event and the

Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita Park is now ungraded. Now deemed not eligible are Hollywood Park’s Dahlia, Hawthorne and Hollywood Turf Express Handicaps and the Carleton F. Burke Handicap that will be contested during this year’s Oak Tree meet at Hollywood Park.

Florida and Kentucky each received upgrades to three events being held in these states during this year, while races at two Pennsylvania tracks and one race each in New York and West Virginia were upgraded. The downgrades also included five in Florida, four in Maryland, two in both Kentucky and New York, and one each in Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts and Texas.

Study Shows Less Fatalities On All-Weather Surfaces On Dec. 15, The Jockey Club released an updated North American fatality rate for Thoroughbreds from the Equine Injury Database which showed that horses racing on all-weather surfaces were 27.6 percent and 10.9 percent less likely to suffer a fatal breakdown—a horse’s death—than those who ran on dirt and turf, respectively.

Based on an analysis of 754,932 starts by Thoroughbreds for the

two-year period of Nov. 1, 2008, to Oct. 31, 2010, the overall average was exactly 2.0 starters per 1,000 starts, while the corresponding number for runners on synthetics was 1.55. By far the highest fatality rate was recorded by those starters on the dirt, with 2.14 catastrophic injuries per 1,000 starts, as compared to the average of 1.74 for performers on the turf.

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 November 22 to December 19 inclusive: Cost of Freedom g.7. Cee’s Tizzy—Freedom Dance 1st Grade III Vernon O. Underwood Stakes $100,000 6 f. Hollywood Park November 25 Breeder: Harris Farms Inc. Hot Chaco g.4. Unusual Heat—Anasazi Mud 2nd Grade III All American Stakes $100,900 1 1/8 m. Golden Gate Fields November 26 Breeder: Frank E. Edmunds Soul Candy g.4. Birdonthewire—Just Satisfaction 3rd Grade III Native Diver Handicap $100,000 1 1/8 m. Hollywood Park December 4 Breeder: Madera Thoroughbreds

Continued on page 10 8 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

D E P A R T M E N T

Stallion News

News Bits Cont’d.

Atticus This Magali Farms stallion was flattered as the broodmare sire of two stakes winners in December: the two-year-old filly Cathy’s Crunches captured her third consecutive black-type event at Golden Gate Fields when she won the track’s $76,200 Corte Madera Stakes on Dec. 4, one week before the three-year-old gelding Sooner Red posted a 24-1 upset in Remington Park’s $50,000 End Of The Trail Stakes.

Ex Marks the Cop This 16-year-old son of In Excess (Ire), a former California champion juvenile whose top runner is the three-time Oregon Horse of the Year Ex Mountain Cop, has relocated to Kristal Creek Ranch in Nuevo for the 2011 breeding season.

Momentum This Vessels Stallion Farm resident achieved his first stakes winner on Dec. 18, when his four-year-old filly Catsalot romped to a front-running victory in the $75,600 Pacific Heights Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Southern Image On Dec. 18, this Rancho San Miguel stallion was represented at Aqueduct by his three-year-old colt Calibrachoa, winner of the $65,000 Gravesend Stakes.

Stormin Fever Tobrita (Chi), a four-year-old daughter of this Golden Eagle Farm sire, captured the group II, $27,450 Clasico Haras de Chile at Hipodromo Chile on Nov. 27.

In Excess (Ire) Chuchuluco, a three-year-old gelding whose broodmare sire is this Vessels Stallion Farm veteran, defeated 11 rivals in Sunland Park’s $120,000 Johnie L. Jamison Handicap on Dec. 12.

Stormin Fever

Walmac Offers Breeding Incentive Walmac Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, is offering an incentive for regional breeders to patronize its stallions. A $2,000 stud fee reduction will be given for each 2012 foal who is sired by one of four Walmac stallions and subsequently registered in a qualified state-bred program other than Kentucky’s.

CURRENTT CALIFORRNIA SIRES OF STAKKES WIN INNERSS Named Foals SWs

Stallion Salt Lake (1989)† In Excess (Ire) (1987) Bertrando (1989) High Brite (1984)† Roar (1993)† Beau Genius (1985)† Cee’s Tizzy (1987)† Turkoman (1982)† Benchmark (1991) Olympio (1988) Stormin Fever (1994) Memo (Chi) (1987)• Unusual Heat (1990) Rhythm (1987)† Deputy Commander (1994)† Swiss Yodeler (1994) Game Plan (1993) Lit de Justice (1990) Moscow Ballet (1982)† Formal Gold (1993)• Sea of Secrets (1995) Valid Wager (1992)† Storm Creek (1993)• Old Topper (1995) Tribal Rule (1996) Houston (1986)† Siberian Summer (1989) Western Fame (1992) Atticus (1992) For Really (1987)† Future Storm (1990)• Kafwain (2000) Redattore (Brz) (1995)• Skimming (1996)• Souvenir Copy (1995)•

1,201 896 907 896 649 735 697 707 575 491 564 507 455 965 562 608 362 385 756 420 370 498 559 401 247 577 362 269 392 239 480 312 344 271 439

69 62 50 46 43 39 39 33 30 30 30 28 27 25 24 23 22 22 21 19 19 18 17 15 14 13 13 13 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

† 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.

California Closers Supplemental entries close on Monday Jan. 10, for this year’s Barretts Equine Ltd. January Mixed Sale being held at Fairplex in Pomona on Monday, Jan. 24…On Saturday, Jan. 15, the Northern California Equine Association (NCEA) will hold a Tax Seminar at Golden Gate Fields’ Turf Club in Albany…The next monthly meeting of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Thursday, Jan 20…On Saturday, Jan. 22, the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) will host free “Ownership 101—An Introduction To Racehorse Ownership” seminars at both Santa Anita Park in Arcadia and Golden Gate…The California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association (CTFMA) will next meet at the Sizzler Restaurant in Murrieta on Tuesday, Jan. 25…Tuesday, Feb. 1, is the deadline for breeders and owners to name their foals

of 2009 with The Jockey Club to avoid a $75 late fee…The annual Equine Affaire will be held at Fairplex from Thursday, Feb. 3 to Sunday, Feb. 6…On Sunday, Feb. 6, After the Finish Line will host a their “Stand Up For Horses” comedy show and silent auction fundraiser at the Improv in Hollywood…Trainer Mel Stute, 83, a member with his wife Annabelle of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) since 1974, saddled his 2,000th career winner when Score for Fun won at Hollywood Park on Dec. 11…On Dec. 17, the OC Tavern in San Clemente became California’s first active satellite wagering facility located in a sports bar…Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro is now offering a Masters of Science in Horse Science (MSHS) program as part of its curriculum.

Continued on page 12

10 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

D E P A R T M E N T

IN MEMORIAM

News Bits Longtime California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) members Don and Jean Engel of Rohnert Park died on Dec. 6. They were both 85 years old.

Don Engel was a breeder, consignor, bloodstock agent and publisher during his halfcentury of involvement in the Thoroughbred industry. A former high school teacher and newspaper sports editor, the Texas native operated Honey Lake Thoroughbred Farm during the 1960s and created his own marketing and advertising business, Thoroughbred Information Agency (TIA), in 1966.

He published “The TIA Newsletter” as an industry watchdog vehicle until 2007,

Don and Jean Engel in 1997, and established a vast portal website for stallion, farm and business owners at www.thoroughbredinfo.com in 1997. The website is now operated by Lisa Groothedde, who acquired TIA from Engel upon his retirement in 2008.

The Engels were frequent consignors at California auctions. Among the notable horses they sold were the grade II winner Amber Ever, who commanded a state record $800,000 purchase price for a filly in training during a 1982 dispersal of Hastings Harcourt’s equine holdings, and the stakes producer Mitzi, who set a state record weanling price of $67,000 in 1973. The couple also sold

©Hal Randall

Harcourt’s stakes-winning broodmare Bold Captive for a record $350,000; the Relaunch foal she was carrying in utero during the dispersal was the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Classic (grade I) winner and influential sire Skywalker.

Highs And Lows For Vessels Stallion Farm A year of exuberant highs and tragic lows for California’s Vessels Stallion Farm continued as 2010 drew to a close.

In November, the Bonsall farm announced the death of its flagship Quarter Horse stallion, First Down Dash. The 26-year-old former world champion runner and 2011 American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inductee was his breed’s all-time leading sire of racehorses, with 225 stakes winners and

total progeny earnings of more than $74 million from 20 crops to race.

On Dec. 10, spirits were lifted when the Vessels homebred One Quick First Down, by Quick Action, won California’s richest horse race: the $1,949,700 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

Farm founder and racing industry leader Frank “Scoop” Vessels III died in an August 2010 plane crash.

Qualifying Claiming Level s 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

Continued on page 14

12 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

D E P A R T M E N T

Track Talk Based on two black-type wins, including one in graded stakes company, the seven-year-old California-bred gelding Cost of Freedom was voted the top sprinter of last year’s 29-day Autumn meet at Hollywood Park, while Comma to the Top, a grandson of California champion Indian Charlie, was selected as the Horse of the Meet, top two-year-old and top two-year-old male.

Overnight purses at the 2010/2011 Winter-Spring meetings at both Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields

News Bits Cont’d.

10 Years Ago

Jan. 6, 2001

©Benoit

Jamaican Rum $89,475 Hill Rise Handicap

will increase due to legislation signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in September of last year, that raised the takeout on exotic wagers at California tracks. At Santa Anita, the purse money increases are expected to be in the region of 25 percent, a total of $25 to $30 million for the whole of 2011, and will be more significant for horses competing in lower-level claiming races than in higher-class events. Two-horse wagers are up two percent from 20.68 percent and wagers on three or more horses are up three percent to 23.68 percent, while the takeout rate for win, place and show betting will remain at 15.43 percent.

During a three-year-old campaign that included a sixth place finish in the Kentucky Derby (grade I), the California-bred colt Jamaican Rum won the $89,475 Hill Rise Handicap at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 6, 2001. Also a stakes winner at two, Southern Nevada Racing Stables Inc.’s grade I-placed homebred by Exemplary Leader is out of the stakes winner Little Ricky S. and raced eight more times that year before retiring with a record of 13-2-3-2 and $416,828.

25 Years Ago

On Jan. 15, 1986, Santa Anita Park’s grade III, $87,300 Santa Monica Handicap was won by the five-year-old mare Her Royalty, a daughter King of Kings and the two-time winner Mean Colleen bred in California by Old English Rancho.

After retiring at the age of six with nine wins, 12 placings and $345,525 in earnings from 26 starts, she produced the grade Iplaced multiple stakes winner, Royally Chosen.

50 Years Ago The $29,850 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 25, 1961, was won by Tritoma, George and Connie Ring’s homebred daughter of Count Fleet and the six-time winner Blue Cloth. The subsequent dam of five-time stakes winner Hidden World raced 26 more times before ending her 60-race career with a bankroll of $124,025 from eight wins, 11 seconds and 14 thirds.

PARADISE ROAD RANCH Inquiries to Doreen Spinney 3637 W. Stewart Road, Lathrop, California 95330 (916) 803-5851 e-mail: paradiseranch@wildblue.net

Sold for $200,000 from the first crop of Lion Heart at 2007 Saratoga Yearling Sale.

Sold for $320,000 at Barretts March Select Two-Year-Old Sale.

By LION HEART, sire of 16 stakes winners, including 2010 performers LINE OF DAVID ($662,000, Arkansas Derby-Gr. I), HEART ASHLEY ($395,895), PRETTY PROLIFIC ($328,051, etc.), undefeated two-year-old KANTHAROS ($185,213, Saratoga Special S.-Gr. II, etc.), also two-year-old grade I stakes-placed Valiant Passion and grade II Winning Lion.

His dam, Clever Squaw is by RAHY, broodmare sire of champions GIANT’S CAUSEWAY and RAHY’S ATTORNEY. Second dam is graded stakes winner TRICKY SQUAW, dam of TRICKY SIX, granddam of grade II STANLEY PARK, MO CUISHLE and TURF MELODY. Family of grade I winner DREAMY MIMI ($585,637).

14 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

BRAVE CAT Lion Heart—Clever Squaw, by Rahy

2011 FEE: $500-LIVE FOAL Booking fee $150

www.ctba.com

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.

The CTBA Working For You

CTBA To Honor California’s 2010 Champions & 2011 Hall Of Famers This year’s Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner strength in the political arena to get legislation passed for the California Thoroughbred Breeders that led to an increases in purse money and changed Association (CTBA) will be held at the Loews the breeders awards structure, including the impleCoronado Bay Resort in Coronado on Tuesday, mentation of the breed-back rule.

Pirate’s Bounty (1975-2006), a stakes-winning son of Feb. 15, during which both the California-bred Hoist the Flag who stood at his champions of 2010 and the 2011 California Hall of Fame inductees will be honored. breeder Martin Wygod and his wife Brian Sweeney Pam’s River Edge Farm for his entire The inductions of Keith Card, Brian Sweeney, Pirate’s Bounty and Cal-bred stud career from 1981 to 1999, sired the winSnow Chief, all elected last year by the ners of nearly $32 million and was California’s CTBA’s Board of Directors, will bring the cur- champion sire three times and twice its leading sire of two-year-olds. rent number of Hall of Fame members to 58.

The Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Keith Card, a CTBA Past President, and his wife Barbara are best known as the breed- Male of 1986, Snow Chief (1983-2010) was the Snow Chief California Horse of the Year from the ers and owners—in the name of Keith Card ages of two to four during which time he earned their Hi Card Ranch in $3,383,210 and won six grade I races for his breeder Carl Murrieta—of California Flag, the winner of the Grinstead (Blue Diamond Ranch) who owned the son of $909,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2009, and Reflected Glory in partnership with Ben Rochelle.

Linda Card who won the $150,000 California Cup On the day prior to this gala event, the 1st Annual Distaff Handicap in 1990. ©Mesaros CTBA Golf Tournament will be held at the Coronado As the General Manager of the CTBA from Pirate’s Bounty Municipal Golf Course.

1968 to 1982, Brian Sweeney (1936-2000) used his Another Successful Stallion Auction For The CTBA PAC The CTBA would like to thank the many stallion owners for their donations that made its Annual Stallion Season Auction a success on Nov. 30.

The entire proceeds of nearly $50,000 generated by the auction will strictly go, by law, toward the lobbying expenses of the CTBA for its working in support of legislation that would favorably impact the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry in California.

“I appreciate the California breeders working together to

support our industry and our efforts by buying these seasons,” said Leigh Ann Howard, the President of the CTBA. “By taking this opportunity, the breeders not only support our efforts in the state, but also nationally.”

The event featured seasons to 46 of the Golden State’s top stallions, donated by their owners. Among the seasons offered were those for the popular stallions Unusual Heat, Papa Clem, Swiss Yodeler and Good Journey.

CTBA Publications Now In Digital Form Online All four of the CTBA’s official publications, the monthly California Thoroughbred magazine, the California Thoroughbred WEEKLY newsletter and both the annual California Thoroughbred Industry Directory 2010/2011 and California Thoroughbred 2011 Stallion Directory, are now all available in digital form online at the CTBA website of www.ctba.com.

Dates To Remember Tuesday, February 1, 2011––Names for foals of 2009 must be claimed; after Feb. 1, a naming fee of $75 will be required.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011––Annual registration of California stallion is due at a fee of $750

The CTBA Calendar Corner Event

Date(s)

Venue(s)

1st Annual CTBA Golf Tournament CTBA Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner (2010 California-Bred Champions & 2011 California Hall of Fame Inductees)

Monday, February 14 Tuesday, February 15

Coronado Municipal Golf Course, Coronado Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado

For further information, contact the CTBA’s Event Coordinator Christy Chapman at either christy@ctba.com or (800) 573-2822, extension 247.

16 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

D E P A R T M E N T

Notes — January 2011 California Thoroughbred Foundation 2011 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Mrs. Jeanne L. Canty, President Warren Williamson, Vice-President Gregory L. Ferraro, DVM, Treasurer Jane Goldstein, Secretary Peter P. Daily Mrs. Gail Gregson

Gerald F. McMahon Neil O’Dwyer Mrs. Ada Gates Patton Thomas S. Robbins John W. Sadler Peter W. Tunney

Mrs. Kenneth M. Schiffer, Director Emeritus

Foundation Officers And Directors Re-Elected All officers of the California Thoroughbred Foundation (CTF) board of directors were re-elected at the annual meeting in November.

Mrs. Jeanne Canty again will serve as President, Warren Williamson is Vice-President, Dr. Gregory L. Ferraro is Treasurer and Jane Goldstein is Secretary.

Phar Lap Bronze On View In Library A small bronze of Phar Lap which is on display in the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library was donated to the Foundation through the Estate of David J. Davis, the famous horse’s owner, who was a director of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA). Foaled in New Zealand in 1926, Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 races, including the Melbourne Cup. Sent by ship to North America, he won the Agua Caliente Handicap but died under mysterious circumstances at Davis’ California farm.

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.

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.

The CTF joins in honoring the memory of those whose names appear in bold type. We also thank and acknowledge the donors for their generous contributions.

Peter Lovemore Martha Miller

18 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

16.2 hands

• Exceptionally quick, talented gray son of leading California sire BENCHMARK, retired with earnings of $245,000.

• Broke his maiden in the NTRA Stakes running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13 4/5, three-fifths off the track record, earning a 100 Beyers defeating M ONE RIFLE. • Won the Grade III Affirmed Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths going gate-to-wire in 1:41 2/5, earning a 103 Beyers defeating Grade II Swaps winner MISREMEMBERED. • Won the El Cajon Stakes defeating graded stakes winner and Grade I stakes-placed CHOCOLATE CANDY. • By Graded stakes winner BENCHMARK, among leading sires in California with 29 stakes winners, including California champions BROTHER DEREK and IDIOT PROOF. Out of stakes-placed Hazen ($200,188), from stakes-winning family of PRIZED ($2,262,555, Breeders’ Cup Turf-Gr. I, etc.) and UNTAMED SPIRIT.

Ballena Vista Farm: The Dawn Of A New Era

Thoroughbred Farms In California

by RUDI GROOTHEDDE Photos by RON MESAROS As Don and Karen Cohn’s Ballena Vista Farm enters a 22nd year of operation in 2011, it is poised for the dawn of a new era.

Following the bolstering of its stallion roster with the arrival of four top sires from Martin and Pam Wygod’s River Edge Farm in July of last year, the 220-acre, fullservice facility promises to become even more of a major player in the local Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.

Located on the outskirts of Ramona, this pristine California farm is now home to six stallions; the newcomers Benchmark, Bertrando, Dixie Chatter and Tribal Rule, as well as Idiot Proof, who retired to stud there in 2010, and Sea of Secrets, now preparing for his sixth breeding season in the Santa Ysabel countryside.

Ballena Vista also boasts a winning combination of an elite and loyal group of clients, a staff of the highest caliber and state-of-the-art facilities. At its centerpiece is a 38-stall main barn that has three wings—one for stallions, one for mares and foals, and one for horses being broken, trained and rehabilitated—and additionally houses a full medical lab and mare examination chute, the farm’s office space, and a home for Manuel Ochoa who has been the Farm Manager since 1991.

www.ctba.com

Exciting Times When Don Cohn heard that his friends Marty and Pam Wygod, the leading breeders in the Golden State from 2006 to 2008, had decided to sell their California holdings and now focus their breeding program 100 percent in Kentucky, he immediately seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that had materialized before him.

After purchasing Benchmark outright and acquiring a major interest in both Dixie Chatter and Tribal Rule, he also convinced the syndicate that own Bertrando to relocate their successful sire from River Edge to Ballena Vista. Not worried about bucking the current downward economic trends, Cohn’s bold move dramatically expanded the farm’s influence to realize his dream of entrenching its position as one of the major players in the local industry.

These are exciting times for Ballena Vista and the Cohns, who lost their home on the farm during the Witch Creek fire of October 2007, but now have a new house on a property where they also plan to build a stallion barn of the highest quality. Such further expansion will certainly fit in with Ballena Vista Farm’s motto of, “Integrity, Commitment, Compassion…It’s All Here.”

Continued on next page

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 21

Thoroughbred Farms In California Cont’d.

Sire Power Ballena Vista’s stallion roster is now second to none with a group of sires that offer every possible option to local breeders.

Benchmark A multiple grade II winner from a mile to 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita Park and Del Mar as a six-year-old in 1997, this son of Alydar entered stud two years later and is now the sire of more than 300 winners—30 of them in stakes company—among his earners of more than $21.2 million.

Seven of Benchmark’s stakes winners also have graded stakes victories to their names: dual grade I and grade II winner Brother Derek ($1,611,138); fellow two-time California champion Idiot Proof, a grade I-winning millionaire; grade I winner Silent Sighs; dual grade II winner Proposed ($567,600); grade II winner A to the Z ($629,783); and grade III winners Grazen and Standard Setter, the latter of whom became his sire’s first black-type winner as a three-year-old in 2003.

The leading sire of two-year-olds by money won in both 2003 and 2005, and by average earnings per starter in the latter year, Benchmark also led California’s overall sires lists by the number of winners and races won in 2009, an achievement he will repeat for 2010. His progeny earned more than $3 million each year from 2006 to 2009, and his lifetime average earnings per starter and AEI stand at more than $51,000 and 1.29, respectively.

Last year, Benchmark had sired the winners of more than $2.8 million through mid-December, including the two-time black-type winners Bench Points, Alywyn and Ducky Drake ($515,939) and the stakes winners Bench the Judge, Markmelauras and Renaissance Queen. He is also the sire of 2003 California Champion Two-Year-Old Male, Don’tsellmeshort, whose first crop are juveniles of this year.

Out of Winters’ Love, a grade II- and grade III-placed winner by Danzig, Benchmark is a half-brother to the dual grade I-winning millionaire Tranquility Lake, the dam of dual grade I winner After Market whose first crop will make their debut at the races this year.

22 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

Standing for a $4,000 Live Foal fee in 2011, Benchmark’s value for money is clearly evident. Like Tribal Rule, he stands at 16 hands and promises to build on an already impressive career at stud.

Bertrando As California’s leading freshman sire of 1997, leading sire of two-year-olds in 1999 and 2001, and leading sire in 2005 and 2007, this 22-year-old son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Skywalker is enjoying a welcome change of scenery at Ballena Vista after spending the first 17 years of his stud career in the Santa Ynez Valley.

The sire of three California champions, the grade Iwinning juvenile Officer ($804,090) who is now a successful sire, the grade I-placed multiple grade II-winning filly Smooth Player ($760,496) and the dual two-year-old stakes winner Pirates Deputy, Bertrando’s progeny earnings stand at nearly $39 million with an average earnings per starter of more than $58,000. He has sired 50 stakes winners and 53 stake-placed runners among his 14 crops of racing age who have an Average Earnings Index (AEI) of 1.42.

Bertrando was the Eclipse Champion Older Male and California Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year in 1993, while his overall racing numbers included three grade I wins and $3,185,610 in earnings from a 24-9-6-2 record. The 1991 California Champion Two-Year-Old Male and 1992 California Champion Three-Year-Old Male is out of the two-time winner Gentle Hands, by Buffalo Lark.

Among his 10 other graded stakes winners are the grade I victors Karelian ($788,675), Unfurl the Flag ($647,935) and Bilo ($535,236), while the 16.2-hand horse’s fee for this year is $8,000 Live Foal.

Dixie Chatter This 2005 son of dual grade I winner Dixie Union retired to stud in 2010, following a 13-race career that included wins in the grade I Norfolk Stakes at two, the $86,800 Oceanside Stakes at three and the grade II, $150,000 Arcadia Handicap as a four-year-old. Besides his Norfolk win, Dixie Chatter’s record on all-weather surfaces also included third-placed finishes in the 2008 editions of the Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes and Affirmed Handicap, both grade III events.

Continued on page 24 www.ctba.com

Thoroughbred Farms In California Cont’d.

Along with his other two black-type victories, his turf resume includes placed efforts in the grade II Oak Tree Derby as a three-year-old and the grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap in 2009. In the latter, he was beaten less than a length by that year’s Eclipse Champion Turf Horse and Older Male, Gio Ponti, so it was not surprising that the $464,606-earner then covered 68 mares at River Edge last year.

Out of the unraced Deputy Minister mare Mini Chat, Dixie Chatter’s second dam is the 1993 Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Phone Chatter, who produced the grade II winner Cat Chat. His female family also includes the like of sires Alias Smith and Auction Ring, as well as the grade I-winning millionaire of 2007, Any Given Saturday, whose first crop are two-year-olds of 2011.

Standing at 16.2 hands, Dixie Chatter is the property of Ballena Vista, Martin and Pam Wygod and Herman Sarkowsky and his fee for this year is $5,000 Live Foal.

Idiot Proof Also expecting his first foals in 2011, this grade Iwinning sprinter earned $1,294,484 in 17 starts for the Wygods who now own him in partnership with Ballena Vista. By the farm’s new Vista resident Benchmark, Idiot Proof’s dam is the winning Bertrando mare Perfectly Pretty and his pedigree includes such names as the graded stakesplaced black-type winner Sky Dreams and multiple stakes winners Most Valiant and Leisure Road.

A winner of his only start at two, Idiot Proof’s sprinting career continued with wins or placings in nine stakes events, five of them as a three-year-old. These sophomore achievements were: wins in the grade I Ancient Title Stakes and grade III Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes; runner-up finishes in the grade I Breeders’ Cup Sprint, group I Dubai Golden Shaheen and $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash Stakes; and a third place effort in the Real Good Deal Stakes.

At four, the 2007 Eclipse Award finalist who set track records of 1:07.47 and 1:07.57 in the Jersey Shore and Ancient Title, respectively, finished second in the Green 24 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

Flash and Phoenix Gold Cup Handicaps and was third in the grade III El Conejo Handicap before calling it a day with a 17-5-5-2 record.

Idiot Proof’s 2011 fee is $2,000 Live Foal and he covered 27 mares last year.

Sea of Secrets After standing at Walmac International in Lexington, Kentucky, during his first six years at stud, Sea of Secrets relocated to Ballena Vista for the 2006 breeding season, the year that 26 of his two-year-olds won 34 races and more than $910,000. By Storm Cat, out of the unraced Mr. Prospector mare Love From Mom, the 16-year-old who stands at 16.1 hands is a half-brother to graded stakes winners Dancing Jon, Fight For Love and Love That Jazz, the latter of who is the dam of multiple grade I winner Society Selection ($1,984,200).

In the five years that Sea of Secrets has been standing in California, his progeny have won 620 races and earned nearly $12 million of the more than $15 million that they have banked overall. Among Sea of Secrets’ leading runners are the fillies Secret Gypsy ($596,926) and Secret Kin, a dual grade II winner and multiple stakes winner, respectively, and the colts Principle Secret and Antonio Magnum, the former of whom is a grade II winner and the latter of whom is a stakes-winning millionaire.

A grade II winner by 8 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita going seven furlongs as a three-year-old, Sea of Secrets is now the sire

Continued on page 26 www.ctba.com

COMMITTED TO BREEDING QUALITY

Rancho San Miguel

STANDING HIS FIRST SEASON IN 2011

Graded Stakes-Winning Miler

The Pamplemousse KAFWAIN – COMFORT ZONE, BY RUBIANO

N 3 wins in 5 starts, including TWO Graded Stakes at Santa Anita 1st Grade 3 Sham S. by six lengths, posting a 107 Beyer!

1st Grade 3 San Rafael S., at one mile, wire to wire N Odds-on Favorite for the G1 Santa Anita Derby before sustaining a career-ending injury.

N Precocious female family of G2 ArlingtonWashington Lassie S. winner SPECIAL WARMTH. N 2011 Fee: $3,500 Live Foal (No booking fee) N Owned by: A Syndicate

BENOIT & ASSOCIATES

N By California’s leading 2YO sire KAFWAIN. Out of a juvenile-winning half-sister to the dam of G1 Hollywood Futurity winner STORMELLO ($700,100).

“The Pamplemousse had more raw ability than any horse I ever trained. Not only was he fast, but he could carry his speed a long way. I really believed he had Classic potential, it was a travesty that he never had a chance to prove it.”

– TRAINER JULIO CANANI

Comic Strip / Marino Marini / McCann’s Mojave Onebadshark / Sought After / Southern Image / Storm Wolf

ALSO STANDING

No Booking Fees for 2011 Seasons / Stud Fees are payable Oct. 1 of year bred

Inquiries to Clay Murdock / P.O. Box 741, San Miguel, CA 93451 PH: (805) 467-3847 / FX: (805) 467-3919 / EM: ransanmig@tcsn.net / www.ranchosanmiguel.net

please visit www.ranchosanmiguel.net for more details on our stallions

Thoroughbred Farms In California Cont’d. of 34 stakes performers, including the dual 2010 black-type winner Hayley’s Halo. Other numbers of his that are impressive, include average earnings per starter of more than $51,000 and nearly 21 starts per runner, 75 percent of whom are winners.

With a fee of $2,500 Live Foal for this year, local breeders would be remiss not to support a sire like Sea of Secrets who has covered more than 45 mares a year on average during the time that he has stood in California.

Tribal Rule Ever since retiring to stud at River Edge in 2001, this 15-year-old son of the legendary sire of sires, Storm Cat, has proven to be the leader of his generation. The leading freshman sire of 2006, with $344,419 in earnings and two stakes victors among his 10 winners, Tribal Rule’s second crop included Georgie Boy ($788,634), the grade I-winning California Champion Two-Year-Old Male of 2007, who was also a dual grade II winner at three and a grade II winner at four.

The Golden State’s leading second-crop and third-crop sire has put together four $1.5 million-plus seasons since 2006, and the 14 stakes winners overall to his name include his first ever winner Rush With Thunder who was grade Iplaced in 2009, the Mexican champion Mexican Loop, the five-time stakes winner Tribesman and the 2010 grade III winner Alphie’s Bet. A two-time winner at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and twice second in his four career starts, all at six furlongs on the dirt, Tribal Rule is out of the multiple winner Sown,

by Grenfall, whose grade I winner Key Phrase is both the dam of successful sire Yankee Gentleman and grand-dam of grade II winner Half Ours whose first crop of two-year-olds will race in 2011. Additionally, Sown is a half-sister to Pirate’s Bounty, the influential River Edge stallion who sired more than 60 stakes winners among his earners of nearly $32 million and was the Golden State’s champion sire three times and twice its leading sire of two-year-olds.

In 2007, Tribal Rule was California’s leading sire of juveniles with earnings of more than $600,000, while his 18 two-

26 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

year-old winners and $460,000-plus in progeny earnings made him the leader in both those categories through Dec. 19 of last year. Overall, he has sired the winners of more than $7.25 million and boasts average earnings per starter of more than $48,000 with an Average Earnings Index (AEI) of 1.51, the third-highest among all active California sires.

Tribal Rule is also the leader when it comes to mares bred in the Golden State during the past four years; after breeding to 168 mares from 2004 to 2006, he has since covered 512 mares with a total 101 of last year and a high of 155 in 2008.

All of the above, as well as his current fee of $6,000 Live Foal, bodes well for Tribal Rule attracting both quality and quantity in terms of mating partners at Ballena Vista in the years to come.

The Best Is Yet To Come Besides this sire power on the breeding side of its operation, Ballena Vista also offers the best boarding, breaking, training, lay-ups and sales preparation services available.

Keeping the farm’s more than 200 equine residents safe and content are: automatic fly control and sprinkler systems in a naturally lighted main barn that features high-density rubber floors and two double-sized foaling stalls; a 55-foot indoor covered round pen that is also used as the breeding area and has fully padded walls and a viewing area; two 60foot AquaTred underwater treadmills; an indoor, six-horse Claydon EquiCiser; a hot walker; dozens of covered individual pens/paddocks; numerous grass pastures—up to 10 acres in size—with shelters; wood and v-mesh fencing throughout; a 400,000-gallon capacity hilltop reservoir fed by five wells on the property that supports a complete underground irrigation system; professionally maintained landscaping; and a quarter-mile dirt oval training track.

Ballena Vista’s graduates include the grade I-winning California Horse of the Year, Joey Franco, the 2007 California champion Spring Awakening and the graded stakes winner Uncle Denny, all of whom have benefited from veterinary, shoeing, safety, nutrition, vaccination, worming and health programs that are second to none.

Don Cohn is committed to the future when he says, “We are confident about continuing our investment in California’s breeding and racing industry because there are some new positives right now.

“The Maiden Bonus Program and the upcoming purse increases at Santa Anita (Park) have and will benefit both the farm and our clients and are good signs that the economic downturn may be coming to an end,” he added.

“We are currently planning a number of additions and improvements to expand the appeal of Ballena Vista, including a state-of-the-art stallion barn, with individual turnout paddocks for each stud, and an adjacent breeding facility.”

Cohn concluded, “Above all, we now have serious sire power and with such offers as our 20 percent volume discount to mare owners who breed four or mare stallions to any of our sires, we are solidly place to be the primary leader when it comes to taking California’s Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry to the next level.”

www.ctba.com

COMMITTED TO BREEDING QUALITY

Ranc Rancho R ncho hho San S n Migu Miguel uel

2011 STALLION ROSTER

Storm S Sto orm W Wolf oollf l

SPEED SPEE ED

THAT THA AT S SIZZLES!

STORMIN S TO ORMIN FEVER – E EXCLUSIVE XC CLUSIVE R ROSETTE, OSETTE, BY

BY ECLIPTICAL ECLIPTIC CA AL

California Gr Graded raded takes Winn Winner SStakes ner by California LLeading e eading SSire ire ST ORMIN FEVER! FEVER! STORMIN NW Won on 3 of 5 lif lifetime etime st starts, ar ts, including a 6-le ength scor e in 6-length score Grade Lazaro Barrera the Gr ade 2 La zaro Barr era Memor ial S 1/5 Memorial S.. in 1:22 1/5.

N Br oke his maide en in his second Broke maiden st ar t b y 7 length hs at S anta start by lengths Santa Anit a posting a 1 a, 04 Be yer!

Anita, 104 Beyer!

By STORM STORM CAT’s CAT’s #1 leading sire son in California Califor o nia with 2010 2010 sire earnings of $3.4 4 million+ and earnings three 2010 2010 Graded Grad ded stakes stakes winners, winners, STORM STORM WOLF WOLF is a full brother brother to to G1-performing, G1-perffor o ming, G3 SW MISTY MISTY three ROSETTE. His His dam dam is is record-setting record-settting t SW EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE ROSETTE. ROSETTE. Gr G aded st akes family family of MIAMI MIA AMI S UN, ROSETTE. Graded stakes SUN, C ONT TA AC CT GAME, GAME, etc.

CONTACT attractive first first ffoals oals will be yearlings yearlings in 2011.

20 011.

His attractive ee: $2,500 $2 00 Liv Li ve F oall NF Fee: Live Foal

please plea ase visit www www.ranchosanmiguel.net .ranchos sanmiguel.net for mor more re details on our stalli stallions ions

BENOIT & ASSOCIATES

Won Santa Anita allowance NW on a S anta A nita allo wance b y 7 1/2 lengths s, set ting by lengths, setting fr actions of :22,, :44 4/5, : 56 fractions 4/5, and 1:09 flflat a ffor at or a 1 01 101 Be yer!

Beyer!

One of the Leading Thoroughbred Farms in California BOARDING, BREEDING & FOALING / SALES PREP & REPRESENTATION / LAY-UPS & REHABILITATION

Marino Ma M arrino i Ma Marini Marrini ini STORM S TO ORM C CAT AT — HAL HALO O AMERIC AMERICA, CA, A B BY YW WAQUOIT AQUO OIT

#1 Leadi Leading ng California Third-Crop Si Sire ire by 2010 Winners & Stak Stakes kes Winners With 2010 With 2010 progeny progeny ear earnings nings of $1.1-million+, $1.1-million+, sire sire of three three 2010 2010 stakes stakes winners winners headed b by y SW MONEY MONE EY LOVER LO OVER (1st $60,400 Alphabet Alphab bet Kisses S.), S.), MSW HOT HOT FUSION FUSION (5 wins in 6 car eer starts), star ts), and undef eated 2-year-old 2-yearr-old SIL LVER SENSATION. SENSATION T . career undefeated SILVER T ot otall pr oge eny earnings earnings i $2 million+! illi !

Total progeny $2,500 Foal O Fee: Fee: $2, ,500 Live Live F oal

McCann’s M cCaann’s M cCann’ Mojave oja oj jav ave ve MEMO M E EMO – JONI U U.. B BAR, AR, A B BY YN NORDIC ORDIC CP PRINCE RINCE

Record-Setting, Record -Setting, Multiple Gradedd Stakes Winner of $1.5 M Million All su surface urface stakes stakes winner including graded graded victories victories at 6 1/2F, 1/2F, 1 1/16 1/1 16 miles, miles, 1 miles (NTR). Def eated 1 5 Gr G ade 1 winner CONG GAREE, and 1 1/8 Defeated 15 Grade winnerss including CONGAREE, HEA ATSEEKER, P ERFECT DRI FT, T, S IL LVER WAGON, WAGON, TIA AG GO, T ASTE O FP AR ARADISE HEATSEEKER, PERFECT DRIFT, SILVER TIAGO, TASTE OF PARADISE and UN FURL THE E FLAG. FLAG. UNFURL Outst anding fir st ffoals oals will be 20 11 yyearlings! e lings! ear Outstanding first 2011 O Fee: Fee: $3,000 Live Live Foal Foal o (Consideration (Consideration to to approved approved d mares) mares)

Sought Soug ghtt A gh After fter ft SEEKING S EEKING THE TH HE GOLD – SMOLENSK, B BY YD DANZIG A AN NZIG

Royally-Bred Royally-B y y Bred Stakes Sire From BES BEST ST IN SHOW’ SHOW’ss Familyy 18 winner 18 winners, s, 3 st stakes akes hor horses, ses, including Del De el Mar stakes stakes performer performer Contr ol Seeker Seeker ($140,374) ($140,37 74) 4 and 2010 2010 SP Mom’s Mom’s Intuition.

Intuition. Proven Proven sire sire line. line. Exceptional Exceptional Control ffemale emale ffamily am mily of B LUSH W ITH P RIDE (g’ ’dam of RAGS RAGS TO TO RICHES, RICHES, etc.)

Broodmare etcc.) and Broodmare BLUSH WITH PRIDE (g’dam of the Y ear e rB EST IN S HOW. Year BEST SHOW. O Fee: Fee: $2, ,500 Live Live F oal $2,500 Foal

Southern Sout Souther uth thern Im Image mage HALO’S HAL O’S IMA IMAGE GE E – PLEA PLEASANT SANT A DIXIE DIXIE, E, B BY Y DIXIELAN DIXIELAND ND B BAND A AND

California’s Californi ia’s #1 Leading Second-C Second-Crop Crop Sire by money and winners w $1.4 $1 .4 million+ in 2010 2010 progeny progeny ear earnings nings and 44 winners winners 5 curr entt st akes hor ses, including rrecord-setting ecorrd-setting SW SOUTHERN SOUTHERN FIREBALL, FIR REBALL, current stakes horses, P rivilaged d (3r dS wale S .-G2), Mallory Mallory Sq quare (3rd (3rd Florida Florida Oaks-G3), Oaks-G3), and a 2010 2010 Privilaged (3rd Swale S.-G2), Square mutiple e stakes-placed stakes-placed Southern Southern Ridge Ridg ge (3rd (3rd $175,000 $175,000 Long Branch Branch S., S., etc.) mutiple Fee: $4,000 Live L Live Foal Foal O Fee:

ALSO ALSO STANDING STANDING A

Comic Str S Strip trrip tr ip / Onebadsh ip Oneb Onebadshark ebadssha shaaark rrkk / The Th he P Pa Pamplemousse amplemouss amp mplem lemou mouss ssse

N No o Booking Fees Fees ffor or 20 2011 11 Seasons / Stud Stud Fees Fees are are payable pa ayable Oct. Oct 1 of y year ear bred bred Inquiries Inquir ies tto o Cla Clay y Mur Murdock dock / P P.O. .O. Bo Box x7 741, 4 41, S San an Miguel, C CA A 93451 PH: (805) 467 7-384 - 47 / FX: (805) 467 7-391 9 / EM: E rransanmig@tcsn.net ansanmig@tcsn.net / www w .ranchosanmiguel.net 467-3847 467-3919 www.ranchosanmiguel.net

F E A T U R E

Sunshine Millions

Cal-Breds Set To Make An Impact At Sunshine Millions IX

by EMILY SHIELDS

©Kneland

Evening Jewel, who made her second career start on a conventional dirt surface when finishing third behind Dubai Majesty in the grade I, $909,000 Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 5, could run in the Distaff. To date, the daughter of Northern Afleet is a grade I winner on both grass and all-weather surfaces.

In addition to great racing action, Santa Anita will host their first-ever Gourmet Food Truck Festival, featuring 16 food trucks from around Southern California. Also, the first 15,000 fans through the gates will receive a large Sunshine Millions cooler bag, which is free with their admission. The bag can accommodate 18 cans of beverages.

Gulfstream Park will play host to the day’s biggest prize, the $500,000 Classic Stakes for older horses going 1 1/8 miles. The $300,000 Filly and Mare Turf Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the grass and the six-furlong, $200,000 Filly and Mare Sprint Sakes will also be contested on the east coast.

Cal-breds regularly have a disadvantage in the Florida races because few trainers bother to ship across the country when there is such a strong state-bred program at home.

Despite that, seven Cal-breds have captured Sunshine Millions races at Gulfstream, including McCann’s Mojave and Musique Toujours in the 2007 and 2005 Classics, respectively.

In all, 20 Cal-breds have reached the wire first in the eight previous Sunshine Millions events. Last year, the tough old campaigner Bold Chieftain won the Classic in a stirring finish, just hours after Quisisana defeated the aforementioned Dubai Majesty by a nose in the Filly and Mare Sprint. After a banner year rich in graded stakes wins, Calbreds are sure to make an impact at this year’s Sunshine Millions IX day.

©Benoit

©Benoit

The ninth annual Sunshine Millions, a $1.8 million event beloved by racing fans rain or shine, is slated for Saturday, Jan. 29.

The best California-breds and Florida-breds will face each other in the bicoastal event, with three races contested at both Santa Anita Park in Arcadia and Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The races alternate venues each year.

A return to a traditional dirt surface at Santa Anita will provide added intrigue in the $300,000 Distaff Stakes, a 1 1/8mile race for older fillies and mares, as well as the $200,000 Sprint Stakes for older horses going six furlongs. The $300,000 Turf Stakes Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino will highlight the card, which begins at noon.

W.C. Racing, Westside Rentals.com and Neil Haymes’ Enriched is one Cal-bred pointing towards the Turf. He will hope to emulate his half-brother Lava Man, who dominated the $500,000 Turf in 2007, one year after winning the $1 million Classic. Trainer Doug O’Neil, who also conditioned Lava Man, reported that Enriched is in “excellent” shape and should return to heavy training in time for the race.

Enriched’s state-bred competition may be scarce; Liberian Freighter, a grade II winner on the grass, is likely to bypass the race as trainer Neil Drysdale feels that the distance is too long for the mile specialist. The connections of Cal-bred stars Colgan’s Chip and Bruce’s Dream will face similar a dilemma. The Usual Q.T., a grade I winner at the distance and on the surface, could be primed for a top effort while training forwardly at Santa Anita. He finished a dull ninth and last as the even-money favorite in the Classic last year over the old all-weather surface.

Enriched

30 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

The Usual Q. T.

Evening Jewel

www.ctba.com

Among the 25 leading Freshmen standing in California, Florida and Kentucky,

LUCKY PULPIT

has the Second-Highest Average Earnings per Runner.

Stallion

Runners

"ERNARDINI

Lucky Pulpit

Winners

9

Avg. per Runner

8

$29,808

7AR &RONT

#ONGRATS

-ASS -EDIA

"LUEGRASS #AT

3HARP (UMOR

&IRST 3AMURAI

"ELLAMY 2OAD

7ITH $ISTINCTION

&LOWER !LLEY

"ORREGO

0OMEROY

)MPERIALISM

! 0 7ARRIOR

$A 3TOOPS

!RTIE 3CHILLER

!RAGORN

"ADGE OF 3ILVER

2OCKPORT (ARBOR

3ILVER 4RAIN

3UAVE

4HE $ADDY

5NBRIDLED %NERGY

(ENNY (UGHES

!VAILABLE STATISTICS IN .ORTHERN (EMISPHERE THROUGH $ECEMBER PROVIDED BY %QUINELINE #O

Leading 2010 Freshman Sire in California Fee: $2,500 Live Foal 0ULPITn,UCKY 3OPH BY #OZZENE s 0ROPERTY OF -R AND -RS ,ARRY $ 7ILLIAMS &EE PAYABLE AT FOALING s .OMINATED TO THE "REEDERS #UP

7 /AKLAND !VE s #OALINGA #! *OHN # (ARRIS 0RESIDENT s $AVID % -C'LOTHLIN (ORSE $IVISION -ANAGER s $R *EANNE "OWERS 2ESIDENT 6ETERINARIAN 4EL OR s &AX s WWW HARRISFARMS COM s % -AIL DAVEMCGLOTHLIN HARRISFARMS COM

Peter And Barbara Walski: Worth The Gamble

CTBA Member Profile

by EMILY SHIELDS

From their five-acre lot in Chino Hills, Peter and Barbara Walski are only a few miles away from Fairplex Park in Pomona. They have made their mark at the bullring fair oval over the last 15 years, snapping up stakes victories with a seemingly endless brigade of runners primed for the meet. In 2011, however, the Walskis are hoping to be major players at all of the California racetracks, courtesy of their stallion Awesome Gambler, whose first foals are scheduled to hit the track in the spring.

Peter Walski grew up in Winona, Minnesota, but moved at the first opportunity. “Let’s just say I had a scholarship to go to Notre Dame and I turned it down because I was tired of the cold,” he joked. He found himself at the University of California at Santa Barbara excelling as an athlete in both football and baseball. He went on to play professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers minor league system before serving time in the United States Marine Corps. Peter met Barbara, a Texas native, and they were wed in 1966.

He and Barbara are partners not only in life, but also in business as well. They founded the ClassicPlan Insurance Premium Financing Program in 1984. “I’m the one who says we’re going to do something,” Peter says with a laugh, “and Barbara is the

one who sits there and says, ‘No, we’re not. We’re going to do this.’”

The same year they were married, the couple got involved in horse racing. “We had a friend who had a Quarter Horse and he ran it on a Friday and it won, and then on Saturday and it won, and I got excited and bought it,” Walski recalled.

When their trainer Caesar Dominguez made the switch to Thoroughbreds—and the higher purses were pointed out— the Walskis, who have been California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (CTBA) members since 1991, followed.

Success came soon after, starting with a filly named Fit to Lead.

The Walskis purchased Fit to Lead, a daughter of Fit to Fight, for $10,500 at the 1991 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Their intention was to pinhook her at the Barretts March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, but their luck in Pomona may have started there as Fit to Lead did not meet her reserve at $19,000 and was bought back. “She ended up keeping us in the game,” Walski said.

After debuting with a maiden win at Hollywood Park in 1992, Fit to Lead won an allowance race at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and then even unsuccessfully tried males in the grade III, $79,650 Balboa Stakes. In January of her sophomore season, Fit to Lead

Awesome Gambler (Lovacres Ranch) Coronado’s Quest—Wedding March, by Deputy Minister

Fit To Lead Grade II Santa Ynez Breeders’ Cup Stakes—January 31, 1993

photos ©Benoit

F E A T U R E

34 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

scored by 5 1/2 lengths in the grade II, $107,500 Santa Ynez Breeders’ Cup Stakes. The Walskis sold her after that effort for $400,000, but did have to watch as Fit to Lead went on to capture the grade II, $106,000 Princess Stakes later in the spring, as well as both the grade II, $212,500 Louisville Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap and grade III, $164,700 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs in 1995.

Search Me, a Florida-bred son of Regal Search, came along soon afterwards. He broke his maiden in the $49,000 Beau Brummel Stakes at Fairplex Park on Sept. 12, 1997, at odds of 15-1. He went on to run competitively against the best of his generation in late 1997 and early 1998, and almost exactly a year after his debut win, he returned to Fairplex Park to finish second in the $50,000 Foothill Stakes.

She’s Classy debuted in 1999, breaking her maiden at first asking by 1 3/4 lengths. She finished third behind subsequent Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Chilukki, in the grade I, $250,000 Vinery Del Mar Debutante Stakes and was the runner-up in the grade I, $380,250 Hollywood Starlet Stakes behind Surfside, who would win an Eclipse Award in 2000. Although She’s Classy was consistent and tussled with the best of her generation, her lone stakes win came at Fairplex Park in that year’s $50,000 Bustles and Bows Stakes. She retired with $247,889 in earnings, and the Walskis sold her for $525,000 at the 2001 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Wind Flow, a daughter of Cal-bred champion Indian Charlie, followed. A $24,000 weanling purchase, Wind Flow won five races, including three stakes, in her short seven-start career. In 2003, she dominated in the $48,000 Bustles and Bows Stakes at Fairplex Park, winning by seven lengths. “She was ready for a grade I,” Walski said, “but she injured her knee.

We sold her in foal to Forestry.” Wind Flow brought $500,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton November Selected Mixed Sale.

The Walski’s dominance at Fairplex Park continued last

F E A T U R E

season when their now newly-turned three-year-old homebred daughter of A.P. Warrior, Faisca, won the $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes. She suffered a ligament strain after that effort and was forced to miss the California Cup Juvenile Fillies Sakes, a race won by Swiss Wild Cat, whom Faisca had just dusted by 5 1/4 lengths. Faisca has earned $63,320 with two wins and a third in five starts.

For all their racing success, it is in the breeding shed that the Walskis anticipate great things. “We honestly feel that Awesome Gambler is going to be the leading sire in California next year,” Peter said. Awesome Gambler, who turned seven on Jan. 1, is a son of the dual grade I winner Coronado’s Quest. As a juvenile, Awesome Gambler finished second in the $64,350 Gateway to Glory Stakes at Fairplex, then won the $80,800 Alydar Stakes at Hollywood Park the following summer. He bowed a tendon shortly after and was retired with two wins and a second in six starts.

“We’re looking for big things from him,” Walski said. “People who have Awesome Gamblers in training want to breed back to him.” Walski believes in supporting the stallion; he purchased Vanity Handicap (grade I) winner Victory Encounter to breed to Awesome Gambler, and reports that a half-sister to grade II winner One Caroline is also booked to him for 2011.

Awesome Gambler stands at Terry Lovinger’s Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs for $3,000 Live Foal. His first two crops are large; he bred 78 mares in 2008 and 84 mares in 2009. “Terry is really high on Awesome Gambler and is anxiously awaiting the day when he can unveil them,” Walski said. “We don’t think they will be too precocious, but you won’t believe how much ground these babies cover.

And the money is in distance races.”

Keep an eye out for the Walski’s selection of Awesome Gamblers to be sold at the Barretts May Sale of Two-YearOlds in training this year, and if one of the Walski’s runners is entered at Fairplex Park, it may be worth a bet.

©Benoit

Faisca $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes—September 17, 2010

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 35

F E A T U R E

California Sires

by RUDI GROOTHEDDE

The Golden State’s New Stallions For 2011

Elusive Warning

©Benoit

Elusive Warning, 2004 (Elusive Quality—Valid Warning, by Valid Appeal) $4,000-Live Foal Standing at Madera Thoroughbreds in Madera From the Mr. Prospector sire line, this group III-winning grandson of Gone West is out of a dual stakes winner and is from the family of sire Gilded Time, the Eclipse Champion Two-YearOld Male and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner of 1992.

Forest Command, 2005 (Monarchos—Forest Secrets, by Forest Wildcat) $2,500-Live Foal Standing at Oak Hill Farm in Paso Robles From the Raise a Native sire line, this grade II-placed winning grandson of Maria’s Mon is out of a grade I winner and is from the family of Silverbulletday, the Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies winner of 1998.

Global Hunter (Arg), 2003 (Jade Hunter—Griffe de Paris (Brz), by Telescopico (Arg) $2,500-Live Foal Standing at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez From the Mr. Prospector sire line, this grandson of that sire of sires is a half-brother to five stakes horses, including group I winners Lady de Paris (Brz) and Genereux (Arg), dual group Iplaced group II winner House of Lords (Brz) and group III winner King de Paris (Brz).

Grace Upon Grace, 2007 (Rio Verde—Chasing Wind, by Mining) $2,000-Live Foal Standing at Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs From the Northern Dancer sire line, this dual stakes-placed winning grandson of Nureyev is a half-brother to the graded stakes-placed multiple stakes winner Rgirldoesn’bluff and is from the family of the stakes-winning sire Ringaro.

Many Rivers, 2005 (Storm Cat—Christmas in Aiken, by Affirmed) $3,000-Live Foal Standing at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville From the Northern Dancer sire line, this stakes-placed winning grandson of Storm Bird is a half-brother to the multiple grade I-winning sire Harlan’s Holiday and is from the family of sires Boldnesian, Fordham and Lords.

The Pamplemousse, 2006 (Kafwain—Comfort Zone, by Rubiano) $3,500-Live Foal Standing at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel From the Nasrullah sire line, this dual graded stakes-winning grandson of Cherokee Run is out of a winning half-sister to five stakes horses, including the dual stakes winners Consent, Special Alert and Special Moves.

©Photo by Z

Retiring To Stud In California

Global Hunter

Relocating To Stud In California

38

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

Olmodavor

©Pat Woodington

Ex Marks the Cop, 1995 (In Excess (Ire)—Crystal Cop, by Crystal Water) $1,000 Live Foal Standing at Kristal Creek Ranch in Nuevo From the Caro (Ire) sire line, this stakes-winning grandson of Siberian Express is a full brother to the stakes winner and sire, Ex Federali, from the family of the 13-time stakes winner Quicken Tree. He is the sire of the multiple stakes-winning champion Ex Mountain Cop among his 60 percent winners from starters.

Olmodavor, 1999 (A.P. Indy—Corrazona, by El Gran Senor) $5,000-Live Foal Standing at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez From the Seattle Slew sire line, this grade I-placed dual graded stakes-winning grandson of that sire of sires is out of a grade I-winning half-sister to the grade I-winning sire Thirty Six Red. He is already the sire of a group II-winning two-year-old among his earners of more than $2.5 million from three crops of racing age.

Pure Thrill, 2007 (Belong to Me—Swill, by Shadeed) $1,500-Live Foal Standing at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville From the Northern Dancer sire line, this unraced grandson of Danzig is a half-brother to the multiple stakes winners Pheiffer and Thrill After Dark and is from the family of champions Boby Seraf and Catira Parts. He stood his first season at stud in Idaho during 2010.

Statistics included on this page are through December 19, 2010.

Pure Thrill

www.ctba.com

• Multiple graded stakes-placed winner of $158,556, won from 7 furlongs to 1 mile, including third place finish in the $500.000 Super Derby (G2) and the Ack Ack H. (G3).

• By Classic winner MONARCHOS ($1,720,830), sire of Champion Sprinter INFORMED DECISION ($1,954,426, G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint).

• Out of multiple graded stakes winner FOREST SECRETS ($604,453), including Acorn Stakes (GI), Rampart H. (G2), Fall City H. (G3), 2nd Distaff H. (G2), Sabin H. (G3).

• From the family of champion 2 and 3 year-old filly SILVERBULLETDAY ($3,093,207).

Winter Wonderland

F E A T U R E

Regional Sales

by LISA GROOTHEDDE Scheduled as the state’s first Thoroughbred auction of the new year, the 2011 Barretts January Mixed Sale will take place during a period of widespread uncertainty for the California Thoroughbred industry.

The murky futures of both Hollywood Park and the Oak Tree Racing Association, the possible sale of Del Mar Fairgrounds and the debut of an unproven dirt racing surface at Santa Anita Park are all on the forefront. Will the recently enacted increase in takeout on exotic wagers improve California purses as expected? Will angry handicappers make good on their promise to boycott the state’s product? How will the new governor, Jerry Brown, prioritize racing-related issues during the dawn of his administration?

These questions—along with the constant worries of a weak economy—are just some of the sources of wonder serving as a backdrop for the annual sale, which will be hosted by Barretts Equine Limited at Fairplex on Monday, Jan. 24. But for buyers who envision California’s glass as half-full despite these uncertainties, the single session starting at 10 a.m. in Pomona will provide ample opportunities to replenish their bloodstock holdings with its diverse catalog of 390 listings: 148 broodmares, 97 twoyear-olds, 93 yearlings, 50 horses of racing age and two stallions.

During a dual-session renewal of the auction last January, 275 horses were reported as sold from the 447 offered, resulting in gross sales of $2,013,000 and an average price of $7,320. The median was $3,200, the buy-back rate was 38.5 percent and the sale-topper sold for $65,000.

Heading the largest delegation among the 27 consignors and agents participating this year is Andy Havens, whose five Havens Bloodstock Agency consignments comprise 107 entries. Among his offerings are two notable juveniles: a Cindago half-sister to the 2010 California-bred dual grade I-winning millionaire Evening Jewel and a Comic Strip filly who shares a second dam with the grade I-winning California champion Romance Is Diane.

The stakes winner Iza Bay, dam of the grade I-placed multiple stakes winner La Nez, is listed under the Havens banner alongside the broodmare prospect Endangered Forest, a Forestry filly from the immediate family of the dual grade I winner and multiple graded stakes producer Tranquility Lake who is being offered on behalf of Golden Eagle Farm.

Agent Sam Hendricks will bring a 41-member string of horses, including a yearling colt by Swiss Yodeler from the family of 2010 El Encino Stakes (grade II) winner Pretty Unusual.

The catalog also features 40 horses from consignor 42

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

River Edge Farm, including Whisper Louder. The Salt Lake mare counts 2009 grade I winner Interpatation among her closest relatives, and sells in foal to Tribal Rule. The same stallion is represented elsewhere in the consignment, most notably as the sire of a two-year-old half-sister to the Argentina champion Miss Linda (Arg) and a yearling half-brother to Leanessa, the winning dam of Cal-bred 2009 Malibu Stakes (grade I) winner M One Rifle.

Applebite Farms, which recently announced its pending closure, is offering 29 horses. Among those listed in the farm’s complete dispersal are the broodmare Tizakitty, a stakes winner whose dam is a full sister to 2000 Eclipse Horse of the Year Tiznow, and a Jet West yearling colt out of the stakes-placed winner Poetry Miss, a half-sister to the grade I-winning sire Songandaprayer.

Several other noteworthy horses will be led through the Barretts sales ring later this month.

Harris Farms is consigning Lite Stepper, a full sister to the Cal-bred grade I winner Greg’s Gold who sells in foal to 2007 Eclipse Champion Turf Horse English Channel, while H & E Ranch is offering Your Special Day, a juvenile Kafwain filly from the prolific family of grade I winners Victory Ride and River Flyer.

The Malibu Valley Farms contingent includes Glamorous Miss, a Northern Afleet half-sister to 2002 California Champion Two-Year-Old Female Humorous Lady who is carrying a foal by Southern Image, while the NexStar LLC consignment includes the stakes-winning mare Miss Nicolie, the dam of 2009 California Champion Two-YearOld Female Repo.

Trotinette, by Unusual Heat, heads the West 12 Ranch consignment as a broodmare from the family of the Cal-bred dual grade II winner Queenie Belle and her millionaire daughter, 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (grade I) heroine Unrivaled Belle; she sells in foal to Sought After. Meanwhile, the Robannier filly Charm a Robber, representing the family of two-time grade I winner Tout Charmant, is being handled by agent Tat Yakutis’ Yakutis Enterprises as part of the first phase of a Walter Family Trust dispersal.

Other leading California stallions represented as covering sires are Benchmark, Bertrando and Sea of Secrets of Ballena Vista Farm, Vessels Stallion Farm’s In Excess (Ire), Kafwain and Old Topper of Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, the Harris Farms trio of Lucky Pulpit, Swiss Yodeler and Unusual Heat and Golden Eagle Farm’s Stormin Fever.

To receive a catalog for the 2011 Barretts January Mixed Sale, call (909) 629-3099. The entries also may be viewed online at www.barretts.com. www.ctba.com

POPLAR MEADOWS Sanger, California

(626) 340-8695 • (559) 292-5003 bedfordfalls@poplarmeadows.net Ask about our $125,000 Bedford Falls Bonus Program!

For more information, including free eNicks for your mares, visit www.thoroughbredinfo.com/showcase/bedfordfalls.htm

PEDIGREE: California’s only stallion by STORM CAT’s G1-winning sire of sires, FORESTRY, is a winning half-brother to G1-winning sire HARLAN’S HOLIDAY PHYSICAL: Sold for $1.1 million as a Keeneland yearling PERFORMANCE: Won or placed in 11 of 15 starts POTENTIAL: HARLAN’S HOLIDAY has sired 18 SWs (7 GSWs) in four crops, including 2010 G1 winner MAJESTICPERFECTION. Progeny earnings of $14 million and counting!

PREPOTENCY: Achieved a 97% in-foal rate during his first two breeding seasons

The Grade California-Breds

Cost Of Freedom: Outrunning His Age

by EMILY SHIELDS Someone forgot to tell Cost of Freedom that he should act his age.

Although he turned eight on Jan. 1, 2011, the age by which time most Thoroughbreds have long been retired or are toiling in claiming races, Cost of Freedom is in the prime of his career. The son of Cee’s Tizzy won three stakes races at Hollywood Park in the period of 43 days, beginning with a dominating victory in the $100,000 California Cup Sprint Sakes on Oct. 30, 2010, and culminating with a track record-breaking performance in the $71,706 Miles Tyson Stakes on Dec. 11.

In between the two, Cost of Freedom took the grade III, $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25. It was his second graded stakes win of the year; he also won Hollywood Park’s grade III, $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap in June.

The career revival can perhaps be attributed to the jockey change to Joe Talamo. After three straight losses, Talamo climbed aboard for the first time at Cal Cup XXI, and the resounding 6 1/4-length victory silenced any doubts about Cost of Freedom’s health and fitness. The pair were sent off at even money in the Underwood, despite the presence of 2010 grade I winner E Z’s Gentleman and former Australian Horse of the Year, Scenic Blast (Aus).

Cost of Freedom broke a step slowly, but within a few strides he had run through the field to take the lead. He maintained a widening advantage over the other five runners throughout the six-furlong contest until he rushed under the wire 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Gato Go Win and Scenic Blast, stopping the clock in 1:08.46.

Cost of Freedom’s victory was the ninth by a Californiabred in the Vernon O. Underwood. Grade I winners Johnny Eves, Bordonaro and Debonair Joe also won the race this decade, and Cost of Freedom now joins their ranks; he became a grade I winner in 2008, when adding the grade I, $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes to his impressive resume.

A $50,000 claim by trainer John Sadler for Gary and Cecil Barber on July 28, 2008, Cost of Freedom has proven to be quite lucrative. Through the Vernon O. Underwood, he had won half of his 20 career starts with a second, three thirds and earnings of $812,263.

Harris Farms bred and foaled Cost of Freedom from their classy Moscow Ballet mare Freedom Dance. Born in 1995, she was a reliable claimer, taking nine of 17 starts and earning $136,922. Her consistency runs in the family; she is out of the stakes-winning Imasmartee mare In True Form, making her a half-sister to seven other winners. In True Form produced stakes winner Truly Needy, who won 16 times in 50 starts, and dual black-type victor Top of Our Game, who earned $366,039. All four of Freedom Dance’s foals to race have been winners.

If Cost of Freedom holds his form into the New Year, he could become yet another Cal-bred millionaire. His first goal of 2011 will be either the grade II, $150,000 Palos Verdes Stakes on Jan. 22, or the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint a week later. Due to Cost of Freedom’s affinity for all-weather surfaces, the Barbers have even mentioned the possibility of heading to the United Arab Emirates for the group I, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen in March. Whatever his path, Cost of Freedom will continue to try and outrun his age.

Grade III Vernon O. Underwood Stakes Hollywood Park—Thursday, November 25, 2010

©Benoit photos

F E A T U R E

46 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

• Graded stakes winner of $553,416, was a versatile performer who won at distances from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles from the ages of 2 to 6.

• Established a new course record at Keeneland in the Gr. III Central Bank Transylvania Stakes.

• Finished second in the Grade III Virginia Derby to ENGLISH CHANNEL defeating REBEL REBEL. Finshed third in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes to GUN SALUTE and ENGLISH CHANNEL. • By Breeders’ Cup Mile winner WAR CHANT, sire of 25 stakes winners, including 2010 stakes winners CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE ($1,045,459) and DONCASTER ROVER. • Out of graded stakes-winning mare BUFFALO BERRY (IRE), who finished third to European champion FASLIYEV the Group I Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes and winner of the Reeve Schley Jr. Stakes.

2011 FEE: FREE TO APPROVED MARES-LIVE FOAL Property of a Partnership

SUE HUBBARD & ASSOCIATES INQUIRIES TO SUE HUBBARD 76945 INDIAN VALLEY ROAD, SAN MIGUEL, CALIFORNIA 93451 • PHONE/FAX (805) 467-3839 E-MAIL: SUEHUBBARDASSOCIATES@GMAIL.COM

Multiple graded stakes winner of $1,032,400, including the prestigious Gr. II Bernard Baruch Hcp. defeating Breeders’ Cup Classic winner VOLPONI. Won 13 races from 2 to 9, earning Triple Digit Beyers in 11 races. He won or placed in 12 graded stakes races at 10 major race tracks, including Hialeah, Saratoga and Pimlilco.

Son of champion THEATRICAL (IRE) ($2,840,500), among the leading turf sires with 84 stakes winners, including champions HISHI AMAZON, ZAGREB, THEORETICALLY and TULLAMORE. Out of 100% producer, stakes winners PRANKSTRESS, dam of stakes winner, Gr. I stakes-placed ADEL, and Gr. III-placed Striesen. Granddam of Grade II WALKSLIKEADUCK ($418,354) and FORESTRY TYPE (at 3, 2010, $87,912).

DIAMOND F RANCH

Inquiries to Dave Ferguson Cell: (530) 205-7650 or Ingrid Elizabeth Truman Cell: (702) 885-7444 13561 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, California 95949 PHONE (530) 272-3781/FAX (530) 272-3776 e-mail: diamond-f-ranch@hotmail.com

F E A T U R E

Racing In Southern California

Cal-Bred Highs And Lows At Hollywood Park

by EMILY SHIELDS Slew would go postward on Nov. 28, in the $71,130 Wild Harmony Stakes, for a rematch with Dance With Gable.

The field of six runners broke in order and jockey Joe Talamo got Dance With Gable out quickly. They sped the six-furlong distance over a firm turf course clear of the field, leading by as much as 2 1/2 lengths before coasting home to score by 1 1/4 lengths over Afleet Ruler with My Summer Slew a futher length back in third. The winner stopped the clock in 1:08.48.

Dance With Gable is out of the Capote mare Garbo, who placed only once in five starts, but has gone on to produce seven winners. Dance With Gable had won two stakes races in 2009, the $81,000 California State Fair Sprint Handicap at Cal Expo in Sacramento and the $54,280 California Sky Stakes during Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meet. He is owned by Arbitrage Stable, Pro Selection Stable, Avila, and partners and was bred by Blooming Hills Inc. Michael Machowsky conditions the honest runner, who now has a record of 26-11-5-3 with earnings of $357,135.

A Record-Breaking Effort The $71,706 Miles Tyson Stakes on Dec. 11 seemed a strange spot to enter Cost of Freedom, a wickedly fast older sprinter who had already taken two stakes races over the track in six weeks. Trainer John Sadler cited the soon-to-be eight-year-old gelding’s love for the all-weather strip and the unknown factor of Santa Anita’s new dirt surface as the reason for taking one final shot with Cost of Freedom this fall.

After Cost of Freedom had won the $100,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes on Oct. 30, and the grade III, $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes on Nov. 25, both in impressive fashion, other trainers had no interest in facing him. Only four runners went to post for the Miles Tyson, with Cost of Freedom a commanding 2-5 favorite.

Dance With Gable

$71,130 Wild Harmony Stakes—November 28, 2010

©Benoit photos

Torrential rains caused the cancellation of the closing day of last year’s Autumn meet at Hollywood Park on Dec. 19.

Due to excessive water where the six-furlong chute and main track meet, only two of the day’s nine races were conducted.

California-breds were affected in that the closing stakes race of the meet, the $75,000 On Trust Handicap for statebreds, was also cancelled.

Despite the meet’s early end, Hollywood Park and wagering in the southern part of the state experienced a bit of a revival this fall. Daily average attendance in Southern California was up 7.2 percent from the year before, and average daily handle generated in the area was up eight percent. The numerous changes in the state’s racing product, such as an extended race meeting at Hollywood Park following the track’s first Oak Tree Racing Association meet, which had previously been run at Santa Anita Park for 41 years, had caused concern, but the track’s President, Jack Liebau, was encouraged. “We were heartened by the overall results of the meet,” he said.

The cancellation of the On Trust Handicap left only one Cal-bred restricted stakes race at the meet, the Cat’s Cradle Handicap which was won by Ultra Blend. However, state runners came through elsewhere, as Dance With Gable won the Wild Harmony Stakes and Cost of Freedom took the Miles Tyson Stakes.

Revenge Is Sweet Dance With Gable seemed to be on the hunt for revenge. The six-year-old gelded son of Dance Floor had won two of his five 2010 starts, but was coming off consecutive losses to classy fellow Cal-breds, the first to My Summer Slew and the second to the freakish Caracortado.

While three-year-old Caracortado prepared for the grade I, $250,000 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park, My Summer

50 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

Despite the short field, the race didn’t appear to be a walkover on paper. Cal-bred Quick Enough was coming off an out-of-the-money finish in the grade III, $909,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and prior to that had won the grade III, $100,000 Morvich Handicap. Before finishing fifth behind Cost of Freedom in the Vernon O. Underwood, Kentucky-bred Square Deal had won two straight Hollywood Park allowance races.

Undeterred by the competition, Cost of Freedom turned in another breathtakingly effortless display of speed. He and Talamo sizzled the five-furlong distance in :56.14, breaking the previous track record of :56.68 set by Necessary Evil in May of 2009. Cost of Freedom was 4 1/2 lengths in front at the wire, having simply run his rivals off their feet. Quick Enough finished second.

Cost of Freedom, a son of Cee’s Tizzy, is owned by Gary and Cecil Barber and was bred by Harris Farms. His record includes 11 wins in 21 starts with a second and three thirds.

Cost of Freedom has earned $857,983.

A Winning Combination Cal-bred Cat’s Cradle was a blazing force of speed on the racetrack. The 1992 daughter of Flying Paster earned $807,808 while winning 10 of her 26 starts for Ridder Thor-

oughbred Sable. The grade I and grade II winner has been unable to reproduce herself in the breeding shed, but the memory of her prowess lives on via a race bearing her name run each year.

The 7 1/2-furlong, $80,400 race run on Dec. 12, brought together a strong field of state-bred fillies. Defending champion U R All That I Am was back, along with 2010 stakes winners Warren’s Jitterbug and Camille C. The post time favorite, however, was Ultra Blend, a four-year-old daughter of Richly Blended who was exiting a win in the $100,000 Cal Cup Matron Stakes. She and jockey Joel Rosario raced fifth in a six-horse field, taking back early off the pace set by Camille C and Word Association, before closing three-wide into the lane. By the time they reached the wire, Ultra Blend was 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Word Association with Warren’s Jitterbug gaining to be third.

The final time was 1:29.76.

Art Sherman has conditioned Ultra Blend to a record of 17-7-4-4; the Cat’s Cradle was her third stakes victory in six starts this year. Out of the Desert Classic mare Ankha, Ultra Blend was bred by BnD Chase Thoroughbreds and Elven Adams. She has earned $367,646 for owner Nels Erickson.

Cost of Freedom

Ultra Blend

$71,706 Miles Tyson Sakes—December 11, 2010

$80,400 Cat’s Cradle Handicap—December 12, 2010

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 51

F E A T U R E

To Reserve your advertising space and for rate information in our next issue of the

California Thoroughbred WEEKLY please contact: Loretta Veiga (800) 573-2822 ext. 227 or email loretta@ctba.com If you wish to be added to the email list please contact: Christy Chapman (800) 573-2822 ext. 247 or email christy@ctba.com

CARMA: A New Frontier In Thoroughbred Retirement

Industry Insight

by MARCIE HEACOX The California Retirement Management Account There were 18 charities eligible for CARMA funding in (CARMA) is a one-of-a-kind Thoroughbred retirement 2010. The majority are located in California, but a couple charity that derives the majority of its revenues through a of groups from other states also receive aid. To qualify, a percentage of racing purses. retirement organization must be an IRS-approved “Other states that work with retired Thoroughbreds are 501(c)(3) charity that provides services to horses that have actively trying to find a way to get the same thing done. competed in at least one California race. CARMA repreHaving a steady stream of funds relieves the pressure of sentatives conduct inspections of the facilities and horse knowing where you're going to get the next bale of hay care. Every organization must re-apply each year to ensure from,” said Lucinda Mandella, the Director of Owner Ser- continued compliance. vices for the Thoroughbred Owners It’s also important that a charity of California (TOC) who also is able to raise sufficient funds on its works for CARMA. own. “Nobody would be able to supThe TOC had researched the port an operation based solely on topic of equine retirement for the amount of money we give months before proposing a rule them,” Auerbach said. “We help change to the California Horse Racmake their job a little easier.” ing Board (CHRB). On Dec. 14, CARMA has always looked for 2007, the CHRB approved a 0.3 persupport from trainers, jockeys, racetracks cent earmark on net purse earnings to and other organizations, whom Auerfund Thoroughbred retirement bach said also have a responsibility to facilities. Owners can opt out of the care for retired racehorses. Their support program, but 80 percent chose to is especially important in this weak participate this year. economy that has caused reduced purses CARMA, a 501(c)(3) charity, was and therefore reduced funding for created to manage the account.

CARMA. Owner/breeder Madeline Auerbach is Racetracks have been the most supchair of its diverse 14-member board portive, by far. Hollywood Park and of directors that includes Ron Charles, Bay Meadows Racecourse both donated Drew J. Couto, Trevor Denman, Dr. proceeds from DVD sales. Del Mar and Jeff Elea, DVM, Jennifer Hagan, Jan Santa Anita help by providing facilities Hawthorne, Marsha Naify, Janet and publicity.

Rome, John Sadler, Samantha Siegel, Aside from allocating aid, Mike Smith, Gary Stevens and Howard CARMA also attempts to unify the Zucker. Mandella is CARMA’s only Carma Director Janet Rome with her husband Jim, industry on the issue of equine retireemployee, at part-time, but she said ment. It hosted a retirement roundtable the host of America’s Premier Sports Radio Talk Show, the Jim Rome Show. she receives plenty of help from in April 2009, and hopes to do it again. board members.

Dozens of representatives of equine CARMA held its first board meeting March 20, 2008 retirement and rescue organizations came together to netand began collecting funds in July 2008 during the Del Mar work and discuss long-term goals.

Thoroughbred Club’s meet. It also supplements purse funds The roundtable and poker tournament have both been with a charity poker tournament held each year during Del successful and will be planned again for 2011. Auerbach said Mar. The 2010 tournament generated more than $70,000. CARMA also plans to unveil a renovated website soon.

Grants are presented each year in a ceremony on open“I see a really good future,” Auerbach said. “A lot of peoing day, Dec. 26, at Santa Anita Park. By the time the 2010 ple are watching us from outside the industry. Groups that yield is disbursed, the organization will have granted more didn’t help before will help us now.” than $700,000. Auerbach estimates CARMA funds have CARMA accepts tax-deductible donations on its website, helped more than 500 horses. “When we give a grant, it has Carma4Horses.org, or through the mail at P.O. Box 1086, a ripple effect,” she said.

Sierra Madre, CA, 91025. ©Dawn Spilman

F E A T U R E

54 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

©BENOIT

F E A T U R E

Another Man’s Treasure

Spot the Diplomat: A Healing Cal-Bred

by EMILY SHIELDS A young boy exits a school bus at home and is immediately met by a waiting chestnut horse. They exchange a quiet greeting, and then walk towards the house together, the horse dutifully keeping pace two feet behind the boy’s shoulder.

This is a scene from many of our childhood fantasies, but for Grant and Greta Hays, this display is both a blessing and a curse. Both of their sons, six-year-old Jack and two-yearold Dylan, are autistic, and it has taken the magic of Spot the Diplomat, a dual stakes-winning California-bred, to bring all four family members together.

The plight of the Hays family first came to national prominence last March when they visited Hollywood Park to meet the mighty Zenyatta and her trainer John Shirreffs.

While touching the superstar mare and riding one of the Shirreffs stable ponies, young Jack lit up and was able to communicate with delight. It became apparent that horses ignite a spark inside of him.

Pursuing this revelation, Grant and Greta attended a camp for families with autistic children run by Rupert Isaacson, renowned author of the bestselling book, The Horse Boy, and founder of The Horse Boy Foundation. Horseback riding is a fundamental part of the experience, and the couple noticed astounding results. “While at the camp, there was a transformation that blew our minds,” Grant said. “A diagnosis of autism is depressing and discouraging for parents, and most rush to doctors and specialists and spend quite a bit of money getting their children evaluated. But we discovered that being around horses and in nature is the best cure; that’s what the children need. They start to glow.”

Grant and Greta, who lived in and had successful careers in Southern California, then packed up and moved to Texas. Part one of their two-step plan—getting out into the open range—was complete. They just needed a horse.

Enter Spot the Diplomat, a gelded son of Worldy Manner. Bred by Harris Farms Inc., Spot the Diplomat had a solid 41-start career, which included seven wins, four seconds and 10 thirds. As a juvenile in 2006, he not only won the $133,400 Graduation Stakes and the $106,400 I’m Smokin Stakes at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, but also placed third in the grade II, $247,000 Norfolk Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

As he got older, Spot the Diplomat’s time in the limelight faded. He switched barns five times via claiming races, finally ending up in the hands of Peskoff Haymes and Summit Racing LLC. He was retired due to injury after finishing third in an allowance optional claiming event at Santa Anita in April of 2010. He had earned $342,231.

Bob Ike, a noted handicapper and one of the managing partners of Summit Racing, contacted Grant and Greta with a proposition. “He asked if we would be interested in giving ‘Spot’ a good home, and then shipped him out for us,” Grant explained.

The family is now leasing a ranch south of Austin in Texas, but the transition from a busy city lifestyle to a more laid-back one was difficult. “It was total culture shock,” Greta said. “It honestly took a month to unwind, but we realized we were running out of control for no reason. Now we’ve settled down.”

Jack and Spot the Diplomat, also a six-year-old last year, had no trouble. “While ‘Spot’ is obviously a Thoroughbred and can be difficult with me,” Grant admitted, “he is miraculously gentle with the boys. He has never once done anything aggressive with them. He will let them do anything, such as pull on his tail and run under his legs.”

Spot the Diplomat’s new home is ideal. He is in a threeacre pasture that borders the ranch house, and miles of open range stretch out in front of him. “It’s quite beautiful,” Grant commented. “He has free reign and is without shoes.

©Benoit

©Benoit

$133,400 Graduation Stakes—July 26, 2006

58 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

$106,400 I’m Smokin Stakes—September 4, 2006

www.ctba.com

We’ve done some riding on him and some halter training.”

Grant and Greta are novice horse owners, and admit there is a huge learning curve to their undertaking. “It’s been such a learning process,” Grant said, “because while he’s wonderful with kids, he’s been a challenge for me. He can still get hot and I’m trying to train him to be a safe walking horse for children.”

“We are trying to take in as much information as we can from anyone willing to give input and direction,” Greta said. “If the horse runs into the fence and gets a cut, we are still figuring out if the right thing is to call the vet or take care of it ourselves.”

The couple credits Becky Florence as being instrumental in helping. “She leases us the property, built the corral, and gave us a halter and some supplies,” Grant clarified.

With the help of Spot the Diplomat, the Hays family is changing. “Jack doesn’t speak other than a few words,” Grant said. “It can be so frustrating for them because they can’t communicate. But when he’s out in nature and with Spot, all of that goes away. He gets really happy, and before

the horse camp and having Spot we’d never seen him happy.” Spot has helped the adults, too, especially Grant.

“Before, I was so focused on the negative. ‘Oh, my kids are autistic and it’s a tragedy.’ But Spot has been healing for me.

My creative energy is higher, my career is flourishing. He’s beautiful and graceful and gives off a healing energy. I no longer look at the autism as a burden.”

“We changed lives completely in the course of three months, but we’re not looking back,” Greta stated. “We know this is the best thing for the kids, and while we don’t know how to make their lives better in every way, we know that being in nature and being around horses is the most important thing for them. They respond to it better than any other therapies we’ve tired. And, in the meantime, we’re giving a great horse a good home.”

The Hays family could use more supplies, tack and general horse and retraining advice. If anyone is interested in donating or helping, or simply wants to learn more about autism and horse therapy, please contact Grant Hays at radiohays@gmail.com. ©Denis Blake

©Denis Blake

©Denis Blake

Spot the Diplomat with the Hays Family, Grant and Greta and their autistic sons Jack (6) and Dylan (2), at their ranch south of the city of Austin in Texas during December of 2010. ©Denis Blake

Jack Hays with Alli Goss

Greta and Dylan Hays with Carl Goss

©Denis Blake

©Denis Blake

www.ctba.com

©Grant Hays

©Grant Hays

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 59

F E A T U R E

1st Annual CTBA Golf Tournament* February 14, 2011

Coronado Municipal Golf Course 2000 Visalia Row Coronado, CA $89 per player includes: Green Fees, Cart, Range Balls and Lunch.

Tee times beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Special room rate available for participants at the Loews Coronado Bay. *Held in conjunction with the

CTBA Annual Awards Dinner on February 15, 2011 For more information and to sign up, please contact Christy Chapman (800) 573-2822, Ext 247, or christy@ctba.com Note: On February 12, 2011, the largest Fly Over since WWII will be conducted over Coronado. 150,000 people are expected to congregate on the island to witness this historical event. Reserve your room now, and your place on the island, to be a part of history.

F E A T U R E

Horse Care

Eye Injuries In Horses

by HEATHER SMITH THOMAS Photos supplied by Ann Dwyer & Richard McMullen Eye injuries sometimes occur in horses and can be very serious, especially if neglected. Ann Dwyer DVM, a private practitioner (Genesee Valley Equine Clinic, Scottsville, New York) says the most common problems she sees that do not involve the globe are eyelid tears.

The snag or tear should be repaired as soon as possible.

These can sometimes be put back together even if they look horrendous. “Never trim or cut off a dangling piece, even if it’s hanging by just a thread of tissue. These can sometimes be repaired, and the sooner the better. Even if it looks like there’s no way it could be put back together, often we can repair the injury,” says Dwyer.

“I am often presented with horses who have old eyelid defects; someone made a mistake long ago and either didn’t try to fix the injury or fixed it poorly, and the horse has chronic pain because the eyelashes turn in and rub on the cornea or the lid can’t close properly over the globe. Sometimes that would be a reason to consult a veterinary ophthalmologist or a veterinarian with a special interest in eyes, because there are plastic surgery procedures that can correct these. Sometimes a repair is very difficult but, in other cases, it’s fairly simple. It’s frustrating to me if the owner won’t go the extra mile to fix it, because the horse is in chronic discomfort,” she says.

“The most common eye injury that veterinarians see is a corneal ulcer—on the globe itself. This can range from something minor to very serious, threatening the viability of the globe. The seriousness depends on several things, including the depth of the trauma, since there are several layers to the cornea, and the inflammatory response that occurs—both on the surface and inside the eye. Generally, the superficial wounds are less serious than deep ones. The worst kind would be something that punctured all the way through the cornea and into the eye. This could mean the end of the eye, but not always,” she says.

A Corneal Injury

62 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

“Something that goes partially through the cornea can also be serious because it can result in very severe infection.

Our advice to clients in our practice is to call us immediately if a horse suffers an eye injury. If they call us about a horse with a swollen, sore eye, we will see it that day. It isn’t an emergency where you drop everything and go within the next five minutes, but as far as I’m concerned it is a sameday emergency.”

Another type of trauma is when something gets stuck in the cornea. This is more rare, but on occasion the cornea may be penetrated by a foreign body that is still stuck there.

“I recently had a case in which a horse was rubbing on a wood fence and picked up a splinter that pierced the cornea—not directly into it, but sideways and through it. It was a bit tricky to get that splinter out,” says Dwyer. “You don’t see this very often; it’s a lot more common to have corneal ulcers or eyelid tears.”

Foreign matter such as plant material can sometimes get caught in or under an eyelid. If something gets stuck under the eyelid, it may scrape and irritate the surface of the cornea each time the horse blinks. “We often see eye problems in the fall when horses get tiny bristles from burdock burrs caught in the eye. These are hard to see and generally create a chronic eye irritation,” she says. The burrs are like Velcro™ and stick to horses’ manes, tails, fetlock hair, etc.

When burrs are stuck to the horse and the horse rubs them (or the burr-laden mane bumps against the horse’s face) tiny burr bristles may get into the eye. “The fragments may get stuck in the conjunctiva or the cornea itself, but the most common place we find them are in the inner corner of the eye, between the cornea and third eyelid, on the inside of the third eyelid,” she explains. This may scratch the eyeball each time the third eyelid moves over it.

“I have a theory there may be a chemical irritation of some sort from the burdock bristle. These horses have a

A Corn Melt

An Eyelid Laceration

www.ctba.com

characteristic inflammation that occurs; the eyes can become very inflamed. Once we scrape everything out and remove the fragment, the eyes get better,” she says.

Another cause of serious injury is blunt trauma. “Occasionally a horse will suffer enough blunt trauma to fracture part of the orbit—the bones around the eye. This type of blow might occur from a kick (if it’s a small horse who can’t raise its head high enough to avoid the kick) or from banging the head on a trailer. Blunt trauma can also result if a racehorse acts up in a starting gate, or if several horses are trying to go through a door, or some other type of accident,” says Dwyer.

“Both the arched frontal bone over the top of the eye and the zygomatic process that forms the outer rim of the orbit are very thin and fragile. Bony fragmentation in the orbit can lead to several problems.

There may be a sequestrum in which the body is trying to get rid of the bone fragment. This will result in a swollen eye that doesn’t resolve. The worst thing is if it becomes infected and the infection goes around the back of the eye. This is called orbital cellulitis, and can be life-threatening,” she explains.

If you have a horse with a swollen eye that is very tender, this is good reason to have a veterinarian examine it.

“This area can be very hard to x-ray.

We might choose to x-ray it, but often the best way to tell if something is wrong there would be with ultrasound,” she says.

“The very severe cases, which fortunately are rare, would need to be referred to a specialist for surgery. In a simple situation where the bone is just cracked or there is a small bone fragment, your veterinarian can usually deal with it. He/she may be able to remove any small fragments. The horse would then be put on antibiotics and antiinflammatory medication, and monitored to make sure the eye is getting better on the prescribed treatment. If you don’t get the bony fragment out and put the horse on antibiotics, it will continue to be a problem and might need surgery,” says Dwyer.

“Another type of eye problem that is more rare but potentially very serious would be blunt trauma directly to the eyeball itself. I have seen this happen when someone was trying to get their horse to canter on a longe line and

F E A T U R E

Blunt Trauma To The Eye

Continued on next page

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 63

F E A T U R E

Horse Care Cont’d. threw a rock at it, hitting the eye, and I have seen it happen from kicks or trailer trauma. If there’s enough trauma to the eyeball it can make the inside of the globe bleed. This can disrupt vital eye structures and can be blinding,” she says.

Prevention Safety-proofing a horse’s stall can help prevent eye injuries. “Stall hardware can snag an eyelid, and the biggest culprits are the J-shaped hooks on water buckets. Even the ones that have a plastic cover over them tend to get a little gap, over time. Horses often rub their heads and eyes on anything available, especially during fly season. An inexpensive, simple fix is electrical tape or duct tape over the handle hooks to close the gap. Buckets are usually the number one problem. If people got rid of those J-shaped bucket hooks it would probably decrease my work quite a bit, and that would be great for the horses,” says Dwyer. “About 20 years ago a paper was presented on this, at the annual AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) meeting, by a racetrack practitioner. He made this same comment,” she says.

Horse owners should also look around the stall to see if anything has a hook or protrusion or a sharp surface.

“Either remove it or tape it up,” she says. Also check wood surfaces for splinters.

Most eye injuries can be prevented with common sense.

“Don’t have a narrow opening in stall or pasture that a horse might stick its head through or get it stuck. Fly masks are also helpful, to prevent eye irritations and infections. They don’t have to be fancy fly masks, just well constructed and clean. Sometimes people modify them and tape over them, but I think they are more effective as just the masks. You can get into trouble if you try to modify them a lot,” she says.

“If you have burdock in pastures, cut it down. If a horse gets burrs stuck in the mane, don’t just leave them there.

Get them out. They can be difficult to remove, but using WD-40 or a silicone spray can help free the burrs more

Water Bucket With A J-Shaped Hook

64 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED •JANUARY 2011

readily. If a horse gets a sore eye after you’ve seen burdock in its mane, this might be a possible cause,” she says.

Importance Of Having Your Veterinarian Examine The Eye An injured eye is always very painful and the horse may resist having it handled. Your veterinarian can sedate the horse if necessary, using regional and topical anesthetic so the eye can be thoroughly examined more easily. “We’re usually not able to see the problem very well unless we tranquilize the horse and block the eye,” says Dwyer. The horse will be a lot more cooperative if the eye is not hurting.

The veterinarian will also prescribe a treatment, depending on what is wrong with the eye. “It is very important to follow the directions prescribed. Usually you are trying to do several things, such as decrease pain and combat infection.

Depending on the location of the trauma, this might mean oral or injectable drugs if it’s trauma to the skull or skin. You may need intensive topical drugs if the injury is to the globe itself. Sometimes this may be as intense as every two hours.

It is also very important to dilate the pupil if the problem involves the eyeball itself,” she says.

Eye infections should be diligently treated and never neglected. “Sometimes a combination of trauma plus infection plus the body’s response to the trauma and infection can create a situation called a melting ulcer. Chemicals secreted from the body cells rush in to try to fix the problem—part of the inflammatory process—and can actually make things worse. The cytokines can dissolve the stroma of the cornea and create a situation where the cornea is literally melting.

It looks like the eye is actually pouring down the horse’s face.

This situation requires very intense therapy, and is one of the worst things that can happen if a serious eye trauma doesn’t get treated or goes in the wrong direction,” says Dwyer.

When in doubt, if an injury involves the eye, call your veterinarian. You don’t want to gamble with your horse’s sight. “If I am going out to a farm to see what sounds like a serious eye problem, and the horse may need to be sedated and worked on, I like to examine the horse with their lower jaw resting on a ‘table.’ I appreciate the owner having four

Eyelid Repair

Eye Bale Support

www.ctba.com

or five bales of shavings, or a similar quantity of hay or straw with a blanket on top so the horse won’t try to eat it. It’s handy, if the owner has thought ahead and has these next to the stall. It is very simple to set up the bales to create a clean head support. I like to have the head a little higher than normal,” she explains.

“I prefer that the owner does not medicate the horse with anything prior to the eye exam, unless we’ve told them to do so. Definitely do not use old eye ointments.

They may not be the right drug for the situation and might actually make things worse. Don’t use an eye medication unless it’s under prescription directions,” she says.

Tips On Medicating An Eye Your veterinarian should give you instructions for applying follow-up medication. Usually this will be an ointment applied to the inside of the eyelid. When treating an eye, make sure your fingernails are short, and also wash your hands thoroughly beforehand.

“I show the owner where the orbital rim is, which is the bone above the eyeball, and have them feel it. Then I show them where the crease is, on the upper eyelid and tell them to touch that wrinkle with their first finger.

Then it’s okay to lift the eyelid and let that finger push into the groove between the bony orbit and the eyeball globe, resting the finger that’s prying open the eye on that bony rim. This makes things a lot easier, for getting the medication into the eye,” says Dwyer.

“Then you can use the other hand to apply medication from the tube.

Sometimes a person may prefer to just fold a little matchstick length strip of ointment over the inside of the lid (using a very clean finger with a short fingernail), but it’s better to apply it with the tube if you can,” she says.

“You don’t have to get the ointment onto the lesion. You just have to get it over the edge of the lid. It will then melt and spread over the entire eyeball surface.” It always helps if there are two people—one to hold the horse and one to apply the medication.

“If the horse is headshy and the injury/problem is serious, we avoid risk of injury to the horse or person by

putting in a lavage tube—a small silicone tube that we surgically insert into the upper or lower eyelid. It’s basically a long catheter that runs from the eyelid over the poll and down along the mane to the withers. A special injection port is attached to the mane so the medication can be injected through the tube and dripped onto the surface of the eye several times a day,” she says.

Eyelid Treatment

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 65

F E A T U R E

F E A T U R E

CTBA Directors Election

Five Members To Run On CTBA’s 2011 Ballot

The ballots for this year’s election of five members to the Board of Directors of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) were sent out to members last month. Only CTBA members whose 2011 dues have been paid are eligible to vote, and

those elected will serve from this year through 2013.

Included on the following pages are biographical sketches of each candidate and/or statements from each of them regarding issues facing the CTBA and California’s Thoroughbred industry.

John Barr John Barr has been an owner/breeder in California for 40 years and races under the nom de course of Oakcrest Stable.

He is a Vice President and Director of the Oak Tree Racing Association, has served on the Board of Stewards of The Jockey Club, served for five years on the Board of Directors of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and is a Past President of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA). He also serves on the Board of Directors and is the Treasurer of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Birthplace Foundation in Yorba Linda, California. He resides with his wife Betty in Orange.

It has been my honor and a pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors of the CTBA for nearly 15 years, and if the }members see fit to return me for another term on the board, I’ll continue to put forth my best efforts and enthusiasm to carry out the overall mandate and mission of this very important organizational part of the California Thoroughbred industry.

There is little doubt but what the industry is facing considerable challenges not only here in California but across the nation. California is and always has been a bit of an island geographically in the national scene but the weather and wonderful venues have attracted fans and bettors alike for many years. All of this points out the ever increasing value of California-breds to our industry. Cal-breds now make up nearly 60 percent of the field sizes at every track.

If elected, I will continue to explore every opportunity to reward owners and breeders alike, so as to make a continued investment in California, a viable business and pleasure venture. I have served in virtually every position on the board and am comfortable that we have done good work for our members as well as the breeders at large, but we can always do more and that is the challenge that lies ahead.

Susan E. Greene Sue Greene has been involved with Thoroughbred racehorses since 1969, and with 30-plus years of hands-on experience she has cultivated an extensive knowledge of racehorses and the management of breeding farms. Sue is also a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a

Degree in Animal Science. Sue was involved with the development of three farms. During this time, Sue bred, foaled, owned and/or raised several California stakes horses; Haveasilverbullet, Yerevan Star, Autism Awareness and Gary John, to name a few. She was also part of breeding and raising the 2006/2007 Valkyer Trophy winner, Mistical Plan, and the Calbred Somethinaboutlaura. She currently owns and manages Woodbridge Farm in Oak©Mesaros dale, California.

I spent this past spring/summer traveling to various breeding farms and listening to our breeders voice their concerns/ suggestions/complaints regarding our industry. I have seen some of the ideas/suggestions come to fruition and I am confident the Board of Directors is still working on accomplishment/ implementation of more ways to help our breeders continue to supply young horses into our Cal-bred program. I would like to see our sales venues improve as well as continue to work with all groups toward continued success with the Maiden Bonus Program. I would like to see all facits of racing come together and work toward a common goal, that being the health and welfare of racing in today's economy. As a representative of the small breeder/owner I hope to continue to strive for more incentives that will entice better mares and stallions into the state breeding program.

Leigh Ann Howard Leigh Ann Howard became a member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association in 1968, when she purchased her first mare. Since then, she has been active in every phase of the industry. In addition to being on the CTBA Board for 13 years and board president for three years, she currently is active on the boards of the California Thoroughbred Farm Managers (CTFMA) and the Edwin Gregson Foundation, among others.

She and her late husband, Gene Cunningham, have been involved with all ©Mesaros facets of the Thoroughbred industry since the mid seventies. Gene’s involvement was in shipping and auction sales; Leigh Ann’s in the breeding, sale consignments, breaking, training and racing side of the industry.

68 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

Her areas of interest have included the following: keeping the incentive program intact; educational meetings and seminars; activities leading toward more membership camaraderie; better intra-industry communication; and simply helping people enjoy their horses.

As breeders, our only chance of survival in the current economic situation is to figure out how to produce “better horses.” To do this we need to become better educated and more realistic when setting our goals, including planning our purchases and matings. Despite the many hours necessary to serve on the Board of Directors, I have arranged the time needed to be actively involved, and have rarely missed a meeting or an educational event. I have always taken time to help the neophyte breeder and share information with the seasoned breeders. I’m a strong advocate of better communication among the various associations that run our industry. Just as important, but perhaps less obvious, is our need to become more involved within our communities. As we all know, our industry is regulated very closely by the California legislature. It is imperative that we breeders educate our neighbors regarding our industry and most specifically the voters in our communities in order for them understand and support our industry.

As President of the CTBA, I have worked hard to get the new Maiden Bonus Program off the ground. Less visible goals have been set and met, including our activities in support of second careers for our Thoroughbreds. The Internet has enabled our association to be in much better contact with our members. We will continually work to advance our skills in this field without losing sight of the need to keep our print media available. There are currently some interesting ideas on the horizon that could enhance both our Cal-bred program and the overall Thoroughbred industry. I’d like to continue my part in this “look to the future” knowing that my past experience will be an asset. A look at my history will tell you that my level of commitment and involvement will certainly continue.

Jane Johnson Jane Johnson, a member of the CTBA since 1979, is the co-owner, along with her husband Myron, of Rivendell Ranch in Fresno. She has had a lifelong love of Thoroughbreds, starting with a high school term paper on the California Thoroughbred industry and spending her spare time hanging around El Peco Ranch in her home town of Madera. Jane expanded her interest in Thoroughbreds as a hunter-jumper trainer in the 1970s, and bred Rivendell’s first Thoroughbred for racing in 1979. A keen interest in pedigrees and mating has helped produce many stakes winners for clients including Lad y Bee There, Agent of Fortune, Pass the Heat and the 2001 California Champion Sprinter, Go

Go. Jane often reminds herself that being so closely involved in the Thoroughbred industry has truly fulfilled her lifelong dream.

The Thoroughbred industry, as we all know, is experiencing difficult times. It is imperative that we continue the efforts made by the association and our fellow industry groups to pull together to keep our industry economically healthy. I am pleased to see an increase in get-togethers between breeders and other stake-holders in our industry. We need to continue and expand these joint efforts.

I also support innovations such as the very successful Calbred Maiden Bonus Program, and if elected, I will work hard with my fellow directors to promote and protect California’s Thoroughbreds and our Incentive Awards Program.

I have always believed that small breeders are the lifeblood of our industry. They support our farms, help fill fields and produce many of our better runners. They should be supported and encouraged in all respects.

Our magazine and website are first class. The website, in particular, provides near unlimited opportunities to bring valuable information to our members and others interested in the Calfornia Thoroughbred industry.

I would be honored to serve the association as a director, and would always welcome suggestions from the members that I may bring to my fellow directors for discussion and action.

Bonnie Vessels Bonnie Vessels is the President of Vessels Stallion Farm LLC and has been involved in all aspects of farm management and the breeding and racing of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses for over two decades.

The Vessels family has been actively involved in raising racehorses for more than 60 years. In continuing the family legacy, I plan on actively carrying on with the farm and breeding operation. I've been very closely involved alongside my late husband Scoop in farm management for the past 20 years and have the same passion and drive to excel in the business that he did. In being part of a team effort over the years, I believe I have the experience necessary to make positive contributions as a member of the CTBA board.

Vessels Stallion Farm has a history of leadership as an active breeder and owner in the Thoroughbred industry in California. Due to the changing business climate in the state and in our industry, we've made modifications to our business approach in order to be able to sustain our operation. I look forward to the opportunity to work with the members of the CTBA board to similarly help our state’s breeders and owners react appropriately and positively in response to the continuing challenges we face as an industry.

CTBA Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner: Tuesday, February 15, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado (2010 California-bred Champions & 2011 California Hall of Fame Inductees) For further information:

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 69

F E A T U R E

$1.8 Million In Purses $1,000 Regular Nominations Close Saturday, January 15, 2011 Pre Entries Wednesday, January 19, 2011 Post Position Draw Sunday, January 23, 2011

Races at Gulfstream Park:

Races at Santa Anita Park: $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf

$500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic

Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Bred in California or Florida, 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)

Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Bred in California or Florida,1 1/8 Miles

$300,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff

$300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf

Fillies and Mares, Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Bred in California or Florida, 1 1/16 Miles

$200,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Bred in California or Florida, 6 furlongs

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29TH 2011

Fillies and Mares, Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Bred in California or Florida, 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)

$200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint Fillies and Mares, Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Bred in California or Florida, 6 furlongs

©Benoit

Rick Hammerle, Racing Secretary, Santa Anita Park (626) 574-6473 • Dan Bork, Racing Secretary, Gulfstream Park (954) 457-6260

D E P A R T M E N T

Available Statistics Through December 5, 2010

Leading Sires in California

Leading Sires

by Number of Races Won

Leading Sires 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.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44 45.

46.

47 48.

49.

50.

Runners

Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . . 121 Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . .165 Salt Lake* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 In Excess (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Bertrando . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Kafwain# . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138 Deputy Commander* . . . . .126 Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145 Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . . 142 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Cee's Tizzy† . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Sea of Secrets . . . . . . . . . . 111 Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Southern Image# . . . . . . . . . 91 Siberian Summer . . . . . . . . 66 High Brite* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Redattore (Brz)• . . . . . . . . . . .60 Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Skimming• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Atticus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Formal Gold• . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Olmodavor‡ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Freespool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Lit de Justice . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . . . 58 Valid Wager* . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Ten Most Wanted . . . . . . . . 69 Comic Strip . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Souvenir Copy• . . . . . . . . . . 54 Roar* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Gotham City . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 One Man Army . . . . . . . . . . 26 Western Fame . . . . . . . . . . 46 Beau Genius† . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Momentum . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Muqtarib† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Rio Verde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Perfect Mandate . . . . . . . . . . 41 High Demand• . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Flame Thrower . . . . . . . . . . 41 Birdonthewire . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Crafty C. T.• . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Globalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Silic (Fr) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Memo (Chi)• . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Mud Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Behrens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Starts 817 817 1054 721 702 668 851 911 978 920 514 455 725 529 527 440 588 313 505 575 450 513 440 482 506 321 424 481 365 356 342 219 163 280 426 340 331 302 285 263 246 214 160 163 263 166 227 108 225 287

72 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

Races Won

Earnings

108 $4,280,220 105 3,315,016 168 2,777,713 117 2,320,972 117 2,137,091 96 1,955,647 118 1,954,579 115 1,915,674 147 1,888,436 126 1,846,825 78 1,777,749 84 1,627,474 77 1,561,554 79 1,428,213 72 1,421,372 75 1,383,093 77 1,347,416 56 1,330,792 80 1,217,882 88 1,136,952 54 1,073,176 72 949,429 61 909,461 62 870,381 59 778,687 41 768,466 61 749,652 51 708,397 52 703,115 47 637,875 49 602,972 43 568,534 19 562,967 45 545,940 41 538,258 35 525,954 49 517,951 52 501,061 36 485,151 32 484,888 32 432,208 23 423,713 23 421,095 28 406,794 31 389,444 21 375,205 27 372,673 16 358,954 33 358,284 30 335,545

Rank Sire 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

18.

19.

Runners

Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . .165 Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . .145 Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . 142 Kafwain# . . . . . . . . . . . .138 Salt Lake* . . . . . . . . . . . .118 In Excess (Ire) . . . . . . . . .124 Deputy Commander* . . .126 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . 121 Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . 121 Bertrando . . . . . . . . . . . .117 Skimming• . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Cee's Tizzy† . . . . . . . . . . 80 Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . 81 Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Sea of Secrets . . . . . . . 111 High Brite* . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Siberian Summer . . . . . . .66 Southern Image# . . . . . . 91 Formal Gold• . . . . . . . . . 87

Starts 1054 978 920 851 721 702 911 817 817 668 575 455 505 529 514 725 588 440 527 513

Races Won 168 147 126 118 117 117 115 108 105 96 88 84 80 79 78 77 77 75 72 72

Earnings $2,777,713 1,888,436 1,846,825 1,954,579 2,320,972 2,137,091 1,915,674 4,280,220 3,315,016 1,955,647 1,136,952 1,627,474 1,217,882 1,428,213 1,777,749 1,561,554 1,347,416 1,383,093 1,421,372 949,429

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

Unusual Heat . . . . . . . .121 Affirmative . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Stormin Fever . . . . . . .121 Redattore (Brz)• . . . . . . 60 One Man Army . . . . . . . 26 Siberian Summer . . . . . 66 Vronsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Cee's Tizzy† . . . . . . . . . 80 Birdonthewire . . . . . . .. 21 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Salt Lake* . . . . . . . . . . 118 Unbridled Native* . . . . . 15 Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Roman Dancer . . . . . . . 10 Soul of the Matter . . . . 15 Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . 81 In Excess (Ire) . . . . . . . .124 Benchmark . . . . . . . . . 165 Bertrando . . . . . . . . . . 117 Score Quick† . . . . . . . . 12

Races Won 108 12 105 56 19 75 12 84 23 78 117 9 16 7 14 79 117 168 96 14

Average Earnings/ Earnings Runner $4,280,220 288,542 3,315,016 1,330,792 562,967 1,383,093 333,746 1,627,474 421,095 1,777,749 2,320,972 284,636 358,954 184,596 266,884 1,428,213 2,137,091 2,777,713 1,955,647 189,189

$35,374 28,854 27,397 22,180 21,653 20,956 20,859 20,343 20,052 19,975 19,669 18,976 18,892 18,460 17,792 17,632 17,235 16,835 16,715 15,766

www.ctba.com

Leading Sires

by Turf Earnings

Leading Sires

by Number of Winners

(Minimum 100 Starts Lifetime)

Rank Sire 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

9.

10.

11.

12.

14.

15.

16.

18.

19.

20.

Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Kafwain# . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 In Excess (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . 124 Deputy Commander* . . . . 126 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . .121 Salt Lake* . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . .142 Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . .121 Bertrando . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Skimming• . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Sea of Secrets . . . . . . . . . 111 High Brite* . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Formal Gold• . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Siberian Summer . . . . . . .. 66 Southern Image# . . . . . . . . 91 Cee's Tizzy† . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Rank Sire 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Runners

Winners 101 84 75 68 66 62 62 62 60 59 51 46 46 45 44 43 43 41 40 38

Races Won 168 147 118 117 115 108 117 126 105 96 88 77 77 78 79 80 72 75 72 84

Earnings $2,777,713 1,888,436 1,954,579 2,137,091 1,915,674 4,280,220 2,320,972 1,846,825 3,315,016 1,955,647 1,136,952 1,561,554 1,347,416 1,777,749 1,428,213 1,217,882 949,429 1,383,093 1,421,372 1,627,474

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 ............ 74 In Excess (Ire)........... 44 Bertrando.................. 36 Stormin Fever ........... 35 Atticus........................ 31 Cee's Tizzy†............. 20 High Brite*................. 14 Redattore (Brz)• ....... 25 Siberian Summer ....... 23 Benchmark................ 35 Tribal Rule .................. 24 Deputy Commander* . 46 Decarchy.................... 28 Skimming• ................ 25 Kafwain# .................. 35 Old Topper ................ 29 Freespool .................. 15 Southern Image# ....... 37 Comic Strip............... 17 Swiss Yodeler............ 22

271 130 97 105 83 63 42 63 78 95 62 136 73 59 71 63 38 84 49 59

23 16 7 8 11 10 5 8 12 13 7 11 6 10 8 8 3 5 5 4

37 22 10 13 14 14 8 10 17 15 10 15 10 15 10 9 6 6 9 6

Earnings $2,652,854 703,418 694,895 672,130 505,712 504,210 500,228 491,832 389,728 389,297 389,069 351,266 323,134 322,950 251,520 234,774 231,636 210,363 190,074 185,780

Leading Sires

by Median Earnings Per Runner

Leading Sires

by Average Earnings Per Start

(Minimum 10 Runners)

(Minimum 100 Starts)

Runners

Score Quick† .................. 12 Vronsky .............................16 Affirmative........................ 10 Siberian Summer ............ 66 Birdonthewire .................. 21 Unusual Heat ..................121 Marino Marini.................. 81 Tribal Rule ........................ 89 Grey Memo ...................... 15 Terrell .............................. 28 Mud Route....................... 32 Redattore (Brz)•.............. 60 Sought After .................... 16 In Excess (Ire) ................ 124 Benchmark .................... 165 One Man Army................. 26 Olmodavor‡ ......................69 Gotham City .................... 43 Deputy Commander* ..... 126 Popular ............................ 19

Races Won 14 12 12 75 23 108 80 78 18 21 33 56 9 117 168 19 61 43 115 18

Median Earnings/ Earnings Runner $189,189 333,746 288,542 1,383,093 421,095 4,280,220 1,217,882 1,777,749 228,791 294,406 358,284 1,330,792 162,341 2,137,091 2,777,713 562,967 909,461 568,534 1,915,674 221,947

$13,082 12,590 12,191 10,921 10,816 10,800 10,000 9,674 9,154 8,745 8,670 8,515 8,490 8,425 8,140 8,011 8,005 7,933 7,919 7,813

Rank Sire 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Runners

Unusual Heat ................ 121 Redattore (Brz)• ............ 60 Stormin Fever............... 121 Cee's Tizzy†.................... 80 Tribal Rule ..................... 89 One Man Army ................ 26 Tizbud ............................. 19 Salt Lake* .......................118 Siberian Summer .......... 66 In Excess (Ire)................ 124 Bertrando ..................... 117 Decarchy ....................... 81 Southern Image# ........... 91 Benchmark.....................165 Birdonthewire.................. 21 Gotham City................... 43 Crafty C. T.• .................. 27 Marino Marini ................. 81 Ministers Wild Cat......... 58 Atticus ............................ 80

Starts 817 313 817 455 514 163 108 721 440 702 668 529 527 1,054 160 219 163 505 321 450

Earnings

Average Earnings/ Start

$4,280,220 1,330,792 3,315,016 1,627,474 1,777,749 562,967 358,954 2,320,972 1,383,093 2,137,091 1,955,647 1,428,213 1,421,372 2,777,713 421,095 568,534 406,794 1,217,882 768,466 1,073,176

$5,239 4,252 4,058 3,577 3,459 3,454 3,324 3,219 3,143 3,044 2,928 2,700 2,697 2,635 2,632 2,596 2,496 2,412 2,394 2,385

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 2009 but is standing in the state in 2010, a double dagger (‡) that he is not standing in California in 2010 but will stand in the state in 2011 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.

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 73

D E P A R T M E N T

1. Vote for Victory Rose’s most eligible bachelor stallion (enter by January 15 to win a complimentary breeding).

2. Book your mares (if you don’t win).

3. Put your open mares under lights.

4. Check your foaling supplies.

5. Be sure your two-year-old’s markings match their papers.

6. Double check your horses are named and registered as Cal-Bred.

7. Start your two-year-olds under tack.

8. Order annual vaccinations for your herd.

9. Attend the NCTA Equine Tax Seminar on Jan 15.

Pleasant Colony-Hot Novel

by Mari’s Book Fee: $3,500-LF

Fappiano-Hangin On a Star

by Vice Regent Fee: $1,500-LF

Summer Squall-Sugar Hill Chick

by Fit To Fight Fee: $3,500-LF

Riverman-Clever Dancer

by Mr. Prospector Fee: $1,500-LF

Storm Cat-Christmas in Aiken

by Affirmed Fee: $3,000-LF

Naskra-Carols Christmas

by Whitesburg Fee: $3,500-LF

Belong to Me-Swill

by Shadeed Fee: $1,500-LF

Siberian Express—Mis Karina

by Icecapade Fee: $3,500-LF

Broodmare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .January—June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pasture/Pen . . . . . . . . . . . .$13.00/day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15.00/day Suckling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .With Mare . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3.00/day Lay-Ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$14.00/day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Individual Pen . . . . . . . . . .$12.00/day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00/day Foaling Out Mares . . . . . . . . . . .Stall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$250.00 Halter Break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$21.00/day Sales Preparation . . . . . . . . . . .Stall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$21.00/day Foal Registration . . . . . . . . . . . .Appl., Photo, Etc. . . . . . . .$50.00/horse Breaking/Training . . . . . . . . . . .Racetrack . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50.00/day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$36.00/day Equi-Ciser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$26.00/day

!

Victory Rose Thoroughbreds 5144 Allendale Road • Vacaville, CA, 95688 Phone/Fax (707) 678-6580 • ellen@victoryrose.com

D E P A R T M E N T

Available Statistics Through December 5, 2010

Leading Lifetime Sires in California Crops of No Stallion, Year Foaled, Sire

Named Crops of Average Foals of Racing Crop Racing Age Size Age

1. Unusual Heat, 1990, by Nureyev 2. In Excess (Ire), 1987, by Siberian Express 3. Cee's Tizzy †, 1987, by Relaunch 4. Tribal Rule, 1996, by Storm Cat 5. Roar *, 1993, by Forty Niner 6. One Man Army, 1994, by Roman Diplomat 7. Salt Lake *, 1989, by Deputy Minister 8. Good Journey, 1996, by Nureyev 9. Bertrando, 1989, by Skywalker 10. Vronsky, 1999, by Danzig 11. Memo (Chi) •, 1987, by Mocito Guapo (Arg) 12. Birdonthewire, 1989, by Proud Birdie 13. Benchmark, 1991, by Alydar 14. Lit de Justice, 1990, by El Gran Senor Stormin Fever, 1994, by Storm Cat 16. Rhythm *, 1987, by Mr. Prospector 17. Deputy Commander *, 1994, by Deputy Minister 18. Turkoman †, 1982, by Alydar 19. Formal Gold •, 1993, by Black Tie Affair (Ire) 20. Beau Genius †, 1985, by Bold Ruckus Moscow Ballet *, 1982, by Nijinsky II Robannier, 1991, by Batonnier 23. Suggest *, 1992, by Topsider 24. Olympio, 1988, by Naskra 25. Atticus, 1992, by Nureyev 26. Kelly Kip †, 1994, by Kipper Kelly Redattore (Brz) •, 1995, by Roi Normand 28. Kafwain #, 2000, by Cherokee Run Swiss Yodeler, 1994, by Eastern Echo 30. Decarchy, 1997, by Distant View Siberian Summer, 1989, by Siberian Express 32. Snow Chief *, 1983, by Reflected Glory 33. Bartok (Ire) †, 1991, by Fairy King High Brite *, 1984, by Best Turn Souvenir Copy •, 1995, by Mr. Prospector Valid Wager *, 1992, by Valid Appeal 37. Silic (Fr), 1995, by Sillery 38. Huddle Up, 1982, by Sir Ivor Old Topper, 1995, by Gilded Time Perfect Mandate, 1996, by Gone West Stormy Jack, 1997, by Bertrando 42. Lake George, 1992, by Vice Regent Sea of Secrets, 1995, by Storm Cat 44. Tizbud, 1999, by Cee's Tizzy 45. Michael’s Flyer †, 1986, by Flying Paster Tannersmyman, 1998, by Lord Carson Thisnearlywasmine, 1994, by Capote Western Fame, 1992, by Gone West 49. Iron Cat, 1995, by Storm Cat Marino Marini, 2000, by Storm Cat Olmodavor ‡, 1999, by A.P. Indy

10 15 17 5 11 6 15 5 14 3 13 13 9 11 8 16 9 21 9 17 22 11 9 15 10 7 4 4 9 4 10 19 11 19 9 11 6 16 7 7 4 11 8 3 15 5 6 9 9 3 3

46 60 41 49 59 10 80 35 65 17 39 19 64 35 71 60 62 34 47 43 34 8 7 33 39 15 86 78 68 44 36 14 19 47 49 45 21 9 57 36 19 13 46 22 7 11 8 30 13 46 47

455 896 697 247 649 62 1,201 173 907 51 507 242 575 385 564 965 562 707 420 735 756 92 60 491 392 105 344 312 608 177 362 262 205 896 439 498 123 142 401 255 75 146 370 66 104 57 50 269 118 138 141

Runners

Winners

2-Y-O Winners

328-72% 632-71% 483-69% 149-60% 497-77% 42-68% 965-80% 81-47% 662-73% 17-33% 313-62% 176-73% 409-71% 319-83% 421-75% 626-65% 461-82% 541-77% 330-79% 605-82% 545-72% 62-67% 43-72% 378-77% 286-73% 85-81% 199-58% 220-71% 456-75% 111-63% 271-75% 179-68% 155-76% 694-77% 329-75% 399-80% 98-80% 85-60% 301-75% 120-47% 39-52% 91-62% 285-77% 19-29% 48-46% 34-60% 31-62% 177-66% 85-72% 87-63% 90-64%

235-52% 468-52% 348-50% 95-38% 382-58% 27-44% 779-65% 41-24% 460-51% 9-18% 223-44% 126-52% 301-52% 248-64% 296-52% 332-34% 306-54% 390-55% 257-61% 455-62% 365-48% 34-37% 37-62% 284-58% 169-43% 69-66% 124-36% 138-44% 319-52% 72-41% 190-52% 111-42% 96-47% 561-63% 252-57% 311-62% 63-51% 60-42% 223-56% 72-28% 22-29% 57-39% 215-58% 10-15% 24-23% 17-30% 21-42% 128-48% 70-59% 56-41% 59-42%

25-5% 109-12% 57-8% 42-17% 90-14% 2-3% 233-19% 7-4% 112-12% 1-2% 41-8% 37-15% 86-15% 70-18% 102-18% 39-4% 74-13% 75-11% 75-18% 138-19% 70-9% 8-9% 4-7% 60-12% 38-10% 16-15% 28-8% 57-18% 139-23% 23-13% 26-7% 27-10% 27-13% 142-16% 72-16% 100-20% 11-9% 9-6% 95-24% 14-5% 7-9% 9-6% 68-18% 3-5% 5-5% 5-9% 5-10% 43-16% 7-6% 18-13% 18-13%

Stakes Winners

27-6% 62-7% 39-6% 14-6% 43-7% 4-6% 69-6% 2-1% 50-6% 1-2% 28-6% 10-4% 30-5% 22-6% 30-5% 25-3% 24-4% 33-5% 19-5% 39-5% 21-3% 3-3% 4-7% 30-6% 12-3% 2-2% 12-3% 12-4% 23-4% 5-3% 13-4% 9-3% 7-3% 46-5% 12-3% 18-4% 1-1% 2-1% 15-4% 11-4% 1-1% 5-3% 19-5% 1-2% 3-3% 1-2% 0-0% 13-5% 5-4% 4-3% 4-3%

Graded Stakes Winners

Progeny Earnings

Average Earnings Index

Comparable Index

9-2% 11-1% 9-1% 2-1% 22-3% 1-2% 23-2% 2-1% 12-1% 0-0% 9-2% 1-0% 7-1% 2-1% 12-2% 11-1% 4-1% 9-1% 5-1% 5-1% 6-1% 0-0% 1-2% 4-1% 5-1% 1-1% 11-3% 3-1% 2-0% 0-0% 4-1% 1-0% 0-0% 9-1% 2-0% 3-1% 1-1% 0-0% 0-0% 0-0% 1-1% 1-1% 2-1% 0-0% 0-0% 1-2% 0-0% 0-0% 0-0% 0-0% 1-1%

$27,355,094 40,333,446 35,055,571 7,251,475 20,971,156 1,965,962 55,594,263 2,562,985 38,901,210 $520,171 17,192,400 11,261,749 21,145,546 20,473,973 23,689,079 37,872,046 27,762,918 25,614,031 17,061,653 34,219,654 20,442,004 2,809,573 2,409,081 18,677,571 11,504,811 4,177,716 3,429,624 6,964,984 21,172,031 3,845,559 11,005,999 5,630,901 6,362,229 34,140,854 14,942,279 18,588,138 6,366,769 2,937,144 11,281,246 4,575,192 1,341,631 4,028,072 14,985,675 386,125 1,833,170 829,381 1,187,566 6,769,163 2,983,107 2,048,804 2,402,370

2.17 1.75 1.72 1.51 1.50 1.47 1.45 1.43 1.42 1.39 1.37 1.32 1.29 1.28 1.28 1.24 1.23 1.22 1.21 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.19 1.13 1.11 1.10 1.10 1.09 1.09 1.08 1.08 1.07 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.05 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.00 1.00 0.95 0.94 0.94 0.94 0.94 0.93 0.93 0.93

1.10 1.46 1 .18 1.21 1.37 0.89 1.43 1.03 1.58 0.78 1.14 1.41 1.21 1.18 1.47 1.18 1.63 1.42 1.42 1.17 1.29 1.13 0.79 1.33 1.55 1.03 1.20 1.34 1.06 1.01 0.89 1.31 0.91 1.20 1.24 1.22 0.95 0.78 0.91 1.25 0.74 1.04 1.11 0.92 0.60 0.78 0.77 0.82 1.00 1.08 1.41

These statistics are for active California-based sires with a minimum of 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 2009 but is standing in the state in 2010, a double dagger (‡) that he is not standing in California in 2010 but will stand in the state in 2011 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 (UAE) only. Percentages are based upon number of foals of racing age.

76 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

Available Statistics Through December 5, 2010

Leading Two-Year-Old Sires in California

Leading Sires Of Two-Year-Olds

by Money Won Rank Sire

Runners

1. Kafwain# . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 2. Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 3. Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . 29 4. Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 5. Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . 25 6. Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . 9 7. Salt Lake* . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 8. Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 9. Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . . 13 10. In Excess (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . 17 11. Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . . 10 12. Southern Image# . . . . . . 24 13. Bertrando . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 14. Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 15. Cayoke (Fr) . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 16. Perfect Mandate . . . . . . . 5 17. Rio Verde . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 18. Momentum . . . . . . . . . . . 13 19. Doc Gus* . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 20. Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Starts 115 142 129 71 83 38 50 59 56 48 29 81 57 42 21 10 45 64 28 23

Races Won

Earnings

21 17 12 19 10 13 11 10 10 6 4 7 6 7 2 4 5 3 4 3

476,292 428,964 411,509 393,888 364,866 267,971 230,291 223,301 160,293 149,613 138,432 134,454 132,656 131,448 124,984 123,843 116,894 116,315 115,532 99,375

Leading Sires Of Two-Year-Olds

by Number of Winners Rank Sire 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

7.

8.

11.

14.

Runners

Kafwain# . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Benchmark, . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . . . 25 Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Salt Lake* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . . . .13 In Excess (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Bertrando . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Rio Verde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Formal Gold• . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Southern Image# . . . . . . . . 24 Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Doc Gus* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Roar* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Nineeleven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Globalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Winners 16 15 12 9 8 8 7 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Races Won 21 17 19 12 10 13 11 10 10 6 6 5 5 7 7 4 5 5 4 4

LUCKY PULPIT (HARRIS FARMS) Leading Two-Year-Old Sire in California

by Average Earnings Per Runner through December 5, 2010

Leading Sires Of Two-Year-Olds

by Average Earnings Per Runner (Minimum 5 Runners)

Rank Sire

Earnings $476,292 428,964 393,888 411,509 364,866 267,971 230,291 223,301 160,293 149,613 132,656 116,894 82,986 134,454 131,448 115,532 83,845 80,174 78,129 64,833

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.

Runners

Lucky Pulpit...................... 9 Perfect Mandate................ 5 Benchmark ...................... 23 Nineeleven........................ 5 Singletary .......................... 9 Ministers Wild Cat .......... 25 Doc Gus* .......................... 8 Swiss Yodeler .................. 29 Stormin Fever .................. 10 Kafwain#............................35 Roar*.................................. 6 Western Fame .................... 7 Game Plan.......................... 8 Marino Marini ....................13 Tribal Rule ........................ 36 Old Topper........................ 19 Rio Verde .......................... 10 Salt Lake* ........................ 21 Tizbud .............................. 5 Redattore (Brz)• ................10 Momentum ...................... 13 In Excess (Ire) .................. 17 Good Journey....................10 Souvenir Copy• ................ 5 Score Quick† .................... 5

Races Won Earnings 13 4 19 4 7 10 4 12 4 21 5 6 3 10 17 10 5 11 2 2 3 6 2 3 3

$267,971 123,843 393,888 78,129 131,448 364,866 115,532 411,509 138,432 476,292 80,174 87,307 99,375 160,293 428,964 223,301 116,894 230,291 50,008 99,159 116,315 149,613 85,851 39,798 39,463

Average Earnings/ Runner $29,775 24,769 17,126 15,626 14,605 14,595 14,442 14,190 13,843 13,608 13,362 12,472 12,422 12,330 11,916 11,753 11,689 10,966 10,002 9,916 8,947 8,801 8,585 7,960 7,893

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 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 2009 but is standing in the state in 2010, a double dagger (‡) that he did not stand in California in 2010 but will stand in the state in 2011 and in bold that he is a freshman sire—in all cases the 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.

www.ctba.com

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 77

D E P A R T M E N T

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

I. A $20,000 bonus made available for owners of registered California-Bred or Sired maidens in Maiden Special 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 races in Northern California and at all Fair meetings throughout the state. Begining in 2011, only races at 4 1/2-furlongs or longer will qualify. *Paid directly to the owner within 45 days after the win.

II. Significant eligibility changes for California-breds.

California Thoroughbred Breeders Association 201 Colorado Place, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018 • (626) 445-7800 • www.ctba.com

D E P A R T M E N T

Dates in California

Regional Race Meetings, Stakes Races and Sale Dates

2010 AND 2011 REGIONAL RACE MEETINGS Santa Anita Park, Arcadia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dec. 26, 2010-April 17, 2011 Pacific Racing Association, Golden Gate Fields, Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dec. 26, 2010-June 12, 2011 Hollywood Park, Inglewood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April 20-July 17 San Joaquin County Fair, Stockton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .June 15-19 Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .June 22-July 10 California State Fair, Cal Expo, Sacramento . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 13-24 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 20-Sept. 7 Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 27-Aug. 14 Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aug. 12-21 Pacific Racing Association, Golden Gate Fields, Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aug. 19-Oct. 2 Fairplex Park, Pomona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Unknown Oak Tree Racing Association, Hollywood Park, Inglewood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Unknown The Big Fresno Fair, Fresno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oct. 5-16 Pacific Racing Association, Golden Gate Fields, Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oct. 19-Dec. 18 Hollywood Park, Inglewood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Unknown

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2011 REGIONAL STAKES RACES Date Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 2 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. 15 Jan. 15 Jan. 15 Jan. 15 Jan. 16 Jan. 17 Jan. 17 Jan. 22

Track SA SA GG SA SA SA SA SA SA GG SA SA SA SA

Stakes (Grade)

Conditions

Distance

Added Value

Robert J. Frankel Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$150,000g Daytona Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .abt 6 1/2 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g California Oaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Monrovia Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .abt 6 1/2 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g San Pasqual Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g Santa Ysabel Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000 San Fernando Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g Santa Ynez Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g Sham Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g California Derby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g El Encino Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g San Marcos Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/4 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g San Pedro Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 1/2 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g

Sunshine Millions IX – Saturday, January 29, 2011 – Six Stakes Races Worth $1.8 Million – California-Breds Versus Florida-Breds

Jan. 29 Jan. 29 Jan. 29 Jan. 29 Jan. 29 Jan. 29

GP SA SA GP SA GP

Sunshine Millions Classic . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, Cal-Bred & Fla-Bred . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500,000g Sunshine Millions Distaff . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m., Cal-Bred & Fla-Bred .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300,000g Sunshine Millions Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, Cal-Bred & Fla-Bred . . . . .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300,000g Sunshine Millions F & M Turf . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m., Cal-Bred & Fla-Bred .1 1/8 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300,000g Sunshine Millions Sprint . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, Cal-Bred & Fla-Bred . . . .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000g Sunshine Millions F & M Sprint . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m., Cal-Bred & Fla-Bred .6 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000g

Jan. 30

SA

Santa Monica Stakes (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250,000g

Feb. 5 Feb. 5 Feb. 5

SA SA SA

Las Virgenes Stakes (Gr. I) . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250,000g Strub Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000g Thunder Road (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g

80 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

Date Feb. 6 Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 13 Feb. 19 Feb. 19 Feb. 20 Feb. 21 Feb. 21 Feb. 26 Feb. 27

Track SA SA SA GG SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

Stakes (Grade) Conditions Distance Added Value San Antonio Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$150,000g Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250,000g Santa Maria Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/16 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g El Camino Real Derby (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200,000g La Cañada Stakes (Gr II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/8 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g San Carlos Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g San Luis Obispo Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1/2 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g San Vicente Stakes (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g Buena Vista Handicap (Gr. II) . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150,000g La Habra Stakes (Gr. III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-y-o f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .abt. 6 1/2 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Valentine Dancer Handicap . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up, f. & m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 m. (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,000g Sensational Star Handicap . . . . . . . . . . .4-y-o & up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .abt. 6 1/2 f. (T) . . . . . . . . . .100,000g *Purse includes money from Cal-bred Race Fund **Purse includes money from Breeders’ Cup Fund g-Purse guaranteed +-Added purse

2011 REGIONAL SALE DATES January 24-25 . . . . . . . . . .Barretts January Mixed Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Early entries closed November 1, 2010 & entries closed November 12, 2010) March 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Barretts March Sale of Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training: Training preview on March 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Nominations closed October 27, 2010) May 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Barretts May Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training: Training preview on May 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Entries close March 11) October 13 & 14 . . . . . . . . .California Cup Yearling Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Nominations close April 22)

California-Bred/California-Sired Stakes Races–January to April SANTA ANITA PARK/GULFSTREAM PARK Sunshine Millions IX at Santa Anita Park – Cal-Breds Versus Florida-Breds Saturday, January 29 $300,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff Four-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares 1 1/16 Miles

Saturday, January 29 $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Four-Year-Olds & Up 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)

Saturday, January 29 $200,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint Four-Year-Olds & Up 6 Furlongs

Sunshine Millions IX at Gulfstream Park (Florida) – Cal-Breds Versus Florida-Breds Saturday, January 29 $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Four-Year-Olds & Up 1 1/8 Miles

Saturday, January 29 $300,000 Sunshine Millions F & M Turf Four-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)

Saturday, January 29 $200,000 Sunshine Millions F & M Sprint Four-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares 6 Furlongs

SANTA ANITA PARK Saturday, February 26 $100,000 Valentine Dancer Handicap Four-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares 1 Mile (Turf)

It Pays To Be Cal-Bred

www.ctba.com

Sunday, February 27 $100,000 Sensational Star Handicap Four-Year-Olds & Up about 6 1/2 Furlongs (Turf)

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS Saturday, April 23 $50,000 Work The Crowd Stakes Four-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares 1 Mile (Turf)

Saturday, March 19 $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes Four-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares about 6 1/2 Furlongs (Turf)

It Pays To Be Cal-Bred

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 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

January 2011 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1 New Year’s Day

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

16

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

CALIFORNIA-BRED/SIRED STAKES RACES $1.8 MILLION SUNSHINE MILLIONS IX DAY—SATURDAY, JANUARY 29—CALIFORNIA-BREDS VERSUS FLORIDA-BREDS Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.

Gulfstream Park Hallandale, Fla.

$300,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS DISTAFF 4YO & UP, FILLIES & MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

$500,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS CLASSIC 4YO & UP, 1 1/8 MILES

$300,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS TURF 4YO & UP, 1 1/8 MILES (T)

$300,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS FILLY & MARE TURF 4YO & UP, FILLIES & MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (T)

$200,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS SPRINT 4YO & UP, 6 FURLONGS

$200,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS FILLY & MARE SPRINT 4YO & UP, FILLIES & MARES, 6 FURLONGS

IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES THURSDAY, JANUARY 20 CALIFORNIA HORSE RACING BOARD (CHRB) MONTHLY BOARD MEETING Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 THOROUGHBRED OWNERS OF CALIFORNIA (TOC) FREE SEMINAR: “OWNERSHIP 101-AN INTRODUCTION TO RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP” Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif. & Golden Gate Fields, Albany, Calif.

MONDAY, JANUARY 24 BARRETTS EQUINE LIMITED JANUARY MIXED SALE Finish Line Sports Grill (Fairplex), Pomona, Calif.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED FARM MANAGERS ASSOCIATION (CTFMA) MONTHLY MEETING Sizzler Restaurant, Murrieta, 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 • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

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.

BOARDING

$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

THOROUGHBREDS FOR SALE

Lisa Macauley Performance Horses Offers: High Quality Boarding, Without the High Prices!

• Beautiful, safe irrigated pastures • Large 12x20 stalls for foaling and lay-ups • Specializing in year-round broodmares, weanlings and yearling care.

• 2 hours from Golden Gate Fields Oakdale, Calif.

209-765-1676 E-mail: lmacauleyreiners@hughes.net

Email: daehlingranch@hotmail.com www.daehlingranch.com

THE COLE RANCH. BOARDING CARE: • Video monitored foaling stalls • Complimentary in-state shipping to/from stud farm • Complete vaccination, hoof care and de-worming program • $15 per day includes nursing foal for four months • Multiple mare discounts FOAL CARE: • Two-acre irrigated Bermuda grass pastures • Best quality alfalfa and fortified grain • Complementary halter breaking • Complementary Jockey Club registration • Breaking and sales prep They Don’t Run Faster Because You Over Pay

559-535-4680 www.thecoleranch.com

www.ctba.com

Classified Advertising

RECENTLY WIDOWED. Would like to get back in the horse business.

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. Contact Gloria Renteria 619-766-4557.

THOROUGHBREDS FOR LEASE LOOKING TO LEASE stakes-winning or stake- producing mare for the 2011 breeding season. 213-700-9799

THOROUGHBREDS FOR SALE QUALITY STRONG BONED TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY by an A.P. Indy-winning son. Dam blacktype family, allowance winner and producer all winners from starters.

Ready for training. $7,500. Phone 760-873-8643.

MARE & FOAL FROM OVERBROOK DISPERSAL

D E P A R T M E N T

‘02 SAINT BALLADO o/o stakes-winning, STORM CAT, o/o stakes-producing MR. PROSPECTOR, in-foal to KAFWAIN (due early March–California).

Paid $40K, priced $10,900.

2010 daughter Cal-bred, gorgeous, big, correct by YES IT’S TRUE $44,900.

775-233-8541 MARES IN-FOAL TO LEADING CALIFORNIA SIRES, Lucky Pulpit and Marino Marini plus weanlings, yearlings—all priced to sell. Call 209576-0629.

TRAINING $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

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 83

D E P A R T M E N T

Classified Advertising Cont’d.

BUSINESS CARDS

Laurel Fowler Insurance Broker, Inc. JEANNIE GARR RODDY Broker Associate

Tel (800) 700 6263 (805) 473 2227 Fax (805) 473 0202

Lic.# O.B.57610

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

877 Noyes Rd., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Suzanne Cardiff Pedigree Research Consultation 413 W. Camino Real Arcadia, CA 91007-7302 Phone (626) 445-3104 Fax (626) 445-0743 www.thoroughbredinfo.com/showcase/cardiff.htm

SWIFT

Joyce Canaday Equine Arts

JUSTICE

www.horselawyers.com EQUINE

LAW

1 (800) 745-9336 THE LAW OFFICES OF BING I. BUSH JR. APC

(323) 429-0005 www.JoyceEquineArts.com

84 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

Offices in Southern California & Lexington Kentucky Email: b.bush@horselawyers.com

www.ctba.com

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

Janet Del Castillo 3708 Crystal Beach Road Winter Haven, FL 33880 n !

NEW 4TH Editio

OWNERS!

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAINING BUT DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO ASK! Read BACKYARD RACE HORSE, a comprehensive off-track program for owners and trainers Call or write for info on Book, Newsletter and Seminars!

863-299-8448 backyardracehorse.com NEW! TRAINING DVD!

www.ctba.com

Lillian Nichols

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 85

D E P A R T M E N T

Index to Advertisers

NOTE: Inside Back Cover, IBC; Outside Back Cover, OBC; Inside Front Cover, IFC

Alisos Canyon Equine Center ......................................................................................61 Backyard Race Horse ..................................................................................................85 Ballena Vista Farm ............................................................................................OBC, 20 Barretts Equine ............................................................................................................43 Cal-Bred/Cal-Sired Stakes Races................................................................................81 Cardiff, Suzanne, Pedigree Research ..........................................................................84 CTBA Annual Golf Tournament....................................................................................60 CTBA Annual Meeting/Awards Dinner ........................................................................32 CTBA Maiden Bonus Program ....................................................................................79 CTBA Membership ......................................................................................................78 CTBA Website ..............................................................................................................66 CTBA Weekely..............................................................................................................57 Daehling Ranch ............................................................................................................83 Diamond F. Ranch........................................................................................................49 Dickson Podley Realtors (Jeannie Garr Roddy) ..........................................................84 Dignitary Downs ..........................................................................................................40 E.A. Ranches..........................................................................................................36, 37 Equine Insurance..........................................................................................................86 Equineline.com ............................................................................................................44 Gayle Van Leer Thoroughbred Services ......................................................................84 Golden Eagle Farm ........................................................................................................5 Harris Farms Inc. .......................................................................................... IFC, 31, 33 Joyce Canaday Equine Arts ........................................................................................84 Laurel Fowler Insurance Broker Inc. ............................................................................84 Legacy Ranch ............................................................................................................7, 9 Legal Equestrian ..........................................................................................................85 Lillian Nichols/Halters ..................................................................................................85 Linda Cardenas-Subias-Law Office ............................................................................84 Lisa Macauley Performance Horse..............................................................................83 Lovacres Ranch ..........................................................................................................56 Madera Thoroughbreds................................................................................................41 Magali Farms,LLC..............................................................................................3, 23, 47 Mares’ Nest ..................................................................................................................87 Milky Way Farm............................................................................................................53 NTRA Advantage/John Deere ......................................................................................65 NTRA Advantage/John Deere/Sherwin Williams/UPS ................................................63 Oak Hill Farm ..............................................................................................................39 Oakmont Ranch ........................................................................................................IBC Odyssey Performance..................................................................................................85 Old English Rancho......................................................................................................57 Pacific Coast Thoroughbreds ......................................................................................71 Paradise Road Ranch ............................................................................................14, 85 Poplar Meadows ..........................................................................................................45 Rancho San Miquel....................................................................................25, 27, 28, 29 Rancho Temescal ........................................................................................................12 Rebecca Bambarger, EA, Equine Tax Specialist..........................................................84 Salesring.com ..............................................................................................................87 Special T Thoroughbreds Inc.......................................................................................55 Sue Hubbard & Associates ....................................................................................48, 67 Summit General Insurance Agency ............................................................................83 Sunshine Millions ........................................................................................................70 The Cole Ranch............................................................................................................83 Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC ..........................................................11,13,15,17,19 Victory Rose Thoroughbreds ................................................................................74, 75 www.horselawyers.com ..............................................................................................84

86 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

www.ctba.com

Barretts Januar y Sale Offering the only 2 Yearlings by

SIBERIAN SUMMER Colleen Turpin-Boyce, Agent for The Estate of WALTER J. THOMSON Hip No. 375 Gray Yearling Colt Sire: Siberian Summer Dam: Courtly Colors Hip No. 376 COURTLY COLORS Stakes-Placed producer In-Foal to OLYMPIO Sire: Holding Court

by Deputy Minister Dam: Hot Colors

by Pirate’s Bounty Colleen Turpin-Boyce, Agent for MARES’ NEST

Hip No. 390 Yearling Filly Sire: Siberian Summer Dam: Donna Hajji

by Explodent Dam of 4 winners, including Team Zachary – 7 wins and $156,670 MARES’ NEST Bred and raised multiple Stakes Winner and Cal-Bred Champion 3-year-old filly BAI AND BAI Mares’ Nest now has space available for a limited number of boarders.

(Broodmares, yearlings and lay-ups) Located in Northern California Phone: (916) 697-3221 Email: seaorbit@aol.com Web-site: www.foaltoyearlinghalter.com

www.ctba.com

This index is provided as a service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or ommisions.

Index to Stallions

Atticus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3, 47 Awesome Gambler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Bedford Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Behrens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Benchmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC, 20 Bertrando . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC Best Minister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Bushwacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Calkins Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Chattahoochee War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Cindago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Comet Shine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Comic Strip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Council Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Decarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Defy Logic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Del Mar Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Desert Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Dixie Chatter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC Downtown Seattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Drum Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Elusive Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Forest Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Global Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3, 47 Globalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Good Journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Grace Upon Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Grazen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Idiot Proof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC Indian Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Kafwain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Latin American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Lucky J. H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Lucky Pulpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC, 33 Many Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Marino Marini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25, 29 McCann's Mojave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25, 27, 29 Ministers Wild Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Mr. Broad Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Old Topper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Olmodavor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Olympio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 One Man Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Onebadshark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 29 Papa Clem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Pure Thrill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Roi Charmant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3, 47 Sea of Secrets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC Siberian Summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Sought After . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Soul of the Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Southern Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25, 29 Spensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Stormin Fever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Storm Wolf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25, 28 Stormy Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Surf Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Swiss Yodeler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC, 31 Tale Of The Hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Ten Most Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 The Pamplemousse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25, 29 Time To Get Even . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Tizbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Tribal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC Under Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Unusual Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC Whatsthescript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

D E P A R T M E N T

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011 87

C O L U M N

The Story Of Tell Guest Forum

by JACKIE BARNES Howard B. Keck, the former owner of Superior Oil Company of California, and his wife Elizabeth, played an influential role in shaping the history of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in California. Their powerful stable of stakes stars such as champion three-year-old filly Turkish Trousers, Bagdad, Balzac, Snap Apple and Craelius, along with many other talent individuals, filled many race cards at all the major California racetracks.

One of their brightest stars was a bay colt named Tell, who raced for the couple from 1968 to 1970. A son of 1958 Horse of the Year, Round Table, out of stakes winner NasMahal by Nasrullah (Eng), his bloodlines were as blue as those of his homeland’s Royal Family.

A half-brother to Turkish Trousers, Tell was a versatile performer who handled distances from six furlongs to a 1 1/4 miles while equally adept on both dirt and turf.

The 69th running of the grade I Hollywood Derby was held in November of 2010, and this article takes a look back at Tell’s victory in the 1969 edition, as well as his overall contribution to California’s racing and breeding industry.

After a brief two-year-old campaign, trainer Charlie Whittingham knew he had something special in Tell at the start of the 1969 season. Following two allowance wins on the dirt, Whittingham decided to try him on Santa Anita Park’s downhill turf course.

Under Don Pierce, Tell cruised to an easy six-length triumph at the 6 1/2-furlong distance. He was wheeled right back a week later to win the similarly-distanced Baldwin Stakes where he equaled the course record of 1:12 4/5 with a victory by 3 1/2 lengths.

Tell—$126,600 Hollywood Derby—June 14, 1969

88 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JANUARY 2011

With these races under his belt, the timing seemed perfect for a return to the main track for the Hollywood Derby with the distance being the only question. But the Keck color bearer was more than equal to the task.

From its first running in 1938 to 1972, the Hollywood Derby was contested on the main track. It was run on turf from 1973 to 1975, then switched back to dirt from 1976 to 1980. The now grade I event has since been run on the grass.

The 29th running of the race was on June 14, featuring a field of nine that was headed up by Jay Ray, the 126-pound highweight and 6-5 favorite, with the entry of Tell (123 pounds) and Makor as the 8-5 second wagering choice.

Tell took the lead from post position number two, followed by Lonny’s Secret and Court Road. Stretch running Jay Ray dropped back to eighth after the start.

As they turned for home, Jay Ray was making his patented stretch run when he tried to split between Noholme Jr. and Makor, but was stopped cold and had to make another run to finish second. Tell coasted home to a 4 1/2-length victory in the final time of 2:00 flat. It gave Howard Keck his second victory in the race; his first was with Bagdad in 1959.

Tell concluded his three-year-old season with victories in October’s Autumn Days Stakes and Volante Handicap. He retired in 1970, after running second in the San Carlos Handicap and then fourth in two other stakes races.

Upon retirement, Tell entered stud at Claiborne Farm, his birthplace, in 1970, where he stayed till 1980. He relocated to California when bought by a syndicate and stood at Delaney Stock Farm in 1981 and 1982. He then moved to Peppertree Stock Farm where he stayed until he died in 1995.

Overall, he sired more than 30 stakes winners among his earners of over $9.5 million, with a phenomenal 81 percent starters from foals and 71 percent winners from starters.

His leading runner was the dual grade II winner Told, who earned $336,146 and became a successful sire.

However, Tell’s biggest contribution may be as a broodmare sire. He is the sire of the dams of more than 25 stakes winners, including the 1983 Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Heartlight No. One, and the New Zealand champions Pompeii Pearl and Courtza His career racing totals were 18-9-5-1 for earnings of $229,668 and the bay will be remembered not just for his exciting triumphs at the track, but also the contribution by his offspring to the Golden State’s Thoroughbred program.

www.ctba.com