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News from California: |
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 Los
Alamitos Race Track to host 2nd Annual Fine Art Jockey Card Autograph
Session
Cypress, CA - Sept.
24, 2011 - Los Alamitos Race Track boasts several stakes events on
Friday, Sept. 30th. Besides the PCQHRA Derby, there are
also two stakes bearing the name of a legend that hails from the
Intermountain Region; the Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap, named for the
sports premier trainer that was lost to this industry over a year
ago, and the Kip Didericksen Overnight Handicap named for the
legendary rider, now retired, that booted such champions as the
great Refrigerator down the Los Alamitos straightaway almost two
decades ago (give or take a few years).
read more
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449 CATALOGED FOR 2011 LOS ALAMITOS EQUINE SALE OCTOBER 1-2
- CYPRESS, CA - Sept. 23, 2011 - The 2011 Los Alamitos
Equine Sale catalog featuring 449 head of horses is now
available online. The Los Alamitos Equine Sale is one of the
nation’s premier sales of American Quarter Horse yearlings
and broodmares and will be held on Saturday, October 1 and
Sunday, October 2. |
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MENDEZ FEELING BETTER DESPITE HARD FALL
- CYPRESS, CA - Sept. 12, 2011 - Jockey Santiago Mendez was
feeling better early Monday morning while recovering from a
spill in a race on Sunday at Los Alamitos. Mendez’s injury
was a leg joint dislocation, or luxation, which was caused
by the impact of his fall. He was admitted to Los Alamitos
Medical Center, but was expected to be released in a day or
two. |
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CONKLIN RELEASED FROM
HOSPITAL ON SUNDAY MORNING
- CYPRESS, CA - Sept. 11, 2011 -
Jockey Jay Conklin, who hit the ground hard after his mount suffered
an injury during a PCQHRA Breeders Futurity trial, is resting at his
home after being released from Los Alamitos Medical Center at 4 a.m.
on Sunday morning. |
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RETROACTIVE PURSE PAYMENTS FOR SPRING/SUMMER -
INGLEWOOD, CA - Sept. 9, 2011 - Hollywood Park will be
making retroactive 7% purse payments – totaling $900,000 -
for a large portion of the 2011 Spring/Summer meet.
The payments will be added to overnight purses already
distributed between April 21-June 26 and will be mailed
Monday, Sept. 12
There was an earlier 10% hike of overnight purses for the
final three weeks of the 54-day meet, which concluded July
17. |
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Cashcall Futurity, Turf Festival share fall spotlight at
Hollywood Park -
INGLEWOOD, CA - Sept. 8, 2011 - The $750,000 CashCall
Futurity, an annual stop for future Triple Crown contenders,
will once again be the richest event on the stakes calendar
for the 2011 Autumn Meet at Hollywood Park. |
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Del Mar Finishes Up Right For 2011 Racing Season
- Del Mar - Sept. 8, 2011 - “We adapted, we adjusted, we
partnered, we promoted and we worked hard. In the end, we
managed to do what most everyone in this business hopes to
do – we conducted a helluva good race meeting that was fun
for everyone involved.” -- Joe Harper, CEO, president and
general manager, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. |
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Three Riding Titles In A Row For Rosario -- A First In 57
Years; Training Title For Mitchell Is His First Since 1996
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Del Mar – Sept. 8, 2011 - Joel Rosario became the first
jockey to win three consecutive Del Mar riding titles in 57
years with a 49-42 win margin over Joe Talamo for the 2011
crown. Leading by only two with three days remaining,
Rosario won four races on Sunday and three more Monday of
Labor Day weekend to pull away. |
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Clenbuterol threshold level for Quarter Horse races at Los
Alamitos -
Effective October 14, 2011, the authorization for the
threshold level for clenbuterol will be suspended in Quarter
Horse races at Los Alamitos. Clenbuterol will become similar
to other drugs not specifically authorized by the California
Horse Racing Board, if the lab detects clenbuterol at any
level, it will be a violation. |
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"What’s not to like about Del Mar?”
Del Mar To Pay Its Horsemen $1-Million-Plus In Added Purses
- Del Mar - Sept. 6, 2011 - Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will
pay its horsemen a record under-payment amount in excess of
$1-million following the conclusion of its 37-day race
meeting on Wednesday. |
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CHRB Will Not Count Trainers in TOC Petitions
- Sept. 2 , 2011 - The California Horse Racing
Board threw a monkey wrench into a horsemen
group's attempt to decertify the Thoroughbred
Owners of California as legal representative,
saying it will not validate petition signatures
of owners who are also trainers. |
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KENNY CHAPMAN DIES
- CYPRESS, CA. Sept. 1, 2011 - Kenneth L.
"Kenny" Chapman, one of the nation’s top Quarter
Horse jockeys in late 1950s and early 1960s,
passed away on Monday, August 29. He was 80.
Born on January 11, 1931 in Charles City, Iowa,
Chapman won 263 Quarter Horse races in his
career at Los Alamitos. |
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CHRB APPROVES PCQHRA AND LOS ALAMITOS REQUEST TO
RESTRICT CLENBUTEROL USE ON RACEHORSES -
CYPRESS, CA – August 27, 2011 - The California
Horse Racing Board approved a joint request
presented by the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse
Racing Association and Los Alamitos Race Course
at its regular monthly meeting held on Thursday,
August 25 to restrict the use of clenbuterol at
the Orange County track by prohibiting for one
year its presence at any level in test samples
collected from horses that run. |
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San Luis Rey Downs Contests Cash Handouts
- SAN DIEGO, August 25, 2011 - - San Luis Rey
Downs claims a thoroughbred stabling fund paid
hundreds of thousands of dollars to race
associations not approved by the California
Horse Racing Board, some of which are "mere
shells and shams." |
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Irwin 25 For 25 - August 24,
2011 - Barry Irwin achieved a significant
milestone on August 20 when Summer Soiree
prevailed in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. Irwin is
in the midst of his 25th season syndicating and
managing Thoroughbreds, and Summer Soiree is his
25th individual Grade 1 winner. |
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SANTA ANITA AUTUMN MEET OFFERS 13 GRADED STAKES,
SIX GRADE ONE EVENTS KEY MEET THAT OPENS SEPT.
30 -
ARCADIA, Calif. - Aug. 24, 2011 —Santa Anita’s
2011 Autumn Meeting, which begins Sept. 30, will
offer 13 graded stakes, including six Grade I
events which will be run as part of Santa
Anita’s Breeders’ Cup prep program that
encompasses the first two weekends of the 24-day
race meeting. |
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Hartman to Step Down at Golden Gate Fields
- Berkeley, CA - August 22, 2011 - Robert
Hartman, the general manager at Golden Gate
Fields for the past six years, is leaving his
post at the conclusion of the current fall meet
Oct. 2. |
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TOC's Rafetto responds to CTHA on
decertification filing - Del
Mar, Calif. – August 20, 2011 - In response to a
petition filed today by the California
Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (CTHA) to
decertify the Thoroughbred Owners of California
(TOC), Lou Raffetto, president of TOC, issued
the following statement: |
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CTHA Submits over 1,100 Signatures to CHRB,
calls for TOC decertification
- August 20, 2011 - CTHA President David Wilson
today announced that their group has surpassed
the number of signatures required for the
California Horse Racing Board to conduct an
election to decertify the Thoroughbred Owners of
California (TOC). |
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Espinoza Donates $10,000 for Racetrack Grooms
- Del Mar - August 19, 2011 - Jockey Victor
Espinoza, who pledged to donate his earnings for
the race week of Aug. 10-14 to assist Southern
California racetrack grooms, has presented a
$10,000 check to the California Thoroughbred
Horsemen’s Foundation. |
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Golden Gate Fields Launches 22-Day Summer
Meeting Friday -
August 18, 2011 - Golden Gate Fields will launch
its 22-day summer horse racing meet Friday with
an eight-race program. Post time is 12:45 p.m.
The summer season will feature three-day racing
weeks with action every Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday through Oct. 2. |
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LOS ALAMITOS EQUINE SALE CATALOG NOW AVAILABLE
ONLINE -
CYPRESS, CA - August 13, 2011 - The 2011 Los
Alamitos Equine Sale catalog featuring 449 head
of horses is now available online at
www.losalamitosequinesale.com.
The Los Alamitos Equine Sale is one of the
nation’s premier sales of American Quarter Horse
yearlings and broodmares and will be held on
Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2.
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Mitchell Sets Record For Del Mar Wins; Unzip Me
takes $105,685 Daisycutter Handicap
- Del Mar – August 12, 2011 -
Sixty-three-year-old Mike Mitchell, in his 35th
season competing at Del Mar, became the
winningest trainer in the history of the seaside
track Friday when he sent out favored Backwoods
Belle to win the fifth race, marking his 437th
triumph “where the turf meets the surf.” |
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Mike Smith Wins 'Battle Of The Exes'
- August 7, 2011 - Hall of Fame jockey Mike
Smith sent his 3-5 favored mount, Joker Face, to
the front shortly after the break and cruised to
an easy, 2 1/4 length triumph over former
fiancée Chantal Sutherland and Parable in the
“Battle of the Exes” Sunday at Del Mar. |
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Dennis Cardoza Joins TOC Board -
August 6, 2011 - Dennis Cardoza, who represents
the18th district of California in Congress, has
joined the Board of Directors of the
Thoroughbred Owners of California. A
Thoroughbred breeder and owner, Cardoza brings a
lifelong enthusiasm for racing to the TOC Board. |
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Santa Anita Park to host 2012 Breeders' Cup
World Championships
- ARCADIA - August 4, 2011 - The
coveted Breeders' Cup World Championships will
return to Santa Anita Park in 2012. The news was
confirmed by an Arcadia city councilman and a
source close to the racetrack. |
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CA. Associations ask TOC to lower takeout
- July 31, 2011 - Santa Anita and Hollywood Park
have asked the Thoroughbred Owners of California
to lower the takeout on daily doubles, exactas
and quinellas on an experimental basis at their
upcoming fall meets, according to a letter
obtained by the North County Times late Saturday
night. |
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Shortage of horses means fewer entrants; shorter
fields at Sonoma - July 28,
2011 - The Sonoma County Fair, with horse racing
the major draw, kicks off its 75th anniversary
season Wednesday with management and
handicappers dreaming of a return to the good
old days when full fields were the norm, not the
exception. |
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Del Mar's $1 million Pick Six winner celebrates
into the night - Del Mar —
July 28, 2011 - There was a table at Jake’s Del
Mar Wednesday night that had some folks with a
little extra celebrating to do. |
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Jockey Espinoza not seriously injured in spill
at Del Mar - Del Mar — July
25, 2011 - Jockey Victor Espinoza, who was
injured in a spill in the ninth and final race
Sunday at the Del Mar Racetrack, likely will not
miss any time riding, according to his agent. |
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CLAIMING ACTIVITY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK UP
SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2011 - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (July 22, 2011)—The recently concluded
Spring/Summer meet at Hollywood Park showed a
surge in claiming activity, a positive indicator
regarding horse ownership in California.
A total of 195 horses were claimed during the
54-day meet at Hollywood Park. The total cost of
those purchases was $4,206,500.
This was up considerably over the 57-day
Spring/Summer season a year ago. There were 151
claims – totaling $3,120,000 – in 2010. |
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Three-day racing week for Golden Gate Fields
- July 22, 2011 - With too few horses to run its
traditional schedule to its satisfaction, Golden
Gate Fields will cut back to three days of
racing per week during its upcoming fall meet. |
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CHRB changes medication, claiming rules
- DEL MAR — July 22, 2011 - Despite opposition
from the Thoroughbred Owners of California and
the California Thoroughbred Trainers
Association, the California Horse Racing Board
on Thursday took a huge step to reduce the
amount of pain killers horses receive before
receiving prerace examinations. |
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CALIFORNIA AUTHORITY OF RACING FAIRS -
Sharp increases in attendance, handle-
Sacramento, CA, July 21, 2011 - Record crowds
and increases in handle are among the highlights
of the first two summer fair meets in Northern
California. |
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SPRING/SUMMER MEET ENDS WITH SLIGHT DECLINES IN
ATTENDANCE, HANDLE; PLAYER’S PICK 5 PROVES
POPULAR - INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 21,
2011)-Although Hollywood Park finished its
54-day Spring/Summer meet July 17 with slight
drops in attendance and handle, track president
Jack Liebau was generally heartened with the
results, given the problems facing the industry
and the high rate of unemployment in California. |
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Jockeys Talamo and Baze back from injuries at
Del Mar - July 20, 2011 -
When jockeys Tyler Baze and Joe Talamo were
injured early in the meeting last year, the
entire jockey colony changed at Del Mar. |
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Dash Ta Fame Dies - July 20,
2011 - Dash Ta Fame died last night. The
22-year-old son of First Down Dash is the
14th-ranked all-time leading sire of racing
American Quarter Horses and is the all-time
leading sire of barrel racing horses. |
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California OKs Simulcast Race Limit Increase
- July 18, 2011 - California Gov. Jerry Brown
has approved legislation that increases from 32
to 50 the limit on the daily number of imported
races on which a racing association or fair
simulcast facility in the state can accept
wagers. |
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BLIND LUCK HORSE OF THE MEET IN MEDIA POLL
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 18, 2011) — Blind
Luck, who rallied from last to win the Vanity
Handicap June 18, was voted Horse of the Meet in
the annual media poll as the 54-day
Spring/Summer season concluded Sunday. |
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Santa Anita proven Breeders' Cup Host
- ARCADIA - July 13, 2011 - Santa Anita Park may
have a new trump card in its bid to host the
coveted 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships. |
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Stronach Group buys racing assets
formerly held by MI Developments
- AURORA, Ont. - July 1, 2011 - The
Stronach Group has bought several racetracks
including racetracks in California, Oregon and
Maryland. |
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HOLLYWOOD PARK WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR TRAINING
WHILE SANTA ANITA SURFACE IS RENOVATED -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 30,2011)—The Cushion
Track at Hollywood Park will remain open for
training while the dirt surface at Santa Anita
is being renovated. |
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THREE-TIME CHAMPION GRISWOLD DIES AT AGE OF 25
- CYPRESS, CA - June 30, 2011 -
Three-time AQHA distance champion Griswold,
regarded by many as the greatest 870-yard horse
in Quarter Horseracing history, was euthanized
on June 23 following complications due to old
age. |
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Much Ado About "New" at Del Mar for 2011 Season
- Del Mar, CA - June 29, 2011 - From one end of
its seaside plant to the other, Del Mar’s word
for the summer of 2011 will be “new.” Racing is
off and running on Wednesday, July 20 and
gallops right along until Wednesday, September
7. |
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Two New Bets, ‘Seeded’ Pick Six Carryover on Del
Mar Menu - June 24, 2011 -
Del Mar will offer two new wagers at its
upcoming summer race meeting, both featuring
reduced takeout percentages as an additional
lure to bettors during the 37-day season that
kicks off on Wednesday, July 20. |
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California Politics Colors Takeout Fight -
June 24, 2011 - An ongoing
battle over pari-mutuel takeout rates in
California isn’t only a major issue in the war
over horsemen’s representation in the Golden
State, but it also has moved horseplayers’
involvement in political issues in racing to a
new level. |
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Hollywood Park sees purse boost
- INGLEWOOD, CA - June 23, 2011 - The 10-percent
purse increase that takes effect at Hollywood
Park on Thursday will be an across-the-board
hike for overnight races. |
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Track's 'jewel' ready in time for racing
- STOCKTON, CA - June 15, 2011 - Fans can have
an up-close-and-personal experience this week
and for years to come with the racehorses at the
San Joaquin County Fair. |
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Board investigates $57 winner
- INGLEWOOD, Calif.- June 13, 2011 - The
California Horse Racing Board has launched an
investigation into how Doc Can Dance, the
longshot winner of the seventh race last Friday,
was allowed to start despite not being eligible
under the race’s starter allowance conditions. |
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Sidney's Candy sold to WinStar, headed to
Pletcher - June 8, 2011 -
The Craig Family Trust has sold Sidney’s Candy,
one of the West Coast's top male handicap
horses, to a WinStar Farm partnership, and the
4-year-old Candy Ride colt was shipped to the
East Coast to join Todd Pletcher’s barn. |
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Oak Tree, Del Mar eyes on Breeders' Cup
- June 7, 2011 - The Oak Tree Racing Association
wants to run a fall meeting at the Del Mar
Racetrack in 2012, a move that could lead to the
Breeders’ Cup coming to the seaside track within
four to five years. |
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CASH CALL FUTURITY, HOLLYWOOD STARLET NOMS RISE
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 2, 2011)—The first
round of nominations for both the Cash Call
Futurity and the Hollywood Starlet are up over
last year, according to Martin Panza, Hollywood
Park’s racing secretary and vice
president-racing. |
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MICHAEL BAZE MEMORIAL FUND ESTABLISHED -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 30,2010)—Anyone wishing
to contribute to the Michael Baze Memorial Fund
to help defray funeral expenses can do so at any
Bank of America.
Any additional money raised will go to the
Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, according to
a spokesperson for Baze’s mother Teri Gibson.
Hollywood Park will hold a public memorial for
Baze, who passed away May 10 at the age of 24,
immediately after the races Thursday. The
tribute will be in the Sunset Room. |
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Del Mar to pay extra for out-of-state horses
- Del Mar - May 29, 2011 - The Del Mar
Thoroughbred Club is putting its money where its
mouth is to make sure it can run a full 37-day
meet this summer. The track will pay $1,000 for
each horse that starts a race if its previous
race was out of state. On top of that, Del Mar
will pay each owner an extra 20 percent of
whatever purse money the horse earns in all
non-stakes races. If a horse wins $20,000 in a
race, it will earn an extra $4,000 from Del Mar. |
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Dr. Mark Dedomenico Selected to Lead TOC’s
Medication & Integrity Committee
- May 29, 2011 - Dr. Mark Dedomenico has been
selected by the board of directors of the
Thoroughbred Owners of California as the new
Chairman of the Medication and Integrity
Committee. Recently appointed to the TOC Board
in February, Dr. Dedomenico has made immediate
contributions to the organization. |
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California group considers purchasing
out-of-state horses - May
27, 2011 As a possible way of boosting field
sizes in California, the California Marketing
Committee (CMC) is considering claiming or
purchasing out-of-state horses to race in the
state. |
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CHRB Approves Random Drug Testing for Jockeys
- Berkley, CA - May 27, 2011 - Random drug
testing of jockeys and harness drivers is set to
begin in California after the state horse racing
board gave final approval to the rule at its May
26 meeting at Golden Gate Fields. |
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Thoroughbreds returning to Cal Expo
- Sacramento, CA - May 27, 2011 - The
Thoroughbreds are headed back to Cal Expo for
nine days of racing at the 2011 State Fair.
Thursday, the California Horse Racing Board
approved Cal Expo's application for the summer
fair meet, July 14-25. |
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Early Signs Looking Positive For Del Mar Summer
Meet - Del Mar, CA - May 26,
2011 - Early indicators tell positive tales as
Del Mar picks up speed in its run-up to its
annual summer race meeting, beginning this year
on Wednesday, July 20. The seaside track, which
will continue its five-days-per-week,
Wednesday-through-Sunday format again in 2011,
has seen signs of a good-season-to-come at its
ticket office, its Group Sales Department and at
several other signal posts coming up to the 72nd
race meeting at the course “where the turf meets
the surf.” |
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Santa Anita Dirt Track to Undergo Renovation
- Arcadia, CA - May 18, 2011 - Santa Anita’s
dirt racetrack will be undergoing renovation in
the coming months to bring it back to the
combination of sand, silt, and clay initially
approved when the new dirt surface was installed
late last year. |
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QH Noticias Launch - SureBet
Racing News, May 17, 2011 - On May 27th SureBet
Racing News will launch a sister website for
Spanish-speaking Quarter Horse racing horsemen,
breeders and fans. The address for this new site
is
www.qhnoticias.com . There is no membership
fee, and the site is free for everyone to visit. |
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Son of Hard Spun, tops Barretts May sale
- Pomona, Ca - May 16, 2011 - George Bolton, who
bought the sale topper out of the 2010 Barretts
May sale to come up with The Factor, paid
$220,000 for this year’s sale topper, a son of
Hard Spun. The colt was one of seven to bring
six figures at the May 16 sale in Pomona, Calif. |
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Barretts May sale today -
May 16, 2011 - Barretts Equine Ltd. has
cataloged 122 horses for its May two-year-olds
in training sale, which is set for Monday at the
Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex Park in Pomona,
California. |
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JOCKEY AUTOGRAPH SESSION TO BENEFIT LOS ALAMITOS
RTCA ON SUNDAY, MAY 22 - CYPRESS, CA -
May 15, 2011 - 2009 AQHA Champion Jockey Ramon
Sanchez, Los Alamitos all-time leading rider
Eddie Garcia are among the champion jockeys that
will be on hand on Sunday night, May 22 at Los
Alamitos Race Course to sign autographs to raise
funds for the Los Alamitos division of the Race
Track Chaplaincy of America. |
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Santa Anita's fall meet awaits approval
- Arcadia, CA - May 14, 2011 - Pending approval
from the California Horse Racing Board, Santa
Anita Park will be offering live horse racing
this autumn. Track officials announced Friday
that the 75-year-old track will conduct a fall
meeting over a six-week period that concludes
Sunday, November 6. |
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Northern California trainer Jerry Hollendorfer,
3 Fillies Make Hall of Fame
- Saratoga Springs, N.Y. - March 13, 2011 -
Northern California trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
and the fillies Open Mind, Safely Kept, and Sky
Beauty have been elected to the National Museum
of Racing’s Hall of Fame it was announced May
13. |
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LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE ANNOUNCES SEVERAL
CHANGES TO ITS STAKES SCHEDULE -
CYPRESS, CA. - May 7, 2011 - Los Alamitos Race
Course released an updated stakes schedule for
2011 on Friday evening with several marquee
racing events being moved to Sunday night. |
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Los Alamitos Quarter Horse purses increased
- CYPRESS, CA - April 5, 2011 - Purses for
Quarter Horse races for 3-year-olds and for
3-year-olds and up have been raised at Los
Alamitos Race Course effective immediately. All
claiming races, including maiden claiming and
open claiming events, for 3-year-olds as well as
for 3-year-olds and up Quarter Horses have been
increased $1,000, while open allowance Quarter
Horse races for 3-year-olds and also for
3-year-olds and up have been raised $2,000. For
more info please contact Los Alamitos Racing
Office at 714-820-2788. |
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HUGE NUMBERS ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT LOS ALAMITOS
RACE COURSE - CYPRESS, CA - May 2, 2011
- Sunday nights continue to be the best night of
the week in terms of handle at Los Alamitos Race
Course in 2011. The first Sunday in May was a
perfect example of this new phenomenon as the
total handle for the 10 Los Alamitos races was
$1,623,005. An additional $254,688 was wagered
throughout California on the nighttime simulcast
races hosted by Los Alamitos on Sunday night (12
races from Balmoral Park and four from Sam
Houston Race Park) to take the combined total
handle for Sunday to $1,877,693. |
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FLORES, CONKLIN AND CRAIGMYLE AMONG LOS AL'S
APRIL STANDOUTS - CYPRESS, CA -
May 1, 2011 - Pitcher Jeff Weaver of the Los
Angeles Angels and outfielder Andre Either of
the Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed dominant Aprils
in Major League Baseball. Even closer to home,
jockeys Eswan Flores and Cesar De Alba and
trainers Paul Jones and Keith Craigmyle enjoyed
big Aprils as well. |
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CHRB Takes Action On Equine Safety Measures
- Inglewood, CA - April 29, 2011 - The
California Horse Racing Board took a swing at a
number of equine safety measures during its
April 28 meeting at Hollywood Park, including
another try at a rule to void the claim of a
horse that suffers a fatality during the race. |
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Horsemen's Group Takes First Step to Oust TOC
- Inglewood, CA - April 29, 2011 - A newly
formed horsemen's group announced April 28 that
it is formally seeking to replace the
Thoroughbred Owners of California as the
official representative. |
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TYLER
BAZE WINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RETURN
- INGLEWOOD, CA - April 28, 2011 - Jockey Tyler
Baze didn’t take long to get back to the
winner’s circle in his return to riding in
Southern California. Injured in a pre-race
mishap last July 24 at Del Mar, Baze, 28, won
with his second mount on his first day back at
his home circuit, scoring an easy gate-to-wire
victory aboard Joyful Success in the sixth race
Thursday at Hollywood Park. |
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ZENYATTA’S STALL CONVERTED TO SANCTUARY
- Inglewood, CA - April 28, 2011 - Life goes on
in Barn 55 South at Hollywood Park but it will
never be quite the same since the retirement of
Zenyatta last December. |
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108 Cataloged FOR BARRETTS' May Sale
- Twice the
Appeal, a $35,000 purchase last year at Barretts'
May Sale, stamped his ticket for the Kentucky
Derby-G1 with a break through 1½ length victory
in $800,000 Sunland Derby-G3 at 1 1/8 miles. |
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CHANTAL SUTHERLAND STAYS FOR THE SUMMER
- Inglewood, CA - April 22, 2011 - The Hollywood
Park jockey colony for the Spring/Summer Meet
will be graced for the first time by Chantal
Sutherland, who has decided to test the
year-round Southern California circuit instead
of returning to her native Canada following the
Santa Anita meet. |
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DEL MAR TO HOST SIX BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE
RACES AS PART OF 2011 SCHEDULE - Series
to Include 68 Races, Winners Earn Automatic
Berths, Travel and Entry Fees Paid Into World
Championships - NEW YORK (April 20, 2011) -- The
Breeders' Cup Challenge, a global series of 68
automatic qualifying races for the Breeders' Cup
World Championships, will feature 15 new Grade
or Group 1 races this year, with the Breeders’
Cup paying entry fees and providing travel
allowances for the winning connections into the
Championships, it was announced today by
Breeders’ Cup officials. Del Mar will host six
races during the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Challenge
season beginning on July 29 with the Cougar II
Handicap. |
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SANTA ANITA FINISHES MEET ON HIGH NOTE, GAME ON
DUDE HORSE OF MEET IN MEDIA POLL, BAFFERT,
ROSARIO EARN HONORS AS TOP TRAINER AND JOCKEY
- ARCADIA, CA -
April 18, 2011—Santa Anita Park’s 74th
winter/spring meet came to a close on Sunday
with encouraging news regarding attendance and
handle. With the April 9 Santa Anita Derby
standing as the highlight of the season, two
highly successful Gourmet Food Truck Festivals
on Jan. 29 and April 2 contributed significantly
to increased attendance late in the meet and
offered the prospect of exposing an exciting new
demographic to the Southern California racing
landscape. |
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STEVENS KNOWS HIGHS AND LOWS OF
SANTA ANITA DERBY -
Arcadia, CA - April 8, 2011 -
Gary Stevens has experienced
emotions ranging from
disappointment to delight in his
18 Santa Anita Derby rides, nine
of which resulted in victories,
a Santa Anita Derby record. |
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Del Mar Unveils 42 Events For
Its 2011 Stakes Schedule
- April 8, 2011 - As it has for
the past two seasons, Del Mar
again will offer 42 stakes races
over the course of a 37-day
summer meeting, this time
beginning on Wednesday, July 20
and continuing until Wednesday,
September 7. It will be the
seaside track's 72nd
presentation of Thoroughbred
sport at its scenic location
just north of San Diego. |
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FOOT ISSUE PUTS JAYCITO OUT FOR
SANTA ANITA DERBY -
April 8, 2011 - Zayat Stables’
Jaycito has been battling a
right front foot bruise for
several days and will be
scratched from the April 9 Santa
Anita Derby (gr. I), trainer Bob
Baffert said. |
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PREMIER PEGASUS OUT OF SANTA
ANITA DERBY, UNSPECIFIED INJURY
CITED IN DEFECTION OF FAVORITE
- ARCADIA, CA - April 7, 2011 -
Premier Pegasus, the 8-5 morning
line favorite for Saturday’s
Grade I, $1 million Santa Anita
Derby, has been declared out of
the race by his connections due
to an unspecified injury. |
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HOLLYWOOD PARK’S 54-DAY
SPRING/SUMMER MEET BEGINS APRIL
21 - INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(April 7, 2011) — Hollywood Park
will have live racing
Thursday-Sunday for a majority
of its 54-day Spring/Summer
meet, which begins Thursday,
April 21. |
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Recent Law Change Impacts Ca
Horse Sales Transactions
- April 7, 2011 - Free seminar
to be hosted by Equestrian
Professional, will help to
educate horse professionals
about recent changes to
California equine law. On May 2,
2011 Equestrian Professional
will host a free webinar for
horse professionals to discuss
recent changes to the California
Business and Professions Code
19525. |
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CHRB SEEKS INPUT ON HORSES
RUNNING FOR PURSE MONEY ONLY
- April 6, 2011 - The California
Horse Racing Board is seeking
public comment prior to
conducting a public hearing next
month on a proposal to allow
horses to run for purse money
only as non-wagering interests
in rare circumstances. The
public hearing will be part of
the regular monthly Board
meeting scheduled April 28 at
Hollywood Park. |
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Del Mar, Keeneland Forge
Partnership for 2011 Season
- March 31, 2011 - Del Mar and
Keeneland, two of racing's
iconic locations that conduct
their business using similar
styles and strategies, have
announced a partnership for the
2011 season with the primary
goal of enhancing and
encouraging horse ownership. |
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National Museum of Racing
announces Hall of Fame class of
2011 finalist; California
trainer Jerry Hollendorfer among
those named -
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — March 30,
2011 - Jockeys Calvin Borel,
Garrett Gomez and John Velazquez
and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
are first-time finalists for
election to the National Museum
of Racing’s Hall of Fame.
Joining them on the 2011 Hall of
Fame ballot are previous
finalists jockey Alex Solis,
trainers Gary Jones and Robert
Wheeler and Thoroughbreds Open
Mind, Safely Kept and Sky
Beauty. |
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New California horsemen’s group
could challenge TOC
- March 30, 2011 - California
horsemen frustrated with the
leadership of the Thoroughbred
Owners of California have formed a
new group, the California
Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association,
which could attempt to become the
state’s recognized horsemen’s group. |
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Zenyatta Loses Foal
- March 29, 2011 - Zenyatta, is no
longer in foal. She was bred to
Bernardini Feb. 23 at Darley near
Lexington.
“She came up empty on a 35-day
check,” said Lane’s End farm manager
Mike Cline. "It’s just one of those
things. She’s happy and healthy.
Hopefully, we’ll get her right back
in foal.”
Seven-year-old Zenyatta will be bred
again to Bernardini. |
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KINDERGARTEN FUTURITY MOVED
TO SUNDAY, MAY 22 - CYPRESS,
CA... Los Alamitos Race Course
announced that the running of
the $500,000 Kindergarten
Futurity has been moved to
Sunday, May 22. It was
originally scheduled to run on
Saturday, Many 21. Sundays have
become Los Alamitos’ best night
of the week in terms of handle.
Los Alamitos plans to move
several other important races to
Sunday evening in 2011. |
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MENDEZ KEEPS ADDING UP THE
QUARTER HORSE WINS -
CYPRESS, CA - MARCH 25, 2011 -
Three months into the 2011
season and Cruz Mendez continues
to set the pace in the Quarter
Horse jockey standings. The
25-year-old rider has won 26
Quarter Horse races this season,
seven more than perennial top
jockey Rodrigo Aceves. Mendez
has also been the busiest rider
this season, as his 126 mounts
are 29 more than the second
busiest jockey, Cesar De Alba.
Mendez’s win ratio of 20.6% is
also among the best and his
average odds per win of 19-2 is
the seventh best among Quarter
Horse riders. |
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CHRB Proposes To Eliminate
Coupling -
March 18, 2011 - The California
Horse Racing Board (CHRB) is
seeking public comment prior to
conducting a public hearing next
month on a proposal to
completely eliminate the
coupling of horses in California
races. The public hearing will
be part of the regular monthly
Board meeting scheduled April 28
at Hollywood Park. |
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Santa Anita Continues to Look at
Surface -
Arcadia, CA - March 18, 2011 -
With a month left in its current
winter meeting, Santa Anita is
continuing to work with the
California Thoroughbred Trainers
and the California Horse Racing
Board on its new dirt surface. |
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Hollywood Hoping to Race Again
in 2012 -
Inglewood, CA - March 15, 2011 -
During a meeting with the
California Horse Racing Board
March 14, Hollywood Park made it
clear that it wants to remain a
part of the racing calendar at
least through 2012. |
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BIG MONEY RACES FOR $5,000 AND
$4,000 CLAIMERS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD
LOS ALAMITOS - CYPRESS, CA -
MARCH 14, 2011 - Los Alamitos Race
Course will host its two richest
races for Thoroughbreds so far this
season when runners in the $5,000
claiming rank will have an
opportunity to compete in a
guaranteed $20,000 race at 4 ½
furlongs, while horses in the $4,000
claiming rank will go after a
guaranteed purse of $16,000 also at
4 ½ furlongs. Both races are for
3-year-olds and upward. |
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INJURED PADDOCK GUARD SHEAR LISTED
STABLE, 90-YEAR-OLD HERO SITTING UP,
ALERT AND CONVERSING -
ARCADIA, CA - March 14, 2011 —The
condition of injured 90-year-old
paddock guard John Shear has
improved “one hundred eighty
degrees” over what it was Saturday
night at Huntington Memorial
Hospital according to a family
member. |
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Oak Tree, Santa Anita Completes
Deal for 2011
- Arcadia, CA - March 13, 2011 -
The Oak Tree Racing Association
and MI Developments have reached
an agreement that will allow
Santa Anita Park to run the
traditional fall stakes program
in Southern California in 2011. |
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90-year-old Guard saves young
girl at Santa Anita -
ARCADIA, CA -
March 12, 2011—Veteran Santa
Anita Paddock Guard John Shear
was injured Saturday as he threw
himself in front of a young girl
in order to protect her from a
loose horse, prior to the
running of the third race. |
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Mendez
BROTHERS ARE ROLLING AT LOS
ALAMITOS
-
CYPRESS, CA -
MARCH 12, 2011 - A new name is
sitting at the top of the
Quarter Horse standings at Los
Alamitos. Cruz Mendez, brother
of established Los Alamitos
pilot Santiago Mendez, is the
early leader with 23 wins from
105 starts for a win ratio of
22%. His brother, Santiago, is
tied for fifth with 13 wins and
a solid win percentage of 18%.
Not since the Bautista cousins,
Alex and Carlos, broke into the
Los Alamitos scene in the mid
1990s, have two young and up and
coming riders from the same
family made as big as splash
here as the Mendez brothers.
© Scott Martinez
photo |
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Terms revealed
for fall racing at Santa Anita
- Arcadia, CA -
March 9, 2011 -
Santa Anita Park will operate
the 2011 fall meet traditionally
run by the Oak Tree Racing
Association and both sides
continue to work out details of
the not-for-profit group's
representation at the six-week
event, officials said Wednesday. |
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Marriage, Fundraiser Next for
Paralyzed Rider - San
Pablo, CA -
March 4, 2011 -
Though felled by a horrific
riding accident last year that
left him paralyzed from the
waist down, former Northern
California jockey Michael
Martinez apparently isn't
letting his circumstances stop
him from getting on with life. |
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SAM THOMPSON MEMORIAL GOLF
TOURNAMENT SET FOR MARCH 28
-
CYPRESS , CA -
March 3, 2011 - The Los Alamitos
Golf Club will hold its 3rd
annual Sam Thompson Memorial
Golf Tournament at the
California Country Club in
Whittier , California on March
28th 2011. The event will have a
shot gun start at 10 a.m.
Proceeds will benefit the
Permanently Disabled Jockeys
Fund. |
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CHURCH
CAMP GAINS FIRST STAKES WIN IN
SUNDAY’S SANTA LUCIA
- ARCADIA, Calif. (March 27,
2011) – Church Camp, a
4-year-old filly ridden by Corey
Nakatani, achieved her first
stakes victory on Sunday when
scoring by 1 ¼ lengths over Burg
Berg in Santa Anita’s 31st
running of the $82,020 Santa
Lucia Stakes for fillies and
mares at 1 1/16 miles.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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PEDROZA
BOUNCES BACK FROM SPILL TO TAKE
TOKYO CITY CUP ABOARD WORTH
REPEATING IN 8-1 UPSET;
VALENZUELA QUADRUPLES -
ARCADIA, Calif. (March 26, 2011)
– Jockey Martin Pedroza,
uninjured in a spill two races
previous, directed 8-1 longshot
Worth Repeating to a determined
upset victory Saturday in Santa
Anita’s 55th running of the
Grade III, $100,000 Tokyo City
Cup marathon at 1 ½ miles.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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MASTERFUL
RIDE BY BEJARANO GETS JUNIPER
PASS HOME IN GRADE II SAN LUIS
REY AFTER MARATHON TAKEN OFF THE
TURF; JOCKEY GAINS STAKES DOUBLE
WITH EASY WIN ABOARD MILDLY
OFFENSIVE IN SANTA PAULA STAKES
- ARCADIA, Calif. (March 20,
2011) – A series of “off”
conditions combined with jockey
Rafael Bejarano getting on board
helped send 9-2 shot Juniper
Pass to a one-half length
victory over pacesetter Dahoud
in Santa Anita’s 60th running of
the Grade II, $150,000 San Luis
Rey Stakes at 1 ½ miles on
Sunday.
©
BENOIT PHOTO/Mildly Offensive |
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BEJARANO
GUIDES MALIBU PIER TO IMPRESSIVE
SCORE IN GRADE II SANTA ANA
STAKES; IRISH O’BRIEN GOES TO LA
NEZ AND PEDROZA -
ARCADIA, Calif. (March 19, 2011)
– A crafty ride by Rafael
Bejarano was instrumental in
propelling Malibu Pier to a
one-length victory over Turning
Top Saturday in Santa Anita’s
44th running of the Grade II,
$150,000 Santa Ana Stakes for
older fillies and mares at 1 1/8
miles on turf. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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AT
HOME ON TURF, ODDS-ON CHOICE
REGALLY READY CRUISES TO VICTORY
IN JOE HERNANDEZ STAKES
- ARCADIA, CA - March 18, 2011 –
Having found his niche on grass,
heavily-favored Regally Ready
cruised to a 1 ¾-length victory
over Leroy’s Dynameaux in
Friday’s fourth running of the
$79,150 Joe Hernandez Stakes at
6 ½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s
downhill turf course.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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STUNNERS
AT SANTA ANITA: PREMIER PEGASUS
WINS GRADE II SAN FELIPE BY A
RECORD 7 ¾ LENGTHS; MISS MATCH
TAKES GRADE I SANTA MARGARITA AT
RECORD ODDS OF 45-1 -
ARCADIA, Calif.
(March 12, 2011) – Premier
Pegasus, a son of 2000 Kentucky
Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus,
burst into 2011 Derby prominence
on Saturday at Santa Anita when
taking the Grade II, $250,000
San Felipe Stakes by 7 ¾
lengths, the most decisive
victory in the 74-year history
of the final stepping-stone to
the April 9 Santa Anita Derby.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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MISS
MATCH KEYS $134,092 CARRYOVER
WITH BIG WIN, SANTA ANITA SUNDAY
PICK SIX COULD EXCEED $1 MILLION
-
ARCADIA, Calif. (March 12,
2011)—With Argenine-bred Miss
Match providing the biggest win
mutuel, ($92.40) in the 74-year
history of the Grade I Santa
Margarita Stakes, Saturday’s
Pick Six became an illusion to
all, resulting in a carryover of
$134,092 into Sunday. It’s
expected the total pool on
Sunday could exceed $1 million.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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ON
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BIG ’CAP
VICTORY, COMEBACKING
MISREMEMBERED WINS SANTANA MILE—LOOKING
AS IF HE COULD’VE BEEN DANGEROUS
IN 2011 SANTA ANITA HANDICAP -
ARCADIA, Calif. (March 6, 2011)
– One year to the day of his
victory in the 2010 Santa Anita
Handicap, Misremembered appeared
to pick up where he had left off
with a dazzling victory in
Sunday’s $75,000 Santana Mile at
Santa Anita.
©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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BAFFERT’S
GAME ON DUDE SURVIVES MIDSTRETCH
CONTROVERSY IN SANTA ANITA
HANDICAP
AS 1-2 FAVORITE TWIRLING CANDY
GETS BOUNCED AROUND WHILE
FINISHING FIFTH; SUTHERLAND
GAINS HISTORIC WIN; FLUKE TAKES
KILROE; OAKS GOES TO TURBULENT
DESCENT - ARCADIA, Calif.
(March 5, 2011) –
Twirling Candy’s expected
coronation as the 1-2 favorite
in Saturday’s 74th running of
the Grade I, $750,000 Santa
Anita Handicap presented by San
Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino was
turned topsy-turvy by a virtual
sigalert in midstretch.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Museum opens "The
Last Train from Bay Meadows"
- Feb. 28, 2011 - The San Mateo
County Historical Association
achieved the equivalent of the
Triple Crown in the horse-racing
world on Feb. 17 when it held
the premiere of a documentary
film, "The Last Train from Bay
Meadows," during the opening of
the new exhibit at the History
Museum, "Broads, Bootleggers and
Bookies," and kicked off its the
annual fund-raising campaign. |
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ARCADIA,
Calif. (Feb. 27, 2011) –
Quick Enough reversed a
setback by Amazombie when he
gamely outdueled the 13-10
favorite on Sunday to
capture Santa Anita’s
$100,000 Sensational Star
Handicap for California-breds
by one-half length while
traversing 6 ½ furlongs over
the track’s hillside turf
course in 1:13.52.
© BENOIT PHOTO
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VINEWOOD
FARMS TO ENJOY MAIDEN STAKES WIN
IN A BIG WAY
CYPRESS, CA - FEBRUARY 26, 2011
- Vinewood Farms enjoyed the
type of victory that will keep
the Santa Maria-based operation
talking for a long time. The
soon to be much talked about win
came courtesy of the Juan
Aleman-trained TR Eddie, a
gelded son of TR Dasher that
held off the late rush from
dead-heat runner-ups Jumpn Jet
and Teller No Lies to win the
$138,250 Los Alamitos Maiden
Stakes for 3-year-olds on
Saturday night.
© Scott Martinez
photo |
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ARCADIA,
Calif. (Feb. 26, 2011) –
Ultra Blend was unable to
overtake 2010
California-bred Horse of the
Year Evening Jewel in last
month’s Sunshine Millions
Distaff, but, under a crafty
ride by Joel Rosario, she
was able to turn the tables
Saturday in Santa Anita’s
$100,000 Valentine Dancer
Handicap.
© BENOIT PHOTO
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TOC Announces
2010 Owner Awards
- Arcadia, Calif. – Feb. 26,
2010 - For the third consecutive
year, Jerry and Ann Moss were
named Owners of the Year and
their mare Zenyatta Horse of the
Year by the Thoroughbred Owners
of California (TOC). |
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Jockey Garrett Gomez wins George
Woolf award -
ARCADIA, Calif. - Feb. 24, 2011
- Garrett Gomez has won the
George Woolf Memorial Jockey
award in a nationwide vote of
his fellow riders. |
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Queen Zenyatta
Bred to Bernardini
-
Feb. 24, 2011 -
According to the Zenyatta’s
website, the 2010 Horse of the
Year, was bred February 23 to
Darley stallion Bernardini. |
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Meeting
Focuses on Cal Racing Issues
- Feb. 24, 2011 - Some 35-40 people
involved with California racing met
at Hollywood Park Feb. 22 to discuss
ways in which to improve the state’s
industry. |
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Santa Anita
Shifting to Five Days in March
-
Arcadia, CA - Feb. 22, 2011 -
Pending approval from the
California Horse Racing Board,
Santa Anita will remain on a
four-day race week schedule
through March 20 and will
transition to a five-day race
week beginning Wednesday, March
23. |
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SIZZLING
SADLER GAINS EIGHTH GRADED
STAKES WIN WITH COMEBACKING COZI
ROSIE IN GRADE II BUENA VISTA;
BONDE STRIKES AGAIN WITH CAMBINA
IN GRADE III LA HABRA
- ARCADIA, Calif.
(Feb. 21, 2011) – Without
multiple Grade I winner Evening
Jewel to deal with, comebacking
Cozi Rosie uncorked a sizzling
rally to spurt past pace-setter
Briecat Monday and win Santa
Anita’s Grade II, $150,000 Buena
Vista Handicap for older fillies
and mares by a widening 1 ¼
lengths while covering one mile
over a “good” turf course in
1:35.94.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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CTBA to Work With
Santa Anita to Keep Cal Cup
- ARCADIA, CA - Feb. 20, 2011 -
The California Thoroughbred
Breeders Association plans to
work with Santa Anita Park and
the state's horsemen to ensure
that the California Cup program
continues this year, the
organization's general manager
said. |
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THE
FACTOR GAINS FIRST GRADED STAKES
VICTORY AS HE UTILIZES SPEED IN
GRADE II SAN VICENTE; NEXT START
UNCERTAIN
- ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 20,
2011) – The Factor, whom Hall of
Famer trainer Bob Baffert likes
to think of as his 3-year-old
“cannon,” blasted the
competition in his first graded
stakes venture Sunday with a
stylish three-quarter-length
victory over Sway Away in Santa
Anita’s 70th running of the
Grade II, $150,000 San Vicente
Stakes while racing seven
furlongs in 1:20.34 over a
surface termed “wet fast.”
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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GOOD
REASON SA’S WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMP -
CYPRESS, CA…
FEBRUARY 19, 2011 - Paul Jones
and Vince Genco will be flying
to Brazil on Monday for a
weeklong trip filled with
Quarter Horse racing related
activities. They will be
welcomed as heroes when they
arrive in South America after
the two horsemen joined the
Brazilian owned Good Reason SA
in the winner’s circle for his
victory over Grade 1 winner
Harems Last Dash in the $214,550
Los Alamitos Winter Championship
on Saturday.
© Scott Martinez
photo
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ROSARIO
GAINS NARROW WINS ABOARD CHAMP
PEGASUS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO AFTER
TORRID DUEL WITH BOURBON BAY AND
ATOP SMILING TIGER IN SAN CARLOS
HANDICAP FOLLOWING A TROUBLED
START
- ARCADIA, Calif.
(Feb. 19, 2011) – Saturday’s
Grade II, $150,000 San Luis
Obispo Stakes at Santa Anita had
been billed strictly as a duel
between the West Coast’s
foremost grass marathoners,
Bourbon Bay and Champ Pegasus,
and was it ever.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Oatman
victorious in Winter Derby
-
CYPRESS, CA - FEBRUARY 18, 2011
- Fawna Knight was busy making
sure she was looking at the
right horse at the halfway point
of the $215,600 Los Alamitos
Winter Derby. “I was double
checking to see that it was my
horse Oatman on the lead,” she
said. © Scott Martinez
photo |
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SANTA ANITA JOCKS
AND HOLY ANGELS CAGERS CHARITY
BASKETBALL GAME SET FOR FEB.24;
4th ANNUAL HORSEMEN'S GOLF
TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT TRF SLATED
FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 1
- ARCADIA, CA -
Feb. 18, 2011 - The 44th annual
Holy Angels/Santa Anita Jockeys
Charity Basketball Game will
take place Thursday, Feb. 24, at
La Salle High School in
Pasadena, Calif. |
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Kinsale King Tunes Up For Dubai Title Defense With Smart
Victory At Golden Gate Fields -
Albany, CA - Feb. 17, 2011 0 Kinsale King tuned up for
his upcoming title defense in the $2 million Dubai
Golden Shaheen by posting an impressive front-running
victory at Golden Gate Fields Thursday. |
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Joel Rosario,
the Dominican Republic native who
began riding in the United States in 2007, registered
his 1,000th career victory Thursday, February 17, 2011
aboard 7-5 favorite Coo Cachoo in the seventh race at
Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA.
©Benoit Photo |
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Santa Anita Allocated Fall Race
Dates by CHRB -
Feb. 17, 2011
- Santa Anita Park was allocated the fall racing dates
previously operated by the Oak Tree Racing Association
by the California Horse Racing Board Feb. 17. |
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RACE FOR
EDUCATION FORMS NEW ALLIANCES
AND OFFERS MORE OPTIONS
- Lexington, Ky. – Feb. 16, 2011
– With ten potential scholarship
opportunities offered by the
Race For Education (RFE) in
2011, students’ dreams of
obtaining a college education
just got a little closer. |
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Evening Jewel
Horse of the Year
-
CORONADO, Calif. (Feb. 15, 2011)
– Eclipse Award finalist and
millionaire Evening Jewel was
voted California-bred Horse of
the Year for 2010 by the
California Thoroughbred Breeders
Association. |
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Tapizar injured, off Kentucky
Derby trail - ARCADIA,
CA. -
February 15, 2011
- Tapizar, one of the top
3-year-olds in California this
year, has been diagnosed with a
bone chip in a knee and is off
the Kentucky Derby trail,
trainer Steve Asmussen said on
Tuesday. |
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California Horse
Racing Board set to decide on
fall race meet
- ARCADIA, CA -
Feb. 15, 2011 -
The California Horse Racing
Board is expected to decide
Thursday who will operate a
six-week autumn meeting in
Southern California this year,
and a new plan discussed behind
the scenes in recent weeks could
lead to a change from the
structure of the last 40 years. |
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jockey-agent
breakuP And Mutual Respect
- Feb. 15, 2011 - Vic Stauffer
rethinks his job and his life
after Tyler Baze is seriously
injured after being thrown from
a horse at Del Mar last summer.
Their story involves strong
wills, guilt and mutual respect. |
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ROLLERCOASTER DAY FOR TRAINER
STEVE ASMUSSEN - PLANS ON HOLD
FOR TAPIZAR; SILVER MEDALLION
UPSETS IN BAY AREA -
BY ED GOLDEN -
ARCADIA, CA - Feb. 14, 2011 -
Future plans were on hold Sunday
morning for Triple Crown
candidate Tapizar, who finished
fifth as the 3-10 favorite in
Saturday’s Grade II Robert B.
Lewis Stakes after being
extremely rank early. |
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El Camino Real
Derby Rivals Exit Feature In
Good Order
- Albany, CA - Feb. 13, 2011 -
Silver Medallion came out of his
upset victory in Saturday’s
Grade 3 $200,000 El Camino Real
Derby at Golden Gate Fields in
good order, according to trainer
Steve Asmussen. |
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 13,
2011) – Four weeks after
Always a Princess appeared
to steal the Grade II El
Encino Stakes from Blind
Luck, last year’s 3-year-old
filly champion, she ran off
with Santa Anita’s Grade II,
$150,000 La Canada Stakes
for 4-year-old fillies in
strikingly similar fashion
on Sunday.
©Benoit Photo
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HOIST MISSION WINS BELLFLOWER
HANDICAP -
CYPRESS, CA -
FEBRUARY 12, 2011 - Mike Isom’s
Hoist Mission escaped close
encounter with Rey Tiburon to
become the first multiple stakes
winner of the young season
following Saturday’s $16,000
Bellflower Handicap at Los
Alamitos.
© Scott Martinez |
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SILVER MEDALLION GIVES BAZE
ANOTHER VICTORY IN EL CAMINO
REAL DERBY
-
Albany, CA -
Feb. 12, 2011 - Jockey
Russell Baze owns the Grade
3 El Camino Real Derby. Baze
won Northern California’s
Triple Crown prep race for
the third straight year when
he guided Silver Medallion
to a 1 1/4-length victory
over Jakesam in the $200,000
race for 3-year-olds
Saturday at Golden Gate
Fields. Positive Response
finished third.
- Marcel
Langevin - Vassar
Photography
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ARCADIA,
Calif. (Feb. 12, 2011) –
Anthony’s Cross, with only
an unspectacular maiden win
to his credit in five
previous starts, turned
Southern California’s
3-year-old Derby picture on
its head Saturday with a
stunning nose win over
Riveting Reason in Santa
Anita’s 73rd running of the
Grade II, $250,000 Robert B.
Lewis Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.
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Barretts releases
March catalog
- Pomona, CA -
Feb. 12, 2011 -
Barretts sales company in
Californian has catalog 105
horses for the March Select Sale
of Two-Year-Olds in Training on
March 21. |
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JESS SO SIXY WINS ANAHEIM
HANDICAP IN HER SECOND TRY
- CYPRESS, CA - FEBRUARY 11,
2011 - Robert Williams’ Jess So
Sixy turn the tables on her
second place finish to Whatta
Knockout in last year’s Anaheim
Handicap, as she outdueled her
rival in the 2011 edition of
this race on Friday at Los
Alamitos.
© Scott Martinez |
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CHRB's Year-End
Report Grim News
-
February 11, 2011
- Pari-mutuel wagering in
California declined by $501
million during fiscal year
2009-10, and betting through
advance deposit, the only growth
area in the state's handle for
the past several years, also
dipped slightly. |
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Gov. Brown leans
against selling Del Mar now
- Feb. 9, 2011 - After months of
speculation, it appears Gov.
Jerry Brown is cool to the idea
of selling the state-owned Del
Mar Fairgrounds to Del Mar while
the economy is still lagging. |
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LOS ALAMITOS RTCA
CHAPLAIN SERGIO ARMAS TO CONDUCT
HIS FIRST RACETRACK SUNDAY
SERVICE ON FEB. 13
- CYPRESS, CA - Feb. 8, 2011
-The Los Alamitos council of the
RTCA is confident that in the
track’s new pastor they have
found the right man to lead the
chaplaincy in 2011 and beyond. |
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Hollywood plans mostly four-day
weeks for spring-summer meet
- Feb. 6, 2011 - Hollywood Park plans to run primarily
four days a week during the spring-summer meeting that
runs from April 20 through July 19, track president Jack
Liebau said over the weekend. |
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IT’S
SADLER AGAIN AS GLADDING UPSETS
AGGIE ENGINEER IN SUNDAY’S GRADE
II SAN ANTONIO STAKES
ARCADIA, Calif. Feb. 6, 2011
– Gladding, a 4-year-old
gelding who joined John
Sadler’ barn just two months
ago, provided the
54-year-old trainer with yet
another serious stakes
competitor Sunday with a
dogged gate-to-wire victory
in Santa Anita’s 73rd
running of the Grade II,
$150,000 San Antonio Stakes.
© BENOIT PHOTO
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VESSELS
STALLION FARM HAS THE TWO
FASTEST MAIDEN STAKES QUALIFIERS
- CYPRESS, CA - Feb. 5, 2011 -
Vessels Stallion
Farm LLC’s Blazin Son delivered
the race of his young career, as
the son of champion aged mare
Blazin Fire won his trial to the
$138,250 Los Alamitos Maiden
Stakes on Saturday night by 1 ¾
lengths while posting the
fastest qualifying time of
:17.376 to the 350-yard race.
© Scott Martinez
photo |
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SADLER’S
WEALTH BROADENS AS TWIRLING
CANDY DAZZLES IN STRUB, ZAZU
HANDS TURBULENT DESCENT
FIRST SETBACK IN LAS
VIRGENES; ASCANIO ENDS SLIDE
AS FLUKE, PROUDINSKY RUN
ONE-TWO IN THUNDER ROAD
-
ARCADIA,
Calif. (Feb. 5, 2011) –
Trainer John Sadler, who won
three graded stakes on Santa
Anita’s opening day Dec. 26,
added a couple more on
Saturday when Zazu upset
previously unbeaten
Turbulent Descent in the
Grade I, $250,000 Las
Virgenes Stakes and heavily
favored Twirling Candy ran
away with the Grade II,
$200,000 Strub Stakes in
front of a rollicking
on-track crowd of 17,396.
© BENOIT
PHOTO
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Del Mar A WallyWorld?
San Diego, CA - Jan,
29, 2011 - This will be a lot
more use to the community than a
Racetrack that can’t even open
up six days a week in season.
Plus Wal-Mart has reportedly
agreed to the County Fair
continue to exist in their far
North Parking Lot at this
location. |
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Jim’s No Preacher Stays Perfect;
Miyadi Saddles Three Winners
- Albany, CA – Jan.
29, 2011 - Jim’s No Preacher
delivered another winning sermon
at Golden Gate Fields Saturday. |
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AGELESS
STARS JESS YOU AND I AND FREAKY
SHINE IN WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP
TRIALS
- CYPRESS, CA - Jan. 29, 2011 -
Double Bar S Ranch’s Jess You
And I and Armando Aguirre’s
Freaky, two of the best Quarter
Horses of their generation,
proved that they still have a
lot left to give the sport after
they each posted impressive wins
in the trials to the $214,550
Los Alamitos Winter Championship
on Saturday night.
- (Jess You And I
- pictured © Scott Martinez) |
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CARACORTADO
RUNS A SMASHER IN SUNSHINE
MILLIONS TURF BEFORE 26,694 AT
SANTA ANITA; EVENING JEWEL TAKES
THE DISTAFF WHILE COST OF
FREEDOM UPSET BY AMAZOMBIE IN
SPRINT - ARCADIA,
CA -
Jan. 29, 2011 –
Victorious in the $300,000
Sunshine Millions Distaff,
Evening Jewel saved a measure of
face for the favored runners in
the three stakes races that
constituted Santa Anita’s
presentation of Saturday’s $1.8
million Sunshine Millions for
California and Florida-breds
that was held in conjunction
with Gulfstream Park.
© BENOIT PHOTO
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THE GOODBYE KISSER LOOKS GREAT
IN DERBY TRIAL VICTORY
-
CYPRESS, CA -
Jan. 28, 2011 - Impressive
during her freshman campaign,
Marcelo Jorge’s The Goodbye
Kisser looked even better in her
sophomore debut on Saturday
night, as the daughter of First
Down Dash won a trial to the
$215,600 Los Alamitos Winter
Derby by ¾ lengths while posting
the fastest 400-yard qualifying
time of :19.413. |
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HORSEMEN AND HORSES HONORED AT
PCQHRA AWARDS BANQUET
- CYPRESS, CA -
Jan. 27, 2011 -
The Pacific Coast Quarter Horse
Association held its annual
Quarter Horse awards banquet on
Thursday, January 27 in the
Finish Line Room at Los Alamitos
Race Course. Trophies and awards
were presented in 40 different
categories with World Champion
Apollitical Jess taking home the
the award as the 2010 PCQHRA
Horse of the Year.
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Shudacudawudya Makes Triumphant
Return To Races -
Albany, CA – Jan.
27, 2011 - Shudacudawudya made a
triumphant return to the races
Thursday when he rallied from
just off the pace to win the
$47,120 sprint feature at Golden
Gate Fields. |
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Zenyatta Will Be
Bred to Bernardini
- Jan. 26, 2011 -
The great racemare Zenyatta has
her first date in the breeding
shed booked: The lucky stallion
is Bernardini, who was
the champion 3-year-old in 2006,
and whose first crop of runners
last year produced the most
graded stakes winners among
freshman sires.
“He’s the best son of A. P., and
has had an impressive debut,”
Jerry Moss,
Zenyatta’s owner,
said Wednesday. |
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Del Mar Councilman Carl Hilliard
steps back from fairgrounds
negotiations
- Del mar, CA -
Jan. 25, 2011 -
Del Mar Councilman Carl Hilliard
announced Jan. 24 that he is
stepping down from his seat on
the fairgrounds subcommittee,
which has been overseeing
negotiations involving the
potential purchase of the
property. |
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Injured jockey Michael
Martinez intends for his life to be a long ride,
despite paralysis - San Pablo,
CA - Jan. 25,
2011 - Paralyzed from the waist down in a racing
mishap four months ago, Martinez says he still
considers himself lucky. |
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 SERVICES
SET FOR FORMER JOCKEY VINCE BARNESE -
Funeral
services for former Northwest jockey Vince Barnes are
12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Forest Lawn Memorial in
Hollywood, Calif. Wife Julie, daughter Krystal and son
Casey survive Barnese. Barnese, 48, rode 32 winners at
Longacres in 1988 and 1989, and finished third aboard
Chan’s Dragon in the ’88 Longacres Mile. He also rode 14
winners at the inaugural Emerald Downs meet in 1996. A
native of Van Nuys, Calif., Barnese rode his first
winner in 1982 at Northlands Park. -
Emerald Downs photo: Former jockey Vince Barnese |
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Barretts Mixed
Sale Begins today, Jan. 24
-
A complete
dispersal of Joan Rogers’
Applebite Farms and phase one of
the Walter Family Trust horses
make up part of Barretts mixed
sale scheduled for Jan. 24 in
Pomona, Calif. The sale, which
begins at 10 a.m. in the Hinds
Pavilion at Fairplex Park, will
offer a catalog of 392 horses
that encompasses breeding stock,
horses of racing age,
2-year-olds, and yearlings plus
a supplemental catalog of 18.
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NEARLY 30 ITEMS UP
FOR AUCTION ON THURSDAY AS PART OF LOS
ALAMITOS RTCA SILENT AUCTION
-
Jan. 24, 2011 - The Los Alamitos Race
Track Chaplaincy of America will hold a
live and silent auction to raise funds
for its 2011 fellowship programs this
Thursday as part of the PCQHRA Awards
Banquet. The following is a list of
items that will be featured at the
silent auction. More items are being
added to the auction lineup. |
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IT
TIZ SPRINGS UPSET IN FEATURED MEGAHERTZ,
TIZ NOW FILLY FINISHES STRONG WITH
FLORES UP
- ARCADIA, CA. - Jan. 23,
2011 - A creditable fifth in the Grade I
La Brea Stakes on Dec. 26, It Tiz
switched to the turf and stretched out a
furlong in Sunday’s $79,150 Megahertz
Stakes and responded with a determined
stretch run, winning by one half length
and getting the mile on turf in 1:34.83
with David Flores aboard.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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BAFFERT’S
EUROEARS UPSETS IN PALOS VERDES AS 2-5
FAVORITE SMILING TIGER FINISHES A
WELL-BEATEN THIRD; BLOEMER GIRL SURPRISE
WINNER OF THE SWEET LIFE; CARRYOVER OF
$104,448
- ARCADIA,
Calif. (Jan. 22, 2011) – At 2-5, the
shortest odds in a splendid career
sprinting, Smiling Tiger suffered his
harshest setback Saturday when leading
trainer Bob Baffert’s Euroears ran away
with Santa Anita’s 59th running of the
Grade II, $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap
at odds of 9-1. © BENOIT
PHOTO |
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WATANABE
SADDLES FIRST CAREER WINNER ON FRIDAY
NIGHT - CYPRESS,
CA - JAN. 21, 2011 - Trainer Kristen
Watanabe saddled her first winner ever
at Los Alamitos when 5-year-old sprinter
Gordon Rb won the 10th race on Friday at
Los Alamitos. Owned and bred by Roland
Bauer, Gordon RB was also picking up his
first ever win in his 10th career start.
This was the second start for the Red
Hot Rhythm gelding under the care of
Watanabe. |
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CHRB in no hurry
to rescind takeout increase
- Jan.
21, 2011 - As California horse racing
officials try to lure more fans to
racetracks, the California Horse Racing
Board spent most of its meeting Thursday
discussing the opposite, namely
off-track and advance deposit wagering. |
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Jockey Russell
Baze To Be Inducted Into Multi-Ethnic
Sports Hall of Fame in Oakland
- Jan.
21, 2011 - Russell Baze, who has won
more races than any jockey in the
history of thoroughbred racing, will be
inducted into the Multi-Ethnic Sports
Hall of Fame (MESHOF) in Oakland,
California, on Friday, Feb. 25. |
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ADW Companies Get
Ca. Extensions
-
Jan. 20, 2011 - Satisfied that owners
were getting as much as possible for
purses from a recent state increase in
takeout on some wagers, the California
Horse Racing Board granted three advance
deposit wagering companies one-year
extensions of their licenses during its
Jan. 20 meeting. |
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PENSION FUND
ADMINISTRATOR CHOSEN FOR CA. LICENSED
JOCKEYS’ RETIREMENT PLAN
-
Jan. 20, 2011 - Pentegra Investment
Services has been chosen as the pension
fund administrator for the California
Licensed Jockeys’ Retirement Plan. |
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MASTERS CALL
RETIRED, WILL STAND AT ROLLING A RANCH
IN 2011
-
Jan. 18, 2011 - The royally bred
6-year-old stallion Masters Call, a
stakes winner at Los Alamitos Race
Course at 440 and 400 yards, has been
retired and will stand his first season
at Rolling A Ranch in Atascadero,
California in 2011. |
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BACK
AT SANTA ANITA, BOURBON BAY IS 5-FOR-5
AS HE GAINS REVENGE ON RUNNER-UP CHAMP
PEGASUS IN SAN MARCOS
- ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 17, 2011)
– Bourbon Bay, unbeatable in four turf
marathons including three Grade II
fixtures at Santa Anita last season,
avenged a subsequent Hollywood Park
setback at the hands of rising star
Champ Pegasus Monday when returning
“home” to dispatch his better fancied
nemesis by 1 ¾ lengths in Santa Anita’s
59th running of the Grade II, $150,000
San Marcos Handicap. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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PRESUMPTIVE
ECLIPSE WINNER BLIND LUCK A WELL-BEATEN
SECOND TO BAFFERT’S ALWAYS A PRINCESS IN
GRADE II EL ENCINO -
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2011) – Blind
Luck, a virtual cinch to be named 2010’s
champion 3-year-old filly at Monday’s
Eclipse Award banquet, came up short in
her 2011 debut Sunday when unable to
catch streaking Always a Princess in
Santa Anita’s Grade II, $150,000 El
Encino Stakes for 4-year-old fillies at
1 1/16 miles. © BENOIT
PHOTO |
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Santa Anita Plans
to Adjust Track Composition
- ARCADIA, Ca. -
Jan.
16, 2011 - Santa Anita’s track
maintenance team plans to adjust the
composition of the main track Jan. 18 to
bring it back to the mix of sand, clay,
and silt that it was before Southern
California received several rainstorms
in late December. Officials will be
meeting with horsemen regarding the
addition of sand to the surface. |
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HOIST MISSION
ACCOMPLISHED IN CYPRESS HANDICAP
- CYPRESS, CA - JANUARY 15, 2011 - A
major futurity winner at the age of two,
Michael Isom’s Hoist Mission is now a
stakes winner at the age of four at Los
Alamitos Race Course. |
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DOMINANT
SHAM WIN PUTS ASMUSSEN’S TAPIZAR
SQUARELY IN DERBY PICTURE; SAN FERNANDO
GOES TO INDIAN FIREWATER IN CLOSE PHOTO;
CALIFORNIA NECTAR TAKES SANTA YNEZ
- ARCADIA, Calif. - Jan. 15, 2011 –
Tapizar, making his first start at Santa
Anita for two-time Eclipse Award winning
trainer Steve Asmussen, took a firm
first step on the Triple Crown trail
Saturday while dominating the Grade III,
$100,000 Sham Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Positive
Response Proves He’s ‘The Best
3-Year-Old At GGF’
- Albany, CA - January 15, 2010 -
French jockey Julien Couton summed
things up quite nicely after guiding
Positive Response to an impressive
victory in the $100,000 California Derby
at Golden Gate Fields Saturday.
- VASSAR PHOTOGRAPHY |
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OFF
FOR OVER A YEAR, SQUARE EDDIE RETURNS
FROM INJURY AND STUD DUTY TO DAZZLE IN
PHONE TRICK PURSE, BIG ‘CAP AN OPTION
- ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 14, 2011) – He
hadn’t raced in 12 ½ months, had not won
in over 26 months, and, in the meantime,
he had been bred to 35 mares. Little
wonder Square Eddie looked like a horse
on a mission Friday when he returned
from retirement to run lights-out in
Santa Anita’s allowance feature, the
$59,000 Phone Trick Purse.
© BENOIT PHOTO
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Group calls for
betting boycott of California horse
racing -
Jan.
12, 2011 - A nationwide boycott of
California thoroughbred racing became
official today when the Horseplayers
Association of North America called for
gamblers to quit betting due to
increased takeout on multiple horse bets
in the Golden State. |
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Charles Wilhelm to
Host Clinic on Proper Hoof and Dental
Care for Your Horse
- January 11, 2011 - On Saturday,
January 29th at the Wilhelm Training
Center in Castro Valley, California, two
critical topics for optimum horse health
will be explored by equine educational
experts Charles Wilhelm, farrier Rich
Affonso and veterinarian Kristen
Dietrich. |
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AT
ODDS OF 1-9, BAFFERT, BEJARANO & MAY DAY
ROSE GET THE JOB DONE IN SUNDAY’S GRADE
III SANTA YSABEL STAKES -
ARCADIA, Calif. Jan. 9, 2011 – Trainer
Bob Baffert beseeched jockey Rafael
Bejarano to put his “one-dimensional”
filly May Day Rose on the lead in
Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Santa
Ysabel Stakes, and once he did, the 1
1/16-mile event for 3-year-old fillies
at Santa Anita was pretty much over.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Jockey Couton
Rides Four Winners, Cartwright Gets
First Bay Area Win
- Albany, CA - January 9, 2011 - French
jockey Julien Couton rode four winners
and English apprentice rider Alice
Cartwright earned her first victory in
the Bay Area Sunday at Golden Gate
Fields. |
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STYLISH
JESS BR SAYS ALOHA TO HER CHARGER BAR
RIVALS - CYPRESS, CA -
JANUARY 8, 2011 - Aloha means goodbye
and that’s exactly what Benny Rosset’s
Stylish Jess BR told her competition
right from the start of Saturday’s
$100,000 Charger Bar Handicap at 400
yards at Los Alamitos. |
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Jockey, Cody
Jensen injured in spill
-
CYPRESS, CA - January 8, 2011 - Jockey
Cody Jensen was taken to the hospital
via ambulance after his mount, Chicks So
Rare, fell around the turn after the
running of the second race on Saturday
night. |
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AGGIE
ENGINEER PROVES VERSATILITY IN DECISIVE
VICTORY IN GRADE II SAN PASQUAL AT SANTA
ANITA - ARCADIA, Calif. -
Jan. 8, 2011 – Aggie Engineer proved
Saturday that he did not need to be on
or near the lead to be a stakes winner
as the 6-year-old rallied from off the
pace to dominate Santa Anita’s 74th
running of the Grade II, $150,000 San
Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Victory In Feature
Race Part Of Three-Win Afternoon For
Romero -
Albany, CA - January 8, 2011 - Jockey
Hector Romero won three races Saturday
at Golden Gate Fields, including the
$40,420 feature with the promising colt
Jim’s No Preacher. |
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BAFFERT’S
MOTHER RUTH, GILDED GEM RUN ONE-TWO IN KALOOKAN
QUEEN - ARCADIA, Calif. - Jan.
7, 2011 – Bob Baffert, with eight training victories
through the first eight days of Santa Anita’s
winter/spring meet, added No. 9 on Friday when he
had the 8th running of the $81,150 Kalookan Queen
Handicap virtually surrounded. His Mother Ruth held
off stablemate Gilded Gem to prevail by one-half
length in the competition for fillies and mares at 6
½ furlongs. © BENOIT PHOTO |
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Couton Has Riding
Hat Trick at GGF
- ALBANY, CA - January 7, 2011 - Jockey
Julien Couton rode three winners and
jockey Inoel Beato won a pair of races
Friday at Golden Gate Fields. |
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Brite Bobby
Celebrates 50th Career Start With a
Victory -
ALBANY, CA - January 6, 2011 - The
8-year-old gelding Brite Bobby
celebrated his 50th career start by
scoring a front-running victory in the
fifth race at Golden Gate Fields
Thursday. |
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Trainer
Hollendorfer Enjoyed Banner Year in 2010
- Albany, CA - January 5, 2011 -
Northern California trainer Jerry
Hollendorfer enjoyed a banner year in
2010, amassing a career high $9,307,328
in stable earnings to rank fourth in the
nation in money won and saddling 286
winners to finish third in the nation in
victories. |
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COURSE
SPECIALIST UNZIP ME RUNS AWAY WITH GR.
III MONROVIA AS ODDS-ON CHOICE
- ARCADIA, CA - Jan. 2, 2011 –
California-bred Unzip Me, whose zip is
maximized on grass, registered her
fourth win in five starts over Santa
Anita’s downhill turf course Sunday with
a handy wire-to-wire triumph in the 44th
running of the Grade III, $100,000
Monrovia Stakes for fillies and mares.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Winless in 2010,
Bleach Blonde Opens 2011 With Upset
Victory -
Albany, CA - January 2, 2011 - Bleach
Blonde, 0-for-10 in 2010, made her first
start in 2011 a winning one when she
scored a 9-to-1 upset in the $41,836
allowance feature at Golden Gate Fields
Sunday. |
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OPENING
NIGHT HANDICAP GOES TO MORE THAN YOU
KNOW - CYPRESS, CA
- January 1, 2011 - The disappointment
of December’s Los Alamitos Two Million
Futurity turned into holiday joy for the
connections of More Than You Know, as
the colt by Azyoucansee won the $20,000
Holiday Handicap by a nose Saturday at
Los Alamitos. |
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GOMEZ
ADDS GR. III DAYTONA ON 39th BIRTHDAY,
UPSET LEADS TO PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF
$120,599 -
ARCADIA, CA - January 1, 2011 – Garrett
Gomez, whose working 39th birthday had
begun by riding Spring Style to a major
upset in the earlier Grade II, $150,000
Robert J. Frankel Stakes, returned later
on Santa Anita’s Saturday program to
score with 8-1 upsetter Dilemma in the
Grade III, $100,000 Daytona Stakes at 6
½ furlongs on turf. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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SPRING
STYLE STUNS 3-10 CHOICE HARMONIOUS IN
FRANKEL STAKES -
ARCADIA, CA - January 1, 2011 – It
seemed such a perfect fit that Santa
Anita would rename the 42nd running of
the San Gorgonio Handicap to honor the
memory of eight-time winner Bobby
Frankel, the track’s all-time training
leader who died in November of 2009, but
Saturday’s running of what has become
the Grade II, $150,000 Robert J. Frankel
Stakes was anything but fitting.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Lilacs
And Lace Upsets Cathy’s Crunches At GGF
- Albany, CA -
January 1, 2011 - Lilacs and Lace surged
late to score a surprising victory over
1-to-2 favorite Cathy’s Crunches in the
$100,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate
Fields Saturday. - Marcel
Langevin/Vassar Photography |
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SILVER
MEDALLION’S LOGAN VICTORY PROVIDES
ASMUSSEN WITH HIS FIRST WIN AT SANTA
ANITA - ARCADIA, CA -
Dec. 31, 2010 – With 504 training
victories entering the year’s final day
and no other trainer nationally within
200 wins of him, Steve Asmussen expanded
his wealth on New Year’s Eve: He won a
race at Santa Anita. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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CAYAMBE SHORTENS
UP, GIVES BEJARANO HAT TRICK
- ARCADIA, CA - Dec. 30, 2010 -
Shortening up out of four consecutive
routes, Cayambe, a 6-year-old gelding by
Helmsman, relaxed well in the early
stages and finished with a rush to
provide jockey Rafael Bejarano with his
third win on the afternoon in Thursday’s
6 ½ furlong, $68,000 allowance feature
at Santa Anita. |
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Our Nautique Wires
Field At Golden Gate Fields
- Albany, CA - December 30, 2010 - Our
Nautique, receiving a strong ride from
jockey Leslie Mawing, led from start to
finish in the $40,540 allowance feature
at Golden Gate Fields Thursday. |
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Jaylo Marino Wins
Again On Tapeta
- Albany, CA - December 29, 2010 - Jaylo
Marino, a gray gelding that always hits
hard on Golden Gate Fields’ synthetic
Tapeta racing surface, rallied from just
off the pace to win Wednesday’s $20,900
feature. |
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AWESOME PATRIOT
YET ANOTHER BUDDING YOUNG STAR FOR
BAFFERT - ARCADIA, CA -
December 29, 2010 – After scoring
stunning maiden victories with
2-year-old colts The Factor and Uncle
Sam during the first two days of Santa
Anita’s winter-spring meet, Bob Baffert
watched another of his 2-year-olds
validate Triple Crown promise when
Awesome Patriot dramatically captured
Wednesday’s $51,520 allowance feature
for 2-year-olds at one mile. |
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Finley: Disaster
at Santa Anita
- Dec. 29, 2010 - There can be only one
reason why Santa Anita has gotten off to
such a wretched start -- the takeout
increase. |
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JERANIMO
DENIES PROUDINSKY ANOTHER SAN GABRIEL
STAKES WIN -
ARCADIA, CA - December 27, 2010 – Santa
Anita’s Grade II, $150,000 San Gabriel
Stakes had Proudinsky’s name written all
over it, but Jeranimo!, the Proudinsky
consolidation was blunted in Monday’s
64th running. ©Benoit
Photo |
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SANTA
ANITA HONORS LEGENDARY
TRAINER FRANKEL, SAN
GORGONIO BECOMES GR. II
ROBERT J. FRANKEL
-
ARCADIA, CA - December 27,
2010 - Santa Anita Park has
announced the Gr. II,
$150,000 San Gorgonio
Handicap, to run on Jan. 1,
has been renamed the Robert
J. Frankel Memorial
Handicap, in honor of the
late Hall of Fame
conditioner who won the San
Gorgonio a record eight
times and who holds Santa
Anita’s all-time record of
917 wins. Frankel was also
leading trainer at Santa
Anita on five different
occasions; 1974-75, 1976-77,
1978-79, 1980-81 and
1981-82. |
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ON
A RECORD-SETTING OPENER AT SANTA ANITA,
SADLER WINS THREE STRAIGHT GRADED
STAKES; TWIRLING CANDY NABS MALIBU
- ARCADIA, CA - December 26, 2010 – It
only seemed a question of which was
hotter: the training job turned in by
two-time defending champion John Sadler
or the new dirt racetrack Santa Anita
had installed for the opening of its
74th season on Sunday. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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SANTA ANITA
ATTRACTS 34,268 FOR 74TH OPENER, FOUR
GRADED STAKES HEAD NINE-RACE PROGRAM
-
ARCADIA, CA. December 26, 2010 - Despite
weathering 14 ¼ inches of rain over the
past nine days, including three quarters
of an inch overnight, venerable Santa
Anita Park opened its doors for its 74th
winter/spring meeting in rollicking
fashion, as 34,268 came to The Great
Race Place for a nine-race program that
included four stakes. |
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Vadertore Comes
Off Bench To Win Sprint Feature at GGF
- Albany, CA - December 26, 2010 -
Vadertore, making his first start since
New Year’s Day 2010, ran down Reagan
Republican in the stretch to win the
$45,100 sprint feature at Golden Gate
Fields Sunday. |
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It's a
wait-and-see proposition for horse
racing in the region on the heels of a
bizarre year
- Dec
24, 2010 - With clouds hanging over
Southern California these days, there is
no certainty that the sun will shine on
Santa Anita's prestigious
day-after-Christmas opener. |
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Berkeley law
professor Choper named to California
Horse Racing Board
-
Dec. 22, 2010 - Jesse Choper, a law
school professor at U.C. Berkeley, has
been reappointed to the California Horse
Racing Board. |
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SANTA ANITA
LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORT, YOUTUBE,
TWITTER, FACEBOOK INCLUDED
- ARCADIA, Calif. - In advance of its
traditional winter/spring opener on Dec.
26, Santa Anita Park has launched a
significant social media effort that
includes YouTube Flip Cam interviews,
Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn,
Tycoon Mobile, daily Santa Anita blogs,
email blasts, online contests and
conventional press releases that include
photos. |
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APOLLITICAL JESS
IS NAMED 2010 LOS ALAMITOS HORSE OF THE
MEET -
CYPRESS, CA. - DEC. 21, 2010 - Juan
Tirado’s Apollitical Jess was
unanimously named the 2010 Los Alamitos
Horse of the Meet in the year-end media
poll following his victories in the
Grade 1 $1,052,000 Los Alamitos Super
Derby and Grade 1 $750,000 Champion of
Champions. |
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Sonoma County Fair
expands to 17 days
- The expansion, which
officials said is unprecedented in the
fair's history, will add a third weekend
and see the fair close on Mondays. It
will also align the fair's July 27-Aug.
14 run with the expanded three-week
horse-racing schedule introduced this
past summer. |
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First Down Dash is
Going into the American Quarter Horse
Hall of Fame -
Amarillo, TX - December 20, 2010 -
Racing champion and all-time leading
racehorse sire First Down Dash is
joining the next class of inductees into
the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. |
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LOS ALAMITOS WRAPS
UP A 2010 SEASON OF TRACK RECORDS
-
CYPRESS, CA. - Dec. 19, 2010 - The 60th
meeting at Los Alamitos Race Course was
a record breaking one, as nine Quarter
Horse track records were set during the
155-night season. Quarter Horses were
faster than ever at the Orange County
track, as new marks were recorded at
440, 400, 350 and 330 yards, just to
mention a few. |
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DEVELOPMENT OF
COMMA TO THE TOP, TURBULENT DESCENT PLUS
ZENYATTA APPRECIATION DAY HIGHLIGHT
AUTUMN MEET -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Dec. 19, 2010 - A
farewell to Zenyatta and the rise of
exciting 2-year-olds Comma to the Top
and Turbulent Descent were among the
highlights of Hollywood Park’s Autumn
meet, which wrapped Sunday. |
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COMMA TO THE TOP
HORSE OF THE MEET -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - December 19, 2010 -
Comma to the Top, who won three stakes
on two surfaces, including the $750,000
CashCall Futurity, was voted Horse of
the Meet in the annual media poll as the
Autumn meet concluded Sunday. |
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Baze Completes
Title Campaign By Riding Four Winners at
GGF - Albany,
CA - December 19, 2010 - Jockey Russell
Baze put the exclamation point on yet
another title-winning campaign at Golden
Gate Fields by riding four winners
Sunday, closing day of the track’s 2010
fall meeting. |
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LAST
GRADE 1 DASH OF THE MEET GOES TO HAREMS
LAST DASH - CYPRESS, CA -
DECEMBER 18, 2010 - The last Grade 1
dash of the Quarter Horse season at Los
Alamitos in 2010 went to Vessels
Stallion Farm and Wood et al’s Harems
Last Dash. The high seller at the 2008
Los Alamitos Equine Sale scored the
first stakes win of his career in the
richest running ever of the Southern
California Derby on Saturday evening at
the Orange County track. The meet’s
final program is set for Sunday night
with opening night for the 2011 racing
season at Los Alamitos slated for
Saturday, January 1. |
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COMMA
TO THE TOP ROLLS IN CASHCALL FUTURITY
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. - December 18, 2010
- Comma to the Top completed a memorable
Autumn meet, collecting the biggest win
of his career with a decisive score in
the $750,000 CashCall Futurity on a
rainy Saturday at Hollywood Park.
©Benoit Photo |
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Couton
Steals Another Stakes at GGF, Wins
Pacific Heights With Catsalot
- Albany, CA - December 18,
2010 - Jockey Julien Couton stole a
stakes race at Golden Gate Fields for
the second straight week when he guided
Catsalot to a wire-to-wire victory in
the $75,600 Pacific Heights Stakes.
- VASSAR PHOTOGRAPHY |
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SPRINTER SPLASHES
TO VICTORY IN FIRST DOWN DASH HANDICAP
- CYPRESS, CA - DECEMBER 17, 2010 -
Facing a field that included Grade 1
winners Hulapai and Separate Bet, Felix
Gonzalez’s A Mere Splash delivered his
best effort of the year in Friday’s
$35,000 First Down Dash Handicap at Los
Alamitos. |
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ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD
PARK TURF WIN FOR TALKTOOMUCH
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. - December 16, 2010
- Claimed for $32,000 Nov. 4,
Talktoomuch is 2-for-2 for her new
connections after winning the $44,664
allowance feature Thursday at Hollywood
Park. |
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Baze,
Schvaneveldt, Romero All Ride Pair Of
Winners -
Albany, CA - December 16, 2010 - Jockeys
Russell Baze, Chad Schvaneveldt, and
Hector Romero all rode a pair of winners
at Golden Gate Fields Thursday. |
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California Sports
Bar to Open Mini-Satellite
-
Dec. 15, 2010 - After months of planning
approvals and construction, the OC
Tavern Grill and Sports Bar, located in
the Southern Orange County beach
community of San Clemente, is ready to
open its doors to horse players. |
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California Trainers Pursue Merger With
Owners - Dec.
12, 2010 - Unable to convince the Thoroughbred Owners of
California to consider unifying with its organization, trainers
in the state are pursuing plans to form a new representative
group. |
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FAVORITE
CARTEL NEARLY SETS 550-YARD TRACK RECORD
IN PAUL FORD WIN -
CYPRESS, CA - DECEMBER 12, 2010 -
Favorite Cartel nearly toppled the
550-yard track record while posting an
impressive victory in the $20,000 Paul
Ford Memorial Handicap on Sunday at Los
Alamitos. Owned by R.D. Hubbard, Jim
Helzer, Paul Jones and Thompson Racing,
Favorite Cartel covered the distance in
:26.575, leaving him only 3/100ths of a
second off the track record set by El
Corona Ariero in June of 2008. |
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LATE
BURST PROPELS ULTRA BLEND IN CAT’S
CRADLE -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 12,
2010)—Ultra Blend made it consecutive
victories against California breds,
taking charge late to win the $80,400
Cat’s Cradle Handicap Sunday at
Hollywood Park. © BENOIT
PHOTO |
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Hollendorfer
Longshots Run One-Two In Feature
- ALBANY, CA - December 12, 2010 -
Leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer sent
out a pair of longshots in Sunday’s
feature at Golden Gate Fields and then
watched them run one-two in the 1
1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. |
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"The average age of our on-track customer
is deceased,"
said Israel, vice chairman of the California Horse Racing Board,
and then he went on to say, "And the average age of our
satellite customer is decomposed." Dec. 12, 2010. |
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APOLLITICAL
JESS WINS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS IN TRACK
RECORD TIME -
CYPRESS, CA - DECEMBER 11, 2010 - Juan
Alberto Tirado Lizarraga’s Apollitical
Jess completed one of the greatest
autumn seasons ever at Los Alamitos Race
Course by winning the $750,000 Champion
of Champions in track record time while
also defeating a field that included
World Champion Freaky and the
millionaire Jess You And I, the past two
winners of this race, on Saturday at the
Cypress oval. |
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TURBULENT
DESCENT REMAINS PERFECT IN STARLET;
TRACK RECORD FOR COST OF FREEDOM IN
`TYSON; LONGSHOT ($52.20) GIVES MEL
STUTE 2,000TH VICTORY
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. - December 11, 2010
- Favored Turbulent Descent remained
undefeated and made a little history
with her victory in the $412,250
Hollywood Starlet Saturday at Hollywood
Park. © BENOIT PHOTO |
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Positive
Response Wires Field In Gold Rush Stakes
at GGF
- Albany, CA - Dec. 11, 2010 - The
2-year-old gelding Positive Response and
29-year-old French jockey Julien Couton
both earned their first stakes victory
Saturday when they ran away with the
$75,900 Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate
Fields. - Marcel Langevin
Vassar Photography |
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VESSELS
FAMILY HAS SWEET SURPRISE WITH LOS
ALAMITOS TWO MILLION FUTURITY WIN
- CYPRESS, CA - DECEMBER 10, 2010 - This
one was for “Scoop” and First Down Dash.
This one was for Vessels Stallion Farm.
This one was for Kash Vessels and for
his younger brother Colt. This one was
for Bonnie Vessels. This one was
exciting, fun, touching and heartfelt.
This one was for everyone that loves
good Quarter Horse racing and its good
people. This one was one to remember.
- Bonnie Vessels and
Vessels Stallion Farm’s One Quick First
Down |
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LEADING TRAINER
ASMUSSEN COMMITS TO SANTA ANITA, ECLIPSE
CHAMP SETTLES IN WITH 30 HORSES FOR
WINTER - ARCADIA, Calif.
- Dec. 9, 2010 —Santa Anita Park, which
unveiled its new, all-natural dirt main
track this past Monday, will include
two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer
Steve Asmussen among its lengthy list of
top conditioners who have committed
their stables to running at Santa
Anita’s prestigious winter/spring meet,
which begins Dec. 26. |
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Baze Wins With
Favorite, Then Price Horse at GGF
- Albany, CA - Dec. 9, 2010 - Jockey
Russell Baze rode back-to-back winners
Thursday at Golden Gate Fields, scoring
with a heavy favorite and a price horse. |
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California
Screamin'--Issues Get Airing Out
-
Dec. 9, 2010 - Issues impacting the long-term health of
California horse racing were dissected
Dec. 9 and produced a general message:
Think outside the box, because the
prospect of revenue from gaming is very
dim. |
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LONGSHOT ALEC’S
MOON ONE OF FOUR WINNERS FOR ROSARIO
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. - December 9, 2010
-Alec’s Moon made a successful
transition to Southern California,
springing a 14-1 upset in her local
debut Thursday at Hollywood Park. |
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Allred has Los
Alamitos in good spot
-
Dec. 8, 2010 -
Los Alamitos
Race Course this weekend becomes the
national showpiece of quarter horse
racing, with the top owners, jockeys,
trainers and horses gathered to
participate in Friday night's $2 Million
Futurity and Saturday night's climactic
Champion of Champions event. |
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Smith Dedicates 'Turfdom'
Award to Zenyatta |
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2011 Oak Tree
season remains in limbo |
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WASHINGTON BRIDGE
LAST-TO-FIRST IN BAYAKOA; PICK SIX
CARRYOVER ($95,806) FOR THURSDAY
- INGLEWOOD, CA - December 5, 2010 -
Washington Bridge, an improving
3-year-old filly, rallied from last in
the final eighth of a mile to defeat a
field comprised almost entirely of her
elders to win the $150,000 Bayakoa
Handicap. © BENOIT PHOTO |
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AGGIE
ENGINEER WIRES FOES IN NATIVE DIVER
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. December 4,
2010 —Taking full advantage of a race
devoid of pace, Aggie Engineer led
throughout to earn the biggest victory
of his career in the $100,000 Native
Diver Handicap Saturday at Hollywood
Park. © BENOIT PHOTO |
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CATHY'S
CRUNCHES COMPLETES STAKES HAT TRICK AT
GGF - ALBANY, CA -
Dec. 4, 2010 - The precocious 2-year-old
filly Cathy's Crunches completed a
stakes hat trick at Golden Gate Fields
when she rallied smartly from just off
the pace to win the $76,200 Corte Madera
Stakes Saturday. - Marcel
Langevin / Vassar Photography |
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DOWNHILL DIVA
RIDES RAIL TO FRIDAY VICTORY
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. December 3, 2010
—Downhill Diva found room along the rail
in the stretch and went on to spring a
mild surprise in the $48,000 allowance
feature Friday at Hollywood Park. |
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TAIF WINS SPRINT
FEATURE AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS
- ALBANY, CA.- Dec. 2, 2010 - Taif,
receiving a confident ride from jockey
Chad Schvaneveldt, ran down Court
Mischief in the stretch and won the
$32,492 sprint feature at Golden Gate
Fields by 1 1/2 lengths Thursday. |
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TEDDY’S PROMISE
UNCHALLENGED IN THURSDAY FEATURE
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 2,
2010)—Shortening up after a
disappointing effort in the Sharp Cat
Stakes Nov. 7, Teddy’s Promise rolled to
an easy victory in the $39,200 feature
for California bred fillies Thursday at
Hollywood Park. |
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Del Mar Council
approves resolution to buy fairgrounds
- Dec. 1, 2010 - SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The
Del Mar City Council today unanimously
approved a resolution of intent to
purchase the state-owned Del Mar
Fairgrounds for $120 million. |
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Aaron Vercruysse
Added as TOC Consultant
- Dec.1, 2010 - Aaron Vercruysse has
been retained by the Thoroughbred Owners
of California to assist in the
development and execution of initiatives
dealing with wagering and purse
improvements, the organization announced
Nov. 30. |
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Purse increase for
two Golden Gate stakes -
ALBANY, CA.-
December 1, 2010 - The Golden Gate
Fields winter/spring stakes schedule has
10 scheduled stakes races highlighted by
the Grade 2 San Francisco Mile and Grade
3 El Camino Real Derby. |
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Betfair part of horse betting's new breed
- Dec. 1, 2010 - Betfair Group PLC, a British online-gambling
company, is wagering that it can revitalize California's
slumping horse-racing industry. |
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Santa Anita's dirt track will open Monday
for training - Nov. 30, 2010 - Santa
Anita’s newly installed dirt track is scheduled to open for
training Monday, the completion of a project that ends a
troubled three-year period with synthetic racing surfaces at the
historic track. |
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it's almost like a
fire sale
Nov. 30, 2010 - In coming weeks,
decisions at the state and local level
will likely determine the fate of a
proposal by the city of Del Mar to buy
the state-owned Del Mar fairgrounds for
$120 million. |
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Champion of Champions Qualifiers
- The American Quarter Horse Journal –
Nov. 30, 2010 - Ten horses have been proving themselves all
year, and now they are qualified to the 39th running of Champion
of Champions (G1) on December 11 at Los Alamitos Race Course in
Los Alamitos, California. |
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Warmer track,
slower racehorses
- Nov. 30, 2010 - A study
conducted at California's Del Mar
Racetrack monitored the change in
temperature during the day and compared
it with the speed of horses running on
the track. |
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HAIMISH
HY, GOMEZ TEAM FOR HOLLYWOOD DERBY
UPSET; NEVERSAIDIWASSWEET PREVAILS IN
MIESQUE STAKES -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 28,
2010)—Jockey Garrett Gomez made a splash
in his return to Southern California,
rallying from last aboard 11-1 shot
Haimish Hy to win the $250,000 Hollywood
Derby.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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HAWK
KUE PIE DELIVERS IN LAS DAMAS HANDICAP
- CYPRESS, CA…. NOVEMBER 27,
2010 - Only a few days after it was
announced that the stallion Hawkinson
will stand at stud once again at Burns
Ranch in Menifee, California, Dr. Steve
Burns’ Hawk Kue Pie scored her first
stakes win in Saturday’s $35,000 Las
Damas Handicap at Los Alamitos. |
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VICTOR’S
CRY SURPRISES IN CITATION HANDICAP;
COMMA TO THE TOP ROLLS ON IN GENEROUS
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 27,
2010)—For the second time in 2010,
Victor’s Cry sprung an upset in a
significant turf race at Hollywood Park.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Sparky
E Boy
top qualifier in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
DERBY Trials
- CYPRESS, CA…. NOVEMBER 26, 2010 -
One day after the passing of the great
stallion First Down Dash, nine out of
the 10 qualifiers to the richest running
ever of the Grade 1 Southern California
Derby, including the fastest qualifier
Sparky E Boy, were either sired by him
or by one of his sons. |
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 Breaking News:
FIRST DOWN DASH passes ( 1984-2010) -
CYPRESS, CA. -NOVEMBER 26, 2010 - The
entire family of Los Alamitos Race
Course is saddened by the news of the
passing of the greatest Quarter Horse
stallion in our generation. Rest in
peace First Down Dash. "He laid down and
went to sleep, peacefully, yesterday
morning," said Bonnie Vessels of Vessels
Stallion Farm. "He was missing Scoop and
his sunflower seeds," she said referring
to her late husband Frank “Scoop”
Vessels.- First Down Dash
and the late Frank “Scoop” Vessels.
Robbi Knudson Photo |
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GYPSY’S
WARNING RALLIES TO CAPTURE MATRIARCH
- INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(November 26, 2010)—A Group I winner in
her native South Africa, Gypsy’s Warning
now has a Grade I victory on her resume
after her come-from-behind score in the
$250,000 Matriarch Friday at Hollywood
Park. © BENOIT PHOTO |
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CERIN
GETS 1,000TH WIN IN ALL AMERICAN;
$128,659 PICK SIX CARRYOVER SATURDAY AT
GGF - ALBANY, CA - Nov. 26, 2010 -
Southern California-based Vladimir Cerin
earned his 1,000th career training
victory Friday when his 5-year-old
gelding Cigar Man got up in the final
jump to win the Grade 3 $100,900 All
American Stakes by a head over Hot Chaco
at Golden Gate Fields. -
Marcel Langevin/Vassar Photography |
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COST OF FREEDOM
SAILS TO RAPID UNDERWOOD WIN
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 25,
2010)—Overcoming a bit of a slow start,
Cost of Freedom quickly assumed command
and went on to win the $100,000 Vernon
O. Underwood Stakes Thursday at
Hollywood Park. © BENOIT
PHOTO |
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ZENYATTA - WHO'S
YOUR DADDY? Nov. 22, 2010
- With Zenyatta officially retired,
horse racing’s version of “The
Bachelorette” is about to be played out
over the coming weeks. Everyone wants to
know which stallion she’ll be bred to in
2011. And nearly everyone has an opinion
on who that should be. |
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Divide The Cash and Good Reason SA join
all-star cast in the Champion of
Champions -
CYPRESS, CA -NOVEMBER 21, 2010 - Abigail
Kawananakoa has been racing Quarter
Horses for 40 years, while Gianni Samaja
has enjoyed the sport of the fastest
horses in the world for 50 years. |
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TURBULENT
DESCENT HANDY WINNER OF MOCCASIN
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 21,
2010)—A stylish debut winner Oct. 3,
Turbulent Descent was even more
impressive Sunday at Hollywood Park,
toying with her opponents in the
$100,000 Moccasin Stakes.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Proponents hope to
close deal before Brown becomes governor
- November 21, 2010 - Political
strategists have been hired as the
battle over ownership of Del Mar
Fairgrounds and racetrack heats up. |
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MORE
THAN YOU KNOW RETURNS TO POST TOP TIME
IN LOS ALAMITOS TWO MILLION FUTURITY
TRAILS - CYPRESS, CA….
NOVEMBER 20, 2010 - For the second time
this year, Miguel Rodriguez' More Than
You Know surprised many observers by
posting a tremendous time in the trials
to a million dollar race at Los
Alamitos. |
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PREMIER
PEGASUS STAYS PERFECT IN PREVUE
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November
20, 2010)—More distance proved no
problem for Premier Pegasus as he
remained undefeated with a gate-to-wire
victory in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue
Stakes Saturday at Hollywood Park.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Cathy’s Crunches
Tops The Boys In Golden Nugget Stakes at
GGF
- Berkley,
Ca. - November 20, 2010 - Cathy’s
Crunches, who crushed her fellow
2-year-old fillies in the Golden Gate
Debutante Stakes on Nov. 6, proved she
can also beat male rivals Saturday when
she posted a smart victory in the
$51,200 Golden Nugget Stakes at Golden
Gate Fields. |
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SPRING STYLE
BEGINS FIVE WIN NIGHT FOR ROSARIO
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 19,
2010)—Spring Style was ready to roll in
her return, winning the $48,000 feature
Friday night at Hollywood Park. |
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Horse owners seek
more investors in Del Mar bid
- DEL MAR - November 19, 2010 - The
influential horse owners seeking to pay
roughly $50 million to help the city of
Del Mar buy the Del Mar Fairgrounds and
Racetrack for $120 million are looking
to more than triple the investment
group's size and double the number of
race dates. |
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INDIAN FIREWATER
ENDS DROUGHT IN NASHVILLE STAKES
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 18,
2010)—Favored Indian Firewater led
throughout to win the $58,900 Nashville
Stakes Thursday at Hollywood Park. ©Benoit
Photo
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Jaycito now in
Baffert stable
- INGLEWOOD, CA - November 17, 2010 -
Jaycito, the winner of the Grade 1
Norfolk Stakes at Hollywood Park in
October and seventh in the Breeders' Cup
Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6,
was transferred from trainer Mike
Mitchell to Bob Baffert earlier this
week, the trainers said on Wednesday. |
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2011 Northern
California racing calendar in place
- November 15, 2010 - After being unable
to come up with a 2010 calendar until
January this year, Northern California’s
racing interests already have a 2011
schedule in place. The 2011 calendar is
similar to the 2010 one, except that
Ferndale will not have a full week of
racing to itself. |
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DOUBLE DOWN
SPECIAL TO LAND AT LOS ALAMITOS ON
SUNDAY NIGHT - CYPRESS,
CA - November 14, 2010 - Vanessa
Bartoo’s All American Derby winner
Double Down Special is expected to
arrive at Los Alamitos Race Course on
Sunday night to begin preparations to
compete in the December 11 Champion of
Champions according to online reports. |
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SISTER DAWN GAME IN PLAYA DEL REY WIN;
PICK SIX CARRYOVER ($99,992) AWAITS
THURSDAY -
INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(November 14, 2010)—Sister Dawn showed
tenacity in the final eighth of a mile
to score by a neck in the $62,000 Playa
Del Rey Stakes Sunday at Hollywood Park. |
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OH
LA TRAFFIC WINS ANOTHER STAKES AT LOS ALAMITOS -
CYPRESS, CA. - NOVEMBER 13, 2010 - Following her victory in the
inaugural running of the $90,700 Wild West Futurity on October
23, the filly Oh La Traffic found the express way on the Los
Alamitos freeway, as she blew away seven rivals in the $25,000
Corona Chick Handicap on Saturday night. |
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UNUSUAL SUSPECT EARNS FIRST GRADE I IN
TURF CUP - INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(November 13, 2010)—Ending a losing
streak that extended 16 races, Unusual
Suspect was the surprise winner of the
$250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Saturday at
Hollywood Park. ©Benoit
Photo |
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ONE SWEET JESS READY FOR LOS ALAMITOS TWO
MILLION FUTURITY TRIALS - CYPRESS, CA… NOVEMBER
12, 2010 - There was no steak or lobster dinner on the table at
the home of the De La Torre family to celebrate One Sweet Jess’
victory in the $1,230,450 Golden State Million Futurity on
October 29. Instead, brothers Gustavo, Ugo and Jose De La Torre
enjoyed a laid back get together with an American classic as the
main course. |
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WASHINGTON BRIDGE SCORES IN LIFE IS SWEET
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 12, 2010)—Washington Bridge
earned her first win outside Northern California, taking
advantage of a perfect trip to win the $53,300 Life Is Sweet
Stakes Friday night at Hollywood Park. |
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Trainer Morey Saddles 1,000th Winner
- Berkeley, CA. - November 11, 2010 - William E.
Morey earned his 1,000th career training victory Thursday at
Golden Gate Fields when his 7-year-old gray mare Sports Edition
captured the seventh race. |
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CARACORTADO
SIZZLES (1:07.79) IN TURF DEBUT; PICK SIX CARRYOVER ($54,204)
FRIDAY NIGHT - INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 11,
2010)—Making his first start since finishing seventh in the
Preakness May 15, Caracortado was extremely impressive in his
turf debut in the $55,504 feature Thursday at Hollywood Park.
©Benoit Photo |
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CHRB GRANTS WAIVERS -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - November 9, 2010 - MI Developments received
two waivers from the CHRB allowing the Frank Stronach-controlled
company to move forward with the operation of Santa Anita Park
and Golden Gate Fields and complete installation of a new dirt
track at Santa Anita. |
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Racing board delays talks over
California's fall 2011 race schedule
- November 9, 2010 - The California Horse Racing Board on
Tuesday put off any discussion on racing dates for the fall of
2011 after horsemen requested additional time to consider the
options for the racing calendar. |
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MINOR RAICNG BIDS FOR MI
RACING ASSETS - November 9, 2010
- Minor Racing made an all-cash offer,
subject to customary due diligence, of $150
million to $170 million for Santa Anita Park,
Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Maryland
Jockey Club, Amtote, XpressBet and HRTV.
Additionally, Minor Racing offered to acquire
Gulfstream Park, Palm Meadows and all other
Florida-based racing assets for an additional
$150 million. |
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MAY
DAY ROSE GOES ALL THE WAY IN SHARP CAT
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 7,
2010)—Stretching out in her first start in more
than two months, May Day Rose rolled to a
gate-to-wire victory in the $100,000 Sharp Cat
Stakes Sunday at Hollywood Park.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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APOLLITICAL
JESS JETS HIS WAY TO TRACK RECORD IN $1M SUPER
DERBY - CYPRESS, CA -
NOVEMBER 6, 2010 - Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga
enjoyed his first victory in the Los Alamitos
Super Derby when multiple champion Apollitical
Time defeated the great Ocean Runaway to win the
2005 renewal of the race. Five years later,
Apollitical Time made her presence felt again in
the derby, this time as the mother of impressive
winner Apollitical Jess in Saturday’s $1,052,000
Los Alamitos Super Derby. |
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Jerry Hollendorfer gets
His First Breeders’ Cup Victory
-Winning his first Breeders’ Cup race Saturday
at Churchill Downs. Hollendorfer captured the $1
million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with 37-to-1
shot Dakota Phone, who got up in the last jump
to win by a head and paid $77.40. |
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Cathy’s Crunches Triumphs
In Golden Gate Debutante -
Berkeley, CA - November 6, 2010 -
Cathy’s Crunches, a well-traveled 2-year-old
filly, made her first start at Golden Gate
Fields Saturday and romped to a five-length
victory in the $50,900 Golden Gate Debutante. |
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COMMA
TO THE TOP CRUISES IN REAL QUIET STAKES; $259.20
WINNER IN FINALE TRIGGERS TWO CARRYOVERS
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 6,
2010)—Making his first start beyond seven
furlongs, Comma to the Top rolled to an easy
victory in the $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes
Saturday at Hollywood Park. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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UTAH
NEIGHBORS ENJOY 1-2 finish in Town Policy
Handicap -
CYPRESS, CA. - NOVEMBER 5, 2010 - Reid Pierson
and Owen Udy might host a block party when they
get return to their neighborhood in Garland,
Utah to celebrate the 1-2 finish posted by their
horses, Sparky E Boy and Auto Rotate, in the
$25,000 Town Policy Handicap on Friday at Los
Alamitos. |
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BLUE
CHAGALL RALLIES TO CAPTURE RIOT IN PARIS
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 5, 2010)—Blue
Chagall rallied to win for the first time over
the Hollywood Park turf course, capturing the
$59,150 Riot in Paris Stakes Friday.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Jerry Hollendorfer a
Breeders' Cup regular now -
November 5, 2010 - Hollendorfer
branched out from the limitations of Northern
California racing and opened a full-time
division in Southern California. |
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After synthetics movement,
dirt again on the comeback track
- When the Breeders' Cup World Championships
were contested on synthetic surfaces each of the
last two years at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia,
Calif., it appeared the quality and safety of
that racing might provide increasing momentum in
the direction of synthetics. |
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WORD ASSOCIATION WINS
OPENING NIGHT FEATURE -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 4, 2010)—Word
Association won for the second time in three
weeks, disposing of four rivals in the $40,000
allowance feature Thursday at Hollywood Park. |
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AUTUMN MEET KICKS OFF
THURSDAY, NOV. 4; STEEL PULSE CONCERT FOLLOWS
NIGHT CARD - INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(October 31, 2010)—Hollywood Park will begin its
30th Autumn Meet Thursday, Nov. 4 with a special
night program. Post time is 7:05 p.m. |
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ZENYATTA’s FINAL LOCAL
START, CALIFORNIA CUP XXI AMONG HIGHLIGHTS OF
FIRST OAK TREE/HOLLYWOOD PARK MEET -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 31, 2010) — The
last Southern California start – and 19th
consecutive victory – for the undefeated
Zenyatta was the highlight of the inaugural Oak
Tree at Hollywood Park meet which concluded
Sunday. |
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BRIECAT CLOSES MEET WITH
13-1 LAS PALMAS UPSET -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 31, 2010)—Earning her
first win on turf in nearly two years, Briecat,
a 13-1 longshot, led throughout to take the
$150,000 Las Palmas Handicap Sunday.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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What's it going to be like when Zenyatta is no longer in
your shedrow?
- Oct. 30, 2010 - "I can't
imagine it," Shirreffs said. "You read about how kind she is and
how big she is (17.2 hands)," Shirreffs said. "She is everything
you could imagine a race horse could be. I've never seen her pin
her ears back and get upset. I always tell people that being
around Zenyatta is like being around a sequoia. I mean, there
are trees, and then there are trees." |
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CYPRESS
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB AND LOS ALAMITOS RTCA BENEFIT
FROM LOS ALAMITOS HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
- CYPRESS, CA.... OCTOBER 30, 2010 - The
annual Halloween Carnival at Los Alamitos Race
Course raised $5,000 on behalf of the Cypress
Boys & Girls Club and the Los Alamitos Division
of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America on
Saturday, October 30. The carnival featured a
costume contest, more than 30 carnival games for
children and a full night of live horse racing.
(pictured - Jockey Cody Jensen in training)
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SOUL CANDY RALLIES TO WIN
CALIFORNIA CUP CLASSIC; TWO STAKES WINS FOR
BEJARANO, ESPINOZA & TALAMO -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 30, 2010)—Soul Candy
made a successful surface transition to win the
day’s richest event, helping Rafael Bejarano
join Victor Espinoza and Joe Talamo as the
riding stars of the 21st California Cup Saturday
at Oak Tree/Hollywod Park. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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Awesome Gem headed to
Marathon - Oct. 30,
2010 - Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Awesome
Gem is headed toward Friday's 1 3/4-mile
Breeder's Cup Marathon on the Churchill main
track, rather than the Saturday's Dirt Mile,
said Jeff Lifson, vice president of Midwest
operations for West Point Thoroughbreds. |
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After 11,000 wins,
American jockey Russell Baze eyes biggest prize
- Oct. 30, 2010 - In a career spanning 36 years,
Russell Baze has won more than 11,000 races from
nearly 47,500 rides, including 4,300 at just one
course. |
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ZENYATTA WORKS SIX FURLONGS IN 1:11 4/5 OVER CUSHION TRACK
-
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 30, 2010)—In her final work in Southern California
before she heads to Kentucky, Zenyatta drilled six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 Saturday
morning at Hollywood Park. |
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What's it going to
be like when Zenyatta is no longer in your
shedrow? - Oct. 30,
2010 - "I can't imagine it," Shirreffs said....
"You read about how kind she is and how big she
is (17.2 hands)," Shirreffs said. "She is
everything you could imagine a race horse could
be. I've never seen her pin her ears back and
get upset. I always tell people that being
around Zenyatta is like being around a sequoia.
I mean, there are trees, and then there are
trees." |
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ONE
SWEET JESS UPSETS FLYING FIG TO WIN GOLDEN STATE
MILLION FUTURITY - CYPRESS, CA….
OCTOBER 29, 2010 - A few minutes after the
running of the $1,230,450 Golden State Million
Futurity, Gustavo De La Torre and about a dozen
members of his family and friends gathered
around the Race Replay Kiosk located in the Los
Alamitos grandstand building. They were all
waiting for the replay of the Golden State
Million to become available for viewing. And
once it did, De La Torre and his family began
replaying the race over and over and over again. |
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NEW STRATEGY PAYS OFF FOR
SARAVAS WILD AGAIN - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (October 29, 2010)—Saravas Wild Again
used a change in tactics to earn his initial win
on turf in the $33,400 feature Friday night at
Oak Tree/Hollywood Park. |
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Live Your Dream Racing
Stable Launches and Wins First Time Out at Oak
Tree / Hollywood -
Oct. 29, 2010 - Live Your Dream Racing
Stable, a partnership formed by Donald Palmer in
July of this year, had its first runner and
first winner, Salty Sarah, in the fourth race on
Wednesday, October 27th, at Oak Tree /
Hollywood. |
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Fairgrounds Purchase Would
Bring Local Accountability-
Oct. 29, 2010 - The City of Del Mar has
structured a financially feasible way to
purchase the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and bring
local control and accountability to the people
that it most greatly affects. |
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TRAINING GREAT LLOYD
WALKER PASSES AWAY
- CYPRESS, CA… OCTOBER 30, 2010 -
Lloyd Walker, who was the leading Quarter Horse
trainer at Los Alamitos during the track’s
second ever official racing season, passed away
on Thursday night in his home in Elk Grove,
California. |
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DATE OF Z. WAYNE GRIFFIN
TRIALS CHANGED TO NOVEMBER 21 -
CYPRESS, CA… OCTOBER 30, 2010 - The 2010 Z.
Wayne Griffin Directors Trials have been
rescheduled and will now be held on Sunday,
November 21. |
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Local materials to be used
in new Santa Anita track
- Oct. 29, 2010 - INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Santa
Anita will use sand from a Southern California
quarry on its new conventional main track
surface that is being installed this fall, track
president George Haines said on Thursday. |
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Vessels farm finds
strength to carry on
- Oct. 28, 2010 - In the hours after Scoop
Vessels died in a plane crash in Oregon on Aug.
11, Vessels Stallion Farm manager Kevin Dickson
mourned with Scoop Vessels’s widow, Bonnie. |
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MULHALL’S ROLL CONTINUES
IN THURSDAY FEATURE; PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF
$53,434 FRIDAY NIGHT - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (October 28, 2010)—Trainer Kristin
Mulhall continued her hot streak when Square
Deal scored a mild upset in the $47,440 feature
Thursday at Oak Tree/Hollywood Park. |
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She's The One
- Unbeaten in 19 races, Zenyatta has established
a winning streak unrivaled in American racing.
With a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, she
will cement her legacy as the greatest female
thoroughbred ever ... |
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Zenyatta and Goldikova in
hunt for Breeders' Cup history -
Oct. 27, 2010 - Led by the
sensational mares Zenyatta and Goldikova, both
of whom will be seeking unprecedented third
victories in the Breeders’ Cup, a total of 184
horses were announced on Wednesday as the
pre-entries for the 27th Breeders’ Cup, a
14-race, $25.5 million extravaganza to be held
Nov. 5-6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. |
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Hollendorfer likes waiting
game with Blind Luck
- Oct. 27, 2010 - It worked in the spring, and
he is hoping it will work now. While many of the
entrants in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies'
Classic are already on the grounds at Churchill
Downs, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has kept Blind
Luck in California, where she is completing her
preparation at Hollywood Park. Hollendorfer did
the same thing in the spring, shipping Blind
Luck to Churchill Downs just days before the
Kentucky Oaks. She won that race by a nose, one
of three Grade 1 victories this year that have
put Blind Luck atop the 3-year-old filly
division. |
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APPEALING AFARE COMPLETES
BEJARANO TRIPLE - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (October 27, 2010)—Appealing Afare was
successful in her first start since June 9,
defeating Vision in Gold to win the $40,000
feature Wednesday at Oak Tree/Hollywood Park. |
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Santa Anita to open Dec.
26, stall applications now being accepted
- October 26, 2010 -
Stall applications are now being accepted for
Santa Anita’s traditional winter/spring meeting,
which opens Dec. 26. Currently closed for main
track construction, Santa Anita is scheduled to
reopen for training on Dec. 6. |
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Koriner
Pair Lead BC Works at Churchill
- Oct. 26, 2010 - Owned and bred by the Hi Card
Ranch, the 6-year-old California bred,
California Flag worked five furlongs over a firm
Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:00 4/5 on a warm and
windy Tuesday morning in Louisville. |
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Zenyatta May Start
Training on Dirt This Week
- Oct. 26, 2010 - Two-time champion Zenyatta,
preparing to defend her Breeders’ Cup Classic
(gr. I) title and perfect 19-0 record, didn’t
make life easy on regular exercise rider Steve
Willard the morning of Oct. 26 as he had to use
all his strength to pull her up after a 1
1/2-mile gallop over the Hollywood Park main
track. |
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Olmodavor to Magali in
California - October
26, 2010 - Graded stakes winner Olmodavor will
stand in 2011 in the state where he did his best
racing. The 11-year-old stallion will hold court
in California at Rich and Gaby Sulpizio’s Magali
Farms near Santa Ynez. His 2011 fee is $5,000. |
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RIZZO HAS RACING LICENSE PULLED
- Oct.
25, 2010 - Huntington Beach resident and former
Bell city manager Robert Rizzo, who is facing 53
counts of misappropriating public funds, had his
horse-racing owner's license suspended by the
Hollywood Park board of stewards. |
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Sale of fairgrounds, racetrack could end
political disputes - Oct.
24, 2010 - When news broke earlier this month
that some Sacramento lawmakers wanted to sell
the state-owned fairgrounds and racetrack to the
city of Del Mar for $120 million, it exposed a
festering relationship between city leaders and
the state agency that controls the seaside
mecca. |
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CHALALA
SPOILS MERRIDOC HAWK’S BID FOR 6TH
STAKES WIN
-
CYPRESS, CA…
OCTOBER 24,2010 - Rancho El Cabresto’s
Chalala won the $15,000 Garden Grove
Handicap by a ¾ lengths on Sunday to
spoil Merridoc Hawk’s bid to become the
first Quarter Horse at Los Alamitos in
10 years to win six stakes races in a
single season. |
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GONE
REBEL HOLDS OFF FAVORITE TO WIN ANOAKIA
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 24,
2010)—Gone Rebel became the latest
Darley Debutante success story, leading
virtually throughout to win the $60,080
Anoakia Stakes Sunday at Oak
Tree/Hollywood Park. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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OH
LA TRAFFIC WINS FIRST EVER WILD WEST
FUTURITY - CYPRESS, CA… OCTOBER
23, 2010 - The inaugural running of the
$90,700 Wild West Futurity went in the
direction of Utah’s Stan Young after his
filly Oh La Traffic outdueled Larry
Chapple and Jim Hanson’s Classic Blush
on Saturday at Los Alamitos. |
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PREMIER
PEGASUS STAYS PERFECT IN `GOODMAN -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 23,
2010)—A 44-1 winner in his debut July 24
at Del Mar, Premier Pegasus returned
with a much smaller surprise in the
$59,800 Jack Goodman Stakes Saturday at
Oak Tree/Hollywood Park.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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Our Minesweeper Shocks Handicappers In
Oakland - Albany, CA
- October 23, 2010 - Our Minesweeper,
the longest shot in the field at odds of
19-to-1, rallied from last to post a
shocking upset in the $55,100 Oakland
Stakes at Golden Gate Fields Saturday. |
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WHATTA KNOCKOUT RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS
IN ANAHEIM HANDICAP - CYPRESS,
CA…. OCTOBER 22, 2010 - Take out Whatta
Knockout’s seventh place finish in the
Mini Rock Handicap on September 12 and
what you are left with is an outstanding
record of victories and consistency.
Outside of that out of the money finish
in the Mini Rock, FF Racing Stables’
Whatta Knockout has been lights out,
finishing in the money 12 times,
including 11 straight in the money
finishes from June 4, 2009 to July 31,
2010 at Los Alamitos. |
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AGGIE ENGINEER ($4.60) CAPTURES FRIDAY
NIGHT FEATURE - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (October 22, 2010)—Aggie Engineer
ended a six race losing streak, taking
the $48,400 feature Friday night at Oak
Tree/Hollywood Park. |
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LONGEST SHOT IN FIELD SURPRISES IN
THURSDAY FEATURE - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (October 21, 2010)—Romp, the
longest shot in a field of four, was up
to win the $44,704 allowance feature
Thursday night at Oak Tree/Hollywood
Park. |
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Jockey Stra Goes 2-For-2 On Opening Day
At GGF - Albany -
Oct 20, 2010 -
Jockey Kayla Stra, who
struggled to reach the winner’s circle
during Golden Gate Fields’ summer
season, got off to a great start at the
track’s fall meeting by riding two
winners on Wednesday’s opening-day
program. |
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APOLLITICAL
JESS’ TIME IS TOO MUCH FOR RIVALS IN
SUPER DERBY TRIALS - CYPRESS,
CA… OCTOBER 17, 2010 - The past three
nights at Los Alamitos were billed as
autumn’s biggest weekend of Quarter
Horse racing and they lived up to the
hype thanks to unforgettable
performances by three of the nation’s
most phenomenal horses. |
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LATE SURGE EARNS GO FORTH NORTH RAMSER
WIN - INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October
17, 2010)—Back with her own age group,
Go Forth North rallied strongly in the
final eighth of a mile to collar
pacesetter All Due Respect and win the
$100,000 Harold C. Ramser, Sr. Handicap
by a nose Sunday at Oak Tree/Hollywood
Park. © BENOIT PHOTO |
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FREAKY
REPEATS AS LOS ALAMITOS CHAMPIONSHIP
WINNER - CYPRESS, CA…. OCTOBER
16, 2010 - That runner-up finish in the
Go Man Go Handicap on September 10 was a
freak result in an otherwise sparkling
string of victories amassed by the
reigning World Champion Freaky. The son
of TR Dasher proved that the Go Man Go
was indeed a one-off by defeating
champion aged mare Stylish Jess BR by ¾
lengths to win Saturday’s $150,000
Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos
Invitational Championship. |
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FANTASTIC
PICK SURPRISE WINNER OF OAK TREE DERBY;
$96,568 PICK SIX CARRYOVER AWAITS SUNDAY
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 16,
2010)—Fantastic Pick, the longest shot
in the field at 22-1, edged pacesetter
Blue Panis after an eighth of a mile
long battle to win the $150,000 Oak Tree
Derby Saturday at Hollywood Park.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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FLYING
FIG TOPS GOLDEN STATE TRIALS WITH RECORD
WIN - CYPRESS, CA… OCTOBER 15,
2010 - Pete and Evelyn Parrella of
Legacy Ranch have paid their dues in
racing. Soon they will be well rewarded
for their continued support of the
sport, as in a span of eight days from
Friday October 29th through Friday,
November 5th; the couple will have the
joy of taking part in a pair of million
dollar races. FIELD SET FOR JUVENILE |
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ACHAK ENJOYS SURFACE SWITCH, SCORES AT
8-1 - INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October
15, 2010)—Making his second start since
being claimed for $50,000 by trainer
Mike Mitchell in July, Achak welcomed a
return to a synthetic surface Friday at
Oak Tree/Hollywood Park, winning the
$40,640 feature. |
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FAVORED SISTER DAWN WIRES SIX OPPONENTS
ON TURF; PICK SIX CARRYOVER FOR
FRIDAY OF $54,223 - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (Oct. 14, 2010)—Sister Dawn
established the lead immediately and
went on to a 1 ¼ length victory in the
$44,800 feature Thursday at Oak
Tree/Hollywood Park. |
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QUICK
ENOUGH, VALENZUELA TEAM FOR MORVICH WIN
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 11,
2010)—Quick Enough gave jockey Patrick
Valenzuela his first Oak Tree stakes win
in nearly four years with a 1 ½-length
score in the $100,000 Morvich Handicap
Monday at Hollywood Park.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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BURG
BERG WEARS DOWN BRIECAT IN SWINGTIME;
PICK SIX CARRYOVER ($82,055) FOR HOLIDAY
CARD - INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(October 10, 2010)—Burg Berg wore down
pacesetter Briecat to win the $59,190
Swingtime Stakes Sunday at Oak
Tree/Hollywood Park. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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FALL
FOR IT CAPS CONKLINS’ GREAT WEEK -
CYPRESS, CA… OCTOBER 10, 2010 - It’s
been an unforgettable week for jockey
Jay Conklin. On Tuesday, Conklin married
his longtime girlfriend Dawn Jackson,
daughter of longtime trainer Bruce
Jackson, on a beach in Kauai, Hawaii.
Saturday night, the winning jockey of
the 2002 All American Futurity was back
in the winner’s circle at Los Alamitos
after piloting Brian Hyde’s Fall For It
to an impressive victory in the $25,000
Autumn Handicap for 2-year-olds.
(Fall For It, show
winning the Chickasis Handicap, picks up
her second stakes victory at Los
Alamitos in Saturday's Autumn Handicap.
- Scott Martinez Photo) |
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SMILING
TIGER HOLDS SUPREME SUMMIT IN ANCIENT
TITLE; LONGEST SHOT IN FIELD CAPTURES
OAK TREE MILE - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (October 9, 2010)—Smiling Tiger
became the second 3-year-old in four
years to win the $245,000 Ancient Title
Stakes, holding off Supreme Summit to
win the Grade I Saturday at Oak
Tree/Hollywood Park. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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RYEHILL DREAMER COMPLETES FOUR WIN NIGHT
FOR ROSARIO - INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(October 8, 2010)—Ryehill Dreamer led
throughout to win a $44,400 optional
claimer, giving jockey Joel Rosario his
fourth win of the Friday night program
at Oak Tree/Hollywood Park. |
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SARAH’S SECRET STAYS UNDEFEATED IN
THURSDAY FEATURE - INGLEWOOD,
Calif. (October 7, 2010)—Sarah’s Secret
made it two wins in as many starts,
surprising heavily-favored Tales in
Excess in a $41,360 allowance Thursday
at Oak Tree/Hollywood Park. |
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OH
LA TRAFFIC TOPS LIST OF QUALIFIERS TO
WILD WEST FUTURITY - CYPRESS,
CA… OCTOBER 3, 2010 - Stan Young’s Oh La
Traffic edged Dan and Patricia Baker’s
Move Over Red Rover by a nose to win the
final trial to the inaugural running of
the $90,700 Wild West Futurity on Sunday
at Los Alamitos. In the process, the
daughter of champion Hawkish posted the
fastest 350-yard qualifying time of
:17.550 while picking up her first win
in eight career starts. |
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RIGOLETTA
SHOCKS TELL A KELLY IN OAK LEAF; CHAMP
PEGASUS PROMPT FAVORITE IN HIRSCH -
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 3,
2010)—Running beyond seven furlongs for
the first time, Rigoletta, a 32-1 shot,
turned the tables on favored Tell a
Kelly to win the $250,000 Oak Leaf
Stakes Sunday at Oak Tree/Hollywood
Park. ©Benoit Photo |
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OWNER
ON TOP OF THE WORLD AFTER VICTORY KISS
IN BREEDERS FUTURITY
- CYPRESS,
CA… OCTOBER 2, 2010 - Wearing the
national soccer team jersey of his
native country of Brazil, Marcelo Jorge
looked like he had just won the World
Cup as he joyfully kissed the trophy
earned by his outstanding filly The
Goodbye Kisser in the $425,600 PCQHRA
Breeders’ Futurity Saturday at Los
Alamitos. |
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19
IN A ROW FOR ZENYATTA AFTER LADY’S
SECRET THRILLER; HIBAAYEB, JAYCITO,
RICHARD’S KID WIN OTHER GRADE 1’S
- INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 2,
2010)—Making her final start in Southern
California at the place where she has
been stabled throughout her brilliant
career, Zenyatta remained undefeated
with a thrilling victory in the $250,000
Lady’s Secret Stakes Saturday at Oak
Tree/Hollywood Park. The race was one of
four Grade I events on the card. ©Benoit
Photo |
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WHOLE
LOT OF KARMA UPSETS HEADTURNER IN PCQHRA
BREEDERS DERBY - CYPRESS, CA.….
OCTOBER 1, 2010 - For three straight
races on Friday night, Vessels Stallion
Farm was represented in the winner’s
circle at Los Alamitos Race Course with
horses that were bred by the famous
Bonsall farm. |
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SCHVANEVELDT
HEROINE HAS MADE WINNING A HABIT OF HER
OWN - CYPRESS, CA…. OCTOBER 1,
2010 - Long time owner Alvin B. Jonas
knew what he had when he held the trophy
to the $40,000 Blane Schvaneveldt
Handicap after his filly Sheza Bad Habit
won the 400-yard race on Friday at Los
Alamitos. |
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THE BAT SIGNAL, GIHUA TEAM FOR 14-1
SURPRISE - INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(October 1, 2010)—Jockey Johnny Gihua,
riding his final day with an apprentice
allowance, earned his first Oak Tree
victory with a 14-1 upset aboard The Bat
Signal in a $50,400 allowance Friday at
Hollywood Park. |
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UNZIP
ME CONTINUES TO ROLL, WINS OPENING NIGHT
MADDY - INGLEWOOD, Calif.
(September 30, 2010)—Leading virtually
throughout, favored Unzip Me prevailed
in the $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap
Thursday on opening night of the
inaugural Oak Tree at Hollywood Park
meet. ©Benoit Photo |
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MERRIDOC
HAWK WINS ANOTHER STAKES RACE AND A
BERTH TO CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS -
CYPRESS, CA. - SEPTEMBER 18, 2010 - Even
with four stakes wins to her name at
this meet, EG High Desert Farms’
Merridoc Hawk had been flying under the
radar. That’s not longer the case. On
the night of the Grade 1 $150,000
Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap,
Merridoc Hawk busted out in style, as
the daughter of Hawkinson picked up her
fifth stakes win of the season, this
time by defeating the meet’s best field
of mares, while also earning a berth to
the $750,000 Champion of Champions in
the process. |
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HEADTURNER EYES THIRD DERBY VICTORY
AFTER SUPER TRIAL - CYPRESS,
CA…. SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 - Three derby
victories now appears a real possibility
for Jose Ramon Sandoval’s Headturner
after the son of Check Him Out looked
like a complete standout following a 1 ½
length victory in the trials to the
PCQHRA Breeders Derby Saturday at Los
Alamitos. |
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PEACE
FIRE WINS MINI ROCK HANDICAP AFTER
ANOTHER SOLID EFFORT
- CYPRESS, CA
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2010 - Trainer Dan
Francisco says every chance he gets.
“After her maiden start, the only other
really bad race Peace Fire has ever had
was in the trials to the Golden State
Million Futurity,” Francisco has said
many times. “She got swiped from both
sides in that trial and if you look at
all of her other starts, Peace Fire has
given a good effort.” |
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THE
GOODBYE KISSER HAS ANOTHER DAYLIGHT
TRIAL WIN; SHE’S TOP QUALIFIER TO PCQHRA
BREEDERS FUTURITY
-
CYPRESS, CA…SEPTEMBER 11,
2010 - Marcelo Jorge’s The Goodbye
Kisser might be the best 2-year-old
filly on the grounds at Los Alamitos
Race Course right now. She certainly
made a powerful case for herself after
posting the fastest qualifying time to
the Grade 1 $425,600 PCQHRA Breeders
Futurity with a convincing 1 ¾ length
win in the second of nine trials on
Saturday night. |
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A
TEMPTING DASH
- BIG WIN IN GO MAN GO
- CYPRESS, CA
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 - Jose Flores could
not be at Los Alamitos Race Course when
his barn’s newly arrived star – the
privately purchased A Tempting Dash -
posted a surprising victory in the
Spencer Childers Memorial Handicap back
on July 31. Flores was too weak to make
the trip and was still recovering after
undergoing gastric bypass surgery
earlier in the month. |
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J
P's Gusto Romps In Del Mar Futurity
-
Del Mar - September 8, 2010 - Gem,
Inc.'s J P's Gusto, the 4-5 betting
choice ridden by Patrick Valenzuela,
staked his claim as one of America's
best two-year-olds with an impressive
triumph Wednesday in the Grade I
$250,000 Del Mar Futurity before a crowd
of 12,252 on the final day of Del Mar's
summer season of Thoroughbred racing.
© BENOIT PHOTO
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Gotta
Have Her Wins Palomar Handicap
-
Del Mar – September 7,
2010 - Green Lantern Stables' classy
Gotta Have Her, a six-year-old mare
whose middle name should be
"consistency," scored her second
straight triumph in Del Mar's Grade II
$150,000 Palomar Handicap with a
typically game performance Monday.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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TWIRLING
CANDY WINS DEL MAR DERBY
- Del Mar –
September 5, 2010 - The Craig Family
Trust's brilliant Twirling Candy, sent
postward the prohibitive 1-5 favorite on
the basis of his perfect three-for-three
racing record, came through as expected
Sunday in the $300,000 Del Mar Derby but
only after a stewards' inquiry
pertaining to an incident leaving the
clubhouse turn of the mile and
one-eighth grass race. © BENOIT PHOTO |
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Tell
A Kelly Romps In Darley Debutante
- Del Mar -
September 4, 2010 - Ike and Dawn
Thrash's Tell a Kelly, ridden with
perfect timing by jockey Alonso
Quinonez, rallied from last place in the
early furlongs with a devastating move
entering the stretch to score
impressively in the Grade I $250,000
Darley Debutante for two-year-old
fillies Saturday.
© BENOIT PHOTO |
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FALL
FOR IT RISES TO THE TOP IN CHICKASIS
HANDICAP
- CYPRESS,
CA…. SEPTEMBER 4, 2010 - Owner Brian
Hyde has enjoyed past success claiming
Quarter Horses for low prices and then
training them to become barrel races
after the conclusion of their racing
career. That may have been the plan for
Fall For It at one point - Hyde claimed
her for $6,250 on June 6 - but life as a
barrel racer will have a wait a little
longer for the Separatist filly based on
the way she has been running recently. |
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Pick
Six Carryover A Record $1,597,470
-
Del Mar, CA - Sept. 3, 2010 - As a
result of 31-1 longshot Haimish Hy's
stunning upset in the featured $100,000
El Cajon Stakes Friday, there will be a
Del Mar record carryover of $1,597,470
in the Pick Six Saturday at the seaside
track. © BENOIT
PHOTO |
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Hi
Ho Yodeler Wins Generous Portion Stakes
- Del Mar - Sept. 1, 2010 - Under a
perfect ride from jockey Patrick
Valenzuela, longshot Hi Ho Yodeler
darted between horses at the top of the
stretch and went on to win the featured
$100,000 Generous Portion for
California-bred two-year-old fillies
Wednesday. ©
BENOIT PHOTO |
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GLOBAL STAGE POSTS
43-TO-1 UPSET ON GOLDEN GATE FIELDS TURF
- Sept. 1, 2010 - Global Stage, who came
within a head of posting a 10-to-1 upset
at Santa Rosa, scored a 43-to-1 shocker
Wednesday at Golden Gate Fields. |
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