california thoroughbred magazine january 2015

January 2015$5.00

Of f i c i a l Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Ca l i f o rn i a T h o ro u g h b re d Bre e d e r s A s s o c i a t i o n

www.ctba.com

CAL-CUP TURNS

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www.ctba.com January 2015 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED 1

From the EXECUTIVE CORNER

ROBYN BLACK

CTBA LOBBYIST

The 2015-16 legislative session began before the new year with more then 35 new members sworn into o ce and the in-

troduction of a brand new Internet poker bill. Most observers of gaming interests in the Capitol believe that 2015 will be the year legislators nally pass a bill or that a stando may be reached with tribal inter-ests that are more opposed to racing than obtaining their own license for this new form of gaming. T e rst new bill introduced on gam-

ing is AB 9 by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake.) T e bill is very similar to the language put forth by the 13 tribes last June, and in its present form the bill excludes horse racing. T e bill does re-quire new gamers to sign up initially at a brick and mortar establishment prior to play, but it is otherwise the same lan-guage previously proposed by the tribes. We will continue to work with this author and others as the new session begins. We expect to see a bill authored by Assembly-man Reggie Jones-Sawyer and possibly a Senate bill before the deadline for bill introduction.T e California T oroughbred Breeders

Association and our racing partners are also working very closely with the new gaming coalition announced this fall, which includes Morongo, San Manuel, Bicycle, Commerce, and Hawaiian Gar-dens Casinos and Amaya Gaming (for-merly known as Poker Stars.) It is our expectation that this new coalition will in-troduce a bill in January that will include horse racing, and we will work together over the objections of the tribes opposed to the bad actors provisions and to rac-ing. CTBA will work together with our membership to educate legislators on the importance of racing and breeding T or-oughbreds as well as the economic and

employment numbers we contribute each year to the state.Our continuing e orts to educate leg-

islators have been the key to our success over the past four years. One might look at the failure to pass an Internet poker bill as a setback; the reality is that we have been tremendously successful in blocking any bill that does not include racing and

only allows tribes and card rooms. T is e ort is critical to our future. A special thanks to Brad McKenzie and

Los Alamitos for helping CTBA and the T oroughbred Owners of California host four legislators and their families in late December. Assembly members Katcho Achadjian, (R-San Luis Obispo) Travis Al-

len (R-Huntington Beach) and new mem-bers William Brough (R-Dana Point) and Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach) were all on hand to watch the King Glo-rious Stakes Dec. 14, as well as make a special visit to meet a very special Califor-nia-bred in the barn of trainer Art Sher-man. T ank you to all the connections of California Chrome for making their rst visit to the track so memorable, and special thanks to Terry Lovingier for helping host the legislators and their families.Lastly, the new Chairs of the Govern-

mental Organization Committee were announced in late December, and we are pleased to announce that two great friends of the CTBA will now guide the policy hands of racings future. Congratulations to two of our biggest supporters, Assem-blyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) and Sen. Isadore Hall III (D-Compton). We look forward to working with these two outstanding legislators this year on issues important to racing. We have much work ahead, but our future looks bright.

OPTIMISM FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR

Assembly members made a visit to see California Chrome in December

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Our continuing e orts to educate legislators have been the key to

our success over the past four years

2 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED January 2015 www.ctba.com

46 CTBA Hall of Fame 2015 Inductees

48 Trainer Blake Heap

54 CTBA Member Pro le: Scott Gross

60 Barretts January Sale Preview

62 California Chromes Hollywood Derby

66 Golden State Series Stakes

72 Health-Tying Up

ContentsFEATURES

28 CAL CUP TURNS 25 Includes stories on the origins of the

event and pedigree history as well as

a look back at 1993 Cal Cup Classic

winner Best Pal

DEPARTMENTS

4 News Bits

14 In Memoriam Jack Robbins

16 CTBA News

20 CTBA Calendar

24 California T oroughbred Foundation

70 Winners

82 Leading Breeders in California

84 Lists of Leading Sires in California

92 Stakes/Sales Calendar

94 Classi ed Advertising

96 Advertising Index

COLUMNS

1 From the Executive Corner

The of cial magazine of California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, a non-pro t corporation dedicated to the production of better Thoroughbred horses for better Thoroughbred racing, published by Blood-Horse Publications, Inc.

Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily re ect policies of the CTBA or this magazine. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without rst obtaining written permission from California Thoroughbred. All advertising copy is submitted subject to approval. We reserve the right to reject any copy that is misleading or that does not meet with the standards set by the publication.

Acknowledgment: Statistics in this publicaton relating to results of races in North America are compiled by the Daily Racing Form. Charts by special arrangement with Daily Racing Form Inc., the copyright owners of said charts. Reproduction forbidden.

OFFICERS

CHAIRPERSON

DONALD J. VALPREDO

VICE CHAIRPERSON

HARRIS DAVID AUERBACH

PRESIDENT

DOUG BURGE

TREASURER

TIM COHEN

SECRETARY

SUE GREENE

DIRECTORS

John C. Harris, Leigh Ann Howard, John H. Barr,

Daniel Q. Schiffer, William H. Nichols, Jane Johnson,

William H. de Burgh, Pete Parrella, Sue Greene,

Donald J. Valpredo, Terry C. Lovingier,

Harris David Auerbach, Tim Cohen,

George F. Schmitt, Edward Freeman

EX OFFICIO

E. W. (BUD) JOHNSTON

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

CONTROLLER

JASON SELLNOW

SALES COORDINATOR/MEMBERSHIP

CAL CUP COORDINATOR

COOKIE HACKWORTH

REGISTRAR/INCENTIVE PROGRAM MANAGER

MARY ELLEN LOCKE

ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

DAWN GERBER

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/EVENT COORDINATOR

CHRISTY CHAPMAN

ADVERTISING MANAGER

LORETTA VEIGA

WEB SITE MANAGING EDITOR

KEN GURNICK

LIBRARIAN/RECEPTIONIST/SUBSCRIPTIONS

VIVIAN MONTOYA

RACETRACK LIAISON

SCOTT HENRY

California Thoroughbred (ISSN 1092-7328) is published

monthly in Lexington, KY by Blood-Horse Publications,

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Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, KY and

at additional mailing of ces.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to the

California Thoroughbred, P.O. Box 60018,

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Subscriptions - $55.00 per year USA

$85.00 per year Canada & Mexico

Copyright 2015 by Blood-Horse Publications

PUBLISHED BY

JANUARY 2015VOLUME 141 / NO. 1

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COMING NEXT MONTH!

An inside look at Rich and Gaby Sulpizios Magali Farms

California breeders will celebrate the 25th running of the California Cup at Santa Anita Jan. 24 as part of the Sunshine Millions/California Cup program. California T oroughbred takes a look back at the history of the popular event.

BENOIT PHOTO

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

ERIC MITCHELL

WEST COASTCONTRIBUTING EDITOR

TRACY GANTZ

COPY EDITOR

TOM HALL

ART DIRECTOR

BRIAN TURNER

CREATIVE SERVICESDIRECTOR

LISA COOTS

PRODUCTION

FORREST BEGLEY

KERRY HOWE

ARTISTS

KATIE TAYLOR

DAVID YOUNG

626.445.7800 or 1.800.573.CTBA (California residents only)www.CTBA.com


NewsBitskateY Barrett ColleCtion

to keenelanD

The vast collection of noted Southern California equine photographer Katey Barrett has a new home with the Keeneland Library. It includes about 12,000 color slides, as well as print photographs and racetrack programs. Much of the collection is of prominent horses and people at Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Hollywood Park.

Barrett has long been a contributor to the California Thoroughbred magazine, her work often gracing the cover. Her style harkens back to the master Impression-istic painters, and her photographs evoke the majesty and motion of the Thoroughbred. Her work also annu-ally appears in the collectible calendar that Santa Anita traditionally gives away on opening day.

Im so happy because I know the work will be ar-chived and will be taken care of, said Barrett.

Now in her early 80s, Barrett grew up in Hibbing, Minn., and moved to Hollywood to get into the enter-tainment industry. She appeared in episodes of such programs as Bonanza, Dragnet, and My Three Sons, as well as the movie The Shakiest Gun in the West. She became interested in photography while working as a production assistant on Mission: Impos-sible, and began photographing show jumpers for friends. That led to the racetrack, where she particular-ly enjoys photographing Santa Anitas unique downhill turf course.

CALBREDS ON THE ATTACKIN STAKESCalifornia-breds continued their assault on stakes at home and

across North America. Pepper Crown added another graded stakes when taking the Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields while Alert Bay and Omar won in New Mexico.Alex Paszkeicz bred, owns, and trains Pepper Crown. Ridden by

Juan Hernandez, Pepper Crown was capturing his third stakes of 2014. He raced four wide in sixth early in the $100,315 Berkeley at 1116 miles Nov. 30. He launched his bid while racing even wider

in the second turn to win by 114 lengths in 1:44.74 over G. G. Ryder, with favored Stryker Phd third.A 2010 colt by

Paszkeiczs stallion Peppered Cat, Pepper Crown is out of the Crown-ing Storm mare Crown T is Lady. He earlier won the San Francisco Mile Stakes (gr. IIIT) and Rolling Green Stakes.

Alert Bay is another multiple stakes winner who keeps on adding to his bankroll. In his third consecutive stakes victory, the gelding captured the $215,000 Zia Park Derby at 1116 miles Nov. 26. Owned by Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd. and trained by Blaine Wright, Alert Bay responded to jockey Rico Walcotts urging to win by a handy three lengths in 1:41.80, setting a track record. T e previous mark was 1:41.94.Bred by T omas Newton Bell and Ross John McLeod, Alert

Bay is a 2011 gelded son of City ZipHickory, by Dushyantor. He was coming o consecutive wins in the British Columbia Derby (Can-III) and BC Premiers Handicap (Can-III) at Hastings Racecourse. Earlier in the year he had won the Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita.At Sunland Park Dec. 6, Omar won the $50,000 KLAQ Hand-

icap, having earlier taken the Caballos Del Sol Stakes at Turf Par-adise. With Alfredo Juarez Jr. in the irons, Omar stalked the pace and won the ve-furlong KLAQ by a neck in :56.23. Robertino Diodoro trains the gelding for owners Randy Exelby, Running Rabbit, and Rick and TG Racing.By Bertrando, Omar is a 2009 son of the Beau Genius mare

Perfect Doll. Omar Aldabbagh bred him.

sHaNE MICHELI/Vassar PHOTOGraPHy

pepper Crown winning the berkeley Handicap

iM so haPPY BeCause i know the work will

Be arChiveD anD will Be taken Care oF

katey Barrett

CtBa DireCtor noMinees

Ballots have gone out for the election of directors to the board of the California Thoroughbred Breed-ers Association. Every CTBA member should receive a ballot in the mail, which must be received by the close of business on Feb. 6 to be counted. Only CTBA members whose 2015 dues have been paid are eligible to vote.

The following people are running for the six director spots for terms that will run from 2015-2017. Biograph-ical sketches and/or statements from each candidate regarding issues facing the CTBA and California Thor-oughbred industry can be found online at CTBA.com.

Harris Auerbach*

will deburgh*

Gloria Haley

john Harris*

terry Lovingier*

pete parrella*

don Valpredo*

*denotes incumbent

NewsBits


Marsha Naify has purchased U S Ranger in the name of her Liberty Road Stables and brought him to California. He will stand at Rancho San Miguel near San Miguel for $3,000.Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick Interna-

tional bought U S Ranger as agent for Naify. Te 2004 son of DanzigMy Annette, by Red Ransom, earned $481,775 on the track, much of it in Europe. Brought to the U. S. in late 2008 for the Breeders Cup Mile (gr. IT), he ran fth behind the mighty Goldikova. Te following year U S Ranger nished third in the 2009 Inglewood Handicap (gr. IIIT).U S Ranger has two crops to the races and has

already been represented by the likes of Solitary Ranger, Lawn Ranger, and Get the Nod, the latter a group III winner in Australia. Solitary Ranger won the 2013 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III), and Lawn Ranger captured the 2014 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT).

u s ranger

RANCHO SAN MIGUEL

kates event

SpECIAL t tHOROUGHbREdS

new stallions

Gervinho, the champion Califor-nia-bred 3-year-old male of 2013, has been retired to stud in his native state. He will stand the 2015 breeding season at Tommy Town Toroughbreds in Santa Ynez for $3,500.A son of Californias multiple leading

sire Unusual Heat, Gervinho came from the breeding program of Madeline Au-erbach and Barry Abrams, the principal owner and trainer of Unusual Heat. Keith Brackpool, chairman of Santa Anita, raced the colt, who will stand at stud for his owner.Trained by Carla Gaines, Gervinho

won in his very rst outing, a 512-furlong maiden event on Del Mars main track in 2012. He followed that with a victory in the Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on the turf at Santa Anita. Tat encouraged his

connections to try him in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT), where he ran a very respectable fth in a full eld of 14 despite suering a minor injury.Te following year Gervinho tuned up

with a second in the Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate Fields before winning the Oceanside Stakes. Te Oceanside is the traditional opening-day feature at Del Mar, and Gervinho turned in a thrilling neck victory over Greeley Awesome in 1:33.88 for the mile on turf.After a second, third, and fourth in

graded company, Gervinho nished his career in spectacular fashion. On opening day of the 2013-14 Santa Anita meeting, Gervinho roared up after racing wide and far back to capture the Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIT) by a head over Procurement in an even quicker mile time of 1:33.47.How he recovered from that and went

on to win is remarkable in a mile grade II race, said Brackpool after the Sir Beaufort.Gervinho is out of Foreverinthegame,

a daughter of Out of Place who has also produced stakes winner Lakerville, a full brother to Gervinho. Te horses bottom line is full of black type. Te second dam, grade I-placed Fondly Remembered, is also the dam of stakes winner Broad Hopes while the third dam, Fondre, was a popular multiple stakes winner in California.

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gervinho tOMMy tOwN tHOROUGHbREdS

Kates Event, winner of the Tiznow Stakes and an earner of $460,162, has been retired to stud at Special T Toroughbreds in Temecula, Calif. He will stand for $1,000 in 2015.William Ziering bred Kates Event and named him for his niece, Kate

Boyers, a former Toroughbred trainer. Te 2007 horse is by Event of the Year out of the Mane Minister mare Nordidid. Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer trained Kates Event, who quickly began winning allowance races after breaking his maiden. A durable runner, Kates Event campaigned for ve seasons. He

ultimately won eight of 29 races, with two seconds and four thirds, and earned $460,162.On Gold Rush Day at Betfair Hollywood Park in 2013, Kates Event

captured the $125,250 Tiznow Stakes at 712 furlongs. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, he came four wide to win by a half-length. Later that year Kates Event nished third in the Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes, behind grade I winner Big Macher.Kates Event is the leading earner by deceased Event of the Year, who

stood in California before nishing his stud career in Venezuela. A son of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew out of the Mr. Prospector mare Classic Event, Event of the Year won the 1998 Jim Beam Stakes (gr. II) and the 1999 Strub Stakes (gr. II).

NewsBits


QUALIFYING CLAIMING LEVELSThe following claiming levels for California owners premiums

and stallion awards are currently in effect:

SANTA ANITA / $40,000

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS / $20,000

STALLION NAMED FOALS

SWs OF RACING AGE

In ExcEss [IrE] (1987) 1046 64

BErtrando (1989) 1136 61

UnUsUal HEat (1990) 676 46

BEncHmark (1991) 742 41

trIBal rUlE (1996) 590 38

stormIn FEvEr (1994) 757 31

olympIo (1988) 547 30

swIss yodElEr (1994) 760 29

GamE plan (1993) 437 24

old toppEr (1995) 527 23

BlUEGrass cat (2003) 522 22

kaFwaIn (2000) 530 22

sEa oF sEcrEts (1995) 476 21

rocky Bar (1998) 125 18

mInIstErs wIld cat (2000) 284 16

wEstErn FamE (1992) 310 15

attIcUs (1992) 468 14

sIBErIan sUmmEr (1989) 427 14

Indicates stallions that have died or have been retired from the stud. Indicates stallions that did not stand in California in 2014 but will stand in the state in 2015. Indicates stallions that haved moved out of state but have California-bred two-year-olds of this year. All sires will remain on the list until the year after their last foals are two-year-olds

CURRENT CALIFORNIA

SIRESOFSTAKES WINNERS

Graded Stakes ChangesThe American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred

Owners and Breeders Association downgraded two California stakes and elevated three to listed stakes status. The Robert B. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1116 miles and San Juan Capistrano Stakes for older runners at about 134 miles on the turf, both at Santa Anita, were demot-ed from grade II to grade III events for 2015. The American Beauty, Joe Hernandez, and Thunder Road at Santa Anita have all been upgraded to listed status for 2015.

First Winner for Many RiversCalifornia-bred Many Routes became the rst winner for California

stallion Many Rivers when he won an open maiden $12,500 claiming race at Golden Gate Fields Dec. 14. Bred and owned by Jerry and Margaret Martin, Many Routes ranged up on the second turn in the one-mile race under jockey Cristobal Herrera to win by a head. The 2012 gelding is out of multiple winner Mood Route, by Mud Route. Ellen Jackson trains Many Routes and stands Many Rivers at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds near Vacaville, Calif.

Introducing the only Sons of EL PRADO to stand in CaliforniaSons of EL PRADO were responsible for eight Gr. I winners in 2013

El PRADOs progeny at stud are led by 2013 Champion Sire KITTENS JOY, (6 Gr. I winners and 88 stakes winners; he has over $35.5 million in progeny earnings), MEDAGLIA DORE (sire of 2013 Gr. I winners RACHEL ALEXANDRA, MARKETING MIX and Cash Call Futurity winner VIOLENCE), and ARTIE SCHILLER (sire of Gr. II San Antonio Stakes winner BLINGO).

44705 US Hwy 371, Aguanga, CA 92536

Mike Tippett, Blue Diamond Horseshoe, LLC., cell (909) 518-0018

Vincent Harris, Fruitful Acres Farm, phone (951) 219-1916, fax (951) 681-8567

E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Website: BLUEDIAMONDHORSESHOELLC.COM & BLUEDIAMONDHORSESHOERACING.COM

Hidden BlessingOrientate-Fast n Fleet, by Mr. Greeley Complimentary promotional breedings to approved mares-LFG

By champion sprinter ORIENTATE ($1,716,950). Out of Graded stakes-placed producer FAST N FLEET.

A half-brother to multiple graded

stakes-placed Remand and Graded stakes winner Karas Orientation.

Retired from racing with a career of 7-4-10 and earnings of $178,030.

Lightnin N ThunderStorm Cat-Things Change, by Stalwart Fee: $3,000-LFG(Free breeding to Stakes-Placed and Stakes-Producing Mares)

Colts Sold at Barretts March 2YO Sale for $400,000 & $120,000

Out of Grade I stakes winning STALWART mare THINGS CHANGE ($330,118), who is from the family of GI winner HARLAN.

He is the sire of seven stakes winners and ve stakes-placed runners, including group I winner and two-

time Korean champion Bulpae Gisang, and Graded stakes-placed CRIOLLA BONITA.

Former #1 Stallion from both Massachusetts and Ohio regions.

Progeny have earned more than $5 million with average earning per starter $40,447.

James StreetEl Prado (Ire)-Alleynedale, by Unbridled

Fee: $10,000-LF

Multiple Graded Stakes winner of $637,723 from 28 starts

Had 7 wins 6 seconds and 4 thirds, a durable

Race horse won at distances up to 1 1/8

WolfcampEl Prado (Ire)Bauhauser (Arg), by Numerous

Fee: $3,000-LF

Stakes-placed winner of $189,148, out of the multiple

graded stakes-winning mare BAUHAUSER (ARG)

A tenacious race horse from 24 starts had 7 wins

4 seconds and 3 thirds

Fruitful Acres Farm In Conjunction With Blue Diamond Horseshoe, LLC


THIS MONTH IN HISTORY

10 YEARS AGOWith a $1 million purse on the line, California-bred Musique

Toujours shipped to Gulfstream Park for the Ocala Breeders Sales Classic Stakes as part of the Sunshine Millions program Jan. 29, 2005. We expected to get a piece and hit the boardits a million-dollar racebut we didnt think we would win, said a delighted John Sadler. Sadler trained the 5-year-old gelded son of Musique dEnferStarry Farrari, by Inherent Star, for Lloyd DeBruycker and Richard Glassman. Musique Toujours

led almost throughout the 118-mile race to win by a neck over Florida-bred Zakocity. Going off at more than 70-1, Musique Toujours paid $142.20 to win. Jacquie Takaha and Lorenzo Preciado bred the gelding, who ultimately earned $771,320.

25 YEARS AGOLoving a muddy track, California-bred Flying ConTinenTal cap-

tured the $200,000 San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 14, 1990. The 4-year-old colt was bred by famed Kentucky breeder Jack Kent Cookes Elmendorf Farm, but he was foaled at Cardiff Stud Farm

in Creston, Calif. Jay Robbins trained the son of Flying PasterCon-tinental Girl, by Transworld, for Cooke. Flying Continental overcame a fungal infection in his right hind leg to make the race, and Robbins credited the care of assistant Stacy Hougham. Flying Continental defeated Splurger by three lengths in the San Fernando. He went on to earn $1,815,938.

50 YEARS AGOEl Peco Ranchos Hill rise

continued to add to his laurels by defeating Pelegrin in the San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita Jan. 16, 1965, despite being bumped leaving the gate. Bred in California by George Popes El Peco Ranch, which also raced him, Hill Rise was by HillaryRed Curtain, by Russia II. The previous year he had won the Santa Anita Derby and nished second in the Kentucky Derby to Northern Dancer and third in the Preakness Stakes behind Northern Dancer and The Scoundrel. Hill Rise went on to win the 1965 Santa Anita Handicap.

Gary I. rothsteIn/eQUI-Photo

Musique Toujours oBs Classic win

Hill rise heading for morning work

NewsBits


In Memoriam

dr. jack robbins

By Tracy GanTz

Te California Toroughbred industry lost one of its nest members when Dr. Jack Robbins died Nov. 29 at the age of 93. Robbins contributed on every levelas one of the most respected racetrack veterinarians in the history of the game, as a founder of the Oak Tree Racing Association, and as a breeder and owner of talented California-breds.But more than that, he was a good friend to people through-

out the industry. Tat included reporters. He graciously repeat-ed stories over and over about any of the notable horses whose careers he fostered. In the case of this magazine, dedicated to the California breeding industry, those questions often centered around the fact that he gelded Cal-breds Native Diver, Quicken Tree, and Ancient Title.What rarely made it into print was Robbins rst comment,

which began with a hearty chuckle and usually went something like, Ive done more damage to the California breeding indus-try than anybody by gelding those horses.Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Native

Diver, Quicken Tree, and Ancient Title would not have gone on to become the incredible racehorses they were had Robbins not gelded them.Native Diver was the wildest beast Id ever seen in my life,

Marvin Shapiro, son of breeder and owner L.K. Shapiro, once said. Dr. Jack Robbins was called in and said the one chance to control the colts temper was to geld him. I dont think we would have had any kind of racehorse, much less a champion, if it had not been for that.Robbins was a CTBA member for more than 50 years.

In 2009 he was inducted into the CTBA Hall of Fame. Te horses he owned in partnership included a trio of terric Cal-breds: multiple stakes winners Nostalgias Star (an earner of $2,154,827), Honeys Gem, and Most Host.A past president of the American Association of Equine Prac-

titioners and a member of Te Jockey Club, Robbins is also famous as John Henrys chief veterinarian. Upon John Henrys death in 2007 at age 32, Robbins reected on the champion.He had a beautiful cadence in his gallops, a synchronous ca-

dence, said Robbins. He had a really long reach for a not very big horse. He was a horse that had very few problems. If youd had a barn full of horses like him, a veterinarian would have starved to death.Robbins and his wife, Maggie, who died in 2013, had four

sons, another major contribution to the industry. Jay is a train-er whose runners have included Cal-bred Tiznow, the 2000 national Horse of the Year and the all-time leading Cal-bred earner. Tom is the vice president of racing at Del Mar. Don is a former president of Hollywood Park, while David is an attorney

who represents many in the racing industry.Not only did Jack and Maggie raise four ne sons, Jack men-

tored many others in the industry, including Dr. Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, and trainer John Sadler, who began his career on the track as a veterinary assistant to Robbins.Jack Robbins was the racetrack veterinarian every veterinar-

ian wants to be, said Arthur. He was professionally talented, one of the all-time best. He was highly ethical and understood horses and horse racing in and out. Owners knew they were being treated fairly, and he genuinely liked horses. Doc was just as happy when a horse performed well without any veterinary careJohn Henry was a favoriteas he was when a horse won after he was able to diagnose and resolve a dicult caseas with John Henry again right before the rst Arlington Million (gr. IT).Beyond his family, Jack Robbins was probably most proud

of the role he played in establishing Oak Tree. He was the last surviving member of the original board and continued to serve as Oak Trees chairman of the board until his death.Jacks eorts in founding and building the institution that

Oak Tree has become was, without question, one of the most notable gifts to the horse racing community, said Sherwood C. Chillingworth, Oak Trees executive vice-president. In addition to all of his abilities, Jack had a marvelous, sardonic sense of humor, so much so that he acquired the nickname Doc, which in many ways captured the fun-loving person within the great veterinarian that he was.

benoit photo


CTBAworking for youTo further assist the membership of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) and subscribers of its of cial publication, California Thoroughbred, this monthly editorial page provides readers with updates about the associations current policies, latest news and upcoming events in the Golden State.

NORTHERN SALE SLATEDFOR AUG. 12

The CTBA Sales Northern California Yearling & Horses of Racing Age Sale is scheduled for Aug. 11. It will be held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. Entries will close June 8.

For further information, contact Cookie Hackworth at 800-573-2822 x 243 or Cookie@ctba.

T ank You, Stallion OwnersT e California T oroughbred Breeders Association thanks the

many stallion owners for their donations that made the Dec. 2 Annu-al Stallion Season Auction a success.T e auction raised more than $50,000, with the entire proceeds by

law going strictly toward the lobbying expenses of the CTBA. T ose e orts work in support of legislation that favorably impacts California T oroughbred breeders.T e sale featured seasons donated by the following farms: Ballena

Vista Farm, BG T oroughbreds, Daehling Ranch, E.A. Ranches, Fruitful Acres Farm, Harris Farms, Legacy Ranch, Lovacres Ranch, Magali Farms, Milky Way Farm, Old English Rancho, Paradise Road Ranch, Premier T oroughbreds, Rancho San Miguel, Rancho Temes-cal, Special T T oroughbreds, Tommy Town T oroughbreds, Vessels Stallion Farm, Victory Rose T oroughbreds, and Woodbridge Farm.

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CTBA president Doug Burge (left) at the Dec. 14 King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos with Elizabeth Harper, Assembly Member Matt Harper, Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, Assembly Member Travis Allen, Judy Johnston, Kaelen Brough, Assembly Member Bill Brough, Conor Brough, Michelle Brough

CTBA Dates to Remember

Dr. Courtney RandLos Banos, CA

Dawn and Robert GilmanLa Jolla, CA

Andrea PsarrasSan Francisco, CA

Bobbie GrissomCave Creek, AZ

NEW CTBA MEMBERS

Come Join Us for Sunshine Millions/Cal Cup Day

California-breds and California-sired horses will take the spotlight at Santa Anita Jan. 24 for the Sunshine Millions/California Cup. It will be the 25th running of the Cal Cup, which began in 1990.

You will want to attend the annual California Cup Party, always a popular event. As it was last year, the party will be held on the 3rd oor Mezzanine between rows L and Ooffering a spectacular view of the racetrack. Outside seating will be provided.

First post is at noon, and gates open at 10 a.m. For further informa-tion, contact Cookie Hackworth at 800-573-2822 x 243 or Cookie@ctba.

Saturday, Feb. 1

Names for foals of 2013 must be claimed. After Feb. 1, a naming fee of $100 will apply.

Monday, Feb. 16

Annual registration of stallions is due at a fee of $1,250.

Deadline to nominate California-bred/California-sired 2-year-olds (foals of 2013) to the

Golden State Series; $300 fee applies.

Cal-bred Champions to be FetedThe California-bred champions of 2014 will be honored

at the CTBA Annual Meeting and Dinner. The festivities will be held Feb. 9 at the Westin Pasadena at 191 North Los Robles. In addition, trainer Bruce Headley and Ber-trando will be inducted into the CTBAs Hall of Fame.

The business meeting will begin at 4 p.m., followed by a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. and the awards dinner at 7 p.m. The dinner will include the awards for Californias leading sire and breeder of last year, the 2014 Trainer of the Year, and the Broodmare of the Year.

For reservations, contact Christy Chapman at 626-445-7800 x 247 or [email protected].


JANUARY2015SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14CHRB Meeting

Santa Anita 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23California Cup XXV/Sunshine

Millions Santa Anita

25Barretts Mixed

Sale 27 28 29 30 31

Feb. 1Naming deadline

with TJC for 2yos

201 Colorado Place / P.O. Box 60018 / Arcadia, CA 91066-6018

626.445.7800 / Fax: 626.574.0852

CTBA EVENTS SALES

CAL-BRED/SIRED STAKES RACES


CTFoundation

Rana Bozorgmanesh Selected for Louis R. Rowan Fellowship Rana Bozorgmanesh grew up in the United Kingdom and

studied veterinary medicine at Royal Veterinary College in London, graduating with honors. She completed an intern-ship in the UK, during which time she developed a passion for internal medicine and reproduction. Tat led her to pursue four busy Toroughbred breeding seasons traveling the UK, Australia, and the Middle East. Ms. Bozorgmanesh then moved to Lexington, Ky., where she completed a year-long internal medicine fellowship at the prestigious Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. She is now halfway through her Large Animal Internal Medicine residency at U.C. Davis. Her professional interests include gastrointestinal disease, neonatal medicine, and medical management of the critical broodmare.Rana has made excellent progress toward completion of

her PhD and has expressed her great appreciation for receiving the Rowan Fellowship. It will make a dierence for Rana and enhance her ability to contribute to equine wel-fare now and in the future.

Te California Toroughbred FoundationTe California Toroughbred Foundation is dedicated to the advancement of equine research

and education. Since 1958, the Foundation has operated as a non-prot 501(c)3 corpora-tion that can accept tax-deductible contributions. For more than four decades, the CTF has sponsored numerous research and educational projects and awarded scholarships to veterinary students at U.C. Davis and Western University of Health Sciences.Te Foundation maintains the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library, one of the most extensive

collections of equine literature found anywhere. Several generous donations of book collections and artwork form the core of the Library, which is housed in the CTBA oces in Arcadia. Among its 10,000 volumes are current veterinary publications, turf histories, sales catalogs, and books spanning a wide range of subjects from equine nutrition and care to ne arts. Te latest instructional videos also are available for viewing in the Library. Te resources of the CTFs Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library are available to the public for

research and pleasure.

Anne M

. eberhArdt

2015 OFFICERS

PRESIDENT

Mrs. Jeanne L. Canty

VICE-PRESIDENT

Mrs. Gail Gregson

TREASURER

James Murphy

SECRETARY

Mark W. McCreary

DIRECTORS

Peter P. daily

Gregory L. Ferraro, dVM

tracy Gantz

Jane Goldstein

neil Odwyer

Mrs. Ada Gates Patton

thomas S. robbins

John W. Sadler

Peter W. tunney

Warren Williamson

Mrs. Kenneth M. Schiffer, Director Emeritus

MILTON DAVID SCHMUTZ, DVMKathleen Schmutz

memorial donations

The CTF accepts donations in memory of relatives and friends, with all such donations allocated to Scholarship Funds of the Foundation and to the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library. Please remember members of our industry with a donation to the CTF memorial fund. Donations may be sent to: CTF, P.O. Box 60018, Arcadia, CA 91066-6018.

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

DR. JACK ROBBINSJane Goldstein

AWESOME GAMBLERCoronados QuestWedding March,

by Deputy Minister Fee: $5,000

Californias Leading First-Crop Sire Of 2011 Leading

Second-Crop Sire Of 2012 and Leading Third-Crop 2013

Sire of GI Winner WILLA B AWESOME who sold for $875,000

at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale

TWICE THE APPEALSuccessful AppealDouble Boarded,

by Cormorant Fee: $1,500

G3 Stakes winner of $476,060

First foals will be Two Year-olds of 2015

GRACE UPON GRACERio VerdeChasing Wind,

by Mining Fee $2,000

Californias Leading Freshman sire of 2014

Over 83% of his rst runners have hit the board!

MERIT MANWith DistinctionPrecise Strike,

by Precise End Fee $5,000 LF

Multiple Stakes Winner, Grade I Stakes Placed

From 9 starts had 4 wins 1 second and 1 third, retired with

earnings of $462,030

BUSHWACKEROutankerMusical Score,

by Romantic Lead Fee: $2,000

Sire of Stakes-Placed Tupelo Cush from his First Crop to race

Top Four California Second-Crop Sire by 2014 Winners

80% Runners 70% winners

TIME TO GET EVENStephen Got EvenTomisues Pleasure,

by Seeking the Gold Fee: $2,000

Caliornias leading Second-Crop Sire by 2014 Stakes Wins and Co-leader by

Stakes Winners

First Crop sire of 96% Runners/Foals with 14 % Stakes Horses

Sire of Stakes Winners TIME FOR A MEMORY, TIME TO BE A HERO and

stakes-placed Time for Angie

35490 Highway 79

Warner Springs, CA 92086

www.lovacres.com

Inquiries to Terry Lovingier

(562) 547-9848 / FAX: (562) 988-0094

E-mail: [email protected]

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EMPIRE WAY

&

SWISS YODELER

Sunshine Millions/California Cup XXV Fact Sheet

LATC Winter Meet at Santa Anita Park

California Thoroughbred

Breeders Association

What: 2015 Sunshine Millions/California Cup XXV spotlights the California Thoroughbred racing andbreeding industry in a series of 5 stakes for California-Bred/Sired horses, plus other races totaling well over amillion dollars in purses.

When: Saturday, January 24, first post 12:00 noon and gates open at 10:00 a.m.Where: Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CaliforniaHosts: Santa Anita Park and California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA)

Cal-Bred Stakes Races:

$250,000 California Cup Turf Classic Presented by City National Bank for 4-year-olds & up at 1 1/18 miles (Turf)

$250,000 California Cup Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles

$200,000 Xpressbet California Cup Oaks for Fillies 3-year-olds at 1-mile (Turf)

$150,000 Sunshine Millions F & M Turf Sprint for 4-year-olds & up at 6 1/2 furlongs (Turf)

$150,000 California Cup Sprint for 4-year-olds & up at 6 furlongs

Admission to Santa Anita Park: $5.00 General and $10.00 Clubhouse

California Cup/Sunshine Millions Party:The celebrated California Cup party will be on the front side in the same location as last year. The party will be held

on the 3rd floor mezzanine located between rows L and O and is close to the paddock, the FrontRunner and the winners circle, with a beautiful view of live racing. The theme will focus on Americas Horse California Chrome, the only Cal-bred to win the Kentucky Derby since Decidedly in 1962. The party area will be decorated to honor California Chrome and all of his racing accomplishments. Tables of ten will be set up inside for entertaining and outdoor seating for all guests to view the live races. This party has truly become a very special part of California racing since 1990 and now is the time to reserve your individual seat, table or tables for California Cup/Sunshine Millions XXV. The price of a 10-seat table is just$1,000.00 and includes parking, program, admission, and Santa Anitas widely acclaimed, delicious buffet and drinks. Individual seats are available for $100.00. Hours for the buffet are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with coffee and desserts served until last race. For more information please call or email [email protected] at 626-445-7800 ext #243. We look forward to joining with you in the celebration of California-breds.

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Former California Toroughbred Breeders Association President Lou Row-an rst raised the idea of bringing a cham-pionship-style day for state-bred horses to

California in 1988. Early in the year Bob Manfuso, head of racing operations at both Pimlico Racecourse and Laurel Park in Maryland, gave a talk at the CTBAs

annual meeting luncheon, during which he spoke highly of their own state-bred day, the Maryland Million. Inaugurated in 1986, the nine-race

Maryland Million program was given ex-tensive television coverage and bolstered the breeding program in the state, with stallion owners paying nominations to make the ospring of their studs eligible. Major corporations signed on as sponsors of the event, widening its appeal.Rowan suspected this same format

could work in California, but he died

celebrating

25YearS

OF tHe

origins

calcupBy Emily ShiEldS

the California Cup will celebrate its 25th running on Jan. 24. Te chal-lenging card of state-bred races has become such a staple of the racing calendar that its hard to believe there was a time when the day didnt

exist. Although it has evolved since that rst glorious November afternoon a quarter century ago, the eort involved to make Cal Cup a reality is still fresh in the minds of those who supported it and brought it to life.

sylvia bachmann


Sept. 28, 1988, just 10 days after the third Maryland Million. His hopes of bringing a similar event to California were hardly dashed, however. Don Valpredo, the cur-rent CTBA president, was serving in that same capacity then and had been in atten-dance at the Million. Valpredo spearhead-ed the movement to make Rowans dream of a Cal Cup happen.I went back that year with Brian Swee-

ney and observed how it was run, Val-predo recalled. We reported back to the board at the CTBA, and the following

year we returned to Maryland with mem-bers of both the CTBA and the Oak Tree Racing Association. Manfuso was incredi-bly gracious and welcoming, and we said, If Maryland can do this with the amount of foals they have, why cant we? Te California Cup sounded good in

theory, but getting both Santa Anita Park and the Oak Tree Racing Association on board was a challenge. Oak Tree conduct-ed the fall meeting at Santa Anita, and that was the time of year chosen for Cal Cup. Santa Anita management had some

understandable misgivings in the begin-ning, Valpredo said. Tere were a lot of hurdles to overcome. What would it do to these undercard Cal-bred races if you put them all on the same day? What would it do to the Cal-bred schedule? In the end the horsemen were what got the deal done.Nat Wess, the CTBAs general manager

at the time, took up the task of gathering nominations to the rst California Cup. Te enthusiastic response from the horse-men left him with 500 nominations. Tey were only $25 per nomination,

and trainers were nominating like crazy, said Wess. Tere were so many dierent races, and they were making horses eligi-ble for more than one race. It became a real challenge to stay on top of it all.Oak Tree was an immediate supporter

of the idea, but Sherwood Chillingworth, Oak Trees executive vice-president, re-called some of the challenges surrounding Cal Cups creation. Oak Tree was bred to be helpful to the

industry, and we thought this was a ne idea, he said. But we had to write new legislation and alter our stakes schedule. It wasnt an easy thing to do. Oak Tree put up a lot of the money to make it hap-pen, but the idea was to interest people in breeding and buying Cal-breds. I think the Cal-breds have gotten better over the years because of this. With the venue set and the industry

rallying, John Harris and Jack Liebau, the CTBA president and treasurer, respec-tively, by then, stepped up to help make the day a reality. Liebau was responsible for the language of a bill that would allow

The California Cup quickly be-

came a popular goal for breeders

and owners of California-breds. It

has now been combined with the

Sunshine Millions and will be held

Jan. 24 at Santa Anita.

reed palmer

After My Sonny Boy (yellow blinkers) won the inaugural California Cup Classic in 1990, a large group of the horses connections and representatives of sponsor Wells Fargo celebrated in the winners circle


the breeders fund money to be used for Cal Cup purses. Sen. Ken Maddy and as-semblymen Jim Costa and Richard Floyd helped guide the bill through the legisla-tive process until it passed in Sacramen-to. Harris was instrumental in recruiting sponsorship from Wells Fargo Bank. It is always a struggle to get major name

sponsors, Harris said. Tey add cred-ibility to the event and help signicantly nancially. I pushed anyone I knew from Wells Fargo to strongly consider being a major sponsor of Cal Cup. Wells Fargo ocials Charlie Johnson and Alan Pribble were already interested in racing, as their juvenile lly Stocks Up won the $500,000 Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) in 1988. It all came together, Harris said, Tey

were there as the event kicked up, and in for a major amount. He added that in re-cent years, City National Bank has been a regular sponsor of Cal-bred races.

Wells Fargo Banks vice chairman and senior executive ocer for Southern Cal-ifornia, John Grundhofer, was on hand at a special news conference Oct. 18, 1989, to announce the plans for Cal Cup day. We are very aware of the millions of dol-lars contributed to Californias economy by the Toroughbred industry, Grund-hofer said during the conference.In addition to Wells Fargo, other im-

portant initial Cal Cup sponsors included Golden Eagle Insurance, Brown-Forman Corporation, California Horsemens Be-nevolent and Protective Association Inc., and Ben Rochelle, co-owner of champion Cal-bred Snow Chief.Te hype leading up to the inaugu-

ral California Cup reached fever pitch. A cocktail party and post position draw followed the races Oct. 31 in Santa Ani-tas private Turf Club. Some 200 trainers, owners, and racing ocials jammed the

area, celebrating and examining the of-cial card while the morning line maker worked swiftly to produce odds for the entire card to the waiting crowd.On Nov. 2, the day before the rac-

es, a western-style fundraising party was held at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum called the Cal Cup Roundup. Proceeds beneted the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund and the Winners Foundation.While the following days nine-race

card was the reason the crowd of nearly 35,000 ocked to Santa Anita, perhaps

origins

Valiant Pete took the Cal Cup Sprint

reed palmer

To invite people to the Cal Cup Roundup Charity event, Tim Conway (front row, left) and Judy McCarron of the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund posed in Western gear with Robbins (front row, right), Nat Wess (back row, left) and Valpredo (back row, center) of the CTBA

Left to right: Don Valpredo of the CTBA, trainer Noble Three-witt, and Jack Robbins of the Oak Tree Racing Association were involved with the inaugural Cal Cup

Te event no longer looks like it did in 1990. It has been combined with the former Sunshine Millions, moved from the fall to January, with four races run under the Cal Cup name. Te ineld party has

moved to the front side, which is proving very popular.

In the inaugural Cal Cup ...

four footed fotos

ctba photo

the 2,000 people enjoying the exclusive in eld party had the most fun. T e festive event became a key part of Cal Cup, o er-ing a bu et luncheon and entertainment with paid admission to the party. T e idea of that in eld party just took

o , Wess said. It was one of the biggest successes.Other special additions to the day made

it stand out as a special experience. T e recently retired Snow Chief, winner of $3,383,210 and six grade I races, includ-ing the 1986 Preakness Stakes, galloped up the homestretch for the fans. It was a real production, Harris said,

with novel calls to the post, lots of sou-venirs and recognition for owners and breeders participating, and a real energy to it. T e success exceeded even our high expectations, and we set the stage for something that has become an institution in California racing.T e $300,000 Wells Fargo Bank Cal-

ifornia Cup Classic for older males on the dirt headlined seven stakes races. My Sonny Boy, who nearly had died twice as a foal, scored the victory to cap the successful day. T e other races were the $150,000 Cal Cup Mile, $150,000 Cal Cup Sprint, $150,000 Cal Cup Dista , $100,000 Cal Cup Juvenile, $100,000 Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies, and $50,000 Cal Cup Starter Handicap, as well as two state-bred maiden races.Since that rst stellar day the Cal Cup

has produced year after year of memorable races. From fan favorite Best Pal winning the Classic in 1993 to California Chrome using the Cal Cup Derby as a springboard to winning the Kentucky Derby Present-ed by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in 2014, breath-taking moments and thrilling nishes have been synonymous with the Cal Cup.

T e event no longer looks like it did in 1990. It has been combined with the for-mer Sunshine Millions, moved from the fall to January, with four races run under the Cal Cup name. T e in eld party has moved to the front side, which is proving very popular.It went swimmingly for a while,

Chillingworth said. T e big ranches would come out and have a great time. But there was a lot in it. We had to bring out portable cooking facilities to the ineld, hook up new televisions, and run wires for betting machines. Sometimes an event will lose its glamour, and you need to freshen the event to bring people back.Among horsemen, the event still holds

its popularity and esteem. Field sizes re-main large, and the day brings out a large number of fans.T e CTBAs current President, Doug

Burge, explained the success of shifting the date to the winter. Cal Cup has been

a great celebration of the California breed-ing industry for many years, providing lu-crative purses for horseman as well as great competitive racing for the fans and horse-players. We recently moved Cal Cup from the fall in order to maximize the handle, attendance, and promotion of the day. Plus with the creation of the Golden State Series, this date was the best t when con-sidering the year-round stakes program.T e Golden State Series is a set of races

taking place throughout the whole year, ensuring that Cal-breds and Califor-nia-sired runners receive recognition on more than just one day. T e series will be worth a record $5,575,000 in 2015.T e breeders in this state need to con-

vince people that they can take these Cal-breds back East and win the big-money races back there, Chillingworth said. T is year was a humdinger for California in that regard.Because of its original fall date the Cal

Cup regularly ran up against the Breed-ers Cup World Championships, which has recently been seeing more and more Cal-breds not only enter but reach the winners circle. T e move of the Cal Cup to January gives those horses an option to begin their new campaigns, rather than make their trainers pick between the two events. T is date shift proved very successful

in 2014, as it was extremely well received by both horseman and the wagering pub-lic, said Burge. We look forward to many more Cal Cup days at Santa Anita.T e 25th California Cup/Sunshine Mil-

lions party is slated to honor the accom-plishments of four-time grade I winner California Chrome and his connections. It will be held on the third- oor mezzanine, between rows L & O.


Gum was best in the Cal Cup MileCrystals Game won the Cal Cup Juvenile Linda Card was rst in the Cal Cup Distaff

The original Cal Cup Classic trophy

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Californias location has created a breed-ing industry set apart, unique unto itself but not without familiar names. Rather distinctive branches of more commercial lines, e. g., Siberian Express extension of the Grey Sovereign line or the amazing versatility of Cees Tizzy and his ospring to extend the sire line of In Reality/Re-launch, have made California-breds some-thing far more than just local favorites.

pedigree history

By EllEn ParkEr

The California Cup, rst raced in 1990, might have been held in the most logical place for such a regional showcase. Despite its status as the third-largest state in area and the rst in population, California is

well known for its racing and doesnt always get the credit it deserves for its breeding program. Tis is because California is isolated in comparison to the East Coast, where such major breeding centers as Kentucky, Maryland, and Florida are all within relatively close proximity.

in The california cup

a peDiGree hiSTorY

whoS who benoit photos


In many ways 2014 Kentucky Der-by Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner California Chrome represents the culmination of this process, elevating his win in the Jan-uary 2014 California Cup Derby from a state-bred race to a stepping-stone to clas-sic superiority. Within the framework of California Chromes pedigree lies another great California-bred, Swaps, who appears twice in his dams pedigree. His own female line (Betty Derr, the

same as Swaps) extends this to a treble of the family line, making him an exciting stallion prospect. (It is also a sentimental addition to his tale for those who knew and loved Swaps, such as Chromes train-er, Art Sherman, the exercise rider for the 1955 Kentucky Derby winner.)To make things even more interesting,

California Chromes pedigree contains the late Pulpit (a Seattle Slew-line horse inbred to Round Table and his full sister Monarchy), the family of Unbridleds Song through Lucky Soph, and a dam in-bred to the outstanding matriarch Num-bered Account, a tail-female descendant of La Troienne. Tat there is a good bit more La Troienne in his sires contribu-tion makes his a most potent lineagethe standard of superior bloodlines translated to racetrack achievement the California Cup was meant to create. Still, California Chrome is just one horse.Bold Chieftain, winner of the 2007

and 2009 California Cup Classic, is quite possibly the most intriguingly bred of the Cal Cup winners. Now at stud, he ran 47 times and defeated horses such as Lava Man and Acclamation, showing not only class but soundness. His rst foals will be 2-year-olds of 2015, their rst opportunity to join their sire on the California Cup list.As with California Chrome, what

makes Bold Chieftain so special is both his inbreeding to a great mare and a great family line. He is inbred to My Charmer, dam of Seattle Slew and Seattle Danc-er, both of whom appear in the second

generation of his pedigree. His female line is the main branch of family 26 (or 26 Main), the same taproot that gave us the wonderful grass horse Political Ambition. He is in a position to give some addi-tional cachet to the California Cup Classic if he passes on the beautiful blood he carries.But the California Cup series

highlights not only the graded stakes winners and serious sire prospects of the breed but also the workmanlike hard-knockers, hors-es with which the average 40-hour-a-week everyman can empathize. Tese horses have names such as Megans Interco and His Legacy, both geldings whose gift to fans was their toughness and consisten-cy. Tey made 36 and 47 starts, respectively, with each a relative outcross.Te list of winners cannot help

but give breeders second thoughts on another issue: Two major Cal Cup winners, Best Pal and Cavon-nier, ran second in the Kentucky Derby. Both were geldings. Maybe before emasculating future Cal-breds, a bit more thought as to their possible value might be in order. Cal Cup Classic win-ner Budroyale had several entire brothers in Tiznow and Tizbud; Best Pal and Ca-vonnier did not.Considering which horses appear

multiple times in pedigrees and which of those are most important is a slippery slope in the California Cup (or any such study). Where does one start or stop? For purposes of this story, we used ve-gen-eration pedigrees and are not suggesting that there is not more to be found in the nether reaches of each winners pedigree. It is also important to note that nd-

ing Bold Ruler or Northern Dancer in a pedigree, for example, means also nding duplications of their sires and dams (Nas-rullahMiss Disco and NearcticNa-

talma, respectively). Finally, keep in mind that breed-shapers such as Nasrullah, Northern Dancer, Native Dancer, and Mr. Prospector are found almost every-where, and their parents, too, will appear within the ve-generations used here.Rather it is the other, less common sires

and broodmare sires that make a Cal-bred a Cal-bred and cause him to stand outlike the major contribution of sires from the Nureyev line such as Unusual Heat and, of course, the Relaunch-line horses like Cees Tizzy and Bertrando.So, what notable names that are unique

and unlikely to be found elsewhere stand out in the pedigrees of Cal Cup winners? Alibhai stands out, with seven presences. Mahmoud has a notable impact, as does My Babu. Princequillo is used frequently, as might be expected, as are horses rich in

As with California Chrome (left), what makes Bold Chieftain (right)

so special is both his inbreeding to a great mare and a great family line.


La Troienne, such as Seattle Slew, Buck-passer, and the ever-present Cees Tizzy, who has one line of La Troienne in his ve-cross pedigree.Equally intriguing is the large num-

bermore than 20of horses who have no names repeated through the rst ve generations of their pedigrees. Tis points out that keeping pedigrees free of close inbreeding appears to be important to California breeders and also suggests that enough bloodline variety exists to keep the breed in the state from becoming too soft.Its not just about the sires, either. Two

mares have produced individual winners (as opposed to repeat winners). Cees Song is the more familiar, and her

full-sibling sons by Cees Tizzy, Budroyale and Tizbud (also full siblings to two-time Breeders Cup Classic winner Tiznow, now a prominent sire in Kentucky), accounted for renewals of the California Cup Classic in 1998 and 2003, respectively.By any standard Cees Song is an elite

mare. Not only did she get the three

brothers referenced above but also two grade I stakes-producing full sisters to that trio. Te rst, Tizso, is the dam of the gallant grade I winner and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) second Paynter (by Awesome Again), who fought o laminitis to run again and win. Te second, Tizamazing, is the dam of Preakness winner Oxbow (by Awesome Again), who, like his close rel-ative, nished second in the Belmont. A descendant of Papila, dam of Crimson Sa-tan, Cees Song has a legacy that is assured.Green Again, dam of 2004 California

Cup Mile winner A to the Z (by Bench-mark) and 2003 California Cup Start-er Handicap winner Fade to Blue (by Prized), is a daughter of the Swaps-line sire Replant. Unfortunately, because both A to the Z and Fade to Blue were gelded, they could not contribute to California breeding, and records show that Green Again did not foal a major daughter to help the cause.Te broodmare sires of the California

Cup winners are an interesting mix. Great

runners and/or sires such as Fappiano, Awesome Again, Luthier, and Storm Bird all appear. And all three of the most recent Triple Crown winnersArmed (Big Jag), Secretariat (Boating Pleasure, Full Moon Madness), and Seattle Slew (Boun-tiful Dreamer)are represented.A number of sires repeat as broodmare

sires, including but not limited to Ber-trando (ve winners/two broodmare sire winners), In Excess (seven winners/two broodmare sire winners), Flying Paster (ve winners/four broodmare sire win-ners), and Pirates Bounty (six winners/two broodmare sire winners).Unusual Heat, with eight individual

winners, holds the record number of wins as a sire. His winners are Guts (2008 Start-er Handicap), Lennyfromalibu (2003 Mile), Lightmyrebaby (2008 Dista), Maui Mark (2012 Sprint), Mr. Chairman (2008 Classic), Runforthemoneybaby (2007 Juvenile Fillies), Te Usual Q. T. (2009 Mile), and Unusual Suspect (2007 Mile).

pedigree history

One of two mares that produced Classic winners was Cees Song who had two sons, Budroyale (left) and Tizbud, who won Cal Cup Classic crowns in 1998 and 2003, respectively

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Unusual Heats prominence also high-lights the success of Nureyev-line sires in California, including sires of California Cup winners like Atticus, Good Journey, and Literati. With the exception of Teat-rical, Nureyev took his time about estab-lishing himself as a sire of sires other than in Europe. California was the exception, not the rule. Discovering why this is so would be an interesting study.While on the subject of sire-line impact

(and not ignoring the obvious Nasrullah dominance through Seattle Slew and oth-ers), one problem most regional markets have is keeping a state-bred sire line going. One hopes at least that part of the reason for staging a California Cup in the rst place is to help establish horses that can carry the bloodline forward another gen-eration. Te results are mixed and perhaps are associated with the haste to geld men-tioned earlier.For the moment, we note, for example,

that the Gummo line is fairly well gone, as are parts of Seattle Slews line that be-gan well through stallions such as Slewpy and General Meeting. In Excess lives on almost entirely via his late classic-placed son Indian Charlie, whose champion son Uncle Mo is at stud in Kentucky. All tail eventually to Nasrullah.Te Relaunch line is clearly strong via

Cees Tizzy and his terric son Tiznow and his siblings. Bertrando stands a chance at carrying on the Skywalker group via Stormy Jack, who placed in the California Cup Juvenile and Sprint. Both tail to Man o War via his inbred descendant In Reali-ty (3x3 to War Relic).Damascus, whose sire line is almost gone

worldwide, is well represented in the Cal-ifornia Cup through Bold Badgett (three winners), Bolger, Cutlass Reality (two win-ners), and Swiss Yodeler (three winners). Swiss Yodeler, still at stud in California, is a grandson of Damascus through his sire, Eastern Echo. Another standard for Da-mascus blood in California seems to be Early Flyer and Old Topper (both by Gild-ed Time, a grandson of Damascus).Sad to say, unbeaten Ribots once strong

line via Pirates Bounty, and to a lesser de-

gree Batonnier, lacks a male heir.Family numbers established originally

by Bruce Lowe and since revised to some degree were established to show the fami-ly lines with the largest number of classic winners, i. e., Family No. 1 with the most winners of the Epsom Derby and Oaks, family No. 2 second-most winners, and so forth. Te California Cup winners follow this guideline with amazing consistency.Tus, the dominant family lines of the

California Cup winners are very clear-cut: Family No. 1 via all branches appears 84 times; Family No. 9 has 63 lines; Family No. 2 has 57 presences; and Family No. 4 has 36 members in the mix. Narrow-ing these down, we nd 1-n (headed by Chelandry) leads Family 1 with 26 cross-es, Family No. 9 claims 34 crosses of the 9-f branch (headed by the Toxophilite Mare), Family No. 2s strongest branch is 2-s (Orville Mare) with 11 descendants, and 4-m (Magnolia) leads the No. 4s with

seven, No. 4 being the most divided of the major lines. With a quarter century of history to es-

tablish the look and feel of its winners, the California Cup brings a sense of order to the California-bred horse. Some things he has in common with all Toroughbreds, but many things are his very own. As the old saying goes, blood never

sleeps. Pedigrees are history lessons that tell the observer not only about the hors-es themselves but also about the men and women who have chosen their ge-netic makeup. In the case of the Califor-nia-bred, it is an evolving tale of sound-ness and diversity, two characteristics the Toroughbred of today should be proud to own.

pedigree analyst ellen parker was one of the

team of people who covered the rst Califor-

nia Cup in 1990 for this magazine, then known

as The Thoroughbred of California.

lisa antonsen

pedigree history


Unusual Heat leads all other sires with eight individual winners in the Cal Cup

Rancho San Miguel

NEW FOR 2015

C O M M I T T E D T O B R E E D I N G Q U A L I T Y

Inquiries to Clay Murdock / P.O. Box 741, San Miguel, CA 93451

PH: (805) 467-3847 / FX: (805) 467-3919 / EM: [email protected] / www.ranchosanmiguel.net

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

A PEDIGREE POWERHOUSE

Northern Causeway

By 3-Time Leading Sire GIANTS CAUSEWAY

Out of a half-sister to Leading Sires CITY ZIP and GHOSTZAPPER

NORTHERN CAUSEWAY is a Graded winner from a foundation family that produces Breeders

Cup Classic and Kentucky Derby winners!

Northern CausewayGiants Causeway Getaway Girl, by Silver Deputy

2015 Fee: $2,500

Rancho San Miguel

2015 STALLION ROSTER

C O M M I T T E D T O B R E E D I N G Q U A L I T Y


Californias #6 Active Sire by Average Earnings Index (AEI)

SOUTHERN IMAGE Halos Image Pleasant Dixie, by Dixieland Band/ $2,500 LF

First two California-sired crops are off to the races with SW BETTER BET ($261,620), on-the-board to CALIFORNIA CHROME 4-times, winner of the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile S. besting Grade 1 SW TAMARAN-DO; ABETS ABET, current 2YO 4th in $100,000 Cinderella S.; etc.

His f rst crop, now matured to six, has average earnings over $76,100 and has produced 11% $100K+ earners, like Grade 1 SW SOUTHERN SPEED ($2.9 Million); G1-placed CALIBRACHOA ($666,040); 2014 SW WINNING IMAGE ($729,237), now with TEN wins in East Coast Stakes and 14 career wins by nearly 43 combined lengths; Hollywood Park SW & NTR winner SOUTHERN FIREBALL ($171,789); etc.

Ranked in the Top Six Active Sires by 2014 Cal-Bred Earnings

MARINO MARINI Storm Cat Halo America, by Waquoit/ $2,500 LF Outstanding 2014 season with EIGHT Stakes performers including 2014 SWMARINOS WILD CAT ($170,410), 5 wins incl. $100,000 Harris Farm S. by 534 lengths, never off-the-board in ten starts, incl. $55,000 Oakland S.; 2014 SW MAHOGANY RUN, 3 wins by 1514 combined lengths; etc.

Sire of 12% Stakes Horses, including 2013 star SWEET MARINI ($296,538), 1-2-3 in 4 of 5 starts as a 3YO incl. 1st $200,000 Fleet Treat S. by 434 lengths, 2nd $250,000 Melair S., 3rd Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo H.); STARLIGHT MAGIC ($334,900), $200,000 Fleet Treat S., etc.); SHUDA-CUDAWUDYA ($329,629); MONEY LOVER ($159,706); GREGOR; etc.

Record-Setting G1 Performing Multiple Stakes Winner

SLEWS TIZNOW Tiznow Hepatica, by Slewpy/ $2,500 LF Won on dirt and synthetic, including Del Mars El Cajon S. at one mile by 3 lengths and Hollywood Parks War Chant S. at 1 1/16 miles in a record 1:40.34.

Saratoga maiden winner and 2nd in Keenelands G1 Breeders Futurity at two.

In his f nal start, posted a 102 Beyer in Hollywood Parks G2 Californian S.

Full brother to Multiple Graded stakes winner SLEWS TIZZY and 3/4-brother to the dam of Group 1 Winner THE HANGMAN.

First crop yearlings sold for up to 14-times his fee.

ALSO STANDING:

Comic Strip / He Be Fire N Ice / Northern Causeway / Onebadshark / Typhoon Slew

HOME OF CALIFORNIAS LEADING SIRES

One of the Leading Thoroughbred Farms in California

BOARDING, BREEDING & FOALING / SALES PREP & REPRESENTATION / LAY-UPS & REHABILITATION

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

Ranked Among the Top Two 2015 California Sires by 2014 Third-Crop Earnings

STREET HERO Street Cry Squall Linda, by Summer Squall/ $3,500 LF

Californias rst opportunity to breed to a son of Champion and Leading Sire STREET CRY, sire of ZENYATTA.

Proven sire of Derby-winners, incl. Horse of the Year AZARENKA, f lly who won prestigious G1 Peruvian Derby over colts, and GABRIEL CHARLES ($319,800), commanding winner of the G2 Del Mar Derby as well as the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview.

Greatly improves his mares with a 1.40 AEI compared to a 0.99 CI.

Among Californias Leading Third-Crop Sires

STORM WOLF Stormin Fever Exclusive Rosette, by Ecliptical/ $2,000 LF

Graded SW full brother to G1-performing GSW MISTY ROSETTE.

Won 3 of 5 starts, including the G2 Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. by 6L in 1:22 1/5.

Posted a 104 Beyer breaking his maiden at Santa Anita and a 101 Beyer winning an allowance there in 1:09 f at.

2013 juvenile sold for $95,000 at the Barretts March sale.

Solid 63% winners/runners in f rst two crops incl. 2014 SPW Swayze Road (by 4), MYSTERIOUS STORM (by 612), VEGAS BOUND (by 614), ILL RUN THE SHOW (by 614), SEVEN STORMS (by 5), etc.

Top TEN National Freshman Yearling Sire in 2013!

THE PAMPLEMOUSSE Kafwain Comfort Zone, by Rubiano/ $2,500 LF

Sire of $160,000 BARRETTS SALES TOPPING YEARLING in his First Crop!

The #1 Freshman Sire outside of Kentucky in 2013, ranked among the Top Ten nationally with a seven yearling average over $53,000.

First 2YOs sold for up to $105,000, and his f rst runner BIG SWAG, won f rst time out in maiden special company at Santa Anita by 314 lengths.

Santa Anita Graded stakes-winning miler by Top California Sire KAFWAIN.

Won 3 of 5 starts, including the G3 Sham S. by 6L (107 Beyer) and G3 San Rafael S. at one mile.

Out of a half-sister to the dam of 2YO G1 SW STORMELLO ($700,100) and G2 Del Mar Derby SW MY BEST BROTHER ($346,090).

No Booking Fees for 2015 Seasons / Stud Fees are payable Oct. 1 of year bred

New for 2015


Best Pal grew up at the same time as Cal Cup. Even today, 27 years after he was foaled, he is the leading California-bred earner to have won a Cal Cup race. Te product of the late John and Betty Ma-bees Golden Eagle Farm in Ramona, Best Pal, who died in 1998, was a son of Habi-tonyUbetshedid, by King Pellinore. He competed three times in the Cal Cup Classic, getting a second in 1991, a win in 1993, and another second in 1995.As Best Pal put together his bankroll of

$5,668,245, he inspired the same kind of love and adoration from fans that Zen-yatta and California Chrome would two decades later. Betty Mabee collected let-ters from people across the country and around the world, such as the one Abby

Brekke of Hibbing, Minn., sent in 1993, the year Best Pal won the Cal Cup Classic:I was wondering if you could send

me a horseshoe or bit o mane or tail from Best Pal, please????? I LOVE him SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOO much!!! I always pretend to be him when me and my friends play.Best Pal began racing at 2 in 1990, Cal

Cups inaugural year. He was one of 123 early-bird nominees to that years Califor-nia Cup Juvenile, though his career took him in a dierent direction. After Best Pal won the Im Smokin Stakes, Balboa Stakes (gr. III), and Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) at Del Mar, he captured the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita en route to a sixth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Bel-

mont Park behind winner Fly So Free.Now that Cal Cup occurs early in the

year, the Juvenile has become the Cal Cup Derby for 3-year-olds, the race that Cali-fornia Chrome won to start his spectacu-lar journey in 2014. But in Best Pals day, a 3-year-old had to compete against older horses in the Cal Cup.Best Pal proved he could handle the old-

er crowd when he vanquished them in the inaugural Pacic Classic Stakes at Del Mar in 1991. His foes included 1990 champi-on 3-year-old male and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Breeders Cup Classic winner Unbridled, 1991 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner Farma Way, and 1990 cham-pion turf horse Itsallgreektome.But in his rst attempt at the Cal Cup

Classic, Best Pal lost by a head to a fel-low 3-year-old, Robert and Barbara Wal-ters homebred Charmonnier, trained by none other than Bob Baert. Te Cal Cup Classic then was conducted under handicap conditions, and Best Pal had to carry top weight of 124 pounds, giving 12 pounds to Charmonnier.Hes vulnerable, said Gary Jones, Best

Shigeki kikkawa

A SpeciAl HorSe for

A SpeciAl rAceBest PalBy Tracy GanTz

Just as the Breeders Cup Classic (gr. I) shines as the lynchpin of the Breeders Cup World Championships, the California Cup Classic has been the race around which California Cup has been built. And per-

haps no other horse established the race as securely as the popular Best Pal, who won the fourth Cal Cup Classic in 1993.

best pal

Best Pal winning the 1993 Cal Cup Classic

Rancho San Miguel

NEW TO CALIFORNIA FOR 2015

Committed to Breed ing Qual ity

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


RANKED AMONG CALIFORNIAS TOP THREE

STALLIONS BY 2014 2ND CROP EARNINGS

U S Ranger

Graded Stakes Sire in each of his frst two crops, sire of $250,000 Grade 3 Dixiana Bourbon SW LAWN RANGER; $150,000 Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity SW SOLITARY RANGER; Australian Group 3 SW GET THE NOD

By Sire of Sires DANzIG, O/o 3/4-sister to DYNAFORMER & half to dam of OFFLEE WILD

U S RangerDanzig My Annette, by Red Ransom

2015 Fee: $3,000


Pals trainer, before the race. Tis really is a perfect spot for him to get beata 3-year-old giving weight away like this.Charmonnier and jockey Corey Naka-

tani set the pace from early on in the 118-mile race. Best Pal and jockey Pat Valenzu-ela raced comfortably in third, and the crowd, which had sent Best Pal o as the 2-5 favorite, fully expected him to coast by Charmonnier and Habastar to win.But going into the nal turn, Nakatani

let Charmonnier oat wide, which forced Best Pal into an even wider trip. Te two horses battled throughout the stretch, with Charmonnier edging Best Pal.Te stewards posted the inquiry sign,

but they did not change the order of nish.

Valenzuela, however, felt Nakatani had done it on purpose.He took us wide for no reason, said

Valenzuela. He knew I had the best horse, and he wanted us to lose.Nakatani chalked it up to Charmonni-

ers style of running and the condition of the track.Te inside part of the track is dead, so I

tried to stay about three lanes o the rail, said Nakatani. He tries to get out, and if you ght him, he gets out even more. So I let him do what he wants to do.Best Pal missed the 1992 Cal Cup, re-

turning in 1993. For a while it looked as if that years Classic would draw not only Best Pal but also Bertrando and Flying Continental. Bertrando instead went to New York and won the Woodward Stakes (gr. I), while Flying Continental encoun-tered an EVA quarantine in trying to re-

turn to California from a race in Nebraska and lost too much training time.Tis time Best Pal, by now the leading

Cal-bred earner in history, had to tote 126 pounds. Te spread proved even more formidable, as he had to give from 10-19 pounds to his six rivals.Ten Best Pal drew the rail, prompting

Jones to lament, I dont like it, but weve got a mile and an eighth to get out.Corey Black was Best Pals regular pilot

by this time, and he and Jones had tried changing the geldings running tactics when others hemmed him in.Its twice now theyve been trying to

trap us on the inside, Jones said. Finally, I told Corey, Enoughs enough. Lets get back to our style that we know works and drop back and make one run. Goldiggers Dream clicked o quick

early fractions on the lead, and Black was able to follow Jones instructions perfect-ly. Te only problem was that seeing the gelding in fth made Jones even more nervous than usual.When he was so far back, I thought,

Well, maybe he aint gonna re. But when I saw the :4515, I felt a little better. Ive just never seen him come from that far back.Betty Mabee summed it up perfectly:

We just have a nervous trainer, she said. Te horse is ne.Best Pal was indeed ne. As the 3-10

favorite, he strolled home to win by 312 lengths in 1:48.03 over Native Boundary, with Goldiggers Dream third. Black ex-plained that the time was irrelevant.If I make him nish today, he runs in

1:47, the jockey said.John and Betty Mabee smiled broadly

in the winners circle as they accepted the Cal Cup trophy.Its real special to have a horse like

this win the Cal Cup, said John Mabee. Its super to have a horse of this kind. Its a once in a lifetime you get one of them.Best Pal, a special horse, helped the Cal

Cup Classic become a truly special race.

He took us wide for no

reason. He knew I had the

best horse, and he wanted

us to lose.

Jockey Pat Venezuela describing

Charmmonniers jockey Corey

Nakatanis decision to oat wide

on the nal turn

Best Pal lost by a head to Charmonnier in the 1991 Cal Cup Classic

Corey Black became Best Pals regular jockey

Anne m. eberHArdt

benoit pHoto

best pal


Bruce Headley isnt just a one-man show. His entire

family has made their careers at the racetrack. Te Headley barn has produced major stakes winners for decades, many of them Califor-nia-breds.

Bruce, now 80, is an old-school trainer whose patience pays o. He credits such fellow Hall of Fame members as R. H. Red McDaniel and Charlie Whittingham for many of the things he has learned, as well as Jim Maloney, Dick Wagner, and Ralph West.But the Headley barn stays

current as well, not only through Bruce and his wife, Aase, who is an essential part of the training barn, but also

with their children, Karen and Gus. Karen is Bruces assistant, while Gus trains on his own.Bruce started at the Suzy

Q Ranch in 1948 along with Bill Shoemaker. Tough Bruce never rode as a jockey, he exercised his own horses until he turned 70. Tat and his good foundation he puts on his horses has led to career purse earnings of more than $37 million and well over 900 victories.Headleys most famous

runner was Kona Gold, Eclipse Award-winning cham-pion sprinter of 2000. Kona Gold, co-owned by Headley in a partnership that included Irwin and Andrew Molasky, won that years Breeders Cup Sprint (gr. I). Headley excels with older runners, and he raced Kona Gold six seasons, through age 9, winning many California graded stakes.His other good runners

have included Son of a Pistol, Got Koko, and Kalookan Queen.

Cal-breds are often the backbone of Headleys stable. He was Bertrandos initial trainer, and he also condi-tioned 1984 California Horse of the Year Silveyville, suc-cessfully returning him to the races between stud seasons. Headley trained such Cal-bred champions as Stylish Winner and Softshoe Sure Shot, plus hard-knocking Variety Road. Headley breeds and races

many of his own horses, often in partnership. He bred full sisters Royally Chosen and Chosen Royalty with Old English Rancho and trained each of them to become stakes horses. With Irwin Mo-lasky, Ed Bernstein, and Brian Greenspun, he bred and raced graded stakes winner M One Rie, one of the fastest horses in California in recent years.

Many of Headleys trainees are now making their marks as stallions. He trained and co-owned multiple grade I winner Street Boss, who now stands in Kentucky. Millionaire Surf Cat, another Headley graduate, stands at Old English Rancho along with Cyclotron.Tough Cyclotron was just

a minor winner for Headley, he has believed in the horse enough to stand him at stud and the gamble is paying o. Cyclotron has sired Cal-bred Cyclometer, winner of the 2014 Los Angeles Stakes (gr. III). Headley bred and owns the 6-year-old with the Molaskys. In typical Headley fashion, he not only trains Cyclometer but also trained both the sire and the dam, Moana Loa.

anne m. eberhardt

THE CLASS OF 2015Trainer Bruce Headley and champion racehorse and sire Bertrando are worthy additions to the California Toroughbred Breeders Association Hall of Fame. Teir talent put them in the winners circle on numerous occasions, and their legacy extends to subsequent generations. Headley joins a trainer list that includes Charlie Whittingham, Meshach Tenney, Mel Stute, and Farrell Jones. Bertrando takes his place alongside such champion California-breds as Swaps, Native Diver, Best Pal, Snow Chief, and Ancient Title.

InductIons wIll take place at the ctBa annual MeetIng and awards dInner,

to Be held at the westIn pasadena on Monday, FeB. 9.


On either his race record or his stallion career,

Bertrando would have made a worthy addi-tion to the California Hall of Fame. Te state lucked out, getting both a superior racehorse and keeping him in the state so that he could create many more outstanding California-breds.

Ed Nahem bred Bertrando, a Cal-bred son of 1986 Breed-ers Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Skywalker. Te Bualo Lark mare Gentle Hands foaled Ber-trando at Cardi Stud Farm in Creston on Feb. 18, 1989.Bruce Headley initially

trained Bertrando for Nahem and Marshall Naify, with Headleys son, Gus, listed as a co-owner early on. Bertrando broke his maiden so impres-sively in his racing debut at Del Mar that Headley wheeled him back in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II), which

he also won with ease.Bertrando made it three

for three when he captured the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) by nine lengths at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. He nished the season with a second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Churchill Downs to the brilliant Arazi and was voted champion Cal-bred 2-year-old male.Bobby Frankel and John

Shirres also trained Bertran-do during his career. He ulti-mately won nine of 24 races for earnings of $3,185,610. His stakes wins included the 1993 Pacic Classic Stakes (gr. I) and Woodward Stakes (gr. I), the latter by 1312 lengths. Tough Arcangues

surprised Bertrando and the world in the 1993 Breeders Cup Classic (gr. I), Bertran-dos exploits earned him an Eclipse Award as the years champion older male. He took home three more Cal-bred championshipsas 3-year-old male of 1992 and Horse of the Year and older male of 1993.Bertrando covered 69

mares at Martin and Pam

aWygods River Edge Farm in Buellton in 1994 between his 4- and 5-year-old seasons. Upon his retirement in early 1995, he returned to River Edge, standing there until moving to Ballena Vista Farm in 2011.From the start Bertrando

succeeded as a stallion. He led the state among freshman sires of 1997 with the likes of stakes winners Rattle My Nerves and Hi Rythm.California almost lost

Bertrando in late 1998, when he had to undergo surgery at the University of California at Davis to remove a gallstone, a rare occurrence in horses.He doesnt worry about

the little things, said long-time River Edge manager Russell Drake in explaining why Bertrando was able to overcome his near brush with death.Te stallion went right

on with his stud career. His son Ocer won the 2001 Champagne Stakes (gr. I) and was voted champion Cal-bred 2-year-old male that season. Tat helped Bertrando top Californias 2-year-old sire list

in 2001 after he had done the same in 1999.In 2005 and 2007,

Bertrando led all other sires in California. His daughter Smooth Player was the Cal-bred champion 3-year-old lly of 1999 and champion older female and turf female of 2000. Pirates Deputy was Cal-bred champion 2-year-old male of 2006, and grade I winner Tamarando won in the same category in 2013.Bertrando also sired addi-

tional grade I winners Bilo, Karelian, and Unfurl the Flag. When he died at age 25 last March at River Edge, he had lifetime progeny earnings of more than $46 million. As a broodmare sire, he has been represented by 2010 Breeders Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) winner Unrivaled Belle.Hes a real gentleman,

Drake once said. I think sometimes you think almost he could talk. He gives you that kind of feeling about him that he just could be a real good friend. He has some of his little quirks, but most of the time hes just a real genu-ine horse.

on the strength of his 1993 racing season, Bertrando was not only californias horse of the year but an eclipse award winner as older male

benoit photo

Shigeki kikkawa


Trainer Prole

A horse got loose on the crowded track shortly after the days rst renovation break, and Heap, aboard his pony, was in pursuit in the pre-dawn light, as is his duty. Both Heap and the loose horse were weaving in and out of equine trac until Heap, who has spent his life with horses, grabbed hold of the horses rein with the idea of getting him under control, o the track, and back to

california thoroughbred magazine january 2015

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