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| Harbor the Gold |
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Overview | Conformation | Pedigree | Race Record | Progeny | Foal Photos | News
Read all of our exclusive Showcase Updates about Harbor the Gold here:
Harbor the Gold maiden winner romps by 13-plus lengths
Relishing the move from Emerald Downs to Portland Meadows, the first-crop Harbor the Gold gelding Git Rrr Dun Too turned his Oregon debut into a rout on October 14, when he dominated a maiden special weight sprint by an eye-popping 13 1/2 lengths.
Prior to shipping south, the 3-year-old runner had made a trio of starts in August and September at the $5,000 to $7,500 maiden claiming level, with his best effort in Washington coming in a fourth-place finish on September 24. But the Mark Jones trainee demonstrated an immediate affinity for his new surroundings when rain in the Portland area created a wet fast surface for his local welcome.
Under the guidance of jockey Robert Burney, Git Rrr Dun Too broke from the gate third among the eight starters assembled for the five-furlong test, and quickly set the tone when he took the lead a few strides out. At the three-eighths mark, his advantage was already five lengths clear of his closest rival; in the stretch, it increased to 10 lengths. From that point onward, Burney merely aimed his mount at the wire and the 6-1 gelding took care of the rest. His winning time of :57.43 was just shy of the track's :57.13 record for the distance.
Bred in Washington by Carol Noonan, Git Rrr Dun Too has earned $3,588 for owners Alan Bozell and Donel Matwiejow. The four-time starter is out of the unraced Jazzing Around mare Jazzy Sue.
His sire is the leader among all Oregon stallions who entered stud in 2005: Harbor the Gold, a winning son of Seeking the Gold. The Bar C Racing Stables resident has accrued more than $440,000 in progeny earnings from his initial two crops of racing age. - October 14, 2009
Noosa Beach is Harbor the Gold's first graded stakes horse
Washington's 2008 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding, Noosa Beach, added to his career credentials on September 27, when he became the initial graded stakes performer for his sire, Harbor the Gold, with his third-place effort in the $278,902 British Columbia Derby (G3) at Hastings Race Course. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]
Shipping north to Canada from his Emerald Downs base for the first time in his nine-race career, Noosa Beach was largely ignored at odds of 29-1 for the 1 1/8-mile dirt test, making him the second-highest longshot in the field of nine runners. Undaunted, the 3-year-old gelding broke second under rider Tony Gutierrez and instantly got involved in the pace scenario from a close-up running position.
After chasing the leader from an outside path through the opening six furlongs, which were clocked in a brisk 1:11.14, Noosa Beach tired in the lane, but re-rallied late to hold on to his hard-fought third, finishing 1 3/4 lengths behind his victorious stablemate, Winning Machine. He collected $27,715 for owner Jeff Harwood, who bred the gelding in Washington in partnership with his wife and trainer, Doris Harwood.
Noosa Beach has competed exclusively in stakes company, winning three of those events, since he broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths in his racing debut at Emerald Downs in August 2008. Overall, he has banked $140,840 as the highest earner for his dam, the unraced Basket Weave mare Julia Rose.
He is also the top earner for Harbor the Gold, Oregon's leading second-crop sire and leading sire of 2-year-olds in 2009. The 8-year-old winner by Seeking the Gold stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, and has lifetime progeny earnings of more than $440,000. - September 27, 2009
Koala Beach, by Harbor the Gold, cruises in Gottstein Futurity
In an athletic display aptly described by Emerald Downs announcer Robert Geller as "a walk in the park," the 2-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding Koala Beach romped to the easiest of wins in the $67,500 Gottstein Futurity on September 26, collecting his second consecutive stakes victory by daylight and padding his sire's standing as Oregon's leader by juvenile progeny earnings in the process. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]
After chasing his speedy cropmate, Hollywood Harbor, in three local stakes contests over the summer, Koala Beach broke through for his first black-type score as the 1-2 favorite in the Washington track's $50,000 Dennis Dodge Stakes on September 13 - a 6 1/2-furlong race which he wired by eight lengths. His Gottstein attempt mirrored those winning tactics.
Koala Beach and jockey Gallyn Mitchell broke on top from the inside post, then deftly controlled a slow pace by setting fractions of :24, :48.20, 1:12.60 and 1:36.60 for the first mile of the 1 1/16-mile dirt race, which had attracted six hapless contenders. The Doris Harwood trainee simply lengthened his stride as the wire approached, and ultimately stopped the clock in 1:42.80 with another eight-length advantage, a record win margin for the 72-year-old race.
"He's a real versatile horse, and I think he can win at any distance," Mitchell said of the 1-5 favorite, who elevated his career bankroll to $92,843 with his $37,125 share of the Gottstein purse. From six starts, the youngster has compiled three wins, two seconds and a third.
Bred in Washington by Bar C Racing Stables Inc., Koala Beach is the first foal out of Distinctive Cat's unraced daughter Kittyzallwet. He is owned by Jeff Harwood.
With year-to-date earnings of $187,301 accrued by his juvenile runners, Harbor the Gold is the runaway leader among all Oregon-based sires in this statistical category. The 8-year-old Bar C Racing Stables resident is also the state's leading second-crop sire of 2009 and reigning first-crop sire of 2008. - September 26, 2009
Harbor the Gold notches two more first-crop maiden winners
Oregon's leading young stallion, Harbor the Gold, added another two maiden winners to his first-crop tally during a four-day span at Emerald Downs in mid-September. Wowie Maui and Niftys Hobby, each a member of his inaugural 2006 crop of foals, turned in front-running victories at the Washington oval.
On September 17, David Breiwick's homebred runner Wowie Maui led a seven-horse field from flag fall to finish in a six-furlong race on the fast main track. Ridden by Juan Gutierrez, the 3-year-old gelding posted fractions of :22.20, :44.80 and :56.80 and a final time of 1:09.40 for his initial career triumph in the $25,000 claiming test for non-winners. The three-time starter and 3-2 second wagering choice held a 2 3/4-length margin over his closest competitor at the end.
A Washington-bred, Wowie Maui is out of the winning Basket Weave mare Summer Straw. He is trained by Joe Toye, and has earned $10,133 to date.
Three days after her cropmate had his photo taken in the Emerald Downs winner's circle, Niftys Hobby posed for the camera as well. The Washington-bred filly, who is owned and trained by Neil Knapp, validated her 1-5 favoritism with a dominating performance against six rivals in a five-furlong sprint at the $5,000 maiden claiming level. Piloted by jockey Cassie Papineau, she was timed in :22.60 and :46 for the opening half-mile, and ultimately extended her advantage to four lengths at the wire, which she reached in :58.80.
Niftys Hobby, 3, was bred by Marie Monroe, and produced by Slewdledo's stakes-winning daughter Nifty Nite. In addition to her September 20 win, she has five placings and overall earnings of $9,604 from 13 starts.
Eight-year-old Harbor the Gold has reigned as Oregon's leading young sire on the strength of his initial two crops to race. The state's top-ranked 2008 first-crop sire is now the top-ranked 2009 second-crop sire, and is also chief among all Oregon stallions by 2009 juvenile progeny earnings. The winning son of Seeking the Gold stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. - September 20, 2009
Koala Beach becomes fifth stakes winner for Harbor the Gold
Finally escaping the enormous shadow of his cropmate, three-time stakes winner Hollywood Harbor, the 2-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding Koala Beach got the opportunity to showcase his own abilities with a dominant, eight-length victory in Emerald Downs' $50,000 Dennis Dodge Stakes on September 13. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]
The Washington-bred runner finished a distant second to Hollywood Harbor in the track's 5 1/2-furlong Northwest Stallion Strong Ruler Stakes on July 18 and third to that same rival in the six-furlong Premio Esmeralda Stakes on August 9, but narrowed the final margin between them to 2 1/2 lengths when he ran second in the one-mile Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association Lads Stakes on August 29.
Favored at odds of 1-2 in the 6 1/2-furlong Dennis Dodge when the connections of Hollywood Harbor decided to skip the race, Koala Beach broke first from the gate and quickly engaged three other speedsters in a four-way duel for the lead. Although his mount ran widest of all, jockey Gallyn Mitchell simply glanced over his shoulder upon exiting the turn and loosened his reins; Koala Beach responded by cruising to the wire unchallenged in a final time of 1:15.60.
Conditioned by leading Emerald Downs trainer Doris Harwood for her husband, Jeff Harwood, Koala Beach has banked $55,718, with two wins and three placings from five starts. He was bred by Bar C Racing Stables Inc., and is the first foal out of Hollywood Harbor's unraced half-sister, Kittyzallwet, by Distinctive Cat.
Later that day, the 3-year-old gelding Who's Your Next Ex also represented Harbor the Gold on the Washington Cup VII program with a runner-up effort in the $50,000 Trooper Seven Stakes. Ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, he led early and gave way grudgingly late, reaching the wire 1 1/4 lengths behind the 17-1 winner, Quinalt. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]
Who's Your Next Ex, a stakes winner at 2, has earned $48,143 from 10 starts. Bred in Washington by Kim Smith and produced by the winning Synastry mare Synanita, he is currently trained by Charles Essex for owner Kimberly Nobles.
Harbor the Gold has sired five stakes winners and the collective earners of more than $360,000 from two crops to race. The 8-year-old Seeking the Gold stallion holds court at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon. - September 13, 2009
Hollywood Harbor leads huge weekend for Harbor the Gold
Continuing his dominance over the Northwest youth division, speedy Hollywood Harbor stretched out to a mile for the first time on August 29 and completed a rare sweep of Emerald Downs' initial three stakes for juveniles when he captured the $45,000 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association Lads Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths over another runner from the second crop of Oregon sire Harbor the Gold, Koala Beach. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]
Saddled by trainer Chris Stenslie and installed as the 2-5 favorite among eight starters on the heels of his runaway victories in the track's 5 1/2-furlong Northwest Stallion Strong Ruler Stakes on July 18 and six-furlong Premio Esmeralda Stakes on August 9, Hollywood Harbor set fractions of :22.80, :45.80, 1:10.20 and 1:22.80 over the wet-fast surface before he cruised home unchallenged in 1:36.40, just shy of the stakes record.
"I think he intimidates the rest of the horses because he's such a good horse," said winning rider Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo. "He's so good, and these types of good horses don't come around too often."
Hollywood Harbor is out of the multiple stakes-winning Slewdledo mare Miss Slewette. Sold for $21,000 as a yearling, the Washington-bred gelding has earned $70,101 from four starts for owners One Horse Will Do Corp. and John Holmes.
Tracking his cropmate in second throughout was the Doris Harwood trainee Koala Beach, who ran second in the Strong Ruler and third in the Premio Esmeralda for owner Jeff Harwood. The Washington-bred gelding concluded the Lads Stakes under jockey Gallyn Mitchell 9 1/2 lengths clear of the third-place finisher, padding his four-race earnings to $29,540.
A local debut winner on June 28, Koala Beach was produced by the unraced Distinctive Cat mare Kittyzallwet, a half-sister to Hollywood Harbor.
Both the winner and the runner-up were bred by Bar C Racing Stables Inc.
One day after Hollywood Harbor and Koala Beach completed the Lads Stakes exacta, another gelding from their sire's 2007 crop reached the Emerald Downs winner's circle. Washington-bred Bogachiel, the first foal out of Swiss Yodeler's daughter Alpine Song, was a two-length maiden winner at six furlongs for trainer Bonnie Jenne and owner/breeder Frank McDonald. Ridden by jockey Troy Stillwell in the $20,000 claiming race, Bogachiel stopped the clock in 1:10.60 and elevated his three-race bankroll to $8,631.
With six stakes horses and cumulative progeny earnings of more than $327,000 from his first two crops of racing age, 8-year-old Harbor the Gold is Oregon's leading second-crop sire of 2009. The Bar C Racing Stables stallion is a two-time winner by Seeking the Gold and a half-brother to 1996 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Boston Harbor. - August 30, 2009
Hollywood Harbor leads Harbor the Gold hit parade
The precocious Harbor the Gold gelding Hollywood Harbor strengthened his chances of earning a year-end title as Washington's champion 2-year-old male with his second consecutive blow-out stakes victory at Emerald Downs on August 9, followed in third by his 2007 cropmate Koala Beach, who collected his own second straight stakes placing. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]
Gate-to-wire winner of the track's $31,275 Northwest Stallion Strong Ruler Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on July 18, Hollywood Harbor improved on that five-length victory with another runaway score in the Premio Esmeralda Stakes, which was contested at six furlongs and valued at $45,000. Partnered again with jockey Jose Zunino, the Wasington-bred employed the same speedy tactics to run the other five juveniles off their feet and tally his second win.
After breaking with interest from the gate, Hollywood Harbor set brisk fractions of :21.20, :43.80 and :55.60 as the 2-5 favorite, and was ridden out to the wire with a 5 1/4-length advantage in a final time of 1:09, equaling the stakes record.
"I was a little bit worried because he was going awfully fast," said winning trainer Chris Stenslie, whose charge pushed his three-race earnings to $45,351. "He just goes so easy, makes it look so easy. He's getting better and better, faster and faster. It's very exciting to be a part of this horse's success."
Produced by the multiple stakes-winning Slewdledo mare Miss Slewette, Hollywood Harbor is campaigned by Jody Peets' One Horse Will Do Corp. and John Holmes.
Koala Beach, runner-up to Hollywood Harbor in the Strong Ruler, closed for third in the Premio Esmeralda to improve his bankroll to $20,540. A winner in his local June debut, the Washington-bred gelding was ridden by Ricky Frazier for trainer Doris Harwood and owner Jeff Harwood. He is the first foal out of the unraced Distinctive Cat mare Kittyzallwet, a half-sister to Hollywood Harbor.
Both geldings were bred by Bar C Racing Stables Inc.
Two days before the talented 2-year-olds put on a show in Washington, the 3-year-old filly Aroseformadeline represented their sire as a gate-to-wire winner in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance race at Grande Prairie in Canada. The stakes-placed Leonard Hammrich homebred won for the fourth time from 12 starts, bringing her overall earnings to $14,570. An Oregon-bred, she was produced by the winning Katahaula County mare Cheyenne Rose, and is currently trained by John Harris.
All three runners are by 8-year-old Harbor the Gold, a resident of Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon who currently reigns as the state's leading second-crop sire. Six of the first seven winners for the Seeking the Gold stallion have won or placed in stakes events. - August 9, 2009
Washington champ nabs stakes placing for Harbor the Gold
The 2008 Washington Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Noosa Beach, a son of Oregon's leading second-crop sire, Harbor the Gold, added to his lofty credentials on August 2 with his runner-up finish in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap for sophomores at Emerald Downs. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]
Racing as a homebred for owner Jeff Harwood and his wife, trainer Doris Harwood, Noosa Beach has made all eight of his career starts at the Washington oval, where he has compiled a record of four wins and three placings and a $113,125 bankroll. He has competed exclusively in stakes company since he broke his maiden by daylight in his August 2008 debut, and captured three of those stakes events carded at distances of 6 1/2 furlongs or less: the 2008 Captain Condo Stakes and the 2009 editions of the Pepsi Cola Handicap and the Auburn Stakes.
Asked to tackle 1 1/16 miles in the seven-horse Seattle Slew under the familiar guidance of regular rider Juan Gutierrez, speedy Noosa Beach battled head to head with Peaceful Reign throughout the race, and set the opening fractions of :23.20 and :46.20 when he led by a head on the outside of that rival for the first half-mile. But the 4.80-1 fourth wagering choice was no match for his stubborn counterpart, who finally passed him in the stretch en route to a 4 1/2-length victory. Noosa Beach held on for second, reaching the wire 2 1/2 lengths clear of the 9-5 favorite, Winning Machine.
Noosa Beach was bred in Washington, and produced by the unraced Basket Weave mare Julia Rose.
He is the top earner for the winning Seeking the Gold stallion Harbor the Gold, an 8-year-old resident of Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon. - August 2, 2009
Emerald Downs stakes exacta tops big day for Harbor the Gold
A pair of juvenile runners by the budding stallion Harbor the Gold occupied the top two positions in Emerald Downs' $31,275 Northwest Stallion Strong Ruler Stakes on July 18, tightening their sire's grip on the title of Oregon's leading second-crop sire of 2009 in the process.
The Washington-bred geldings Hollywood Harbor and Koala Beach dominated the 5 1/2-furlong sprint, with even-money favorite Hollywood Harbor quickly translating an energetic burst from the starting gate into an insurmountable lead. Ridden by Jose Zunino, the Chris Stenslie trainee carried a four-length advantage at the quarter-mile mark, which he reached in :21.60, and left no doubt about the outcome as he motored to the finish a five-length winner in 1:03.60.
Turning in a strong effort of his own was the 9-5 second wagering choice, Koala Beach. With leading rider Ricky Frazier up, the Jeff Harwood runner chased his cropmate in second throughout and held the five other starters at bay to secure the runner-up check 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher.
Hollywood Harbor and Koala Beach were both bred by Bar C Racing Stables Inc. The former is out of the multiple stakes-winning Slewdledo mare Miss Slewette, and sold for $21,000 as his sire's top-priced yearling in 2008. Hollywood Harbor is owned by One Horse Will Do Corp. and John Holmes, and has earned $20,601 by scoring one victory and one placing from his first two starts. Koala Beach is trained by Doris Harwood, and has earned $13,790; he also totes one win and one placing from his initial two outings.
Two races after the 2-year-olds completed a stakes exacta at the Washington oval, 3-year-old Who's Your Next Ex added to their sire's credentials when he romped to his own fourth career victory in a one-mile allowance optional claiming event. A front-running, 5 1/4-length winner against six overmatched rivals, the Charles Essex-trained gelding pushed his eight-race bankroll to $39,393 when he reached the wire in 1:36.80 under regular rider Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo.
A Portland Meadows stakes winner at 2, Who's Your Next Ex was bred in Washington by Kim Smith, and currently races for owner Kimberly Nobles. His dam is the winning Synastry mare Synanita.
All three runners were sired by 8-year-old Harbor the Gold, a dual winner by Seeking the Gold who stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon. From two crops to race, he is represented by six stakes horses and cumulative progeny earnings of more than $235,000. - July 18, 2009
Harbor the Gold represented by runaway debut winner
Harbor the Gold solidified his status as Oregon's current leading sire of 2-year-olds on July 10, when he became the state's only stallion to be represented by two juvenile winners of 2009. Each of the successful starters from his 2007 foal crop won at first asking.
Like his counterpart Koala Beach, who broke his maiden on June 28, the first-time starter Fisher Creek controlled the proceedings in his own five-furlong debut at Emerald Downs 12 days later. Saddled by trainer Tim McCanna and ridden by jockey Seth Martinez, the gelding grabbed an immediate lead as the 2-1 wagering favorite and carved fractions of :22.20 and :45.40 for the first half-mile of the $20,000 maiden claiming test, increasing his advantage over the hapless eight-horse field with every stride.
The Washington-bred runner, who entered the race off a bullet five-furlong work at the track on July 4, reached the wire five lengths ahead of his nearest competitor in a final time of :57.40. He earned $6,572 for his owner, Dunn Bar Ranch LLC, in the process.
Fisher Creek is the fifth foal out of Pretty Peggy Slew, a durable daughter of Slewdledo who won or placed in 36 of her 56 lifetime starts during six seasons of racing.
Both Fisher Creek and Koala Beach were bred by Bar C Racing Stables, the Hermiston farm which stands 8-year-old Harbor the Gold. The two-time winner by Seeking the Gold was Oregon's leading freshman sire by progeny earnings last year, and currently ranks as the state's leading second-crop sire of 2009. - July 10, 2009
Harbor the Gold stakes horse returns to winner's circle
Who's Your Next Ex, a stakes-winning gelding who helped elevate his sire, Harbor the Gold, to the top of Oregon's freshman sire list last year, scored his first victory as a 3-year-old - and third win overall - in a one-mile race conducted at Emerald Downs on July 3.
The Washington-bred became one of the stallion's three first-crop runners to win a stakes event last November, when he captured the Dennis Dodge Memorial Stakes at Portland Meadows in the final start of his four-race juvenile campaign. His 2009 season, which began in mid-May, netted a fourth-place finish, then a third, in claiming company at Emerald Downs, followed by his gate-to-wire breakout effort in the $17,500 claiming race in his third start of the year.
Saddled by trainer Charles Essex and ridden by jockey Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo in the eight-horse field of sophomores, Who's Your Next Ex posted internal fractions of :23.40, :46.40, 1:11.20 and 1:23.80, held off a fast-closing longshot in the waning yards and stopped the clock in 1:37 as a 1 1/4-length winner. The 5-1 wagering choice earned $7,480 for owner Kimberly Nobles, bringing his seven-race bankroll to $29,493.
Who's Your Next Ex is out of the multiple winner Synanita, by Synastry, and was bred by Kim Smith.
Second-crop sire Harbor the Gold, a winning, 8-year-old son of Seeking the Gold, stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon. - July 3, 2009
Oregon's Harbor the Gold notches first 2YO winner of 2009
Harbor the Gold, Oregon's leading freshman sire of 2008, was credited with the first winner from his second crop of runners on June 28, when his 2-year-old son Koala Beach dominated a five-furlong dash at Emerald Downs.
Trained by Doris Harwood for her husband, Jeff Harwood, the Washington-bred gelding prepped for his initial race with a series of six works registered at the Auburn-area oval during May and June. For his career debut in the $30,000 maiden claiming test, he received the services of Emerald Downs' leading jockey, Ricky Frazier.
Koala Beach was sent postward as the fourth wagering choice in the field of five non-winners, but he quickly made new converts with his deft, front-running tactics. After breaking sharply from the gate, he set a pressured pace of :22.20 for the opening quarter-mile and :45.60 for the first half-mile while enjoying a ground-saving trip along the rail. Although his inexperience led him to drift out through the lane, he reached the wire a length clear of his closest rival in a final time of :58.
The youngster collected $7,535 for his successful introduction to competition. He is the first foal out of Kittyzallwet, an unraced daughter of Distinctive Cat.
Koala Beach was bred by Bar C Racing Stables, the Hermiston nursery which offers Harbor the Gold on its four-horse stallion roster. The 8-year-old Seeking the Gold sire is represented by progeny earnings of $186,394 and a pair of multiple stakes-winning state champions from his two crops of racing age. - June 28, 2009
Aroseformadeline is fourth stakes horse for Harbor the Gold
On June 27, Leonard Hammrich's homebred filly Aroseformadeline became the fourth member of the initial crop of runners by Oregon sire Harbor the Gold to compete with distinction at the stakes level when she ran a game second in the 3 Yr Old Fillies Stakes at Lethbridge.
Conducted at about six furlongs over the Alberta, Canada racetrack's dirt strip, the race offered a purse of US$11,438 and attracted eight starters. Fresh off a May 16 victory and May 30 runner-up effort in her prior two allowance starts at Lethbridge, both contested against her elders, Aroseformadeline was installed as the 2-1 betting favorite under jockey Scott Sterr.
The Oregon-bred filly jumped into contention early, then pushed the pacesetter Fun Runner for most of the race from a close-up running position of less than a length behind her. Although her speedy rival was able to pull away in the stretch and ultimately posted a 4 3/4-length win, Aroseformadeline successfully held the remaining contenders at bay. She finished a clear 4 1/2 lengths ahead of the third-place runner, earning $2,974 to push her career bankroll to $12,010.
Trained by John Harris, Aroseformadeline has won three races and placed in four others from 11 starts to date. She is the second foal out of Cheyenne Rose, a winning daughter of Katahaula County.
Harbor the Gold is a dual winner by Seeking the Gold who stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. The 8-year-old stallion yielded three stakes winners from his first eight starters in 2008, and concluded the year as Oregon's leading first-crop sire. - June 27, 2009
Harbor the Gold filly ships north to Canada, wins third race
Oregon-bred Aroseformadeline, a first-crop daughter of Harbor the Gold who was winless in her five starts of 2009 at Portland Meadows, shipped north to the Lethbridge racetrack in Alberta, Canada and came away with a two-length victory on May 16.
Facing five rivals - all her elders - in the 5 1/2-furlong allowance test, Aroseformadeline took immediate control out of the gate under rider Scott Sterr and increased her advantage with every stride, reaching the wire two lengths ahead of her closest competitor in 1:09.80. The 3-year-old filly earned US$3,604 for her wire-to-wire effort, bringing her career bankroll to $7,821.
Aroseformadeline is trained by John Harris on behalf of her owner and breeder, Leonard Hammrich. She entered the Canadian race on the heels of two consecutive second-place finishes in a pair of six-furlong claiming races at Portland Meadows in March.
Produced by the winning Katahaula County mare Cheyenne Rose, Aroseformadeline totes a record of three wins and two seconds from nine starts.
Eight-year-old Harbor the Gold ranked as Oregon's leading freshman sire of 2008, with three stakes winners and year-end progeny earnings of $110,181 yielded from his first eight starters. The winning, Seeking the Gold half-brother to 1996 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Boston Harbor stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. - May 16, 2009
Harbor the Gold flattered by Oregon champion Catalina Harbor
A state championship trophy for his first-crop daughter Catalina Harbor put an exclamation point on the outstanding 2008 racing season registered by the up-and-coming Oregon sire Harbor the Gold.
A three-time stakes winner at Portland Meadows last year, Catalina Harbor was honored as Oregon's 2008 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly during an awards banquet hosted by the Oregon Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders' Association at Portland Meadows on March 7. The talented youngster, who captured the Lassie Stakes, Janet Wineberg Stakes and Jane Driggers Debutante Stakes, concluded her initial year of competition with three victories and three second-place finishes from six starts for earnings of $30,331.
During her championship campaign, Catalina Harbor was trained by Jim Fergason and regularly ridden by Mark Anderson for her owners and breeders, Bar C Racing Stables. Neal and Pam Christopherson's successful breeding and racing operation was also recognized as the breeder of Oregon's 2008 champion 2-year-old male, Chief Jafatica, and as the co-breeder and co-owner of the state's 2008 champion older female, Silver Patrona, the latter of whom is a full sister to Catalina Harbor's dam, the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly.
Eight-year-old Harbor the Gold yielded three stakes winners from his first eight starters in 2008, and ended his initial season of eligibility as Oregon's leading freshman sire. The winning son of Seeking the Gold, a half-brother to 1996 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Boston Harbor, stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. - March 8, 2009
Catalina Harbor keeps paying dividends for Harbor the Gold
Consistent Catalina Harbor scored another stakes placing for her Oregon-based sire, Harbor the Gold, when she ran third after setting the early pace in the $10,450 Invitational Handicap at Portland Meadows on February 18.
A three-time local stakes winner at six furlongs in 2008, the 3-year-old filly was asked to stretch out to a mile and 70 yards in her second start of 2009, which came three weeks after she ran second by a nose in the track's one-mile Invitational Handicap for her gender and division. As usual, the speedy Jim Fergason trainee took the lead through the first six furlongs of her mid-February race, but gave way in the stretch and ultimately finished 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner, De Cantina.
Catalina Harbor was guided by regular rider Mark Anderson, and pocketed $1,568 for her eighth career start to push her overall earnings to $33,989.
Bred and owned by Oregon's Bar C Racing Stables, Catalina Harbor has won three races, all in stakes company, and has placed in all five of her other starts. She was produced by the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly.
Eight-year-old Harbor the Gold ascended to the top of Oregon's freshman sire list last year, with three stakes winners and progeny earnings of $110,181 to his credit. The winning son of Seeking the Gold, a half-brother to 1996 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Boston Harbor, holds court at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. - February 18, 2009
Catalina Harbor earns stakes placing for Harbor the Gold
Three-year-old Catalina Harbor, a triple stakes winner by Oregon's leading freshman sire of 2008, Harbor the Gold, barely missed adding a fourth stakes title to her credentials when she ran second by a nose in Portland Meadows' $10,450 Invitational Handicap on January 28.
In her 2009 debut, the precocious filly grabbed an early lead in the one-mile race, which was contested on wet-fast going and marked her first attempt at tackling two turns. Under regular rider Mark Anderson, the 123-pound highweight increased her advantage to three lengths with only a quarter-mile left to run, but she was suddenly confronted by the fast-closing Nikki S. in the stretch. Catalina Harbor responded heartily with a protracted duel to the wire, and lost by the smallest of margins in a final time of 1:42.87. The front pair finished more than nine lengths ahead of the remaining six contenders.
Trained by Jim Fergason for owner/breeder Bar C Racing Stables, Catalina Harbor has won three of her seven career starts, and finished second four times by a combined total of just three lengths. She has earned $32,421, largely on the strength of her victories in Portland Meadows' Lassie, Janet Wineberg and Jane Driggers Debutante Stakes during 2008.
She was produced by the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly, a full sister to Oregon champions Corona Del Hielo and Silver Patrona.
A two-time winner by Seeking the Gold, Harbor the Gold led all Oregon first-crop sires by progeny earnings last year, with $110,181. The 8-year-old stallion stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. - January 28, 2009
Showcase stallions top 2008 Western Region leading sire lists!
Congratulations to the connections of 10 Thoroughbred Info Showcase stallions, who emerged from 2008 as leading sires in several notable categories, both in the Western Region and nationally.
Leading the pack with remarkable year-end progeny earnings of $5,827,513, according to statistics compiled by "The Blood-Horse", was Old English Rancho's Unusual Heat. The Nureyev stallion captured the crown as California's leading sire of 2008 by overall progeny earnings, turf earnings ($2,893,629) and all-weather surface earnings ($2,511,242). He also gained national attention as North America's highest-ranked active stallion by turf earnings, second only to the deceased leader Chester House.
One of Unusual Heat's California counterparts, the Magali Farms resident Decarchy, solidified his standing as the state's leading freshman sire of 2007 by compiling 2008 progeny earnings of $876,349 - enough to take another divisional title as California's leading second-crop sire.
Harris Farms stallion Swiss Yodeler, California's leading sire by overall progeny earnings in 2006, ranked highest among all of the state's sires by 2-year-old progeny earnings in 2008, with $486,379 banked by his juveniles last year.
In Washington, El Dorado Farms mainstay Matty G ruled supreme as the state's leading overall sire for the third consecutive year, with total progeny earnings of $1,819,949 during 2008. The Capote stallion also topped his local brethren by all-weather surface earnings, with $297,123.
Another El Dorado stallion, Private Gold, served notice as Washington's leading freshman sire of 2008. With six winners from 14 starters, the dual stakes-winning son of Seeking the Gold was represented by first-crop progeny earnings of $71,688.
Meanwhile, Woodstead Farm garnered a leading regional sire in the form of He's Tops, whose year-end juvenile earnings of $123,483 were enough to rank him first among all Washington stallions in this category.
Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon, is home to two of that state's 2008 leaders. Freshman standout Harbor the Gold, a winning son of Seeking the Gold who attained an astounding three stakes winners from his initial eight starters, compiled first-year progeny earnings of $110,181 as the clear winner in that division.
Meanwhile, fellow Bar C resident Soft Gold (Brz) led all Oregon stallions by all-weather progeny earnings, with $153,426.
In Arizona, the sons and daughters of Golden Gear installed their sire as the state's leader by overall progeny earnings, with $632,649. Fleming Thoroughbred Farm's Gulch stallion was also the state's top turf sire, with $92,456 banked by his runners on the grass during 2008.
Category Five, a resident of Mesa Farms in North Dakota, was the overwhelming leader in his home state for 2008. The Storm Cat stallion was best by overall progeny earnings ($244,577), as well as turf earnings, all-weather surface earnings and 2-year-old progeny earnings.
Congratulations to the owners and managers of these outstanding stallions, and thank you for participating in the Thoroughbred Info Showcase during 2008! We are proud to be associated with these leading sires, as well as all of our Showcase members. - January 15, 2009
It's three stakes victories in a row for Harbor the Gold filly
Catalina Harbor, a first-crop filly by the promising Oregon stallion Harbor the Gold, snatched her third consecutive stakes trophy on December 7, when she outclassed four contenders in Portland Meadows' $11,250 Jane Driggers Debutante Stakes for state-bred juvenile fillies.
Paired with regular rider Mark Anderson, the 2-year-old talent broke on top, was pressed for the lead early, then kept a steady, 1 1/2-length advantage throughout the remainder of the six-furlong race. She successfully spurned her closest competitor in the stretch for a half-length victory in 1:13.92, accomplished on a sloppy surface as the 1-2 wagering favorite for trainer Jim Fergason.
Bred and campaigned by Bar C Racing Stables, Catalina Harbor was produced by the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly. She has won three of her six starts, with three second-place efforts, for first-year earnings of $30,331. Her earlier stakes victories were the Portland track's $19,550 Lassie Stakes and the $18,540 Janet Wineberg Stakes, both contested at six furlongs in November.
Harbor the Gold, a winning, Seeking the Gold half-brother to 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Boston Harbor, is poised to assume the throne as Oregon's leading freshman sire of 2008. The 7-year-old stallion, who stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon, boasts three stakes winners from eight starters, and total progeny earnings of $110,181. - December 7, 2008
Harbor the Gold runners sweep Portland Meadows juvenile stakes
On November 16, a pair of runners from the first crop of Oregon stallion Harbor the Gold captured the feature races at Portland Meadows: the $19,700 Dennis Dodge Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old colts and the $19,550 Lassie Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
In the Dodge, the Ann Peery-trained gelding Who's Your Next Ex sat patiently in fifth under jockey Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo through the early stages, switched to an outside path for his stretch drive and drew off to a three-length victory over seven rivals in the six-furlong contest, which marked his first outing at the Oregon oval. Bred in Washington by Kim Smith and produced by the winning Synastry mare Synanita, the gelding has now won two of four starts, with two thirds, for $18,405 in earnings. He is owned by Kimberly Nobles.
In the six-furlong Lassie, the standout filly Catalina Harbor collected her second consecutive stakes title within a two-week period. Winner of Portland Meadows' $18,540 Janet Wineberg Stakes against her fellow Oregon-bred juvenile fillies on November 2, the Jim Fergason trainee successfully moved up to defeat open company in the Lassie with the services of returning jockey Mark Anderson.
Catalina Harbor exhibited her grit with a front-running victory, turning back multiple bids from her challengers in the final quarter-mile before reaching the wire three-quarters of a length in front. The Bar C Racing Stables homebred, who was produced by the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly, has now won two of five starts, with three seconds, and compiled a $24,143 bankroll.
Seven-year-old Harbor the Gold, by Seeking the Gold, is the leading freshman sire in Oregon for 2008, with cumulative progeny earnings of $102,933 to date. A resident of Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon, he boasts three stakes winners from his initial crop of 12 foals. - November 16, 2008
Harbor the Gold harvests another stakes winner in initial crop
Seven-year-old Harbor the Gold tightened his grip on the pending 2008 title of Oregon's leading freshman sire on November 2, when his juvenile daughter Catalina Harbor broke her maiden in Portland Meadows' $18,540 Janet Wineberg Stakes, becoming her sire's second stakes winner from his initial crop of 12 foals.
The six-furlong race for 2-year-old state-bred fillies attracted only four starters, but Catalina Harbor and jockey Mark Anderson dominated the competition by drawing away in the stretch for a 4 3/4-length victory. Saddled by trainer Jim Fergason, the Bar C Racing Stables homebred covered the distance in 1:14.24 over a sloppy surface.
Catalina Harbor is the first foal out of the Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly. She entered the Wineberg off three consecutive runner-up efforts at Portland Meadows and at Les Bois Park in Idaho. From four starts to date, the dark bay filly has earned $13,390.
A winning son of Seeking the Gold, Harbor the Gold is a half-brother to 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Boston Harbor. He has sired an impressive four winners from six first-crop starters, for a 66.67% success rate. His chief earner is Emerald Downs' 2008 Captain Condo Stakes winner, Noosa Beach.
Harbor the Gold stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon, and is represented by cumulative progeny earnings of $81,345. - November 2, 2008
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