Allowance win is third straight for Private Gold sophomore

Age makes no difference for Summer Excess, a 3-year-old son of the Washington-based stallion Private Gold who defeated his elders for the second time this year in an August 28 allowance test at Golden Gate Fields, while extending his win streak to encompass three consecutive races in Northern California.

Unraced at 2, the Bud Klokstad trainee has made amends for his late arrival with victories in all but one of his starts in 2010. After running second by a length in his six-furlong maiden claiming debut at Golden Gate on January 24, the Washington-bred put the pieces together for a four-length score at the same track and distance while advancing to maiden special weight company on February 20. He reappeared in a six-furlong starter allowance against older horses during the California State Fair meet in Sacramento on July 17, and dominated the field in front-running fashion.

The speedy gelding again tackled six furlongs and older runners in his August follow-up, in which he was partnered with jockey Michael Martinez and sent postward as the 5-2 favorite against eight rivals. As is his routine, he set the pace with internal fractions of :22.43, :45.17 and :57.46 before posting a final time of 1:10.21 for his 1 1/2-length win on the Tapeta Footings surface.

Summer Excess is the first foal out of the winning In Excess (Ire) mare Summer Sails, and races as a homebred for owners Helen Sherry and Billie Klokstad. His four-race career has yielded earnings of $47,100 to date.

Private Gold, by Seeking the Gold, ranks as Washington’s leading third-crop sire of 2010. The 10-year-old resident of El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw has cumulative progeny earnings of more than $580,000 to date. — August 28, 2010

Good Journey achieves his first North American winner

Good Journey, a California-based stallion who initiated his breeding career in Australia in 2003, was credited with his first North American winner on August 26, when his 2-year-old filly Farallon romped to a decisive victory in a Golden Gate Fields maiden test while making her racing debut.

The second foal out of the winning Mr. Greeley mare Agua de Mayo signaled her readiness for her first start with a dozen solid works over the Northern California racetrack’s main Tapeta Footings surface, including a four-furlong move on August 22 that was clocked in :47.20 as the second-fastest of 112 works at the distance that day.

Paired with the region’s perennial leading rider, Russell Baze, and offered for a claiming price of $32,000, California-bred Farallon was sent postward in the 5 1/2-furlong race as the 7-10 wagering favorite among six starters. The Bud Klokstad trainee did not disappoint her backers; she simply overwhelmed the competition with a front-running effort that culminated with an 8 1/2-length margin of victory in a final time of 1:04.06.

Farallon, a homebred runner for Pacific Ridge Stable, earned $9,000 for her successful debut.

The youngster hails from the first California-conceived crop of the shuttle stallion Good Journey, a Grade 1 winner and $1.7 million-earner who is already represented by five crops to race and collective progeny earnings of more than $2 million from his early stint in the Southern Hemisphere, anchored by 2008 WATC Derby (Aus-G1) winner Grand Journey (Aus). The 14-year-old Nureyev half-brother to 2003 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Aldebaran makes his North American home at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. — August 26, 2010

Ten Most Wanted gelding among nation’s leaders by wins

With his 1 3/4-length score in an allowance race at Columbus on August 21, the first-crop Ten Most Wanted gelding Tenth Power scored his eighth victory of 2010 and thereby entered a lofty realm as one of the top five runners in North America by wins this year.

The 4-year-old campaigner, who currently competes in the Midwest for owner and trainer Milton Gaede, prompted the pace under jockey Ashley Dill in the 6 1/2-furlong contest and ultimately reached the wire in 1:19, well clear of his five rivals. He picked up a $4,500 check for the effort to bring his career bankroll to $87,787 from 24 lifetime starts.

Tenth Power has answered the call to post 12 times in 2010, and has won eight of those races, all in Nebraska: five at Fonner Park, one at Lincoln Race Course, one at Columbus and, most significantly, in the $52,000 Omaha Stakes at Horsemen’s Park last month. During the latter race, he made history as his sire’s first stakes winner. He has been successful from the distances of six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles this year, and is currently tied for second with three other North America-based Thoroughbreds for the mantle of most year-to-date wins. The national leader, with nine wins in 2010, is the East Coast filly World Gone Wrong.

A 10-time winner overall, Tenth Power was bred in Kentucky by H. Allen Poindexter and Southern Chase Farm and produced by the dual stakes-placed winner Miss Fleet Diablo, by Diablo.

Grade 1 winner Ten Most Wanted stands at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. From three crops to race, the 10-year-old Deputy Commander stallion has attained more than $1.6 million in gross progeny receipts. — August 21, 2010

Private Gold fillies complete rich Washington Oaks exacta

A pair of fillies from the second crop of Washington stallion Private Gold completed a hefty exacta at Emerald Downs on August 14, when the duo nabbed first and second in the $75,000 Washington Oaks. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

Conducted at 1 1/8 miles as the track’s championship event for 3-year-old fillies, the 31st running of the Washington Oaks attracted 11 starters, including the cropmates Zenovit and Private Fortune. Each brought prior Emerald Downs stakes experience to the table: the former had run third in the track’s one-mile Irish Day Handicap on June 6 and the latter had placed in two 6 1/2-furlong stakes events at the ages of 2 and 3.

In the Washington Oaks, the 7-1 choice Zenovit employed a stalking position under leading Emerald rider Ricky Frazier, took command of the proceedings at the top of the stretch and drew off to a dominating, 2 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:49.40. While elevating her nine-race earnings to $76,338, the three-time winner also reached a milestone as the first stakes winner for her sire.

Meanwhile, Private Fortune utilized different tactics for the route. With jockey Troy Stillwell in the irons, the 45-1 longshot raced wide and in ninth position through the early stages, then finished with gusto to secure the runner-up spot, six lengths in front of the third-place runner. A 13-time starter and maiden winner with seven placings to her credit, she has banked $55,465 to date.

Together, the Washington-bred twosome returned a $301.10 payoff for a $1 exacta ticket.

Zenovit is the second foal out of the winning Cahill Road mare Cahilina, and races as a homebred for Dana Claxton and Riverbend Stable. Her trainer is Larry Ross.

The Jim Penney-trained Private Fortune was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Pabst, and is campaigned by Blue Ribbon Racing #2. Produced by Drone’s stakes-winning daughter Shimmer of Silk, she is a half-sister to 2006 Washington Oaks winner She’s All Silk.

Zenovit and Private Fortune are two of eight stakes performers for 10-year-old Private Gold, the leading third-crop sire in Washington. The Grade 3-placed, dual stakes winner by Seeking the Gold stands at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, and has total progeny earnings of more than $570,000. — August 14, 2010

Juvenile Harbor the Gold filly romps in Emerald Downs stakes

Undefeated Carrabelle Harbor, a third-crop daughter of leading Oregon sire Harbor the Gold, made every post a winning one en route to her resounding victory in the $45,000 Angie C. Stakes at Emerald Downs on August 8. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

Accompanied by returning jockey Ricky Frazier and entered into the six-furlong test on the heels of her successful career debut in the track’s 5 1/2-furlong Northwest Stallion Knights Choice Stakes on July 18, Oregon-bred Carrabelle Harbor was installed as the even-money favorite in the field of seven juvenile fillies and promptly rewarded the confidence of her backers with an easy score in 1:10.40. The full sister to 2008 Oregon Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Catalina Harbor broke on top, then proceeded to carve fractions of :21.80, :45.40 and :57.80 through the opening five furlongs. She extended her lead with every stride as she approached the wire, and ultimately posted a 9 1/4-length win margin at the conclusion.

Carrabelle Harbor is a Doris Harwood trainee who is campaigned by her breeder, Bar C Racing Stables Inc., in conjunction with Desert Rose Racing LLC. She is the second multiple stakes winner out of the unplaced Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly, and she has grossed $41,271 from her two winning starts to date.

On the same day as Carrabelle Harbor’s scintillating stakes triumph, her sire’s 4-year-old filly Aroseformadeline added a second stakes placing to her own 20-race portfolio. The Leonard Hammrich homebred, a five-time winner out of Katahaula County’s winning daughter Cheyenne Rose, invaded Canada to take third in the modest Hi-Tech Feature Starter Stakes at Grande Prairie. Oregon-bred Aroseformadeline has banked $19,909 to date.

Harbor the Gold has quickly ascended to the top of Oregon’s sire rankings since his first runners debuted in 2008. The 9-year-old son of Seeking the Gold stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, and boasts 10 stakes performers among his collective earners of more than $800,000. — August 8, 2010

Noosa Beach, by Harbor the Gold, acquires sixth stakes title

Four-year-old Noosa Beach, the leading runner for the Oregon-based stallion Harbor the Gold, proved his ability at a route distance on August 1, when he romped to an easy victory in Emerald Downs’ $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The accomplishment marked his sixth win in stakes company, all of which have taken place at the Washington racetrack. The gelding’s impressive spree includes victories in the six-furlong Captain Condo Stakes in 2008, the six-furlong Auburn Stakes and 6 1/2-furlong Pepsi Cola Handicap in 2009 and three black-type scores in 2010: the six-furlong Seattle Handicap, one-mile Budweiser Handicap and 1 1/8-mile Mt. Rainier, the latter of which he completed in 1:48 as the 8-5 second wagering choice behind 2009 Longacres Mile Handicap (G3) winner and 11-10 favorite Assessment — the only horse to defeat Noosa Beach this year, when the two met in the $50,000 Governor’s Handicap on July 11.

“Noosa Beach is just a classy horse,” said winning jockey Ricky Frazier, who guided the 121-pound Mt. Rainier highweight through an early speed duel with the multiple stakes winner Gallon and, ultimately, to a 4 1/2-length advantage over the 15-1 longshot runner-up, Senor Rojo, at the wire. “What more can you say? He just makes my job a whole lot easier.”

Bred in Washington by his owner, Jeff Harwood, and trainer, Doris Harwood, Grade 3-placed Noosa Beach is the fifth winner out of the unraced Basket Weave mare Julia Rose. He began his career auspiciously, with a 4 1/2-furlong debut win in a $12,500 maiden claiming race in August 2008, and has since improved his overall record to eight wins, three seconds and two thirds from 14 starts.

The $246,875-earner hails from the first crop of 9-year-old Harbor the Gold, a winning son of Seeking the Gold who holds court at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon. The stallion leads all sires in the state by 2010 progeny earnings, with more than $300,000 accrued by his runners since January 1. — August 1, 2010

California sire Ten Most Wanted achieves first stakes winner

Tenth Power’s remarkable journey thus far this year has taken the Ten Most Wanted gelding from competing in $5,000 claiming races, to stringing together a six-race win streak, to becoming the first stakes winner for his California-based sire — and there are still five months remaining on the 2010 calendar.

The 4-year-old gelding, who hails from his sire’s first foal crop, capped his dream season with a front-running victory in the $52,000 Omaha Stakes at Horsemen’s Park on July 25. The one-mile race marked his debut at the Nebraska oval, although he has shuffled between several other tracks on the Midwest circuit since his November 2008 racing debut.

Tenth Power, an $18,000 graduate of the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale who was bred in Kentucky by H. Allen Poindexter and Southern Chase Farm, had a modest record of two wins from 12 starts for his former connections at the conclusion of his sophomore campaign in 2009. That career tally has now risen to nine wins from 22 starts under the direction of his new owner and trainer, Milton Gaede, for whom he has campaigned since March 6. His overall earnings are $80,351.

He is the first stakes winner out of Miss Fleet Diablo, a dual stakes-placed winner by Diablo. In the nine-horse Omaha, he carried jockey Ashley Dill through fractions of :24.60, :48.20, 1:13.60 and 1:26.20 before reaching the wire with a three-quarter-length advantage in 1:39.60. Despite his previous 2010 accomplishments, Tenth Power paid $20 to win as a 9-1 outsider.

Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California is the home of his Grade 1-winning sire, Ten Most Wanted. The 10-year-old son of Deputy Commander has four stakes horses and cumulative progeny earnings of more than $1.5 million from his first three crops to race. — July 25, 2010

Atticus gelding now five-for-six with Del Mar turf stakes win

Neither the route distance nor a wide trip hampered Bruce’s Dream from capturing his first stakes trophy on July 25, when the Atticus gelding kept his record at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club perfect with a narrow victory in the appropriately named California Dreamin’ Handicap. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The 1 1/16-mile grass event for horses who were either bred or sired in California marked a significant progression for the 4-year-old runner, who had won four of his five previous starts at sprint distances. The Mike Puype trainee broke his maiden in his six-furlong career debut on the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park in October 2008, then reeled off consecutive five-furlong victories on the Del Mar turf course in July and August 2009. After a solid third-place effort behind subsequent Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag in the $100,000 Morvich Handicap (G3) on Santa Anita’s 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course in September 2009, he was not seen again until June 25, 2010, when he won his return in a six-furlong grass allowance at Hollywood Park after battling sore shins during the interim.

Bruce’s Dream was reunited with his jockey from that last race, Joe Talamo, for the $100,000 California Dreamin’. The twosome again proved to be a formidable pair, as they broke from the far outside post in the six-horse field, endured a wide trip throughout while running in fifth, then gobbled up ground in the stretch to snare victory by a head in a swift 1:40.96 as the 9-5 second wagering choice.

The dappled gray gelding added $60,000 to his six-race bankroll, which now sits at $212,940 with five wins to his credit. He is the second foal out of Smokester’s winning daughter Remember Dorothy, and was bred in California by owner Bruce Corwin of Corwin Racing.

He is the 12th stakes winner for 18-year-old Atticus, a resident of Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The Grade 1-winning Nureyev stallion has total progeny earnings of more than $11 million to date. — July 25, 2010

The Usual Q.T., by Unusual Heat, impresses in G1 Eddie Read

With his resounding victory in Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s grassy, $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes (G1) on July 24, The Usual Q.T. inched closer to becoming the first millionaire earner for the leading sire in California: Unusual Heat. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The 4-year-old gelding bested an accomplished field which included four other graded stakes winners, including his speedy cropmate Acclamation, who captured Hollywood Park’s $250,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (G1) earlier this summer. Under the guidance of his regular jockey, Victor Espinoza, The Usual Q.T. enjoyed a dream trip behind that front-runner in the Eddie Read, which was contested as a 1 1/8-mile event on Del Mar’s Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

After breaking on top among the seven starters, The Usual Q.T. stalked the front-running Acclamation from third while hugging the rail through the opening six furlongs, then took command of the proceedings with authority when he switched out for a four-wide move in the stretch. The 7-5 favorite reached the wire in 1:47.28, two lengths in front of runner-up Victor’s Cry, winner of the 2010 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1).

“He tries every single time,” said trainer Jim Cassidy, who conditions The Usual Q.T. for owners Don Van Racing Inc., Michael Nentwig, George Saadeh and Jeffrey Byer. The first foal out of the winning Western Fame mare Lunge has won eight of 15 starts under Cassidy’s care, including the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1), and has banked $993,320 overall. He also collected an elite title as the 2009 California Champion 3-Year-Old Male.

The Usual Q.T., who was bred in California by Carlee Van Kempen, ranks as the top earner for 20-year-old Unusual Heat, the sire of 51 stakes horses overall. The Nureyev stallion, whose lifetime progeny earnings exceed $25.6 million, was recently relocated to stand at Harris Farms in Coalinga, California. — July 24, 2010

Harbor the Gold sweeps Emerald Downs juvenile stakes

In the $30,037 Northwest Stallion Knights Choice Stakes for two-year-old fillies, the first-time starter Carrabelle Harbor hinted at a promising future with her 1 1/4-length score against six rivals. Sent off as the 7-5 wagering favorite under leading Emerald Downs rider Ricky Frazier after she posted two consecutive bullet works at the Washington track, she endured a wide trip as she battled for the lead throughout and successfully shook clear of her closest challenger in the waning yards to break her maiden in 1:03.80 for the 5 1/2-furlong trip. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

Carrabelle Harbor is a full sister to the three-time stakes winner Catalina Harbor, Oregon’s Champion 2-Year-Old Filly of 2008. Their dam is the unplaced Tiffany Ice mare Silver City Lilly.

She is trained by Doris Harwood for the partnership of Bar C Racing Stables Inc. and Desert Rose Racing LLC. The former entity bred the $16,521-earner in Oregon.

Less than an hour after Carrabelle Harbor exerted her authority in the Knights Choice, her cropmate Couldabenthewhisky mirrored her feat with his own 1 1/4-length win in the track’s $29,052 Northwest Stallion Strong Ruler Stakes, also contested at 5 1/2 furlongs. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

With Frazier in the irons, the 2-year-old gelding took immediate control of the nine-horse race as the 3-2 favorite, translating a contentious early lead into a facile victory in a final time of 1:03.80. The Bonnie Jenne trainee, who was making his stakes debut on the heels of his four-length maiden win on June 13, pushed his earnings to $23,499 while keeping his two-race record perfect for the ownership group of Friendship Stables, Longshot Racing and Craig and Stanley Fredrickson.

Couldabenthewhisky was bred in Washington by Bar C Racing Stable, Bultena and Ginger. He is the first named foal out of Bahati, an unraced daughter of Horse Chestnut (SAf).

The youngsters are the sixth and seventh stakes winners, respectively, for Harbor the Gold, a 9-year-old Seeking the Gold stallion who holds court at Neal and Pam Christopherson’s Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon. The winning half-brother to 1996 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Boston Harbor is his home state’s leading sire of 2010, and boasts total progeny earnings of more than $730,000 from three crops of racing age. — July 18, 2010

Oregon-based stallion Makaleha euthanized at age 23

The multiple stakes-winning Oregon stallion Makaleha was euthanized on June 7 after developing complications from colic. He was 23 years old.

Bred in California by My My Howard and produced by the unplaced Drone mare Flash a Smile, the bay son of Never Tabled captured six stakes races during his four-year athletic career, in which he canvassed the northern region of his home state. Successful in 10 of his 27 lifetime starts on dirt and turf from the ages of 2 to 5, he also set a track record of 1:33.70 in his one-mile allowance win at Sacramento on August 23, 1991 — a mark which still stands to this day. He retired to the breeding shed in late 1992 with total earnings of $234,135.

From 13 limited crops of racing age, he has sired the collective earners of more than $2.1 million, including the Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Her First Maki and an additional black-type performer. He maintained lifetime average earnings per starter of more than $22,000.

“He was a great racehorse and a part of the family,” said Brenda Estes, who purchased the stallion from his former California residence and relocated him to stand at her Calpalm Thoroughbreds in Grants Pass, Oregon prior to the 2010 breeding season. “There was a day care at the other end of the pasture, and at playtime for the kids, ‘Maki’ would walk down to the fence (adults always around) and the kids would scratch him on his front legs and chest. He really loved the attention. The only time he would leave was to get a quick bite to eat or drink of water, then he was back down by the day care enjoying all the attention he could get.”

The final crop of foals by Makaleha will be born in 2011. — July 13, 2010

Cahill Road filly ends three-race win streak with stakes placing

On July 11, the Cahill Road filly Sis’s Sis followed up the inaugural stakes victory of her career with a runner-up finish in her next black-type start: the $50,000 Washington’s Lottery Stakes, hosted by Emerald Downs for 3-year-old fillies. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

As the half-length winner of the track’s $50,000 Irish Day Handicap on June 6, a one-mile race which marked her third consecutive victory, the Washington-bred filly was installed as the 3-2 favorite for the 1 1/16-mile Washington’s Lottery. Under regular rider Juan Gutierrez, she settled into an early stalking position in third through the opening portion of the nine-horse race, gradually moved up three-wide to take command in the final turn, then relinquished her brief lead to the hard-charging Rewritten, who powered past her in the final yards for a 1 1/2-length tally.

Sis’s Sis completed the test 2 1/2 lengths in front of the third-place finisher, and collected a $10,000 paycheck for her effort. Her seven-race record now stands at four wins and a second, with earnings of $62,385.

The Jim Penney trainee was bred by Dale Mahlum, and is currently campaigned by Michael and Amy Feuerborn. Her dam is the stakes-winning Carnivalay mare Carni Gal.

She is one of 30 stakes winners sired by Cahill Road, a 22-year-old son of Fappiano who leads all Washington-based stallions by lifetime progeny earnings with more than $19.3 million accrued by his runners to date. The Grade 1 winner and full brother to 1990 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Unbridled holds court at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw. — July 11, 2010

Harbor the Gold dual champion secures another stakes placing

Dual Washington champion Noosa Beach, by Harbor the Gold, was handed his first loss of 2010 on July 11, when he gave way late in Emerald Downs’ $50,000 Governor’s Handicap and finished a grudging second to the reigning winner of the track’s most prestigious race. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

A five-time stakes winner who hails from his sire’s inaugural foal crop, Noosa Beach entered the 6 1/2-furlong test on a three-race win streak that began with an April 18 allowance victory at 5 1/2 furlongs and included successful trips in the six-furlong Seattle Handicap on May 16 and the one-mile Budweiser Handicap on June 20, all at the Washington oval. In the latter two tests, he was a resounding victor over 2009 Longacres Mile Handicap (G3) winner Assessment; in the Governor’s Handicap, however, that rival exacted his revenge.

Paired with leading Emerald Downs jockey Ricky Frazier, Noosa Beach was sent postward as the 1-2 wagering favorite among eight starters. He overcame a slight bump at the start, then held a narrow lead while facing constant pressure through the opening half-mile, which he completed in :44.60. With a furlong left to run, he met Assessment’s late challenge with a game effort along the rail, but was ultimately passed by a neck at the finish.

The 4-year-old gelding out of Julia Rose, by Basket Weave, pocketed $10,000 for his runner-up effort, elevating his bankroll to $219,375. His racing portfolio features seven wins and five stakes placings for trainer Doris Harwood, who bred the 13-time starter in Washington in partnership with owner Jeff Harwood.

Grade 3-placed Noosa Beach is the highest earner for Harbor the Gold, a 9-year-old winner by Seeking the Gold who stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon and ranks as the state’s leading sire of 2010, with year-to-date progeny earnings of more than $225,000. — July 11, 2010

Juvenile filly by Perfect Mandate romps in stakes debut

Decarchy filly fights to runner-up finish in G1 American Oaks

Making the most ambitious start of her 11-race career in the $250,000 American Oaks Stakes (G1) at Hollywood Park on July 3, the Northern California shipper Antares World became the first graded stakes performer for her sire, Decarchy, with her hard-fought, second-place effort in the elite grass test. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The 3-year-old filly’s accomplishments heading into the race included victories in a pair of 1 1/16-mile events at Golden Gate Fields in 2010: the $75,000 California Oaks on the track’s main Tapeta Footings surface and the $60,000 Golden Poppy Stakes on turf. But at 1 1/4 miles, the American Oaks marked her first furthest attempt; as such, she was let go at odds of 12-1 in the seven-horse field.

Joining Antares World for the journey to Southern California was her regular rider, Frank Alvarado. The twosome were involved in the race from the start, when they leapt from the gate and immediately joined a torrid battle for the early lead that had the quickest three runners more than 10 lengths in front as the sophomore fillies passed the grandstand for the first time. Although she pushed the front-running longshot Riviera Chic to fractions of :23.46, :47.26 and 1:12.07 by running a close-up second through the opening six furlongs, Antares World had enough left to take the lead herself in the final turn and to hold back the surging 2-1 favorite, City to City. But she could not match the strides of the fast-closing Harmonious, who swooped three-wide down the stretch and reached the wire in 2:01.77 as an impressive, 1 1/4-length winner.

Antares World pocketed $50,000 for second and pushed her total earnings to $229,718 for her owners, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams, who bred her in California. The five-time winner, who was produced by Spinning World’s winning daughter Alashir’s World, is trained by Steven Specht.

She is one of five stakes winners for the fourth-crop sire Decarchy, a 13-year-old son of Distant View who stands at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The dual graded stakes winner out of 2002 Broodmare of the Year Toussaud has cumulative progeny earnings of more than $3.3 million to date. — July 3, 2010

Lit de Justice mare Dotsy Jean sprints to first stakes victory

California-bred Dotsy Jean, a speedy daughter of 1996 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Lit de Justice, powered her way to her inaugural stakes victory on July 2 in the $72,250 Culver City Stakes, a six-furlong dash contested on the Hollywood Park turf course. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

Racing under the lights on a Friday night program, Dotsy Jean was sent postward as the slight 2-1 favorite under leading Hollywood rider Joel Rosario, who had ridden the 5-year-old mare in five of her nine previous career victories. The duo controlled the Culver City from the moment the starting gate opened, with Dotsy Jean leaping quickest of all from her outside stall and maneuvering immediately toward the rail to take an early lead.

Despite toting the heaviest weight in the five-horse-field, at 121 pounds, Dotsy Jean was never headed while posting fractions of :23.32, :45.49 and :56.93 through the first five furlongs. Challenged in the stretch by the fast-closing Minute Limit (Ire), she tenaciously held off that rival in a stirring late duel and put her nose in front at the wire in a final time of 1:08.74. The Martin Jones trainee earned $47,670 for her fifth win on the Hollywood Park grass and 10th win overall, elevating her 31-race bankroll to $318,133.

Dotsy Jean was bred by Ed DeJoy, and produced by the winning Pentelicus mare Grandjean. Her other stakes achievement for owners AJM Racing LLC and J B K Stable was a third-place finish on Santa Anita Park’s main Pro-Ride surface in the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes earlier this year.

She is one of 37 black-type performers for 1996 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Lit de Justice, a resident of Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The El Gran Senor stallion, 20, has progeny earnings of more than $20.1 million overall. — July 2, 2010

Koala Beach pushes Harbor the Gold to top spot in Oregon

In a thrilling edition of Emerald Downs’ $50,000 Pepsi Cola Handicap on June 27, Koala Beach pulled off three notable achievements: in addition to setting a track record for sophomores, he elevated his trainer to a professional benchmark and helped push his sire, Harbor the Gold, above all other Oregon-based stallions on the 2010 progeny earnings list. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The 3-year-old gelding, a two-time stakes winner at the Auburn oval last year, returned to competition after a nearly seven-month break on April 17, but ran a disappointing last in his comeback attempt in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming event. However, the Washington-bred runner regained his winning form in his next outing in the Pepsi Cola, a one-mile test for his age group.

With jockey Ricky Frazier up, Koala Beach jumped first from the gate and got involved immediately, moving inward from his far outside post to challenge the early leader, Bogachiel. After pressing that rival through opening splits of :22.40, :45.20 and 1:09.40 and taking a brief lead in the final turn, he was swarmed from behind by latecomers Newfound Man and 3-5 favorite Posse Power. Although he appeared beaten as the wire approached, Koala Beach re-rallied along the rail and powered ahead, nosing his way in front of a three-way photo at the finish. Posse Power was second, a neck in front of Newfound Man.

His final time of 1:34.20 set a new standard as the fastest mile ever recorded by a 3-year-old at Emerald Downs. Another track record was simultaneously broken: winning trainer Doris Harwood, who conditions Koala Beach for her husband, Jeff Harwood, became Emerald Downs’ all-time leader by stakes victories, with 43.

Koala Beach is the first foal out of the unraced mare Kittyzallwet, by Distinctive Cat. He has compiled four wins and three placings from eight starts and a total bankroll of $121,693.

He was bred by Neal and Pam Christopherson’s Bar C Racing Stables, the Oregon farm which stands Harbor the Gold in Hermiston. Assisted by his son’s Pepsi Cola paycheck, the 9-year-old Seeking the Gold stallion overtook the lead among all statewide sires with his 2010 progeny earnings of $196,699. — June 27, 2010

Noosa Beach increases lead as top runner for Harbor the Gold

Noosa Beach, a graded stakes-caliber runner from the debut crop of Harbor the Gold, continued his trek as his sire’s top lifetime earner with a front-running win in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Emerald Downs on June 20. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The 4-year-old gelding, who was bred in Washington by Jeff and Doris Harwood, entered the one-mile race off his track record-setting performance in Emerald Downs’ six-furlong Seattle Handicap, which he won on May 16 in a blistering time of 1:07. Despite the added distance of the Budweiser, he was installed as the 2.30-1 wagering favorite against seven rivals, including two former winners of the track’s revered Longacres Mile Handicap (G3): Wasserman and Assessment.

On this particular day, however, his level of competition was inconsequential. Noosa Beach merely ran them off their feet, breaking on top from the rail position and setting all the pace in front as easily as his jockey, Ricky Frazier, liked. The pair’s five-length lead in mid-stretch extended to an insurmountable, 9 1/4-length margin of victory, and a final time of 1:35 on the sloppy going.

Noosa Beach, a two-time Washington champion for his age group, has won seven of his 12 races to date. Among his four additional placings for owner Jeff Harwood and trainer Doris Harwood is a third in the 2009 British Columbia Derby (G3) at Hastings Race Course. He is out of the unraced Basket Weave mare Julia Rose, and has earned $209,375 overall.

He is one of five stakes winners by the Oregon stallion Harbor the Gold, a resident of Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston. The 9-year-old son of Seeking the Gold has total progeny earnings of more than $630,000 from three crops of racing age. — June 20, 2010

Flame Thrower gelding inherits Monmouth stakes win

On June 20, fate turned into fortune for the Monmouth Park runner Flamin’ Hot, a gelding by Flame Thrower who finished second by a nose in the track’s $96,000 Anderson Fowler Stakes, but who was awarded the victory upon disqualification of the horse who had finished in front of him. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

A close second in his previous race, the six-furlong Tom Ridge Stakes conducted on the Tapeta Footings all-weather surface at Presque Isle Downs on May 12, Flamin’ Hot was installed by handicappers as the even-money favorite for the 5 1/2-furlong Anderson Fowler, a turf race restricted to 3-year-olds. He was partnered with jockey Alan Garcia for the test, which marked his eighth career outing.

After breaking last of eight from the gate and saving ground in seventh for the majority of the sprint, Flamin’ Hot moved three-wide at the top of the stretch and closed on the far outside with determination, reaching the wire just a whisker behind 9-1 shot Escrow Kid, who stopped the clock in 1:02.31 under Joe Bravo. But the runner-up was ultimately awarded the win, and its accompanying $55,000 purse, when Escrow Kid was disqualified from first and placed fifth by the stewards for interfering with another runner in late stretch.

Flamin’ Hot improved his total bankroll to $158,893 with his inaugural stakes win and fourth win overall. Bred in Florida by Gary Garber and produced by the winning Scatmandu mare Domestic Dispersal, the gelding is currently trained by Richard Violette Jr. for owner Ralph Evans.

He is the second stakes winner for Flame Thrower, a multiple graded stakes winner who stands at Oak Hill Farm in Paso Robles, California. The 12-year-old Saint Ballado stallion has cumulative progeny earnings of more than $3.2 million to date. — June 20, 2010

Stakes victory marks sixth consecutive win by Matty G runner

Making his black-type debut in the $100,000 Wild and Wonderful Stakes at Charles Town Races & Slots on June 19, the Matty G gelding My Friend Nev successfully met the challenge while capturing his sixth race in a row and extending a win streak that stretches back to last November. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

That victory, which came in his final race of 2009, was in an allowance company at Hawthorne Race Course in Illinois. Since then, the 5-year-old runner defeated all challengers in allowance and claiming races at Penn National and Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania before he was elevated to stakes-level competition in West Virginia for his 24th career outing.

Despite the wave of success that carried him into the Wild and Wonderful Stakes, My Friend Nev was widely ignored at odds of 20-1 for the seven-furlong test, which attracted 10 starters. Under jockey Sylvester Carmouche III, he broke last from the gate and was allowed to settle near back through the opening quarter-mile, then advanced steadily on the backstretch while running wide throughout. After negotiating the final turn, the Midwest Thoroughbreds colorbearer rallied resolutely on the outside in the waning yards and got up for the win by a neck in a three-way photo finish. The final time was 1:25.38.

My Friend Nev was bred in Kentucky by Loch Lea Farm Inc., and produced by the four-time winner Her Majesty Rose, by Magesterial. He is trained by Jamie Ness, and has won seven races and $211,255 overall.

He is the 13th stakes winner for Matty G, the leading sire in Washington since 2006. The Grade 1-winning son of Capote, 17, stands at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, and has total progeny earnings of more than $11.7 million. — June 19, 2010