Leading Unusual Heat runner pads margin with G2 second

The top earner for California’s leading sire, Unusual Heat, padded his bankroll on February 21 with a second-place finish in a Grade 2 turf marathon at Santa Anita Park. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

Six-year-old Unusual Suspect benefited from the patient handling of jockey Alonso Quinonez in the $150,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap, a 1 1/2-mile grass affair which marked the California-bred runner’s 43rd lifetime start. Quinonez allowed his 12-1 mount to save ground throughout by settling in seventh along the rail as the eight-horse field traveled past the grandstand for the first time, then well into the backstretch. After gradually encroaching upon the lead group, the duo came out a bit in the stretch and successfully passed all but one of their rivals: the 4 1/4-length winner, Bourbon Bay.

Unusual Suspect collected $30,000 for his runner-up effort, elevating his overall bankroll to $770,226. The Barry Abrams trainee now has eight wins and nine placings to his credit, including a victory in the 2007 Hollywood Turf Express Handicap (G3).

A full brother to Grade 1 winner Golden Doc A, he was produced by 2007/2008 California Broodmare of the Year Penpont (NZ), by Crested Wave. His breeder is David Abrams, who campaigns the horse in partnership with Barry and Dyan Abrams.

Unusual Heat has sired 15 graded stakes performers in the United States. The 20-year-old Nureyev stallion holds court at Old English Rancho in Sanger, California, and currently leads all statewide sires by 2010 progeny earnings. — February 21, 2010

Soft Gold veteran runs third in New Mexico stakes debut

We Got Da Feva, a son of the Oregon-based stallion Soft Gold (Brz) and veteran of the claiming ranks in California, Washington and Arizona, moved up to stakes company in his New Mexico debut on February 20 and came away with a third-place finish.

The 6-year-old gelding, a winner of eight of his 41 lifetime starts, has made all but two trips postward while racing for a tag since April 2007 at Golden Gate Fields, Emerald Downs, Turf Paradise, Yavapai Downs, the former Bay Meadows Race Course and on the West Coast fair circuit. In both of his stakes starts, however, the well-traveled runner has earned a placing: first in the 5 1/2-furlong Boomer Starter Stakes at Yavapai Downs in August 2008 and then, in his most recent effort, in the 1 1/16-mile Rillito Park Budweiser Mile Handicap at Rillito Park.

Saddled by trainer Tracie Aker and ridden by jockey Saul Duarte, We Got Da Feva maintained a steady course throughout the $10,000 Budweiser Mile, which attracted eight starters and was conducted on a wet fast strip. After racing in third from the start, he advanced to second behind the front-runner and eventual winner Mad About Fuzz at the six-furlong mark, but he was passed late by the runner-up and forced to settle for third, more than nine lengths behind the runaway winner but more than 13 lengths ahead of the fourth-place finisher in the strung-out field.

California-bred We Got Da Feva is owned by A Double Monkey Stable, and has banked $50,690 overall as the third foal out of Star Stepping, a winning daughter of Moscow Ballet. His breeders are Russell and Shirley Girvin.

He is one of 13 stakes horses for Soft Gold, a dual Group 1 winner in his native Brazil and a current resident of Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon. The 18-year-old Fast Gold sire has collective progeny earnings of more than $3.6 million to date. — February 20, 2010

Welcome to our newest Showcase stallion: Bedford Falls!

Thank you to Poplar Meadows of Sanger, California, for adding their stallion, Bedford Falls, to our Showcase!

A 7-year-old son of Storm Cat’s Grade 1 winner Forestry, Bedford Falls sold for $1.1 million during the opening session of the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and ranked as his sire’s second-highest-priced yearling for that year. Carrying the famous silks of Darley Stable, he began his racing career on the East Coast, and eventually won or placed in 11 of his 15 lifetime starts and earned $115,620 while competing on dirt, turf and all-weather surfaces at Gulfstream Park, Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course and in Southern and Northern California.

Produced by the winning Affirmed mare Christmas in Aiken, he is a half-brother to Harlan’s Holiday ($3,632,664), a multiple Grade 1 winner and prominent Kentucky stallion who is represented by 12 stakes winners and the collective earners of more than $9.5 million from three crops to race, including Grade 1 winner Into Mischief.

Bedford Falls entered stud in 2009, and achieved a 95% in-foal rate from his initial book of mares. His first foals arrive in 2010. He is owned by a partnership, and stands for a $2,500 fee.

Click here to visit Bedford Falls’ new, custom-built Showcase website! — February 15, 2010

Multiple stakes winner by Game Plan adds more black type

The consistent Game Plan gelding Highland Games, a stakes winner from the ages of 4 to 6, added to his illustrious record with a third-place finish in the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap at Turf Paradise on February 13, marking his third stakes placing from his last four outings. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

With the six-furlong test conducted at his home track in Arizona, where he has made 33 of his 34 career starts, the Lyman Rollins-saddled veteran raced comfortably under his regular rider, Miguel Hernandez, and put forth another solid effort in black-type company. The 8-1 wagering choice benefited from an early, ground-saving trip along the rail while running in fourth position among the seven contenders, then made a three-wide bid in the stretch and finished evenly, reaching the conclusion 2 1/4 lengths behind the gate-to-wire winner, Ez Dreamer.

Seven-year-old Highland Games has compiled lifetime earnings of $225,562 while participating almost exclusively in the Turf Paradise stakes program since late 2006. He entered the Phoenix Gold Cup off a runner-up finish at one mile on the turf in the track’s $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap on January 16. He has nine wins and eight placings overall, topped by five stakes victories.

Bred in California by Terry L. Brooks and McMurry TB Services, Highland Games is the third stakes winner out of Hurlingham’s winning daughter Evergreen Beauty. He is campaigned by the Sandra Hall Trust.

Game Plan is the sire of 16 black-type winners among his 45 stakes horses. The 17-year-old son of Danzig stands at E.A. Ranches in Santa Ysabel, California, and is represented by the collective earners of more than $11 million. — February 13, 2010

Unusual Heat colt passes $250,000 in earnings with G2 third

Sent off as a forgotten, 21-1 choice among a field of nine of his peers, the Unusual Heat colt Acclamation proved he belonged in the elite company gathered for Santa Anita Park’s $200,000 Strub Stakes (G2) on February 13 with his tough, third-place outing in the 63rd edition of the restricted race for 4-year-olds. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The California-bred runner, who was saddled by trainer Donald Warren for owners E.W. (“Bud”) and Judy Johnston, broke alertly under jockey David Flores, then pushed the pace-setting longshot Heavenly Wind through the first six furlongs of the 1 1/8-mile Pro-Ride test, flanking that speedy rival by less than two lengths throughout. Acclamation took over the lead while exiting the final turn and set down for a strong stretch drive, but he tired late and was ultimately passed on his outside by the fast-closing duo of Jeranimo and 3-5 favorite Misremembered. Those two contenders completed the exacta in front of him, with 11-1 Jeranimo taking the trophy by a 1 1/4-length win margin.

Acclamation accrued $24,000 for the effort, pushing his overall earnings to $251,048. From 15 starts, he has won twice and placed eight times. He has four graded stakes placings on Southern California’s turf and all-weather racing surfaces to his credit, including a third in Hollywood Park’s grassy 2009 Hollywood Derby (G1).

Bred by the Johnstons’ Old English Rancho, he is the third stakes horse out of the unraced Silveyville mare Winning in Style.

He hails from the eighth foal crop of Unusual Heat, an Old English Rancho resident who reigned as California’s leading sire in 2008 and 2009. The 20-year-old Nureyev stallion boasts 48 stakes horses and lifetime progeny earnings of more than $23.5 million to date. — February 13, 2010

Cascadian runners nab first and third in Oregon stakes race

A pair of geldings from the 2007 crop of the newly relocated stallion Cascadian accounted for two-thirds of the trifecta in the $49,600 Oregon Thoroughbred Breeders Derby, which was conducted over sloppy going at Portland Meadows on February 10.

Dominating the race from start to finish was Seven Torrents, a Jim Penney trainee who led the six-horse field of sophomores through fractions of :24.36, :48.49, 1:13.21 and 1:26.26 for the first seven furlongs of the one-mile test, then reached the wire drawing away in a final clocking of 1:39.33. His margin of victory under jockey Juan Gutierrez was a gaudy 8 1/2 lengths.

Seven Torrents was installed as the 1-2 favorite in the restricted race for Oregon-breds, which he had entered on the heels of his easy victory in the track’s six-furlong OTBA Stallion Stakes on January 18. Overall, he has won four of seven starts and earned $55,293.

Bred by John Shumate, Seven Torrents is the second foal out of the winning Super Seven mare Seven Affairs. He was claimed for $7,500 out of his maiden victory at Emerald Downs last September by his current owner, Remmah Racing Inc.

Getting up for third behind his cropmate was Cascade Carson, a 23-1 maiden from the barn of trainer Jonathan Nance who has banked $14,106 from six trips postward. He has now placed four times, including twice in stakes company, while competing exclusively at Portland Meadows.

Cascade Carson was produced by Hurricane Rylie, a daughter of Abstract who won four minor stakes. He was bred by Nance in partnership with Michael and Amy Stafford, and is currently owned by Hartwick Farm, Allen Floyd and Steve Smith.

Their sire is Cascadian, a 14-year-old Seattle Slew stallion who recently moved from Oregon to stand at Quarter Win Farms in Tularosa, New Mexico. The half-brother to Eclipse Champion and millionaire Blushing John is represented by 17 stakes horses and total progeny earnings of more than $730,000 from seven crops of racing age. — February 10, 2010

Soul of the Matter achieves his first U.S. six-figure earner

The California-based sire Soul of the Matter, a Grade 1 winner and $2.3 million-earner who initiated his stallion career in Japan, accomplished an important milestone on February 5: his son Mobilized became his first North American-conceived runner to pass the six-figure earnings benchmark with a fast-closing allowance victory at Santa Anita Park.

An eight-time starter who bested eight rivals in the seven-furlong test, Mobilized entered the $56,984 allowance on Santa Anita’s main Pro-Ride surface on the heels of a solid, fourth-place finish against his fellow California-breds in the $100,000 Sensational Star Handicap on January 1, a downhill turf race which served as his introduction to stakes company. Saddled by trainer Gary Mandella and ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano in his follow-up race, the 4-year-old colt lingered in eighth early, then unleashed a powerful rally in the stretch to overcome all of his challengers. He reached the wire in a final time of 1:21.73, finishing a neck in front of the favored runner-up.

Mobilized is out of the stakes-producing mare Valleyofthebells, an unplaced daughter of Red Ransom. Bred and campaigned by Robert Reseigne, he has won three times and finished third twice for overall earnings of $115,136 to date.

As a 2-year-old, he broke his maiden at first asking in a 14-horse field during Santa Anita’s Oak Tree Racing Association meet, defeating the subsequent Grade 1 winner The Usual Q.T. and Grade 3 winner Grazen in that auspicious September 2008 debut; he has competed exclusively in Southern California ever since.

Soul of the Matter, 19, is a Private Terms stallion who was retired to stud in Japan at the conclusion of his racing career in 1997. The four-time graded stakes winner relocated to E.A. Ranches in Santa Ysabel, California prior to the 2004 breeding season, and is currently represented by more than $8.1 million in international progeny earnings. — February 5, 2010

Quisisana becomes Decarchy’s fifth stakes winner, top earner

When Quisisana crossed the wire first in the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes at Santa Anita Park on January 30, she accomplished more than her inaugural black-type victory; she also became the fifth stakes winner and highest lifetime earner for her California-based sire, Decarchy. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The California-bred mare defeated 12 rivals in the six-furlong test, and emerged with a $110,000 payday as one of only two winners for her home state in the six-race Sunshine Millions program, which is restricted to runners who were bred in either California or Florida. To get the job done, jockey Rafael Bejarano had to overcome a four-wide trip throughout with his 6-1 mount, who raced in sixth early, moved up to fourth in the turn, then encountered a stiff stretch battle. Quisisana responded to his urging with a late surge, and got up by a scant nose over the fast-closing runner-up, Dubai Majesty, in a final time of 1:08.47.

“She’s not very big, but she’s gutty,” said winning trainer Mike Puype, who has saddled the 5-year-old mare to five wins, one second and two thirds from 10 starts. “They ran right to her and she held them off.”

Quisisana was bred by Todd Gerbovaz, and has earned $275,758 for owners Robert Naify and Jan Van DeBos of Ran Jan Racing Inc. Her dam is Mink Kiss, an unraced daughter of Distinctive Cat.

She is a member of the first foal crop of Decarchy, a 13-year-old Distant View stallion who resides at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez. The dual graded stakes winner out of 2002 Broodmare of the Year Toussaud has total progeny earnings of more than $2.6 million. — January 30, 2010

Unusual Heat runners place in rich Sunshine Millions races

Ignored by most handicappers as the longest shot in the nine-horse field assembled at Santa Anita Park for the 2010 Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes on January 30, the Unusual Heat runner Unusual Smoke surprised his detractors when he outran his 50-1 odds and six of his opponents with a third-place finish in the $500,000 race. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The featured event on the annual Sunshine Millions card, which pits California-breds against Florida-breds in a series of restricted stakes races at Santa Anita in California and Gulfstream Park in Florida, marked the third start of the new year for 5-year-old Unusual Smoke, an A.C. Avila trainee who was winless in five subsequent outings since he captured Hollywood Park’s grassy Khaled Stakes for Cal-breds in April 2009. Partnered with jockey Martin Garcia for the 1 1/8-mile Sunshine Millions Classic on Pro-Ride, Unusual Smoke settled into the second flight of runners in the early stages, moved out four-wide upon entering the stretch and finished willingly, 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Bold Chieftain, to return a $13.40 show wager to his astute backers.

A four-time winner who has collected $247,172 from 18 starts, Unusual Smoke is campaigned by Santa Ines Stable. He is the first foal out of the stakes winner Smokin’ Charlotte, by Red Bishop, and was bred by Fast Lane Farms and Basin, Edwards and Watchorn.

Earlier in the day, another Unusual Heat offspring ran third in Santa Anita’s $300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes: Pretty Unusual. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

Entered in the 1 1/8-mile grass test less than two weeks after she upset the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (G2) on the track’s main Pro-Ride surface at odds of 29-1, Pretty Unusual was reunited with her rider from that previous race, Chantal Sutherland, for her Sunshine Millions try. The 9-1 duo raced evenly in third throughout and gained a slight lead between horses in mid-stretch, but they were ultimately passed by the winner, Tight Precision, and the runner-up, Bootleg Annie, the latter of whom stuck a nose in front of Pretty Unusual at the wire.

The 4-year-old filly earned $33,000 to push her 11-race bankroll to $282,632. A three-time winner, she is trained by Barry Abrams for the ownership group of M. Auerbach LLC, Marie Goda and Jack Klugman, and was bred in California by David Abrams and Madeline Auerbach. Her dam is Sci Fi Kin, a winning daughter of Siphon (Brz).

Unusual Heat holds court at Old English Rancho in Sanger, California. The 20-year-old Nureyev stallion ranked highest in the state by year-end progeny earnings in both 2008 and 2009. — January 30, 2010

Lit de Justice mare nabs third in her first stakes appearance

Making her black-type debut for owners who claimed her one year ago for $16,000, California-bred Dotsy Jean became the 46th stakes performer for the stallion Lit de Justice when she ran a close third in the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes at Santa Anita Park on January 30. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

A 27-time starter, Dotsy Jean has competed on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces at six different racetracks in her home state, and compiled overall earnings of $220,690 with eight wins, five seconds and six thirds highlighting her portfolio. The Martin Jones trainee entered the six-furlong Sunshine Millions test on the heels of two consecutive victories at the distance: an allowance optional claiming race over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride on January 7 and a turf allowance at Hollywood Park on November 28.

Her recent form was not a fluke. Paired with jockey Victor Espinoza and sent postward at odds of 9-1 against 12 rivals who were bred in either California or Florida, Dotsy Jean employed an early stalking position along the rail, moved three-wide in the turn and propelled herself to a short lead in mid-stretch, only to be passed in the final yards by two other runners. The 5-year-old mare ended the race just a half-length behind the winner, Quisisana, while banking $22,000 for the effort.

Dotsy Jean was bred by Ed DeJoy and produced by the winning Pentelicus mare Grandjean. Her ownership group is AJM Racing LLC, JBK Stables and Ryan Oram.

Lit de Justice, 20, stands at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The Grade 1-winning El Gran Senor stallion and 1996 Eclipse Champion Sprinter is represented by more than 230 winners and total progeny earnings in excess of $19.8 million. — January 30, 2010

Unusual Heat filly eclipses champion in Grade 2 El Encino

There may have been a light rain shower falling overhead when California-bred Pretty Unusual upset the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (G2) on January 17, but star power could be found behind her and waiting for her in the Santa Anita Park winner’s circle when the Unusual Heat filly outshined the 10-horse field at odds of 29-1. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

Looming as her biggest threat, both at the wagering windows and on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride racing surface, was 9-5 favorite Stardom Bound, the five-time Grade 1 winner and 2008 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Filly who was undefeated at the track heading into the 1 1/16-mile race for 4-year-old fillies. But despite the last-to-second stretch charge of the $1.8 million-earner, Pretty Unusual was able to hold off her best rival by a clear 1 1/4 lengths after she employed her own closing kick from seventh and split rivals late under jockey Chantal Sutherland. Her winning time was 1:43.72.

Pretty Unusual banked $90,000 for her third career victory, and was greeted after the race by trophy presenter and celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Also in attendance were her owners, Madeline Auerbach, Marie Goda and longtime actor Jack Klugman.

Bred by David Abrams in partnership with Auerbach, Pretty Unusual was produced by the winning Siphon (Brz) mare Sci Fi Kin. Her second dam, Akinemod, won the El Encino for Klugman in 1990. The Barry Abrams trainee, who captured Hollywood Park’s $200,000 Melair Stakes for Cal-bred fillies in 2009, has earned $249,632 from 10 starts overall.

She is the first black-type winner of 2010 for Unusual Heat, California’s leading sire of 2008 and 2009. The Nureyev stallion, 20, stands at Old English Rancho in Sanger and is represented by 47 stakes horses from nine crops to race. — January 17, 2010

Game Plan veteran gets close again in Turf Paradise stakes

He may have been foaled in California, but the Game Plan gelding Highland Games has spent his entire athletic career in Arizona, where he was runner-up for the second consecutive year in the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap on January 16. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

From 33 starts since his 2-year-old season, Highland Games has raced exclusively at Turf Paradise, with a single exception coming in the form of a stakes-winning foray to Yavapai Downs last May. The Lyman Rollins trainee has crafted a consistent record in his adopted home state, with an overall scorecard of nine wins, four seconds and three thirds and earnings of $218,062. He has made 22 dirt and turf stakes appearances.

In the 2010 edition of the Cotton Fitzsimmons, a one-mile grass race, Highland Games broke from the inside and made the most of a ground-saving trip throughout under regular rider Miguel Hernandez, who kept the 7-year-old veteran no further back than fourth in the 11-horse field at any point. The duo took the lead in the stretch and appeared to have the race in hand, until the 16-1 longshot On My Dime closed with a flourish on their outside and snatched away the victory by a head at the wire.

Highland Games was bred by Terry L. Brooks and McMurry TB Services, and races for the Sandra Hall Trust. His dam is the multiple stakes-producing mare Evergreen Beauty, by Hurlingham.

His sire is Game Plan, whose 45 stakes horses have contributed toward cumulative progeny earnings of more than $10.9 million. The 17-year-old Danzig stallion holds court at E.A. Ranches in Santa Ysabel, California. — January 16, 2010

Decarchy filly wins first Golden Gate stakes race of 2010

Antares World, a 3-year-old filly by the California stallion Decarchy, surpassed her runner-up finish in the $64,400 Corte Madera Stakes on December 5, 2009 with a winning return to Golden Gate Fields in the $75,000 California Oaks on January 1, 2010. The 1 1/16-mile test was conducted as the track’s first black-type race of the new year. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]

The Steven Specht trainee has made five of her six career starts on the Tapeta Footings all-weather surface at the Bay Area oval. She broke her maiden by nine widening lengths on October 24, followed by a half-length allowance optional claiming score on November 18 and a head-bob loss to Salty Fries in her stakes debut in the restricted, one-mile Corte Madera.

Reunited with regular rider Frank Alvarado and lined up against four rival sophomore fillies for the California Oaks, Antares World raced forwardly in second through the first half-mile, gained an advantage over the tiring front-runner in the second turn, then successfully held off a late challenger by a head in a final time of 1:45.75. She collected $45,000 for the effort to elevate her overall bankroll to $108,978.

The California-bred filly is campaigned by her breeders, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams. She is the third foal out of Alashir’s World, a winning daughter of Spinning World.

She is by Decarchy, California’s leading first-crop sire of 2007 and leading second-crop sire of 2008. The 13-year-old son of Distant View stands at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, and is represented by seven stakes horses among his 55 winners to date. — January 1, 2010

Welcome to our newest Showcase stallion: Makaleha!

Thank you to Calpalm Thoroughbreds of Grants Pass, Oregon, for adding their stallion, Makaleha, to our Showcase!

A six-time stakes winner and track record-setter, Makaleha earned $234,135 while competing in California from the ages of 2 to 5. He won his racing debut by a jaw-dropping 10 lengths, then went on to win or place in 22 of 27 starts overall, while racking up victories on both dirt and turf. He exhibited versatility by winning at distances from five furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

The 22-year-old son of Never Tabled offers a rare link to some of Thoroughbred racing’s most time-tested bloodlines, with important sires such as Drone, Nasrullah, Round Table and Sir Gaylord present within the first three generations of his pedigree.

Makaleha has sired the collective earners of more than $2 million, including two stakes horses, and he is represented by lifetime average earnings per starter of more than $22,000. In 2010, he is standing his first breeding season in Oregon for a $650 fee.

Click here to visit Makaleha’s new, custom-built Showcase website! — January 1, 2010

Vronsky runner remains unbeaten with runaway victory

Tri Something New, a first-crop representative of the California stallion Vronsky, picked up right where he left off on December 28, posting a facile victory in Arizona to remain undefeated despite a seven-month absence from competition.

The 3-year-old gelding won at first asking on May 31, when he dominated a six-furlong maiden race at Emerald Downs by three lengths. But he did not start again for trainer Mike Chambers until his end-of-the-year outing in $3,500 claiming company at Turf Paradise, which he captured by 5 1/4 lengths going away.

Sent postward for the 5 1/2-furlong test as the 2-1 second wagering choice among eight starters, Tri Something New and rider Glenn Corbett vied for the lead through the first quarter-mile, took command thereafter while encountering little resistance and simply galloped to the wire for the easiest of victories in a final time of 1:04.06.

Tri Something New has earned $6,820 for owner Melinda Blue, who bred the gelding in California. He is the third foal out of the winner St Antim (Ire), a daughter of Petardia (GB).

His sire, Vronsky, resides at Old English Rancho in Sanger, California. The 10-year-old son of Danzig is a multiple winner and the sire of five winners from seven starters, led by the 2009 juvenile stakes winner Excessive Passion. — December 28, 2009

Stud fee alternative announced for California sire Suances

Rancho Temescal in Piru, California has announced an innovative option for California breeders who support the farm’s stallion, Suances (GB), one of the state’s leading second-crop sires of 2009.

During the 2010 breeding season, breeders may choose either to pay the stud fee of $3,500 (live foal guarantee), or, for the first 20 approved mares, the fee will be waived by naming Red Baron’s Barn as co-breeder (50%) of the resulting foal.

Suances, a Group 1 winner in France and Grade 2 winner in Northern California, was represented by his initial runners in 2008, and has average earnings per starter of more than $31,000 from his first two crops to race. The Most Welcome (GB) sire’s chief earner is the 2009 Grade 2-placed stakes winner Feisty Suances ($202,728).

For more information about this 12-year-old stallion and his 2010 breeding season options, please contact Tim Cohen of Rancho Temescal at (805) 521-0511. — December 28, 2009

Winner propels Ten Most Wanted past $1 million for 2009

Ten Most Wanted, California’s current leading second-crop sire, passed the $1 million mark in progeny earnings for 2009 on December 27, when his son Mister Unitas won his second consecutive start.

Competing against 10 rivals at a muddy Philadelphia Park, the 3-year-old gelding broke from the inside post under jockey Stewart Elliott and hugged the rail throughout the seven-furlong race. The 121-pound co-highweight saved ground early while stalking the leaders from third, took over the lead in the stretch and battled valiantly against the tiring front-runner, Webb Road, before eking out the victory by a neck in a final time of 1:25.11.

The 8-1 James Ryerson trainee, who had posted his six-furlong maiden victory at Penn National on December 2, collected a $12,000 winner’s check for the $7,500 claiming race. He has earned $40,350 from 17 starts overall, with two wins and six placings.

Mister Unitas is owned by DRR Stable, and was bred in Florida by Grey Dawn Stables. His dam is the unraced mare The Tricks On Me, by Favorite Trick.

His accomplishment granted Grade 1 winner Ten Most Wanted year-to-date progeny earnings of $1,001,658. The 9-year-old Deputy Commander stallion stands at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California, and is represented by 37 winners from two crops to race. — December 27, 2009

Harbor the Gold adds to success with stakes-placed 2YOs

Meeting head-to-head for the third consecutive time in the early stages of their respective careers, the Oregon-bred fillies Rockhill Gold and Storm N the Harbor each scored a stakes placing on December 14 while contributing toward the ongoing success of their mutual sire, Harbor the Gold.

After competing against each other in a pair of 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight races at Portland Meadows on October 27 and November 9, with Rockhill Gold accomplishing her inaugural victory in the latter test, the rivals faced each other again in the track’s $25,350 Janet Wineberg Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, conducted at six furlongs as one of the features on Oregon Championship Day.

Although neither youngster could overcome the front-running favorite, Shame On Rosie, who wound up winning the nine-horse race by a widening six lengths on the fast dirt track, Rockhill Gold finished best of the rest in second after running four-wide in the turn under jockey J. Luis Torres. Storm N the Harbor chased the early pace under Jose Zunino, but gave way late and finished third, a length behind her cropmate.

Rockhill Gold is trained by Sue Utley for her owner and breeder, Burle Oakley. She is the first foal out of the unraced mare Rockhill Jazz, by He’s Tops, and has earned $8,680.

Storm N the Harbor has banked $4,748 for trainer Sharon Balcom, who co-owns the dual-placed filly with Peggy Buckley. The first foal out of Category Five’s winning daughter Storm N Sunny was bred by Dwight Bailey and Emerald Creek Farms LLC.

The stakes placings by his daughters helped strengthen the standing of Oregon’s current leading sire of 2-year-olds, Harbor the Gold. The Bar C Racing Stables resident boasts year-to-date progeny earnings of more than $200,000 from this age group, which includes the multiple stakes winners Koala Beach and Hollywood Harbor. He also reigns as the state’s leading second-crop sire with overall 2009 progeny earnings of more than $360,000. — December 14, 2009

Cascadian tallies two stakes runners at Portland Meadows

Highlighted by a pair of stakes-placed efforts from two of his sons, the 2009 Oregon Championship Day card at Portland Meadows yielded welcome results on December 14 for the state-based stallion Cascadian. His 2-year-old gelding Cascade Carson nearly overcame double-digit odds with a second-place finish in the $21,050 Bill Wineberg Stakes, and his 3-year-old gelding Beacon Rock returned to the scene of his greatest career triumph with a third-place finish in the $11,475 Oregon His Stakes.

In the six-furlong Bill Wineberg, one of two featured events on the nine-race card for Oregon-breds, the maiden runner Cascade Carson got up from fifth to second with a flourish and reached the wire just a half-length behind the successful 1-2 favorite, Smoken Sham, under the direction of jockey J. Luis Torres. Racing for trainer Jonathan Nance and owners Hartwick Farm, Allen Floyd and Steve Smith, the 24-1 longshot improved his overall bankroll to $5,785 in his stakes debut.

Cascade Carson was bred by Nance in partnership with Michael and Amy Stafford, and produced by the four-time stakes winner Hurricane Rylie, by Abstract. He has placed in all three of his starts to date.

In the 1 1/16-mile Oregon His, the 11-time starter Beacon Rock pushed his total earnings to $29,147 with a rail-skimming ride by jockey Marijo Terleski which resulted in a hard-trying third, 3 1/4 lengths behind the favored winner, Jacqueline’s Angel. The dominant winner of the marquee, $41,600 Os West Oregon Futurity during last year’s Oregon Championship Day program has struggled in the ensuing 12 months, with just one additional placing to his credit from eight outings in 2009. He has one win and two placings overall.

Beacon Rock is owned and trained by Nick Lowe, who bred the gelding in partnership with Meg R. Brinton DVM. His dam is the hearty Hold Your Peace racemare Newbury Street, who won or placed in 29 of her 68 starts.

Cascadian, an unraced son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, stands at Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Oregon. The 13-year-old sire is represented by 16 stakes horses and collective progeny earnings of more than $700,000 from his six crops of racing age. — December 14, 2009

Cahill Road represented by his 52nd stakes horse

With her third-place outing in the $10,800 Oregon Hers Stakes at Portland Meadows on December 14, Kitty Mac became the 52nd stakes performer for her Washington-based sire, Cahill Road.

Under jockey J. Luis Torres, the 3-year-old filly stalked the two pacesetters from the outside, then briefly inherited the lead in the stretch of the one-mile race before she ultimately gave way to finish third, two lengths behind the winning, 1-2 wagering favorite, Nikki S. Sent off at 29-1 as the longest shot in the six-strong field of Oregon-bred sophomore fillies, Kitty Mac returned a $7.20 show payout to her backers and pocketed $1,620 for her owner, Hurliman Enterprises LLC, and her trainer, Rolland Fergason.

Kitty Mac is the third foal out of the 13-time winner Kitty Mac Cool, by Son of Briartic, and was bred by George Hurliman. She has earned $8,470 from 16 career trips postward, including a six-furlong maiden win which she recorded at the Oregon oval on March 24 and five placings. Fourteen of her starts have been made this year.

Cahill Road, a Grade 1-winning full brother to 1990 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Unbridled, is represented by 29 stakes winners overall, including the Washington Horse of the Year recipients The Great Face and Wasserman. The 21-year-old son of Fappiano stands at El Dorado Farms in Enumclaw, Washington, and currently reigns as the state’s leading active sire by lifetime progeny earnings, with more than $19.1 million to his credit. — December 14, 2009