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Bench Points Knows the Score in Laz Berrera

Favored Bench Points, charging from last in upper stretch, nosed Runflatout in a terrific finish to the Lazaro Berrera Memorial Stakes (gr. III) at Hollywood Park May 15.

River Edge Stallions To Ballena Vista Farm

Don Cohn's Ballena Vista Farm near Ramona, Calif., has purchased three of the four stallions that previously stood at River Edge Farm

Wygods To Disperse California Bloodstock

Marty and Pam Wygod will disperse their California bloodstock at Barretts this coming October and eventually plan to sell their River Edge Farm near Buellton.

Grazen Is New Benchmark for Alydar Line

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

California homebred Grazen's first graded win is more proof that Benchmark is the true heir to Alydar's male-line legacy.

Front-Running Grazen Earns Grade in Affirmed

Making his graded stakes debut in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III), favored Grazen was never headed while posting a 2 3/4-length win over five 3-year-old rivals at Hollywood Park June 20.

Brother Derek Retired to Airdrie Stud

Brother Derek, who captured the 2005 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) and 2006 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), has been retired to Brereton C. Jones' Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky.

Idiot Proof

Clifford Sise, Jr. says that a normal trainer, without the consistent backing of big-money owners, will only get a superstar horse about ever 20 years. Sise had his last big horse in 1996, so he's nine years ahead of schedule as he heads toward this weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships with a Sprint (gr. I) hopeful named Idiot Proof.

Idiot Proof BC Sprint Bound After Ancient Title Scorcher

Idiot Proof blazed his way into the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) picture with an eye-catching victory in Oak Tree's $300,000 Ancient Title (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Oct. 7.

Idiot Proof Provides Fireworks in Jersey Shore BC

Jockey Joe Bravo reached a milestone but 3-year-old speedster Idiot Proof provided the fireworks at Monmouth Park on Wednesday, thrilling an Independence Day crowd of 15,791 by smashing a track record.

California October Yearling Sale Looks to Build on Opening Year Success

Last year's inaugural California October yearling sale, co-sponsored by Barretts Equine Limited and the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, concluded with solid across the board results. And the two entities hope to build on last year's success for even stronger results during the 2006 edition Oct. 3 at Barretts Fairplex Park facility.

Benchmark Colt Tops Northern California Yearling Sale

A colt by Benchmark selling for $72,000 topped Tuesday's 2006 Northern California Yearling Sale, which showed an increase in average sale price of 8.6% from last year.

Proposed Leads Her Own Parade at Hollypark

For all her accomplishments, the millionaire mare Star Parade has never been able to win successive races. That dubious distinction held when the even-money choice in Saturday's $168,000 Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) came up a head short of the winning Proposed after a stretch-long drive to the wire at Hollywood Park.

Hendricks Looks Forward with Brother Derek

Saying the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) is in the past, trainer Dan Hendricks is ready to forge ahead in Saturday's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course.

Looking for Sire Power in the Derby

One thing the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) has taught us over the years is that the winner can come from anywhere. And the same goes for the winner's sire.

Caldwell Family Rooting for Brother Derek

One of the best known families in the Thoroughbred auction business is about to enjoy a huge day at the races.

Brother Derek On Script in Santa Anita Derby

The heavily backed Brother Derek heads for next month's Run for the Roses as the likely favorite after he ran as expected in an easy gate-to-wire victory Saturday in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) before 54,189.

Relentless Brother Derek Captures 'Catalina

It's hardly a leap of faith to make Brother Derek the early favorite for this year's Run for the Roses after his impressive win in the $200,000 Santa Catalina (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita Saturday.

Brother Derek Ready for Santa Catalina Challenge

Brother Derek will take another step toward the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) Saturday when trainer Dan Henricks sends him out in the Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita.

Proposed Toasts Her Rivals in El Encino

Favored Proposed reached the front at the top of the stretch and overpowered her rivals in the run to the wire, easily winning the $150,000 El Encino (gr. II) for 4-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Sunday.

Brother Derek Tops Chart in San Rafael

In spite of his grade I victory in the Hollywood Futurity last month, Brother Derek has been ignored on the national scene, his trainer, Dan Hendricks feels. But after Saturday's impressive win over Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) champ Stevie Wonderboy under steady handling by Alex Solis in the $150,000 San Rafael (gr. II) at Santa Anita, that shouldn't be the case any longer.

Brother Derek Latest Star on California Horizon

Cecil N. Peacock's Brother Derek, coming off a fourth-place finish in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), showed he's the best West Coast-based 2-year-old not named Stevie Wonderboy with a comfortable win over favored Your Tent Or Mine in the $407,250 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) Saturday.

Brother Derek Sneaks Away With Norfolk

California-bred Brother Derek broke sharply for jockey Alex Solis and never looked back in winning the $200,000 Norfolk (gr. II) for 2-year-olds Sunday by three-quarters of a length over favored A.P. Warrior at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.

Red Warrior's Ambush Takes Millions Sprint

Red Warrior, last of 11 after a quarter of a mile, closed powerfully to register a one-length victory at odds of 47-1 in the $300,000 Padua Stables Sprint Saturday, part of the Sunshine Millions program at Santa Anita Park.

Average Jumps at Del Mar Yearling Sale

The average price at Del Mar's yearling sale, $48,589, jumped a dramatic 40.8% over last year's figure and set a sale record Monday evening.

Silent Sighs Sidelined Due to Bone Chips

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's grade I winner Silent Sighs will be sidelined for at least the next four months after being diagnosed with bone chips in both front ankles, trainer Julio Canani said. The California-bred filly most recently finished 10th of 11 in the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

Halfbridled's Invincibility Ends With Sighs

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's California homebred Silent Sighs, facing open company for the first time, held on gamely over a surging Halfbridled to win the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) Saturday.

California Champions Announced; HOY Named Monday

California will announce its 2003 Horse of the Year Monday; the three finalists are Continental Red, Excessivepleasure, and Joey Franco The annual awards dinner will be held at the Sacramento Sheraton Grande Hotel.

Silent Sighs Makes Noise Late to Win Ocala Stud Oaks

Mr. and Mrs. Martin J. Wygod's homebred Silent Sighs took advantage of the fast pace set by Wacky Patty, catching the pacesetter in the final strides in winning the $250,000 Ocala Stud Oaks that was part of the Sunshine Millions Day card at Gulfstream Park.

Bettors Ignore Don'tsellmeshort at Peril

Bettors would have done well to heed the aptly-suggestive Don'tsellmeshort's name after the Dan Hendrick-trained 2-year-old colt took the $125,000 California Breeders' Champion Stakes at odds of 13-1 at Santa Anita Friday.

Don'tsellmeshort Wins Del Mar's Graduation

Cecil N. Peacock's Don'tsellmeshort broke sharply under jockey Patrick Valenzuela and never looked back while scoring a gate-to-wire triumph in Wednesday's featured $125,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds.

Golden Gate Derby Goes to Standard Setter

Standard Setter surprised Saturday's $100,000 Golden Gate Derby (gr. III) field with a front-running victory at odds of 17-1. The only California bred in the field of 10 in the first derby of the year, the 3-year-old chestnut son of Benchmark held off Ozzie Cat by a neck in a tremendous stretch run.

First Winners for Awesome Again, Benchmark

Awesome Again, who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), and grade II winner Benchmark were represented by their first winners, both on May 16.

Hennessy Colt Tops Day 1 at FT Texas

A colt by Hennessy attracted a record bid of $150,000 from Tom Durant to highlight the opening day of the Fasig-Tipton Texas Yearling Sale Monday at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie near Dallas.