BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Trainer Hofmans Secures Career Win 1,000

Southern California-based trainer David Hofmans, who boasts classic wins and Breeders' Cup victories, notched career win 1,000 on Oct. 8 when Sultry Season rallied from sixth to win the 10th race at Santa Anita Park.

Spoil Sports: Hofmans, Walden Ended TC Bids

Though trainers David Hofmans and Elliott Walden ended historic bids, they'll be rooting for I'll Have Another to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Pegram Among Ownership Seminar Speakers

Two introductory seminars on horse ownership, 'Derby Fever!' are being offered by the Thoroughbred Owners of California free of charge at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park April 2.

Uncle Mo Puts in First Work of 2011

Uncle Mo worked three furlongs in :39.95 at Palm Meadows Training Center. Stay Thirsty and J P's Gusto also worked Jan. 30.

J P's Gusto Tries Two Turns in Norfolk

With four consecutive stakes victories, J P's Gusto has dominated the Southern California juvenile stage. In Oak Tree's $250,000 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Oct. 2, he'll try two turns for the first time.

Can Gusto Go Longer?

David Hofmans, trainer of J P's Gusto, answers questions about California's leading juvenile.

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J P's Gusto Romps in Del Mar Futurity

J P's Gusto an impressive winner in Del Mar Futurity.

Ten to Try J P's Gusto in Del Mar Futurity

Three-time stakes winner J P's Gusto heads a field of 11 juveniles entered for the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) Sept. 8, the closing day of the popular 37-day summer meet.

Valenzuela Picks Up Best Pal Win With 'Gusto

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela earned his first California stakes victory since the fall of 2007 when he guided J P's Gusto to a front-running half-length win in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 8.

Valenzuela to Ride J P's Gusto in Best Pal

Patrick Valenzuela, a five-time champion at Del Mar but riding at the seashore for the first time in three years, will ride 2-1 morning line favorite J P's Gusto in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 8.

A Best Pal with Gusto

J P's Gusto, the odds-on winner of the July 5 Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III), will take the next step on his life's journey Aug. 8 at Del Mar in the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II).

J P's Gusto Wins First Graded Stakes

The grade III Hollywood Juvenile Champion is the son of Successful Appeal's second stakes win in three starts.

Harissa Gets Hot in Sharp Sunland Oaks Win

Southern California shipper Harissa got hot at the right time when she pulled away from pacesetter Hayley's Halo to win the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks in New Mexico March 28.

BC Turf Sprint Winner Desert Code Retired

Susan Osborne's Desert Code, winner of the 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, has been retired from racing for stallion duty.

Morvich Kicks Off Santa Anita's Oak Tree Meet

Fittingly featuring 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint champion Desert Code, the Sept. 30 Morvich Handicap (gr. IIIT) heads Oak Tree's 31-day season at Santa Anita, one that will be highlighted by the two-day, $25.5-million Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 6 and 7.

Ten to Face Off in La Jolla Handicap

Glen Hill Farm's Florida homebred I'll Show Them puts his two-race undefeated record on the line Aug. 15 as he steps up to stakes company in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) for 3-year-olds on Del Mar's Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Greg's Gold Retired from Racing

Greg's Gold, winner of the 2005 Bing Crosby Handicap (gr. I) and an earner of $1,067,923, has been retired from racing because of "wear and tear," according to his trainer, David Hofmans.

Greg's Gold Looks to Rebound

Already with a stakes win over the Hollywood Cushion Track this year, Greg's Gold will try to put a disappointing Breeders' Cup behind him when he faces five rivals in the $100,000 Vernon Underwood Stakes (gr. III) Dec. 2, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.

Hofmans Confident in Balance and Greg's Gold

David Hofmans, who will send out two horses in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, is convinced the advantages will outweigh the obstacles facing his runners in the Oct. 27 races at Monmouth Park.

Distaff Owners Seek to Double Their Fun

Jack and Laurie Wolf and John and Jerry Amerman will all be looking for their second victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff when they send out Octave and Balance, respectively, Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Desert Code Wires Affirmed Handicap

Desert Code, beaten in photo finishes in his last two starts, left nothing to chance this time, scooting to a front-running 1 3/4-length victory under jockey Richard Migliore in Sunday's $106,600 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park.

Balance Makes First Cushion Track Start in Milady BC

Balance, perfect in two starts this year and a winner of six of 11 lifetime starts, heads a field of seven fillies and mares in Sunday's $175,000 Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park.

Greg's Gold Gets New Challenge in Aristides BC

Grade I stakes winner Greg's Gold meets streaking up-and-comer Fabulous Strike in the $150,000-added Aristides Breeders' Cup (gr. III) for sprinters at Churchill Downs Saturday.

Level Red, Black Seventeen to Try Santa Anita Derby

With favored Ravel out of the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) with an injury, new candidates Black Seventeen and Level Red have surfaced for the 70th running of the the West Coast's major 3-year-old steppingstone on April 7.

Steady Balance Overcomes Obstacles in 'Margarita

Balance, the nation's leading 3-year-old filly last year before going off kilter, continued her ascent toward the top of the older female division on Saturday while overcoming obstacles to win Santa Anita's $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles.

Crosby Winner Greg's Gold Returns With Win

Grade I winning sprinter Greg's Gold returned from an absence of more than 18 months to win a $78,120 allowance event over four rivals at Santa Anita Sunday.

Balance Beaming Again in Crisp La Canada Win

John Amerman's Balance, a two-time grade I winner last year, resembled her old self while winning the $200,000 La Canada Stakes (gr. II) for 4-year-old fillies by 4 1/4 lengths over Bai and Bai Sunday at Santa Anita.

Bluegrass Cat Breezes for Belmont Stakes

Bluegrass Cat, the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner up to Barbaro, breezed five furlongs over Belmont's main track Sunday morning in 1:00.30.

Bluegrass Cat Breezes for Belmont Stakes

Bluegrass Cat, the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner up to Barbaro, breezed five furlongs over Belmont's main track Sunday morning in 1:00.30.

Full Field of 14 to Run for the Oaks; Balance Early Favorite

A full field of 14 fillies, headed by dual grade I winner Balance, is set to run for the lilies in Friday's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. If all 14 fillies start, the purse for the 1 1/8-mile race will swell to $685,900.

Balance Turns in Final Oaks Work; Headed Toward Churchill Downs

Likely Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) favorite Balance turned in a six-furlong work in 1:11.60 at her Hollywood Park base Friday. She is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs April 29.

Sacred Light Works Quick Seven Furlongs

With jockey Aaron Gryder aboard, Amerman Racing Stables homebred Sacred Light worked seven furlongs in 1:28 at Hollywood Park Wednesday as the 3-year-old colt continued to make progress toward a start in the May 6 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Balance in Sharp Drill for Oaks; Wait a While Works

Amerman Racing Stables' Balance sharpened up for her May 5 engagement in the $500,000 added Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with a five-furlong work in :59 3/5 on Saturday morning at Hollywood Park.

Balance Brings Impressive Record Into Ashland

Amerman Racing Stables' Balance heads a field of eight 3-year-old fillies entered for Saturday's $500,000 Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.

Balance On the Beam in Santa Anita Oaks

Amerman Racing's Balance overpowered her eight rivals in Sunday's $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) to make it back-to-back grade I victories for trainer David Hofmans and established herself as Southern California's leading contender for the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

Balance Tips Grade I Heights in Las Virgenes

Beaten by just a half-length in her first try for a grade I victory in December, Amerman Racing's Balance got the job done in fine fashion Saturday, winning the $250,000 Las Virgenes (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park.

Balance In Sync Bagging Sharp Cat

Balance, a disqualification away from being undefeated, successfully made the transition from turf to dirt while rolling to a 1 3/4-length victory under jockey Victor Espinoza in Sunday's $100,000 Sharp Cat Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park.

Hofmans Gets Gold in Crosby; Pico Central Last

Greg's Gold, making his stakes debut for trainer David Hofmans, captured the $300,000 Bing Crosby Handicap (gr. I) as favored Pico Central faded to finish last at Del Mar Sunday.

Breeders' Cup Distaff Winner Adoration Retired

Adoration, who was getting ready to defend her Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) title at Lone Star Park Oct. 30, will instead be retired after injuring a front ankle.

Adoration Cruises in Arlington Matron

Front-running Adoration tuned up for a possible defense of her Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) title with a convincing two-length win in the $150,000 Arlington Matron (gr. III).

Adoration Relishes Fleur de Lis Slop

Adoration, ridden with confidence by Victor Espinoza, shook off Roar Emotion in the stretch and held on for an impressive 1 1/4-length victory in the $439,200 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.

Adoration Invades for Fleur de Lis Handicap

Multiple grade I winner Adoration leaves the friendly confines of Southern California to face a strong field in Saturday's $400,000-added Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.

Rivals Star Parade, Adoration Clash in Vanity

Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) champion Adoration, beaten twice by Star Parade before finally getting her rival's measure in their last meeting, will attempt to even the overall score Sunday in Hollywood Park's 250,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I).

Adoration Tunes Up for Sunday's Vanity

Adoration, the high weight and probable favorite for the $250,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park on Sunday, blew out four furlongs in :48 4/5 seconds Thursday for the 1 1/8 mile-test for fillies and mares.

Adoration Catches Star Parade in 'Margarita

Amerman Racing's Adoration finally caught the Argentine mare Star Parade in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap (gr. I) at Santa Anita Sunday, returning to the Santa Anita Park winner's circle for the first time since her 40-1 upset in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).

Adoration, Star Parade Meet Again in 'Margarita

Breeders' Cup Distaff champion Adoration will have a rematch with Star Parade Sunday in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Adoration Targets Bayakoa in Unfamiliar Role

Adoration, the hunter in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), will become the hunted in the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares at Hollywood Park next Sunday.

BC Distaff Winner Supplemented to Matriarch

Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Adoration worked six furlongs on the Hollywood Park turf course in 1:18 1/5 Thursday under regular rider Patrick Valenzuela after being supplemented to the $500,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) Nov. 30 for $15,000.

Fresh Adoration Could Show Up in Bayakoa

Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Adoration could next run in the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park on Dec. 14, trainer David Hofmans said.

Light BC Work Report at Santa Anita Wednesday

Adoration, Dimatrova and Minister Eric topped the Breeders's Cup work tab at Santa Anita on Wednesday.