Hillside turf course specialist Desert Code makes a quick turnaround for trainer David Hofmans as the 122-pound high weight in the $100,000 San Simeon Handicap (gr. IIIT) on Santa Anita's penultimate day for the 2008-09 racing season April 18.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Millionaire Desert Code, winner of both last fall's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and the Daytona Handicap (gr. IIIT) six weeks ago on the hillside turf course, will attempt to stretch out to a mile in the Arcadia Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita April 4.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
If you saw Desert Code's dramatic come-from-behind win in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint last fall, this victory was nothing like that one. Instead, Desert Code took the lead shortly after the start of the $100,000 Daytona Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 15 on the same hillside turf course at Santa Anita and was never threatened.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Desert Code, 35-1 upset winner of the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint last fall, makes his 5-year-old debut in the $100,000 Daytona Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 15, regardless of whether the race remains on the hillside turf course.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Horsemen making their regular morning stops at Santa Anita's Clocker's Corner Oct. 26 were abuzz over the success of the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships, the first ever run on an artificial surface.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
It took hillside course specialist Desert Code, the longest shot on the board at odds of 36-1, to crack the inaugural $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Oct. 25.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Colonel John was all set to run for the roses the morning after his late-running victory in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), but the trainer for the runner-up, the persevering Bob Black Jack, plans to weigh his options.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Synthetic track tyro Greg's Gold took the overland route to victory in the $200,000 Potrero Grande Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita April 5, outfighting even-money favorite Surf Cat by 1 3/4 lengths despite closing from four paths wide on the turn.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Mid-morning on Turfway Park's backside March 21, Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) contenders were pulling at hay nets or dozing, blanketed against the morning chill. Horses and trainers alike are, as trainer Grant Hofmans said, "on cruise control" until March 22.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Grade I winner Circular Quay, a contender on the Triple Crown trail last year for trainer Todd Pletcher, kicks off his 4-year-old campaign Feb. 16 in the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) at seven furlongs on the Santa Anita main track.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Three-time grade I winner Balance has been retired and will be sent to Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky, trainer David Hofmans said Nov. 1.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
The $300,000 Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 7 carries with it an automatic spot in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) for the winner, but just five trainers opted to run in Oak Tree's six-furlong test over the new Santa Anita Cushion Track.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Greg's Gold, who returned earlier this year from a 17-month layoff after bowing a tendon, completed his comeback for trainer David Hofmans Aug. 19 with a 1 1/2-length victory in the $300,000 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) over seven furlongs on the Del Mar Polytrack.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Although beaten in back-to-back graded stakes starts by the undefeated Nashoba's Key, Balance still brings a beaming smile from her trainer, David Hofmans, as he prepares the 4-year-old filly for the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares Aug. 5.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
The multiple grade I winner Balance, well beaten by undefeated California bred Nashoba's Key when they met a month ago, will get another chance against her rival in Saturday's $300,000 Vanity Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
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.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
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.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Tarabilla Farms' Desert Code kicked clear in the stretch after a smart rally under Richard Migliore to capture the $106,600 Baldwin Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita Saturday.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
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.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Tarabilla Farms' Desert Code is the 117-pound highweight for the $100,000 Baldwin Stakes (gr. IIIT) at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf for 3-year-olds.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Balance should be considered a solid favorite among seven entrants in Saturday's 70th running of Santa Anita's $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
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.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
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.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Balance, winner of last year's Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) and Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I), could be sitting on a big effort in Sunday's $200,000 La Canada (gr. II) at Santa Anita with her second start following a lengthy layoff for trainer David Hofmans.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Lively Miss A. Bomb lived up to her name, taking the $50,000 Gowell Stakes for 2-year-fillies at odds of 21-1 Saturday at Turfway Park.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Lively Miss A. Bomb lived up to her name, taking the $50,000 Gowell Stakes for 2-year-fillies at odds of 21-1 Saturday at Turfway Park.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
General Meeting, one of California's top sires for years, was euthanized Dec. 15 because of skin cancer near his testicles.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Three candidates for Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) had their final workouts Tuesday, with Deputy Glitters and Sacred Light working over the main track at Belmont Park and High Finance in action at Aqueduct.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
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.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
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.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
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.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
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).
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Cayenne Red set a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs at Turfway Park Friday night in winning the 10th race in 1:04.46, breaking the previous record of 1:04.72 set on Dec. 30, which also belonged to Cayenne Red.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Wild Fit attempts to square the score with Balance on Sunday when the co-favorites for this year's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) head a field of nine 3-year-old fillies set to contest Santa Anita's $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) at 1 1/16 miles.
Friday, March 10, 2006
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.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
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.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
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.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
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).
Saturday, September 04, 2004
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.
Saturday, June 12, 2004
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.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
It's not easy playing the role of villain in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). They're the guys wearing the black hats, the party poopers, the evil-doers of the Triple Crown. In the last 35 years, there have been three Triple Crown winners, and 11 horses that fell short in the 1 1/2-mile "Test of a Champion."
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
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).
Friday, May 07, 2004
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.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
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).
Sunday, March 14, 2004
Adoration, 4 1/2-length winner of the Breeders' Cup Distaff six weeks ago, will attempt to validate her 40-1 upset on racing's championship day in Sunday's $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Friday, December 05, 2003
Adoration, the longest shot on the board, went wire-to-wire to take the Breeders' Cup Distaff – Presented by Nextel (gr. I) by 4 1/2 lengths, a shocking beginning to the 20th Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Santa Anita.
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Adoration and favored Saint Bernadette dueled for the lead around the second turn before Adoration gained a short lead in the stretch and held on to win Saturday's $266,800 Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. II) by a length at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, June 15, 2002
Amerman Racing's Adoration set moderate fractions while alone on the lead, then held 3-5 favorite High Society in the stretch to win Saturday's $107,300 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, May 04, 2002
David and Jill Heerensperger's Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Millennium Wind worked five furlongs at Wednesday in 1:01 1/5 at Hollywood Park. The 4-year-old son of Cryptoclearance is about a month away from a race, according to trainer David Hofmans.
Wednesday, April 24, 2002
Earl H. Shultz homebred Ask Me No Secrets set a moderate pace then kicked clear in the stretch to win Saturday's $200,000 Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) by 4 1/2 lengths. Under Mike Smith, the 4-year-old daughter of Seattle Slew completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.56 on a fast track.
Saturday, March 16, 2002
