It would be an understatement to say that Magical Fantasy heads the California contingent for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Nov. 6. After four consecutive major stakes wins locally, three in grade I company, she's nearly all that's left.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Ridden patiently by Alex Solis, heavily favored Magical Fantasy captured her third consecutive grade I event when she overtook Visit mid-stretch and held off the late charge of Black Mamba to win Oak Tree's $300,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Oct. 10.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Magical Fantasy looks for her fourth consecutive graded stakes win for trainer Paddy Gallagher as the probable favorite in Oak Tree's $300,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Oct. 10.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Starlarks flew from last for jockey Alex Solis to head Strawberry Tart in the final couple of jumps, winning the San Clemente Handicap (gr. IIT) in an 11-1 surprise at Del Mar Aug. 1.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
With any luck, Yankee Bravo could have been a Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starter. But it was not meant to be for the son of Yankee Gentleman, who finished fourth in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) after being cut off in mid-stretch, which resulted in the dark bay colt falling short of the required graded earnings.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Ridden confidently by Alex Solis, even-money favorite Valbenny rallied to win the $154,750 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies by nearly two lengths over Super Freaky on the Hollywood Park lawn Saturday.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Favored Valbenny became a leading contender for the American Oaks (gr. IT) this summer after her impressive late charge to capture the $111,600 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday over the Hollywood Park grass course.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Swiss Diva extended her unbeaten record to three on Friday when overwhelming her opposition with a 8 1⁄2-length triumph in Santa Anita's $138,750 California Breeders Champion Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Trainer Murray Johnson reported Sunday that his father, Geoffrey, is recovering well at Scripps Hospital in Encinitas following a heart attack on Friday afternoon at the Del Mar racetrack.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Trainer Jamie Lloyd savored his first victory with Brag, a 4-year-old filly that won a $55,000 allowance race at one mile on turf Sunday.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Irish-bred Three Degrees, one of the West Coast's leading 3-year-old fillies on turf last year, is set to make her main track debut on Sunday in Santa Anita's $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles.
Friday, January 13, 2006
The season's first round of turf workouts took place Wednesday morning at Santa Anita Park when 34 horses breezed at distances from four furlongs to one mile. Opening day at Santa Anita is Dec. 26 and all workers were relegated to the outside portion of the course, 48 feet from the inner rail.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
The graded stakes winning sprinter McCann's Mojave was able to dictate the pace and hold 6-5 favorite Desert Boom at bay to record a one-length win in the $250,000 California Cup Classic presented by Smith Barney Sunday on the final day of the 2005 Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
McCann's Mojave will attempt to carry his speed further than ever before when the 5-year-old runs in Sunday's $250,000 California Cup Classic presented by Smith Barney, the closing day feature presented by the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Three Degrees, winner of the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park on June 5, prepared for the $750,000 American Oaks (gr. I) with a six-furlong turf work Sunday.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Favored Three Degrees turned in a stakes record effort to win the $163,125 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies with an impressive late burst on the Hollywood Park turf.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute will travel to Texas and make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) at Lone Star Park, trainer Paddy Gallager revealed.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Jockey Gary Stevens leaves Sunday for Dubai, where he rides Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute for Paddy Gallagher in the $6 million World Cup (UAE-I) on March 27.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Pleasantly Perfect, scheduled to leave Saturday for the $6 million Dubai World Cup March 27, worked seven furlongs in company Thursday at Santa Anita in 1:25 3/5 under Alex Solis.
Thursday, March 11, 2004
An all-time North American record Pick Six gross pool of $7,302,848 was reached at Santa Anita Park Wednesday. Three winning tickets were worth more than $1.5 million apiece.
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute worked a half-mile in :47 2/5 over Santa Anita's fast main track Wednesday morning and could make his next start in the March 6 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), trainer Paddy Gallagher said.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Domestic Dispute, who hadn't reached the winner's circle in more than a year, rallied in spite of trouble in the stretch run to defeat During and his former trainer Bob Baffert by a neck in the $300,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) for 4-year-olds at Santa Anita Saturday.
Sunday, February 08, 2004
Bob Baffert, who won the 1998 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) with Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, has 30% of the10-horse field set to go in the $200,000 middle leg of the prestigious Strub Series at Santa Anita Park Saturday.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Racing mourned the passing of legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker, who died in his sleep Sunday morning at his home in San Marino, Calif., at the age of 72.
Sunday, October 12, 2003
Grade II winner Domestic Dispute may make his turf debut in the Oct. 5 Oak Tree Derby (gr. IIT), trainer Paddy Gallagher said. The 3-year-old son of Unbridled's Song last finished ninth in the Sept. 1 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. III) in his first start since the May 3 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Thursday, September 25, 2003
Grade II winner Domestic Dispute, who was purchased by David Bienstock and Chuck Winner for an undisclosed sum from breeder Gary Garber just days before finishing 10th in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), will remain at Churchill Downs for the next several weeks, trainer Paddy Gallagher said.
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
After an absence of some four months, Nazirali won an allowance race at 12 furlongs on the Santa Anita turf in smart fashion on April 2 for trainer Julio Canani, and the jockey who rode the Irish-bred gelding that day says they can do it again in Sunday's $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) at about 1 ¾ miles on turf.
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Adminniestrator, who has won his last two races, including the inaugural $500,000 Barretts/CTBA Turf at 1 1/8 miles in the Sunshine Millions on Jan. 25, will stretch out to 12 furlongs in Saturday's $250,000 San Luis Rey Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita.
Thursday, March 13, 2003
Starrer, winless in five races since her victory in last year's Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park, will try to repeat in Sunday's 21st running of the $150,000 stakes race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.
Friday, December 13, 2002