In the time between races of Del Mar's 10-race opening day card July 19, fans and horsemen figure to give some thought to the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be contested at the seaside Southern California track this fall.
In a thrilling finish of the $100,000 All American Stakes (G3), Jerry Hollendorfer and George Todaro's G. G. Ryder won a four-way blanket finish to claim a victory May 29 against familiar foes.
Trainer Jeff Mullins admits a rough run of second-place finishes with Itsinthepost were hard to swallow, but the payoff ended up being worth it.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1).
Peter Redekop's Alert Bay was sent off at 3-5 to defend his title in the $100,000 San Francisco Mile (G3T) April 29, and the 6-year-old gelding had no problem doing so, as he held on gamely to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Alert Bay, G. G. Ryder, and Stryker Phd—the elder statesmen of Northern California—will face off once again at Golden Gate Fields in the $100,000 San Francisco Mile (G3T) April 29.
Delta Prince will be tested for class against Our Way and All Included in a grassy mile in the Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park, trying to follow in the footsteps of his half sister Royal Delta.
Second in three of his last four starts, including two against graded competition, the son of American Post finally broke through March 25 at Santa Anita Park in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (G2T).
For some time Ashleyluvssugar has been the top long-distance turf runner in Southern California, but in the San Luis Rey Stakes (G2T) March 25 he'll have to contend with the last horse who took him down in the division.
Warren Williamson's homebred Texas Ryano will look to capture a rare stakes double in the male turf division Feb. 4 in the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.
The 6-year-old son of Hard Spun came off a Dec. 31 victory in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream for trainer Mike Maker and got the perfect ground-saving rail trip in the McKnight.
Two-time Washington Horse of the Year Stryker Phd returns to action Jan. 6 in an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields.
Royal Posse had to work hard for it this time, but the 5-year old gelding came away with another victory in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, the centerpiece of a nine-race $1 million Claiming Crown card on the Dec. 3 card.
Jim and Mona Hour's Stryker Phd got up in the final stride to put a head in front of G. G. Ryder to win the $100,000 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 26.
Williamson Racing's homebred Texas Ryano broke through the graded ranks Nov. 25 with an emphatic victory in the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IIT).
After a solid performance in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT), Ashleyluvssugar will return in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIT) Friday, Nov. 25 on the Del Mar turf.
Highland Reel set a stiff pace and was never seriously challenged en route to a win in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).
Pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), 2015 Turf winner Found will defend her title instead of taking on the boys on dirt.
Nyquist's two-turn workout Oct. 27 in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) didn't start off as planned, but trainer Doug O'Neill was ultimately OK with how the Uncle Mo colt immediately came out of the work--covered in dirt.
Pick Six Racing's Vyjack knocked off Wise Dan as the fastest turf miler in Santa Anita's history Oct. 8 with a record-setting performance in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (gr. IIT).
Ashleyluvssugar continued his roll toward the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) with his second straight game victory Oct. 2 in the John Henry Turf Championship (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more impressive performance in a losing effort than what Metaboss did Aug. 20 in the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT).
Ashleyluvssugar opened a long, comfortable lead down the backstretch, then was all out in the stretch to deny fast-finishing Metaboss in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) Presented by the Japanese Racing Association Aug. 20.
Multiple graded stakes winners Ashleyluvssugar, Flamboyant, and Finnegans Wake will take the logical step forward on the Del Mar turf schedule for a run in the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 20.
Stryker Phd will seek to become the first horse to win the $200,000 Longacres Mile (gr. III) in three consecutive years Aug. 14 at Emerald Downs.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Aotearoa | Leonard Powell |
|
| Argyle Cut | Manuel Badilla |
|
| Diamond Bachelor | Patrick L. Biancone |
|
| Forever Juanito | Victor L. Garcia |
|
| G. G. Ryder | Jerry Hollendorfer |
|
| Home School (IRE) | Doug F. O'Neill |
|
| Love Rules All | Peter Miller |
|
| Majestic Kitten | David E. Hofmans |
|
| Patriots Rule | Robertino Diodoro |
|
| Sammy Mandeville | Doug F. O'Neill |
|
| Texas Ryano | Carla Gaines |
|
| Yard Line | Eoin G. Harty |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Wickerr S. | DMR | 7/23 |
| San Clemente H. (G2T) | DMR | 7/23 |
| Cougar II H. (G3) | DMR | 7/26 |
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