Surf Cat rallies to take the San Carlos over Greg's Gold.
Photo: Benoit
Surf Cat overtakes Desert Code to win the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap for the second time in the past three years.
Photo: Benoit| Trainer | Bruce Headley |
|---|---|
| Jockey | David Flores |
| Owner | A. Headley & Naify |
| Breeder | William Taylor Nicholls & Gainsway Farm |
| Surf Cat View Five-Cross Pedigree | Sir Cat | Storm Cat |
| Desert Run | ||
| Trust Greta | Centrust | |
| Silver Greta |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FTKFEB2003 Hip 56 |
Yearling | Drumkenny Farm | Gainesway, agent | $25,000 |
|
FTKJUL2003 Hip 335 |
Yearling | Paramount Sales, agent | ($45,000) |
Prices in parentheses indicate a horse did not sell because it did not meet its reserve price.
Surf Cat, who triumphed six times in grade II events and earned $1,045,420, has been retired from racing, according to a Daily Racing Form report. The 7-year-old horse will begin his stallion career at Old English Rancho near Sanger, Calif., his trainer, Bruce Headley, told the publication Jan. 9.
Surf Cat, a millionaire grandson of Storm Cat, has been retired from racing for stallion duty
Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) winner Well Armed, trained by Eoin Harty for WinStar Farms, was installed the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the TVG Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, which will be run over the Pro-Ride artificial surface on the main World Championship card Oct. 25.
The focus at Santa Anita Oct. 21 was on the official entries and post position draws for the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championships Oct. 24-25.
HRTV's weekly series analyzing each division of the Breeders' Cup. This week's episode looks at the pre-entries.
Favored Well Armed, under strong urging from jockey Aaron Gryder, responded to open up a clear advantage in the homestretch, then held off the late-closing Tiago to win the $500,000 Goodwood (gr. I) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet Sept. 27. Because the race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, Well Armed gained a slot in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
The Goodwood Stakes (gr. I), as usual, serves as the main prep race in Southern California for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) this season. But for the 11 entered in this year's $500,000 renewal Sept. 24, it's also the first test of Santa Anita's new Pro-Ride synthetic racing surface and will go a long way toward determining which contenders move on.
Go Between, the 3-1 morning line favorite, takes on defending champion Student Council in the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 24. The rich 1 1/4-mile Polytrack event attracted a closely matched group of 11 older horses.
A lot is at stake Aug. 24 in the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar, which marks not only one of the most prestigious races of the year on the West Coast, but also earns the winner an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup World Championships Oct. 24-25 at Santa Anita Park.
A dozen older horses remain solidly committed to competing in Del Mar's signature race, the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I) on Aug. 24.
Favored Well Armed avoided the dreaded "Dubai Bounce" with an easy front-running victory in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) in track record time over the revamped Polytrack surface at Del Mar July 19.
Grade II winner Well Armed makes his first start since running third in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) as one of the favorites in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar July 19.
Heatseeker established himself as the favorite for this year's Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) with a scintillating victory as the even-money choice in the $245,000 Californian (gr. II) over the Cushion Track surface May 31. The 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway defeated his rival Tiago by 5 1/4 lengths while setting a record for the 1 1/8-mile distance on the Inglewood track.
There are only five entered in the $250,000 Californian (gr. II), a major prep for the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), but the race's big three -- Tiago, Heatseeker, and Surf Cat -- all appear at the top of their games for Hollywood Park's 1 1/8-mile Cushion Track test May 31.
Multiple grade II winner Surf Cat teamed with Alex Solis to win the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) for the second time in the past three years April 26 at Hollywood Park.
Surf Cat, winner of the 2006 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) for trainer Bruce Headley, will attempt to do it again on the stretch-out April 26 at Hollywood Park.
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.
Grade I winners Johnny Eves and Greg's Gold take another crack at the resurgent Surf Cat in the $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita April 5.
MAHUBAH's CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
With only 16 starts under his belt as a 6-year-old, Surf Cat is far from the most durable runner in North America. But when he is right, there are few with more sheer talent. Having run down grade I winner Greg's Gold in the San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) Feb. 16, Surf Cat has now recorded his fifth win in a grade II race.
Surf Cat closed with a rush to win his first race since 2006, edging Greg's Gold by a half-length in the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 16.
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.
With TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Midnight Lute skipping the race, synthetic track standout In Summation takes center stage in the $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II) over the Santa Anita Cushion Track Jan. 21.
The Brazilian-bred Out of Control stole the spotlight from Lava Man and Surf Cat in Oak Tree's $252,000 Oak Tree Mile (gr. IIT) with a heart-pounding nose victory over Zann at Santa Anita Park Oct. 7.
Multiple grade II winner Surf Cat makes his turf racing debut Oct. 7 for trainer Bruce Headley when he tackles Lava Man and four others in the $250,000 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita.
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.
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