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
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.
Bob Baffert is not the only successful veteran trainer who is having difficulty winning on synthetic surfaces. Count Bruce Headley among those who have been unable to conquer Cushion Track at Hollywood Park or Polytrack at Del Mar.
Trainer Bruce Headley has been a model of consistency while racing on synthetic surfaces, but it's not the model he's accustomed to.
The California-bred Bilo, making just his third start since November of 2005, held off favored Surf Cat in the final strides to earn his first grade I victory while upsetting Saturday's $300,000 Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Despite being away from action for more than a year, multiple grade II winner Surf Cat presents a formidable obstacle for Siren Lure, who attempts to defend his title in the $300,000 Triple Bend Invitational Handicap at Hollywood Park Saturday.
Multiple grade II winner Surf Cat returned to the worktab at Santa Anita for the first time in more than 10 months Mar. 10, breezing three furlongs in :36 over the fast main track for the third-fastest of the 22 who went the distance on the day.
Sent off at odds of 1-5, Surf Cat might have given his supporters reason for concern as he trailed the small field in Hollywood Park's $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) into the far turn. But by the time they reached the stretch, the Bruce Headley-trained 4-year-old colt had overtaken his four rivals and was firmly in control en route to his third successive grade II victory.
Surf Cat, winner of the Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park last summer, figures to be a prohibitive favorite when he returns to the Inglewood track for the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) Saturday.
The prohibitive favorite Surf Cat, ridden patiently by Alex Solis, rolled over his four rivals with an impressive burst in the stretch to take the $128,000 Potrero Grande Breeder's Cup Handicap (gr. II) by more than two lengths at Santa Anita Sunday.
Multiple grade II winner Surf Cat is such a standout Sunday in the $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita that only four have been entered to oppose him in the 6 1/2-furlong event.
Favored Surf Cat unleashed a huge move on the turn for jockey Alex Solis and swept past the field to romp to victory in the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Saturday.
Three entrants who have distinguished themselves in distance races, Congrats, Imperialism and Surf Cat, will have to deal with a pair of sharp and improving 5-year-old sprinters in Major Success and Jet West at seven furlongs in Santa Anita's $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) on Saturday.
The infinite patience of trainer Beau Greely and jockey Garrett Gomez paid off Sunday when Borrego thundered down the center of the lane to capture the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) before 30,741 at Del Mar.
At an age when older stakes horses usually head downhill, 6-year-old gelding Perfect Drift stands out because he just might be better than ever.
Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Lava Man and outstanding 3-year-old Surf Cat head a field of 12 assigned post positions Wednesday night for Sunday's 15th running of the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I).
The $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) Sunday expanded to 12 prospects when outsiders Oceanus and Polish Times joined 10 others as entries closed at mid-morning Wednesday.
Borrego, multiple graded-stakes performer and runner-up to Lava Man in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), wound up his preparations for Sunday's $1-million, grade I Pacific Classic with a solid five furlong work in 1:01.40 at Santa Anita.
Hollywood Gold Cup winner Lava Man heads a list of 14 nominations to Del Mar's $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) on Aug. 21. Of those, a field of 10 seems likely for the 1 1/4-mile test.
Preachinatthebar, Musique Toujours, and Super Frolic turned in sharp workouts Monday morning as they moved a step closer to running in Del Mar's grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, Aug. 21.
Surf Cat and Bruce Headley will pass on the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Sunday to stay home and run in the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I) on Sunday, Aug. 21.
As expected, the $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) picture changed dramatically with the announcement Thursday that Afleet Alex would not run due to a condylar fracture. Within 24 hours, horses began coming out of the woodwork, all but assuring a large, competitive field.
Cash Is King's Afleet Alex, winner of two jewels of the Triple Crown this year, has been assigned highweight of 123 pounds for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. 1) Aug. 7.
Surf Cat, a 3-year-old son of Sir Cat, unleashed a strong kick rounding the second turn and drew off to an impressive five-length triumph in Saturday's Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park.
Surf Cat, a 3-year-old son of Sir Cat, unleashed a strong kick rounding the second turn and drew off to an impressive five-length triumph in Saturday's Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park.
The dramatic stretch runner Don't Get Mad figures to be a solid favorite over seven rivals in Saturday's $400,000 Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.
The dramatic stretch runner Don't Get Mad figures to be a solid favorite over seven rivals in Saturday's $400,000 Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.
| 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.
| California Chrome |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Upstart |
| Bodemeister |
| Texas Red |
| International Star |
| Far Right |
| Main Sequence |
| Buddy's Saint |
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