Inaugural Los Alamitos Meet Off to Good Start
The inaugural Summer Thoroughbred Festival at Los Alamitos Race Course began successfully July 3 with encouraging attendance and handle figures.
Ben Cecil
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Ben Cecil
Wide-Open Madison Should Be Good Betting Race
This year's edition of the $300,000 Madison Stakes (gr. I) may not feature a superstar such as 2012 winner Groupie Doll, but 10 older fillies and mares will provide a good wagering event at Keeneland April 13.
Cecil Continues Family Training Tradition
Ben Cecil, the son and nephew of English trainers, will attempt to win his first Breeders' Cup race with Reddam Racing's Second City in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I).
Quiet Oasis Caps Day for Gutierrez, Reddam
On the day I'll Have Another was honored at Betfair Hollywood Park, jockey Mario Gutierrez and owner J. Paul Reddam teamed to win the $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) by a head with Quiet Oasis July 7.
Jim Cassidy Succeeds Sadler as CTT President
California Thoroughbred Trainers seated three directors and unanimously elected James Cassidy as its new president at its annual transition meeting July 6 held at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Quiet Oasis Can Make Some Noise in 'Heroine
Just nudged in the Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) when caught late by Belle Royale, Quiet Oasis returns to Betfair Hollywood Park at a shorter distance in the $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) on the turf July 7.
Quiet Oasis Makes Some Noise in Wilshire Win
Finishing with a flourish, Quiet Oasis produced a 15-1 upset in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) when she swept past pacesetter Briecat in the closing strides for a half-length victory at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Trainer Cecil After Repeat in Robert Frankel
Miss Mittagong will attempt to give trainer Ben Cecil consecutive wins in the Robert J. Frankel Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita on New Year's Day.
Medaglia d'Amour Out of Ladies' Classic
Trainer Ben Cecil confirmed that Medaglia d'Amour will be scratched from the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) Nov. 4 after spiking a temperature the day before the race.
Palomar a Tough One to Call
The busy Labor Day weekend of stakes action winds down at Del Mar with the Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT). The 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares is a hard one to handicap.
Spring Style Surprises Slim Frankel Field
Spring Style's wait for her first stakes victory ended in her 6-year-old debut Jan. 1 when she held off Harmonious by a nose to win the $147,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (gr. IIT) on the turf at Santa Anita.
Hollendorfer Looks for Royal Heroine Repeat
Even though defending champion Tuscan Evening is awaiting a stakes date at Arlington Park, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has a chance to win the $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT) for a second year in a row July 3.
Medaglia d'Amour Wins Wilshire in Stakes Bow
Medaglia d'Amour made her stakes debut a winning effort when she edged clear in deep stretch to take the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) by 1 1/4 lengths over favored Cat by the Tale on the Hollywood Park turf May 1.
Classy Loup Breton Dangerous in San Marcos
Loup Breton, whose stretch run fell a neck short in the San Gabriel Handicap (gr. IIT) as the favorite last month, appears to be the one to beat in the $150,000 San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) Jan. 18 at Santa Anita
Ferneley Paints Masterpiece in Del Mar Mile
After a couple of close tries earlier this year, trainer Ben Cecil warned that Ferneley would win a big race before all was said and done. That day came Aug. 29 when the Irish-bred 5-year-old swept past his tiring rivals to score a 1 1/2-length win in the $238,000 Del Mar Mile (gr. IIT).
Monba, Yankee Bravo Set to Return
Monba and Yankee Bravo, both prominent on last year's Triple Crown trail, will make their returns to the racetrack in the $100,000 Thunder Road Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 7 at Santa Anita. However, Irish-bred Ferneley, a near-winner in consecutive graded stakes, could loom the largest in the one-mile turf event.
Missit Wins U.S. Debut in Providencia
Making her first United States start for trainer Ben Cecil, Missit needed the entire length of the stretch to collar Sweeter Still for a nose victory in the $150,000 Providencia Stakes (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies on the Santa Anita grass course April 5.
Ez Dreamer Eyes Paradise Derby Win
The 3-year-old In Excess colt looks for his second consecutive stakes score Feb. 9 at Turf Paradise in Arizona.
Worldly Takes Star Turn in Cinema Handicap
Worldly remains undefeated in three U.S. starts after grabbing the lead nearing the sixteenth pole and keeping even-money favorite Golden Balls at bay with a one-length spread in Saturday's $113,500 Cinema Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park.
Worldly Seeks 3rd Straight in Cinema BC 'Cap
Worldly will attempt to become the sixth horse to sweep Hollywood Park's turf stakes for 3-year-olds in Saturday's $150,000 Cinema Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Ankle Surgeries for Boboman, Ainamaa
Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT) winner Boboman, a disappointing fourth in the Californian (gr. II) in his last start June 2, came out of the race with an ankle injury and will undergo surgery this week, trainer Richard Mandella confirmed Wednesday.
Worldly Spins to Victory in Will Rogers
Favorite Worldly outran Silent Soul and Mayor Bozarth through the stretch as jockey Victor Espinoza registered his third Will Rogers Stakes (gr. IIIT) victory in Saturday's one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park.
Brice Blanc Returns for Del Mar Meet
Journeyman Brice Blanc, a French-bred rider who found success on the Southern California circuit for nearly 10 years, has returned to ride for the rest of the Del Mar meet.
Fast-Closing Genre Wins Wild Cinema BC
Genre, closing from far back, was along just in time when the apparent winner of the $128,200 Cinema Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT), New Joysey Jeff, lost rider Jose Valdivia Jr. in mid-stretch Sunday on the Hollywood Park turf course.
Lots to Dream About in Golden Gate Finale
Gary Tanaka's Hallowed Dream, a winner of her last three starts on the Santa Anita lawn for trainer Ben Cecil, shipped to Northern California to take the closing day $125,625 Yerba Buena Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) with a superb effort at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.
DQ Costs Bob and John Victory in Real Quiet
Bob and John's apparent six-length victory as the 1-5 favorite in Saturday's $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes for 2-year-olds was overturned by Hollywood Park stewards, who gave the victory to Genre, ridden by Martin Pedroza.
No Immediate Changes Seen for Tanaka Stable
- By Jack Shinar
The arrest of financier and prominent Thoroughbred owner Gary Tanaka in New York on charges of allegedly stealing money from clients isn't impacting his far-flung racing stable, at least so far.
Grade I Winner Passinetti Bucks Odds Again
Gary Tanaka's grade I winner Passinetti is back in training after a second lengthy layoff and the 9-year-old gelding is less than two weeks away from racing, according to trainer Ben Cecil.
Hoh Buzzard Soars Home in Brown Bess
Irish-bred Hoh Buzzard gained command in the stretch of the $100,000 Brown Bess Handicap, repelling a late challenge from Uraib to win the closing-day feature by 1 1/4 lengths on the grass at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.
Natalma Winner Fearless Flyer Moves to Cecil
J. Paul Reddam's Natalma Stakes (Can-III) winner Fearless Flyer has been transferred to trainer Ben Cecil in California where she will be prepared for a start in the Oct. 2 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita.
Irish Filly Fearless Flyer Soars in Natalma
Irish-bred Fearless Flyer and jockey Emily Ramsammy pulled off a mild upset, gliding to victory in the $177,300 Natalma Stakes (Can-III) for 2-year-old fillies Sunday at Woodbine.
Tactical Edge Goes to Soud in Arcadia 'Cap
Saturday's $150,000 Arcadia Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita has all of the earmarks of a springboard race for grass stakes later in the year at longer distances. Several of the eight entrants are better traveling farther than the Arcadia's 1 1/8-mile route. And none of the starters are coming off of a win.
Hendricks Likes Runaway Dancer at 'Obispo Distance
Dan Hendricks is inclined to draw a line through Runaway Dancer's last race, an eighth-place finish in the William L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT) at Calder Race Course on Dec. 27.
Fairly Ransom Will Try to Atone in 'Obispo
Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) winner Fairly Ransom, unplaced as the favorite in the San Marcos Handicap (gr. IIT) in his last start, will get a chance to redeem himself in the Feb. 16 San Luis Obispo Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita, Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally said.
Red Rioja Slips Through Brown Bess Traffic Jam
Irish-bred Red Rioja slipped through a hole along the inside and edged away in the late stages to tally a one-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Brown Bess Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the soft Golden Gate Fields turf course.
McAnally Drills Sweet Return, Fairly Ransom
Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally sent Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) winner Sweet Return and runner-up Fairly Ransom out for works over Santa Anita's firm turf course Wednesday morning in preparation for a rematch in the Jan. 17 San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT).
Passinetti Back in Training for Capistrano Defense
Gary Tanaka's grade I winner Passinetti has returned to trainer Ben Cecil's Santa Anita base after several months at a nearby farm and will aim at a defense of his title in the $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap (gr. IT) at the end of the meeting on Apr. 18.
Hoh Buzzard Feasts in Mrs. Revere
British import Hoh Buzzard, ridden by California-based Ryan Foglesonger, helped set the early pace and held off a late charge from Aud for a neck victory in Saturday's $175,650 Mrs. Revere (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Churchill Downs.
Champion Golden Apples Retired
Eclipse Award winner Golden Apples has been retired from racing because of a suspensory injury to her left front leg.
Megahertz, Tates Creek Likely to Remain in West for Frankel
Michael Bello's John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT) winner Megahertz, as well as Juddmonte Farms' co-runner-up Tates Creek, will likely remain in California and be pointed toward the Southern California grass stakes, according to trainer Bobby Frankel's assistant.
Headed by Champ Golden Apples, Top-Flight Field for Mabee 'Cap
It's been a long wait for trainer Ben Cecil, but he's oozing confidence over the upcoming 2003 debut of his Eclipse-winning race mare Golden Apples. She begins her 5-year-old season Saturday at Del Mar in the grade I, $400,000 John C. Mabee Handicap.
Golden Apples to Make 2003 Debut in Mabee
Trainer Ben Cecil reported that Gary Tanaka's champion Golden Apples is set to make her 2003 debut in Saturday's John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT) at Del Mar. The Irish-bred daughter of Pivotal received a 122-pound impost for Saturday's 1 1/8-mile turf event, one less than high weight and likely favorite Tates Creek.
Passinetti Rested After Tendon Injury Flares
Gary Tanaka's San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) winner Passinetti has been taken out of training and will be rested for an indefinite amount of time, trainer Ben Cecil said. The 7-year-old gelding re-injured the same tendon that kept him out of training for three years.
Passinetti Tuning for Whittingham, Cecil Says
San Juan Capistrano Handicap (gr. IT) winner Passinetti will likely make his next start in the $350,000 Charles H. Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park, trainer Ben Cecil said. The 7-year-old gelding worked five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 handily over the firm turf at Hollywood on Sunday.
Champion Golden Apples in Grass Work
Gary Tanaka's Golden Apples had her first recorded work since being crowned last year's filly and mare turf champion, logging three furlongs in :37 2/5 breezing Sunday over Hollywood Park's firm turf course.
San Juan Capistrano Winner to Get Break from Racing
San Juan Capistrano Invititational Handicap (gr. I) hero Passinetti will be given a short break and won't likely turn up next until at least the end of the Hollywood Park meeting.
Cecil's Easter Surprise: Passinetti Wins Capistrano
Gary Tanaka's Passinetti, a 7-year-old gelding who had been turned out for more than three years and was nearly given away to become a riding horse, became racing's resurrection story of this Easter season Sunday by winning the $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap (gr. IT) at Santa Anita.
Embassy Belle Ready to Chime in Las Cienegas
Embassy Belle is winless in two starts in the United States, but the 5-year-old Irish-bred mare has far from disgraced herself. She returns to the downhill turf course Saturday in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap (Gr. III) for older fillies and mares.
Eclipse Winner Golden Apples Returns
Gary Tanaka's Golden Apples, who won last year's Eclipse Award as the country's top female turf horse, returned to trainer Ben Cecil's Santa Anita barn on Friday morning to begin preparations for her 2003 campaign.
Dahlia Candidates Work
Three nominees for the $150,000 Dahlia Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares on turf Dec. 21 worked Thursday.
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