Dick Mandella

Mandella, History, and Leaving California

• By Steve Haskin
• October 21, 2015

It was 15 years ago when Richard Mandella actually thought about leaving California and moving East. Obviously, that didn't last very long. read blog

Haskin's Derby Wrapup: Bird to Take Wing

• By Steve Haskin
• May 6, 2009
• Triple Crown

Calvin Borel would have made a great captain of the starship Enterprise, because time and again he boldly goes where no man has gone before. What he is able to do at Churchill Downs is mind-boggling.

Ky. Derby Trail: Of Thorns & Roses

• By Steve Haskin
• February 4, 2008
• Thoroughbred Racing, Triple Crown

Be careful how you handle Crown of Thorns. As we're well aware, the impressive winner of the Feb. 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) has never run on a real dirt track. But with that said, let's pretend it will make no difference, and that he will be as good on dirt as he looked in the Bob Lewis.

Steve Haskin's Derby Report: Juvenile Champ Back in Action

• By Steve Haskin
• April 22, 2004
• Triple Crown

Trainer Dick Mandella was looking for a big work from Action This Day Thursday morning to convince him last year's champion 2-year-old could rebound from two poor efforts. After the colt's six-furlong work in company with 2-year-old filly champ Halfbridled, Mandella had his answer.

Steve Haskin's Derby Report: Master and Commander

• By Steve Haskin
• April 20, 2004
• Triple Crown

All eyes were on Wood Memorial (gr. I) runner-up Master David, who was the only Kentucky Derby (gr. I) worker at Churchill Downs this morning, and the pocket-sized chestnut brought a smile to trainer Bobby Frankel's face when he worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5, which was exactly what Frankel was looking for.

Halfbridled Out of Ashland After Tying Up

• By Steve Haskin
• April 2, 2004
• Thoroughbred Racing

The stumbling blocks continued for 2-year-old filly champ Halfbridled Friday morning when she tied up (cramped up) after a routine gallop for Saturday's $500,000 Ashland Stakes (gr. I), in which she was to face Madcap Escapade and Ashado for leadership in the 3-year-old filly division.

Dubai World Cup Victory Bittersweet for Mandella

• By Steve Haskin
• March 27, 2004
• Thoroughbred Racing

As happy as trainer Dick Mandella was after winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), that's how crushed he was moments after the race when he was told on the phone by his son, Gary, in California, that his longtime friend and mentor, V.J. "Lefty" Nickerson, had died in his sleep just hours earlier.

Halfbridled Works Seven Furlongs in 1:24 4/5 for Santa Anita Oaks

• By Steve Haskin
• February 19, 2004
• Thoroughbred Racing

Wertheimer Farm's Halfbridled, last year's champion 2-year-old filly, worked seven furlongs in 1:24 4/5 at Santa Anita Thursday in preparation for her 3-year-old debut in the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) March 13.

Halfbridled To Skip Las Virgenes; Will Train Up to SA Oaks

• By Steve Haskin
• February 9, 2004
• Thoroughbred Racing, Triple Crown

Trainer Dick Mandella, unhappy with Halfbridled's last work, said he has decided to skip the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) Feb. 15 and train her up to the March 13 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I).

Halfbridled Works For 2004 Debut in Las Virgenes

• By Steve Haskin
• January 1, 2004
• Thoroughbred Racing

Halfbridled, undefeated winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01 at Santa Anita Thursday morning for her scheduled 3-year-old debut in the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) on Feb. 15.

Breeders' Cup Retrospective: That Mandella Fella and Other Thoughts

• By Steve Haskin
• October 28, 2003
• Breeders' Cup

Dick Mandella's remarkable achievement of four Breeders' Cup victories highlighted an unforgettable afternoon of racing. But there were other heroes, and other thoughts to ponder.

Illinois Bleeders Rule to Keep Pleasantly Perfect Out of BC Classic

• October 15, 2002
• Breeders' Cup

Pleasantly Perfect, impressive winner of the Goodwood BC Handicap on Oct. 6, will not be permitted to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic due to the bleeders rule in the State of Illinois.