Two grade I winners are in the lineup for the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 12 at Santa Anita, but a ridgling son of Flatter making his first start against winners figures to draw plenty of attention as well.
Twirling Candy, fresh off a smashing win in the Strub Stakes (gr. II) one month ago, is an overwhelming 4-5 morning-line favorite for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 5.
Just five 3-year-old fillies are entered in the $250,000 Santa Anita Oaks March 5, but three of them are grade I winners: Turbulent Descent, Zazu, and A Z Warrior.
Twirling Candy, an emerging star in the handicap ranks from John Sadler's barn, worked seven furlongs on Santa Anita's main track Feb. 27 for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 5.
Despite moderate fractions, Jerry and Ann Moss' Cozi Rosie circled most of her foes and drew away to a comfortable 1 1/4-length tally in the $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 21.
Lower thresholds for the pain reliever phenylbutazone, commonly known as Bute, in post-race tests of horses could be on the way in California in spite of objections from horsemen.
Making his stakes debut for hot trainer John Sadler, little-known Gladding dictated an easy pace and refused to give way in the stretch to capture the $150,000 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 6.
Looking like a standout for next month's Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), heavily favored Twirling Candy simply overpowered his rivals in winning the $200,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 5.
On a day owners Jerry and Ann Moss were presented the first "Vox Populi" Award for their superstar mare Zenyatta, they also gained a new grade I winner in Zazu, who won the $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) Feb. 5
Malibu Stakes (gr. I) winner Twirling Candy and Indian Firewater, who captured the San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) three weeks later, meet for the first time in the $200,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 5.
As dominant as she was in winning the La Brea (gr. I) in stakes record-time one month ago, Switch looked like a world-beater as she trounced her rivals in the $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) Jan. 30 at Santa Anita.
A dominant winner of the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) to kick off the Santa Anita season, Switch returns to action Jan. 30 seeking her second grade I triumph in a row in the $250,000 Santa Monica Stakes (gr. I).
Grade I winners Cost of Freedom and Jessica Is Back head their respective sprint divisions of the Sunshine Millions taking place at Santa Anita in California and at Gulfstream Park in Florida Jan. 29.
Sidney's Candy, the favorite for the $150,000 San Fernando (gr. II) Jan. 15 at Santa Anita, has been scratched.
California Nectar, fresh off a score in the California Breeders' Champion Stakes for state-breds, heads a field of seven fillies racing for the first time as 3-year-olds in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita.
Sidney's Candy, the overwhelming favorite in a scratched-down field of five for the $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Dec. 26, romped to a 7 1/4-length triumph.
John Sadler and Joel Rosario completed a sweep of the three graded stakes on the opening day program at Santa Anita Dec. 26 when Twirling Candy nosed Smiling Tiger in a thrilling finish to the $250,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I).
Heavily favored Switch registered a stakes record time in winning the $250,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) on the new dirt track at Santa Anita Dec. 26.
Sidney's Candy, making his first start since finishing sixth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) last month, is the one to beat in the $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIT) on opening day of the 2010-11 Santa Anita meet.
Trainer John Sadler and jockey Joel Rosario, who teamed to win last year's La Brea Stakes (gr. I) with Evita Argentina, seem well-spotted to repeat in the $250,000 event with the hard-knocking Switch at Santa Anita Dec. 26.
Unable to convince the Thoroughbred Owners of California to consider unifying with its organization, trainers in the state are pursuing plans to form a new representative group.
Even-money choice Cost of Freedom rushed to the lead for jockey Joe Talamo and never looked back in taking the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (gr. III) by 1 3/4 lengths in the Thanksgiving Day feature at Hollywood Park.
Fresh from his romp in the California Cup Sprint last month, Cost of Freedom is the 126-pound high weight for his return to graded stakes action in the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood (gr. III) on Thanksgiving at Hollywood Park.
Fresh from finishing behind Zenyatta, Switch takes aim on the Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I).
With jockey Calvin Borel up, Hurricane Ike tuned up for his engagement in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) by working six furlongs at Churchill Downs in 1:12 2/5 after the renovation break Oct. 23.
Twirling Candy will stay in California to prepare for the Strub series instead of contesting the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.
Favored Sidney's Candy has been withdrawn from the Oak Tree Mile (gr. IIT) Oct. 9 at Hollywood Park because he is due to be sold.
Cost of Freedom, attempting to become the first two-time winner of Oak Tree's $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 9, faces a field that includes 2009 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Dancing in Silks.
Sidney's Candy, one of the top 3-year-olds in the country this season, will take on older horses for the first time in the $150,000 Oak Tree Mile (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park Oct. 9.
Tell a Kelly, a romping winner of the Darley Debutante (gr. I), will try two turns for the first time when she faces six juvenile filly opponents in Oak Tree's $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 3 at Hollywood Park.
Unbeaten Twirling Candy attempts to become the third 3-year-old in the past four years to win the $250,000 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 2, which would earn the colt a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Undefeated two-time champion Zenyatta stands alone as she goes for her 19th consecutive win over her home track in the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I) at Oak Tree's Hollywood Park meet Oct. 2.
Hurricane Ike blows into Bossier City, La., as the morning line favorite for the $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs Sept. 25.
Undefeated Twirling Candy, as expected, easily won the $300,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) as the 1-5 favorite, but his backstretch antics in the Sept. 5 turf event caused some controversy.
Last on the turn for home, Tell a Kelly swept to an eye-catching victory in the $250,000 Darley Debutante (gr. I) at Del Mar Sept. 4 in her first try against winners.
The Oak Tree Racing Association appears to be on the move once again after horsemen refused to go along with holding the fall meeting at Santa Anita over concerns with the main track's condition.
Trainer John Sadler said the morning of Aug. 15 it's not likely that Sidney's Candy, winner of the Aug. 14 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) will run at Del Mar again this meet.
Making his first start on turf, Sidney's Candy turned in a smashing performance in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT), demolishing seven 3-year-old rivals in a course record time at Del Mar Aug. 14.
Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Sidney's Candy makes his turf debut in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar Aug. 14.
Veteran California owner Tom Mankiewicz died July 31 after a bout with cancer.
Cost of Freedom, who has looked close to invincible in his two starts this year, heads a solid field of seven sprinters in the $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 1.
Thoroughbred racing in California remained uncertain about the future following a state horse racing board meeting July 22 in which major track owner MI Developments refused once again to provide a glimpse of its plans.
Odds-on choice Twirling Candy lived up to his billing when he pulled away from Macias to win the $112,500 Oceanside Stakes as summer action got underway at Del Mar July 21.
A restricted stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf and the "The One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats Contest" on the slate in Southern California can only mean one thing: opening day at Del Mar is just around the corner.
Sidney's Candy, in his first start since the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is the clear standout among five 3-year-olds for the $200,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) July 17 as Hollywood Park.
One month after a record-setting victory in her debut at Arlington Park, Dawnie Macho made a successful transition to California, leading throughout to win the $100,000 Landaluce Stakes July 11 at Hollywood Park.
Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Sidney's Candy drilled seven furlongs in 1:25 3/5 in his final work July 11 for the upcoming $200,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park.
Unlike past renewals, this year's American Oaks (gr. IT), with a reduction in purse to $250,000 reflecting tough times in California, is a local affair with Jerry and Ann Moss' Cozie Rosie among the favorites.
Blind Luck doesn't lose often, but trainer John Sadler seems to have her number. For the second time, a filly he saddled upset the four-time grade I winner when Switch captured the $150,000 Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) June 6.
Cost of Freedom opened up by a couple of lengths in the lane and held steady under some urging by jockey Tyler Baze to win the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III) as the even-money choice at Hollywood Park June 5.
