Despite the long hours, significant time spent apart, and the challenges of being based in a state with a racing and breeding program that struggles to compete with its neighbors, the Keens would not trade their career choice or their location.
As the small California town of Hemet grew to encompass the area surrounding Ridgeley Farm, owner Pat Thompson did what she always does--she figured out a way to make it work.
The grandson of Sunday Silence will stand for $1,000.
A two-time grade I winner at a mile, Obviously cut back a bit in distance to take the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) Nov. 5 at Santa Anita Park.
Pick Six Racing's Vyjack knocked off Wise Dan as the fastest turf miler in Santa Anita's history Oct. 8 with a record-setting performance in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (gr. IIT).
Obviously will take his fifth shot at the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) after a run in the grade II City of Hope Mile.
TVG Pacific Classic, Alabama, Fourstardave, Breeders', Del Mar Oaks, Lake Placid, Del Mar Handicap, Adirondack, Del Mar Mile, Monmouth Oaks, Cliff Hanger, and more.
A Veneri Racing and Little Red Feather Racing's Midnight Storm put in a repeat performance on the Southern California grass Aug. 21 to win the $200,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap (gr. IIT) in front-running fashion.
Midnight Storm has been rolling of late, with back-to-back scores in the Shoemaker Mile (gr. IT) and Eddie Read (gr. IIT), but could face a challenge for his ideal spot at the front of the pack July 21 in the $200,000 Del Mar Mile (gr. IIT).
Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino's Obviously (IRE) returned from a four-month break between races and led gate to wire to win the $300,000 Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf at Belmont Park.
Three of the six entrants for Belmont's June 18 Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT) at a mile are grade I winners. Red-hot trainer Chad Brown trains two of the others.
Bolo fired his best off a seven-month layoff in the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park, where he caught odds-on grade I winner Obviously in the final strides to secure his first graded victory.
Om, Prospect Park, and Bolo are scheduled to make their 4-year-old debuts in the Arcadia Stakes, but they'll all be encountering older horses for the first time.
Grade I winner Chiropractor and upset San Gabriel Stakes (gr. IIT) winner Flamboyant both figure to be running late as they head the eight-horse field in the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 6.
Flamboyant provided the first graded stakes stunner of 2016 Jan. 2, when the 46-1 shot caught favored grade I winner Obviously in the final moments to win the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park.
Two grade I winners will go toe-to-toe in the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (gr. IIT) Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park, but they couldn't differ more in style and experience.
Big Cazanova is 3-for-3 on the old synthetic surface at Del Mar, and now trainer Peter Miller will see if he can carry his affinity for an artificial track to the Nov. 29 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields.
Pat Thompson of Ridgeley Farms announced Nov. 19 that young stallion He Be Fire N Ice has moved to Southern California and will stand at Ridgeley Farm in Hemet.
Obviously faces a deep field for the Mile, but his connections know the brilliant bay with the heart of gold will lay it all on the line as he returns for his remarkable fourth attempt.
The Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) has a rich history of female winners, and this year three distaffers will attempt to add to that legacy against a strong male lineup.
With two of just four turf workers Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park, trainer Phil D'Amato was intentionally easy on his expected Breeders' Cup runners.
Breeders' Cup Preview issue of Blood-Horse includes Breeder' Cup past performances from Equibase and more.
Unbeaten Songbird, the likely favorite in upcoming Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Keeneland, worked six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 on Santa Anita Park's fast main track Oct. 18 under regular rider Mike Smith.
Grade I winner and Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) contender Big Macher turned in an easy five-furlong move in 1:01 2/5 Oct. 5 at Santa Anita.
Donato Lanni and John Youngblood's Avanzare will seek his third straight graded turf score Sept. 27 in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| El Commodore | Michael Machowsky |
|
| He Be Fire N Ice | Alcides Pico Perdomo |
|
| Obviously (IRE) | Philip D'Amato |
|
| Silentio | Gary Mandella |
|
| Tigah (GB) | John W. Sadler |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| O.D. McDonald S. | ALB | |
| Wild Applause S. | BEL | |
| Chicago H. (G3) | CD | |
| River Rock Casino H. | HST | |
| Edward Evans S. | LRL |
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